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What Does It All Mean?
In the March/April issue, we asked for definitions of a few words from the USMC lexicon in order to build a glossary of terms peculiar to the Corps (and which may be used by other services as well). Here is what we have received so far to supplement the list that appeared in the March/April issue (and it’s quite a bit). We have received entries from many different eras of USMC history. Unfortunately, we cannot thank everyone individually for their submissions and suggestions, since we received so many.
Like so many other projects Follow Me’s editorial staff has initiated, this one took on a life of its own—but one with a unique challenge, as suggested by D.A. Mills, USMC (Ret.), curator of the Marine Corps Legacy Museum in Harrison, Arkansas. He noted that:
The difficulty in constructing a Marine dictionary is the fact that the vocabulary changes with each generation of Marines. They adapt to new technology, which brings its own language, the wars they fight in, and the society as a whole. The young Marines of today know deck and bulkhead, but few call a door a hatch. Instead of leaving some place, they “book.” You rarely—it ever—hear a Marine say “Aye, Aye” anymore. And it goes on and on. However, you have embarked upon an interesting effort that will document one more piece of the legacy of the United States Marine Corps.
Based on the response so far, it is indeed an interesting effort—and not just for members of the SMDA, apparently. We have received contributions from non-SMDA members who saw the article. The list has grown considerably since the original list appeared. So, we will run it one time in its up-to-the-minute entirety to allow readers to make corrections in spelling, definitions, etc. (Please send your corrections, suggestions, additional entries, etc., to the Follow Me Glossaryologist at 35 Ashwell Avenue, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-241 5. Contributions are welcome from all Marines, not necessarily just those who belong to the SMDA.)
Finally, we apologize to our more squeamish readers for some of the definitions. But, what can we say? Marines do sometimes use socially unacceptable language—as some of these definitions suggest. And, some of the definitions may be politically incorrect according to today s societal standards That was not the case when they were in vogue, so we have included them in the glossary

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS GLOSSARY: 1776_TO THE_PRESENT
782 GEAR — a Marines individual equipment, e.g., web belt, canteen; so called because of the form number used to issue the gear

86 - discard

A

ABOARD-on base
ACED — to kill or be killed cleanly
AFT — Rear of ship
AIREDALES - Marine fighter pilots
ALICE PACK - individual field pack (All Purpose, Light Weight, Individual, Carrying, Equipment)
ALL HANDS — everybody
ANDALE — hurry up
AO — aerial observer
ASIATIC - Mental condition developed by extended time served in the Pacfic Theatre during WWII
AS YOU WERE - disregard my last statement - resume what you were doing
AYE, AYE - a term used to acknowledge an order

B

BIRD — terminology for helicopter
BLACK GANG (Marine) - nothing to do with color of skin-Motor Transport Man
BLACK GANG (Navy) - ditto-they work in the boiler rooms
BLOOD STRIPE — red stripe down the leg of dress blue uniform, rated by corporal or above: commemorates the battle of Chapauitepec, Mexico
BLOUSE - jacket of the camouflage uniform
BLOWING SMOKE — boasting about some deed of questionable truth
BLUES - Marine formal dress uniform (Dress Blues)
BLT - Battalion Landing Team
BOONDOCKING — in the field
BOONDOCKS - swamps, small towns (also called “boonies”); known by some Marines as the high-type combat boot
BOONDOCKERS — ankle-high combat boots (that hurt to wear)
BOOT - recruit or person junior in rank
BOO — bachelor officers quarters
BOUNCING BETTY — a bounding mine which often detonates at waist height and inflicts damage that no amount of medical care can overcome
BRASS - officers or expended rounds on the rifle range
BRIGHT WORK - highly polished brass or other metal surface
BRIG CHASER (aka “chaser”) — a person assigned to escort “brig rats” inside and outside military prisons
BRIG RAT — a person housed as a guest of the government in a military prison
BST — battle skills training
BULKHEAD - a wall
BULLS EYE - on target, be it a bullet or truth
BUNK - bed (also called a “rack”)
BUSH — another term for “boonies”
BUTTS - the target area at the rifle range
BUTCHER - barber

C
C-RATS/K-RATS - Marine meals for the field prior to MREs
CADENCE - intonation of the voice; the measure of steps per minute in marching
CAMMIES - camouflage uniform
CARRY ON - an order to resume previous activity after an interruption CATCH SOME Z’S - get some sleep
CATTLE CAR — a vehicle (usually a tractor-trailer) used to transport troops on and around bases
CEB — Combat Engineer Battalion
CG - Commanding General
CHARLIES - the service green short-sleeve uniform
CHAIN OF COMMAND - the succession of commanding officers from a senior
to a subordinate
CHANCER MECHANIC - corpsman (unless in war: then they become our angel of mercy)
CHIT - obtain by credit and sign CHIT
CHICK – girl or youngest looking Marine in your unit
CHOPPER — terminology for helicopter
CHOP CHOP — ‘hurry it up”
CHOW - GOOD Marine Corps food
CHOW DOWN - to eat
CHOW HALL - dining facility
CINDERELLA LIBERTY - liberty that expires at midnight.
CIWIES - not a uniform
CLICK — (also spelled “klick”) one notch of the rifle sight or one kilometer, mainly used in Viet Nam
CMC - Commandant of the Marine Corps
COFFIN NAILS - cigarettes
COLORS - the national flag, or the ceremony which takes place when the flag is raised at 8 am. and lowered at sunset
COMPANY GRADE OFFICER - captain and below CORPSMAN - Navy medics serving with Marines, also known as “Docs”
CORRECTIONAL CUSTODY UNIT (CCU) — a place where lance corporals and below who are nonjudicially punished at the company or battalion level can go for a “motivation tune-up” if their commanders think they are “salvageable”
COUNTDOWN — the number of days until a Marine’s enlistment is up
COVER - uniform headgear; hat
COW - like in ‘pass the cow,” e.g., milk for coffee
CREAMED FORESKINS - creamed chipped beef
CRUISE — tour of duty
CUMSHAW — something you can scrounge or trade
CUP OF COFFEE — a term used by short timers to designate the day their enlistment is up, e.g., “forty days and a cup of coffee”

D

DEAD GOAT - New Zealand Mutton
DEEP SIX — throw away, File 13, Shit-Can it
DECK - the floor
DEUCE GEAR - 782 gear, equipment carried by individual Marines
DEVIL DOG - (Teufelhunde) nickname given to the Marines by the Germans following the WWI bathe of Belleau Wood
DI - Drill Instructor
DISH WATER - soup or weak coffee
DIXIE CUP - Sailor’s hat
DITIY BAG - a carry-all bag for miscellaneous items
DOC - Navy hospital Corpsman
DOCTOR - an MD; never call a doctor “Doc”
DOG AND PONY SHOW - a special drill, etc, performed for visiting dignitaries
DOGGIE — U.S. Soldier
DOG TAGS - slang term for the identification tags that service members wear around their necks
DRAW GARBAGE - chow
DRESS BLUES AND TENNIS SHOES — full dress blue uniform
DUNG DEN STICK — a straight multi-segmented plant used for walking
DOUBLE TIME - to run
DRILL INSTRUCTOR (Dl) — a unique breed of men and women whose job it is to mold raw recruits into mean, lean, fighting machines, aka United States Marines
DRY RUN - practice exercise
DUMP - act of relieving oneself of that GOOD Marine Corps chow
DUST OFF — medical evacuation
DUTY HUT - Drill Instructors office or location of duty standers
DUTY NCO - a corporal or sergeant who was in charge of the barracks from the end of the normal work day until reveille the next morning

FORE — front of a ship
FOXHOLE - low place in the terrain you share with your foxhole buddy FUBAR — fouled up beyond all recognition
FREQUENCY GREASE -the same as “Bucket of Steam.” A rookie communicator would be given a suitable container and sent to Supply for some
FRESH MEAT - applicant before uniform or haircut FRUIT SALAD — a chest full of ribbons

G-3 — Operations

G-4 - Logistics
GALLEY - a Navy or Marine Corps kitchen
GANGWAY — “move out of the way” or “make room”
GEEDUNK - a snack or snack stand
GENERAL QUARTERS — warning aboard ship of imminent attack or critical situation
GENTLEMAN - a Marine officer, but said with a sneer
GO FASTERS - running shoes
GOOK - native west of California
GRAB ASS — playing around
GREASE - butter
GREENS - Marine green winter dress uniform
GRINDER - parade deck
GROG SHOP - tavern or beer joint
GROUNDPOUNDER - Korean War Marine infantry
GRUNT - a nickname for a Marine Corps infantryman
GUIDON - small flag bearing unit’s number or designation
GUNG HO - highly motivated (Chinese for “working together”); done in the right spirit
GUNNY - a familiar term for the rank of gunnery sergeant GYRENE - Marine
H

HAT - Drill Instructor
HATCH - a door
HAWK — the wind, e.g., “The hawk is howling tonight.”
HEAD - a bathroom
HEAD CALL - act of going to the head to attend to business
HIGH AND TIGHT - the short haircut that male Marines have become famous for having
HIT THE DECK — reveille “Turn loose your *ock and grab a sock”
HOLLYWOOOD MARINE — graduate of MCRD San Diego HOOCH – two man field tent, or loosely used to define a dwelling HONCHO RECRUIT - the recruit in charge of a particular job or assignment
HORSE*OCK – lunch meat shaped as...
HOUSE - recruit squad bay
HOUSEWIFE — sewing kit
HUMP - march or hike
INK STICK — pen
IG — Inspector General
IKE JACKET — green waist-length uniform jacket named after General Eisenhower
IN THE FIELD - see ‘boondocks”
IRISH PENNANT - an untidy loose end of a line, a string on a uniform that is unsightly
ITR — Infantry Training Regiment

J
JAR HEAD — derogatory term for a Marine used by lesser branches of the military
JAWBONE - see “chit”
JOE — coffee, aka java, battery acid, mud
JOHN WAYNE (or “church key”) — metal can opener for C-rat cans
JUNGLE JUICE — home-made liquor
JUNK ON THE BUNK — 782 gear and uniforms displayed on bunk for inspection

K
KA-BAR - knife

KITCHEN POLICE (KP) — duty served by military personnel in mess halls

L
LADDER WELL (or simply ladder) - a stairway
LEAD STICK - pencil
LEAVE — vacation
LEGG ENS — the leg wrap-around from boots to calves
LIFER — a Marine who has been in the Corps for a long time
LIMA LIMA LINE — phone line run by hand over ground
LIBER1Y - permission to be absent from the ship or station
LIBER1Y CARD - a document that verified a Marine was off-base legally; required to be presented to MP’s or senior officers or NCO5 on demand. Usually issued by the Duty NCO.
LIFER - a career Marine.
LIFER JUICE — coffee
LIGHTS OUT — signal for all good Marines to hit the rack; literally, lights go out, the day is done
LIQUID CS — tear gas
LP - listening post
LZ — landing zone

MAGGIE’S DRAWERS - red disk on pole waived in front of a rifle range target to indicate a miss; missed the target (with weapon or complete miss with a snow job)
MAGGOT - a new recruit
MARINE CORPS WAY — the third way of doing something, i.e., there’s the right way, the wrong way, and the Marine Corps’ way
MCRD — Marine Corps Recruit Depot
MCT - Marine Combat Training
MSG — Marine Security Guard
MECHANICAL MULE - a vehicle with a flat, wooden platform, 4-wheel drive, flotation tires and an engine that started with a pull-cord, it was used for transporting rations, ammo, supplies, etc., and could also be mounted with a 106 recoiless rifle. Also a blast to drive.
MEGA — Marine Embassy Guard Association

MESS DUTY - opportunity to help distribute that GOOD Marine Corps chow
MESS HALL - dining facility
MIGHTY MITE - an all-aluminum vehicle with 4-wheel drive capabilities powered by an air-cooled V4 engine that was about a 3/4 scale version of a regular jeep, manufactured by AMC. A blast to drive.
MLR — main line of resistance
MOMENT OF TRUTH - last opportunity to correct false information or personal records before recruit training begins
MONGOLIAN PISS CUTTER — a winter hat with fuzzy ear flaps (from Korea)
MONKEY SUIT - evening dress
MOS - Military Occupational Specialty
MOTIVATION PLATOON — special platoon in boot camp to which “unmotivated’ recruits were assigned temporarily for attitude adjustments
(see CCU for modem-day equivalent)
MRE5 - Meals Ready to Eat pre-made meals for use in the field
MUD MARINE - WWII Marine infantry
MUSTANG - a Marine officer commissioned from the ranks

K
NCO — noncommissioned officer
NERVOUS PUDDING - Jello
NINETY-DAY WONDER - newly made 2nd lieutenant (unless remark said by Swabbie or Doggie, then it means FIGHT)

NJP — nonjudicial punishment
NON-QUAL — a Marine who failed to qualify with his service rifle.

0001 - One minute past midnight
0800 - said as Oh Eight Hundred, never 0800 hours; thats Doggie talk
OFFICE HOURS — CO’s nonjudicial punishment
OFFICE POGUE aka Remington Raider) — office clerk
OLD MAN (aka the “Skipper) - usually the company commander
OLD CORPS — a term used by anyone who has been in the Corps a minute longer than another Marine
ON POST - on guard duty or not on liberty ON THE DOUBLE -run
ONTOS - a small, tracked vehicle capable of speeds over 60 mph, mounted with six 106 recoilless rifles. A tank and bunker killer.
OP - observation post
OPLR — outpost line of resistance
ORGANIZED GRAB ASS — in a formation, e.g., close order drill
OVERHEAD - naval reference for a ceiling
OVER THE HILL — AWOL, i.e., absent without leave

PASSAGE WAY - corridor or hallway, p-way for short
PARADE DECK (aka grinder) — place where “troop and stomp” is conducted
PEA SOUP-fog
PET - Physical Fitness Test
PIECE — a Marine’s weapon, primarily a rifle
PILL ROLLER - corpsman
P-CUTTER (“Piss” cutter) - an overseas hat. The “fore-and-aft” cover
was issued in khaki, tropical worsted, and winter service green. (Fore
and aft means it looks the same from either direction.) The Eagle, Globe and Anchor device was worn on the left front, and it was usually worn low on the forehead with a “dimple” in the top.
P155 AND PUNK - bread and water
P155 POT - helmet
P155 TUBE — a pipe stuck into the ground for urinating into
POGEY BAIT - any food other than an MRE or C-Rations, particularly candy
POGEY BAIT MARINE : Candy ass Marine (Sissy type)
:POGEY ROPE - the French Fourragere worn by the Sixth Marines. (They called it that allegedly, no one outside the 6th Regiment called it that, at least not to the wearers’ faces.)
POLICE — clean up or make tidy
POLICE PARTY — individuals or groups assigned to clean up an area
PORT — left side of a ship
PORTHOLE - naval reference for a window
PORT LIBERTY — one-halt of ship’s complement or unit is allowed to go on liberty (see STARBOARD LIBERTY for other halt)
PT — physical training
PX - post exchange, a store on base

QUARTERS - living space

RACK-bed
RACK OPS - (rack operations) to go to sleep
RAIN LOCKER — a shower on board a ship
RAPPEL - to descend by rope
RED LEAD - catsup (or in New Zealand, tomato sauce)
RECON — reconnaissance
REMINGTON RAIDER (aka Office Poge)( Office Pinkie) — office clerk
RE-UP - re-enlist
RIKI T1K — something that needs to be done or is going to happen quickly
ROACH COACH - the mobile canteen (with pogey bait) that came alongside ships ~ed up at piers in Norfolk
ROUND - bullet or shell
RP - religious program specialist, usually a Navy enlisted
RUPTURED DUCK — a medal given to all servicemen after WWII

5-2 — intelligence section (NOTE: Military intelligence is considered by many people to be an oxymoron.)
SALTY MARINE — one who has ~me in the Corps
SAM BROWNE (1) - a belt (with the strap over the shoulder); heavy leather brown belt with a brass buckle worn on outside of blouse (phased out early 1947). The extended over the left shoulder and attached to the belt front and rear. It was authorized for wear by officers and warrant officers with greens or dress blues, and designed to carry the weight of a pistol or sword. Allegedly a good weapon in a bar fight
SAWBONES — doctor
SCOOP (or dope) — news or information
SCOW - any Navy ship (other than the one you serve on)
SCREW UP — things don’t go right
SCRIBE - recruit who serves as the platoon secretary or administrative clerk
SCUTTLEBUTT - a water fountain or a rumor
SCUZZ BRUSH - scrub brush used for cleaning
SEA BAG - the oversized canvas bags that Marines and Sailors use to transport their gear (known to the Army as duffel bags)
SEA GULL - Sunday chicken
SEA LAWYER — someone giving out legal advice that is likely to get you in trouble
SEA STORY — tall tale; story that is hard to swallow SECONDS - more of anything
SECTION 8 — a mentally unbalanced person; a discharge for mental masons
SECURE - to leave work; to put something away
SEMPER Fl — always faithful; from the Latin Semper Fidelis
SHIT BIRD - a Marine who was a disciplinary problem or not performing to standards
SHIT CAN (verb) — throw away
SHIT ON A SHINGLE — creamed ground beef served over toast, a favorite Marine breakfast
SHORT ARM INSPECTION - the doc examines your penis
SHORT-STOP - at chow, you ask in a polite way, “Down on the damn grease,” and some knucklehead helps himself before it gets to you
SHORT TIMER — anyone who has a short time to go before his/her enlistment or tour of duty is up
SHOULDER PADS - pancakes or padding sewn to shooting jacket
SICK BAY - medical facility
SIDEARMS - salt and pepper shakers
SIX-BY — large truck used to transport personnel and supplies
SKIPPER - any captain, specifically one in a command billet
SKIWIES — underwear
SKOSH — just a little bit, e.g., “move it just a skosh”
SKY HOOK - Nonexistent article used as a practical joke by seasoned personnel
SKY PILOT - chaplain
SLIT TRENCH — (see “head”)
SLUM - delicious stew
SLUM BURNER - the cook
SMOKE STACKER — one who blows smoke
SMOKING LAMP - permission to smoke if it is lit
SNAFU — situation normal: all fouled up
SNAP IN - to practice firing a weapon; also to give or get instruction on a new task
SNCO — staff noncommissioned officers SNOOP AND POOP — recon mission
SNOW SNAKE — a warning to a “boot” about getting bit in the rear, referring to the cold wind on the butt when using the outhouse in Korea
SOP - standard operating procedure(s)
SOUND OFF - to shout loudly
SPLIT TAIL - female
SPUD LOCKER — place where fresh vegetables are kept
SQUAD BAY - open living quarters in barracks without partitions in which Marines slept
SQUARE AWAY - put away your belongings, or tidy up
SQUARED AWAY - ready for inspection - by the book
SRB - service record book
STACKING SWIVEL (2) - the .03 and Ml rifles had an attachment that

allowed three rifles to be stacked in the position of Stack Arms. The term “I’ll grab you by the stacking swivel’ probably referred to grabbing someone by the neck. To be “Grabbed by the Stacking Swivel” also described when your drill instructor grabbed a handful of your utility jacket, stood you on your tip-toes, placed his nose in close proximity to yours and counseled you as to the error of your ways, usually in very colorful terms that included references to your ancestry, sexual preferences and the marital status of your parents. (See below for elaboration.)
STAND BY - wait
STARBOARD — right side of ship
STARBOARD LIBERTY — one-half of ship’s complement or unit is allowed to go on liberty (see PORT LIBERTY for other half)
STATIC CHASERS - A term of endearment used by the company gunny to describe members of the Communications Platoon.
STINGRAY — a term used in Vietnam for missions designed to deliberately make contact and kills
STRAPHANGER — a Marine who goes along with a patrol or group of Marines on a mission
SUDS - beer
SUPERNUMERARY - Extra personnel utilized on guard duty for fill in needs and situations
SURVEY - to turn in old or unserviceable equipment for new SWAB - a mop or to mop
SWABBY — affectionate name for a sailor
SWAB JOCKEY - Sailor or a Marine with a mop
SWAGGER STICK (3) — a decorated wooden stick carried by NCOs and officers as a symbol of their rank (see below for additional information)

TAPS — military music generally played to honor deceased service members; usually played at night to signify “lights out”
THE WORD - confirmed information
I-DAY - training day in recruit training
TIE-TIE — piece of string used to tie washed laundry to clothes line; little strings to slip through eyelets on skivvies; Pre-WWII meant to hang up after washing
TOPSIDE - upstairs, specifically on a ship
TROOP AND STOMP — marching drills on parade deck
TROPICALS - Marine summer dress uniform
TURD - whale stool on the bottom of the ocean, as in “you are lower than a whale turd, and that sinks to the bottom of the ocean”
TURN TO - to begin
TWO BLOCKED — portion of necktie worn snuggled up to collar

UA - unauthorized absence (once called AWOL)
UNDER ARMS — armed with a weapon
UNDRESS BLUES — dress blue trousers worn with a gabardine shirt and

UNK or UNQ - unqualified on the rifle range or in the pool
UNSAT — unsatisfactory
UTILITIES — field clothing/work clothing; dungarees; fatigues

V.

VOMIT COMET - The bus transporting Marines back to base from Jacksonville after liberty on a payday weekend

VT. — Vertical limed artillery round set to detonate a specific distance above ground

w
WAISTPLATE — the metal part of the belt on dress blues (NOTE: per current regulations, SNOs wear the waistplate with the emblem and wreath; NCOs wear them only with the emblem; lance corporal and below wear smooth waistplates)

WAKE UP — the last day of a Marine’s enlistment

WATER BULL (or BUFFALO) - canteen or 500 gallon water dispensing unit

WAR BELT - cartridge belt worn in the field with canteens and equipment WHISKEY LOCKER - locked closet used for the storage of cleaning solutions and miscellaneous gear

WIDOW MAKER — strong punch
ZIPPO — cigarette lighter; to destroy by fire

Ironically, as we started on our glossary project, the following definitions came to our attention. They appeared on page three in the April 28, 1944, edition of Tarawa Boom De-Ay, published by and for the men of the Second Marine Division.

You’ve doubtlessly heard of the heroic exploits of the K-9 dog troops, but here are some other canine Marines, all of whom may be found in the Second Division:
Chow Hound - He knows that the food is the worst in the world and the cooks are pampered as distant cousins of the General, but he somehow manages to be at the head of the line every time the bugle blows. He is very choosy about his victuals, and has been known. to refuse third or fourth helpings.

Sack Hound - He is a horizontal figure who operates under the theory that he was born in bed and has no reason to ever leave there. He is not completely inactive, though; sometimes he turns over.

Liberty Hound - He will turn out for an inspection looking like a grease monkey with a hangover, but for two hours before “liberty call” goes he is primping. He will not return to camp until two minutes before liberty expires, but he will immediately spin a pitiful tale of “nothing there to do,” swearing he will “stay on board” from now on.
Mail Hound - This species has been threatened with eradication time and time again by the Mail Clerk Union, but is nevertheless prevalent at all camps. The hound starts in at reveille and continues until taps asking the poor post office boys the same question: “Any mail today?” — When he does get some, he gathers up his 14 or 16 letters and asks disappointedly, “Is that all?” Beer Hound - Full details may be found in W.C.T.U.** bulletin 346B.
** W.C.TU. = Women’s Christian Temperance Union.

ADDENDUM
(1) SAM BROWNE BELT (ORIGIN)
The belt is named after Gen. Sir Samuel Browne (1824-1901), who lost an arm at the Battle of Selporah during the Indian Campaign/Mutiny.
Accordingly, he devised a new sort of saber belt which was used in the British expedition to Afghanistan in 1879. The British expeditionary force brought ft to France in 1914 and other allied members adopted it
(2) STACKING SWIVEL
The stacking swivel was shaped like a chain link with one side open. When a rifle squad’s 4 fire teams of 3 men each received the command stack arms,” the 2 outer men would link their swivels and the man in the middle would twist his swivel into theirs, thereby completing a pyramid. All three men would then leave the stack and return to attention.
This maneuver was practiced as part of formal drill. But, in the field, the fire team would never stack arms. Rather, the members would lay their weapons down to go to chow, erect tents, etc. Also, one of the most used instruments of torture ever devised in Pains Island. The stacking swivel was held between the thumb and first finger, at arms length until you thought your arm would become dislodged from you shoulder. Invariably someone would drop their rifle just as the drill instructor told you to bring them down, of course you know what followed
(3) SWAGGER STICK STORY
Probably the best description of its function may be quoted from a British regimental sergeant major instructing new officers. “Now gentlemen, the swagger stick is not for rattling along railings, cleaning out drains at home, or swiping the heads of poor innocent little flowers. Nor is it for poking into stomachs or for fencing duels in the mess line. No, gentlemen, it is to make you walk like officers and above all to keep your hands out of your pockets”. In the Marine Corns, the swagger stick came into vogue in the latter part of the 19th century, and was a required article of uniform until WWI. The first actual presentation of the swagger stick was made in 1569 when Charles IX of France made his brother Henry generalissimo and gave him one to signify his appointment. “Swagger sticks” evolved from the “leading cane” prescribed for British officers in a General Order of 1702. On parade, this cane was used for leading men. But it was also used administering on-the-spot punishment of up to 12 strokes for minor violations of regulations. Examples of the latter were: sneezing in ranks, scratching the head, or giving an officer a dirty look.
In 1959, the Marine Corns had a new commandant. General 0. M. Shoup had changes on his mind when he took over the position. Most famous of these changes was the banishing of the swagger stick to a place on the closet shelf next to the “Sam Browne” belt. Shoup stated that a clean, neat, well fitted uniform with the Marine Corns emblem was tops.
“There is one piece of equipment about which I have a definite opinion. ft is the swagger slick. ft shall remain an optional item of interference, if you feel the need, carry it.” The swagger stick almost disappeared overnight.
The fact that the carrying of a club denoted authority is almost as old as history itseif. Despite the American prejudice against military show, swagger sticks appear from time to time with official sanction of local commanders. Not only do they satisfy the human desire for something to occupy the hands, but they also help combat that horrible and most undesirable tendency of putting your hands in your pockets.
(Thanks to Col. Blackie Cahill, USMC (Ret.), who added:) I carried the swagger stick until just before I retired in 1978, when it was deleted from tire Clothing Manual as an item. At no time did any senior officer suggest to me that I put it on the shelf. I was definitely in the minority. Other Marines of equal and lower ranks would confide in me that they also would carry it, but didn’t want to make a statement.
To me it was a question of guts. On the bulkhead in my egomania room I have a plaque with four of my swagger slicks. Two are official as officer and SNCO sticks. Another, with a .50 caliber cartridge at one end and the bullet at the other, I carried in Vietnam when I commanded a Marine Infantry Battalion at Khe Sanh.