military traditions

[macwilkin]

Quite a somber thread, so...to change it up a wee bit...

Crossing the line ceremony (crossing Equator) (most Navies)

Not a good time to be a "Tadpole" (someone who hasnt crossed the line) when the "Bears" (Others who have crossed the line,who remember how badly they were treated, are dead set certain looking to pay that forward) come hunting for you, so that you can pay your homage to "Neptune"...

(I won't even go into the details...)

Also heres a tip, keep the crossing the line cerificate with you in your kit, because if you can't produce it on demand, well, its just not good to have it done twice...

I have my grandfather's membership card as a "shellback" when his troopship crossed the Equator on the way to Australia back in 1943.

Regards,

Todd

[ohiopiper]

I crossed the equator at the International Date Line, the U.S. Navy marks that as "Golden Shellback". You're right, not a good thing to do twice. We take it serioisly enough that it is a Service Record entry, page 13.

The three volley salute goes back to roman times when it was customary to send the fallen into the afterlife by calling their names three times.

At Arlington national Cemetery, on Memorial Day, there is a 21 gun salute beginning at 11:39 a.m. One report every minute until noon when the flag is raised to full mast.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers is guarded 24 hours a day and watching the guards is an exercise in patience. The guard walks 21 paces in 21 seconds across the front of the tomb. Half faces toward the tomb for 21 seconds, completes the about face and repeats the process for four hours.

The naval gun salute came from the days of blackpowder. Cannon would be kept loaded as they were too slow to load in a hurry. Upon preparing to enter port, they would be fired to empty them and left unloaded. Not expending all powder and ball on board, just what had been in the guns.

Anyone remember the red lights on board naval vessels? Know the reason why? Interior decks of warships were painted red to supposedly lessen the sight of blood and the demoralizing effect it may have on the crew.

Some traditions are written in blood, that is, they have been the result of lessons learned the hard way. Others are merely curiosities that persisted. In any case, tradition can be a comfort the those of us who are bound in some way to the organizations that follow them and can be appreciated be those who are familiar with them.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

The naval gun salute came from the days of blackpowder. Cannon would be kept loaded as they were too slow to load in a hurry. Upon preparing to enter port, they would be fired to empty them and left unloaded. Not expending all powder and ball on board, just what had been in the guns. (I should of worded this a little better...didnt mean all and sundry)

Anyone remember the red lights on board naval vessels? Know the reason why? Interior decks of warships were painted red to supposedly lessen the sight of blood and the demoralizing effect it may have on the crew.

The red lights, are still in use and are called "police lights" here, for a couple of reasons, lowers the visibility of the ship, and allows the ships companies eyes to adjust quicker to see at night...

[dfmacliam]

Red light does not reflect, we use to use red lens on flashlights.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I prefer the tradition over the science...

[TheSp8]

It's kind of tough doing blood stripes now that rank insignia is velcroed to the middle of your chest.

Another somber ceremony is the table for Fallen Comrades during a Dining In. I don't remember it from earlier in my career so I think is a rather late addition.

YMOS,
Tony

[dfmacliam]

For Marines... when I was in..getting rank... you got them "pinned" by walking a guantlet and each man punched your shoulder...( each man who out ranks you) and when you earned your blood stripes (Corporal).. you were kneed in the thigh.... by the time you walked the guantlet... you were limping.. and bruised..

and for the special units... when you earned your jump wings... they were literally pinned to your chech... each man punched the pin with the pins going into your chest...