Tag Archives: military

It’s Bad Luck to Say “Good Luck!”

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Title: It’s Bad Luck to Say “Good Luck!”

Informant info: Informant name is Jason Laackmann. Jason is twenty-eight years old and attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a United States Army Veteran. Jason served in the Army for five years in active duty and continues to serve in the Minnesota National Guard. The locations in which he has served are Fort Bend, Georgia, Fort Riley, Kansas, and overseas in Eastern Afghanistan.

Type of lore: Customary Folklore, Superstition

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Jason was interviewed at Dartmouth College. He was asked to talk about any superstitions he may recall during his time as a paratrooper in the army. Informant was very serious when stating that one should never say good luck, but then gave a smile when he stated how he would react and cracked a joke.

Associated File: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6KcnEdk7Q4 (Start at 2:55)

Transcript:  [I have recorded the item exactly how it was told to me in the interview]: Um, as a paratrooper, you, you never tell somebody, you know, “good luck” before they jump out of the airplane. It’s a bad omen and if somebody ever said it to me, I’d be, I’d be freaking out as soon as my parachute opened. I’d be afraid I was going to break my leg or my shoulder when I landed.

Informant’s comments: Jason takes this superstition seriously and is very nervous before jumping out of the air plane in the off chance someone might say “good luck!” on his way out.

Collector’s comments: Jason was serious at first when discussing this superstition, but was able to make a light-hearted joke at the end.

Having a Ball

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Title: Having a Ball

Informant info: Informant name is Jason Laackmann. Jason is twenty-eight years old and attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a United States Army Veteran. Jason served in the Army for five years in active duty and continues to serve in the Minnesota National Guard. Jason has served in Fort Bend, Georgia, Fort Riley, Kansas, and overseas in Eastern Afghanistan.

Type of lore: Customary, Ceremony, Tradition

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Jason was interviewed at Dartmouth College. Jason was asked to talk about any ceremonies or traditions that took place in his time in the army.

Associated File: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6KcnEdk7Q4 (start at 2:05)

Transcript: [I have recorded the item exactly how it was told to me in the interview]: Each, each unit has there own, uh, specific history. So a lot of what you’re doing in the military is tied to your unit lineage. Um, so understanding, uh what your unit did in previous wars is really important. Um, so change of command ceremonies are always important. There’s a lot of, regal things that happen with that. Um, so I guess some of the main traditions is to have a ball and bring your girlfriend or husband and uh have like a traditional dance, if you will.

Informant’s comments: Jason has been to a few military balls and values the regal traits.

Collector’s comments: During Jason’s response he smiled when recalling the ball and was very animated when he talked about the idea of lineage in the military.

Challenge Coins

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Title: Challenge Coins

Informant info: Craig Serpa, marine. He was stationed in San Diego.

Type of lore: Customary, Game

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Craig Serpa was interviewed at Dartmouth College. Craig was asked about certain games that they had experienced during their time in the military. Craig described a drinking game often often played at bars on their base. Each military man/woman is given a coin that displays their battalion, company, etc. While at a bar, if someone presents you their coin, you must have yours within two steps of you or else you have to buy that person a beer. But, if you present your coin and it is of a higher rank than the initial coin, the first person has to  buy the second a beer.

Associated file:

Transcript:

Interviewer: Speaking of superstition, do/did you have any superstitions? I play softball and I’m so superstitious/well I used to play. I used to have so many superstitions. Or rituals? I guess they’re kind of enforced.

C: One thing I never really got into was the whole challenge coin thing. Did billy talk about that at all?

Interviewer: I don’t think so.

B: So, a lot of regular companies are doing it now, it started as a military tradition I believe where each battalion level has, or it doesn’t have to be level, but each has little coins. And it says like unit name, ahs emblem, you know how each has little emblems for stuff? Black horse is their battalion, 5th marines, stuff like that. And the thing behind is that you’re supposed to carry a coin on you and if you’re out drinking or whatever, and like you present your coin to somebody and if they don’t have one within two steps of them, then they have to buy you a drink. So if you present it, then some coins depending on where you got them or how high up you got them. So some people will present it to their general, they will have a general star on the back, um whoever has the higest ranking one has to buy.

Interviewer: Is this at bars nearby?

C: Pretty much, yeah, so like you know theyre a military person.

(Interviewer and informant talk)

Interviewer: So if you know, then you present it.

C: it’s a marine, military thing. I’m pretty sure army does. It’s a navy thing. Lets think, I never really did anything, or got into the challenge coin thing. I would think that the majority of things I should be talking about is being a drill instructor, because you’re creating a marine from the beginning.

Informant’s comments: Craig admitted that he did not like to partake in this game, although he did lose many a time.

Collector’s comments: Although Craig did not think the game was important, I thought it was very interesting. I am curious if this game is popular throughout all of the branches of the military.

 

Recon Jack – Unit Mascot

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Title: Recon Jack – Unit Mascot

Informant info: Graham “Ossie” Osborn. Informant attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a United States Marine Corps Veteran. Informant was a member of the First Reconnaissance Battalion.

Type of lore: Customary/Verbal, Tradition, Ritual, Material Lore, Superstition, Toys

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Informant was interviewed at Dartmouth College. Informant was asked about a unit mascot.  He was in the US Marines in the First Recon Battalion and this is discussing their battalions unit mascot.

Associated file: https://www.dropbox.com/s/z1us1frzhrn0u2t/IMG_7545.MOV?dl=0

Transcript: Item: [I have recorded the item exactly how it was told to me in the interview]: Ours is called the “Recon Jack.” Marine Corps uniforms are different than every other kind of uniforms, because you are not supposed to be able to see that a marine is different. All marines are the same, whether they are a cook or machine gunner, but in the Recon units, you would have parachute wings, scuba bubbles if you’ve passed those courses. I don’t know if it’s traditions or rituals, but they clearly stick out when everybody’s uniform is the same. Anyone with “six marines,” which is an infantry unit they got to wear a cord that you see on some uniforms and they are the only one who were able to do that. Every unit has their own insignia, like the “Recon Jack” or “Masters of the Iron Horse” was the 2nd tank battalion or there was an Indian head for six marines. For first of the first which is first battalion first Marine Corps is a bull.

Informant’s comments: From the tone of the informants voice, the Recon Jack had a lot of history and fond memories associated with it.

Collector’s comments:  Ossie had a big smile on his face and fond memories while recalling “Recon Jack”

Deployment Tradition – Mohawks

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Title: Deployment Tradition – Mohawks

Informant info: Graham “Ossie” Osborn. Informant attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a United States Marine Corps Veteran. Informant was a member of the First Reconnaissance Battalion.

Type of lore: Customary/Verbal, Tradition, Ritual, Ceremony

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Informant was interviewed at Dartmouth College. Informant was asked about any tradition or rituals and discussed the tradition of cutting ones hair into a mohawk on deployment and then eventually cutting it down to regulation length.

Associated file: https://www.dropbox.com/s/z1us1frzhrn0u2t/IMG_7545.MOV?dl=0

Transcript: Item: [I have recorded the item exactly how it was told to me in the interview]: The only one I can really remember. I ended up going to the second recon battalion, for the first guys that would go oversees they would shave their head into Mohawks or shave them completely, because Mohawks were without regulation, but almost everyone shaved their head into Mohawks until they got called out on it, or they would wait until they got into country and on their first mission they would shave their heads into Mohawks, which is something that I think has just been passed down through the military, I don’t really know the background behind it except for airborne units did it in world war II. I remember a lot of people took part in that.

Informant’s comments: Life on Parris Island was tough, but taught the recruits what it meant to be a Marine.

Collector’s comments:  Informant was unsure of the superstition associated with the mohawk haircut, but knew that there was one.

Mascot – Barracks Barbie

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Title: Mascot – Barracks Barbie

Informant info: Matt Menezes. Informant attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a United States Army Veteran (2004-2013) . Informant was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and deployed twice to Afghanistan (2007-08, 2008-09) as well as spent two years as a drill sergeant for basic combat training (2011-13).

Type of lore: Customary/Verbal Folklore, Tradition, Ritual, Material Lore

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Informant was interviewed at Dartmouth College. Informant was asked about any rituals or mascots during their time in the military.  The Barracks Barbie was the 82nd Airbone Division’s unit Mascot. The informant here explained the mascot and discussed some memories related to the Barracks Barbie.

Associated file:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/11vv5a27kzlycgq/Dartmouth_Folklore_Collections_Matt_Menezes.mp4?dl=0

Transcript: Item: [I have recorded the item exactly how it was told to me in the interview]: One of the other rituals that has been passed down and this is sort of a new one is we actually have what is a barracks Barbie doll that goes everywhere with us. She was with us in the initial invasion to Iraq, she’s been through every deployment our unit has gone on since 2001. So she has all of her gear and you kind of assign it to someone to take care of.

Informant’s comments: The Barracks Barbie was a mascot that not only brought people together, but also was able to bring a needed joking and laughter to a very serious situation.

Collector’s comments: The Barracks Barbie is a great example of tradition that is passed along throughout a unit that is a means to share history and the roots of the unit.

Unit Song: Boots, Boots, Boots

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Title: Unit Song: Boots, Boots, Boots

Informant info: Matt Menezes. Informant attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a United States Army Veteran. Informant was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and deployed twice to Afghanistan as well as spent two years as a drill sergeant for basic combat training.

Type of lore: Customary/ Verbal, Tradition, Song, Lyrics, Chants

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Informant was interviewed at Dartmouth College. Informant was asked about any songs that they sung during their time in boot camp or while serving abroad. The informant laughed before they began speaking saying he didn’t remember all the words. The lyrics discuss the life in which the 82nd Airborne unit troops lived.

Associated file:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/11vv5a27kzlycgq/Dartmouth_Folklore_Collections_Matt_Menezes.mp4?dl=0

Transcript: [I have recorded the item exactly how it was told to me in the interview]: There is a song related to my unit. I don’t remember all of it, but I remember that it goes something like this: Put on your boots, boots, boots, and parachutes, chutes chutes, we’re going up, up up , we’re going down, down down, we’re all-American and proud to be. That’s all I remember.

Informant’s comments: He sang lots of songs during his time in the military, but did not remember the others or the words. 

Collector’s comments: Informant was nervous to sing, but had a smile on his face.  He also did the arm motion associated with the song. His arm at a right angle swinging across his body.