I am sure it was all in good fun...but is there really a rivalry that goes on between the Navy and Marines? Down at the Legion hall I use to hear the Navy Vets telling the Marines Vets from WWII...."well we had to haul your behinds all over the place" and the Marines would reply, "well we were protecting your behinds!" I use to hear my brothers a mixture of Navy & Marine Vets from Vietnam era always throwing back and forth really funny jabs between the two branches! I don't recall ever really hearing it with the Army or Air Force added just always the Navy & Marines. Thanks
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Todd Wilson > Ron MillerDecember 4, 2008 at 4:48pm
I want to chime in on what Tim was saying about "Trees and Ducks" getting along. Those jabs never bothered us. Marines always were respectful for the most part while on the ships and the same with Navy personel on Marine bases. While on shore leave,we would watch out for one another no matter what uniform you wore during the day. I think you see more of that overseas than compared to stateside. I used to train and party with Seal Teams in Coronado in San Diego and never once seen anything but respect for each other. When it comes to Navy and Marines vs Army,I never saw any love there though. We don't work around them much and they seem to have their own lingle just like us.
Now,I did hear stories about problems between Navy and Marines during the Vietnam War but that was before we ever enlisted. Stories of ships sounding "General Quarters" while Marines were on board and things like that but never during my time in the service.
I look at it this way,if two drunks want to go at it over something stupid like that,I want no part of it. There are more important things to fight about like this new form of Socialism that Obama is bringing into this country. First,take away all of your arms and then all of the last few rights that we have left. In fact,there is a lot of talk about Obama wanting to start a manatory draft. Yeah,lets train all the dummies,criminals,and gangbangers how to use military weapons so that they can be used on us later on. Alot of people sees this coming like a freight train wreck. Whatever differences Navy and Marines have had in the past should be left in the past. Brothers in arms always in my book.
Rebecca, you must be referring to our beloved brothers the marines who in all fun and deep respect also known as "Sea Going Bellhops." When I was in the Navy from 1967-1988, I had the privilege of making friends with a bunch of marines in Puerto Rico when the Carribbean Sea Command was active. On one occassion, the Marine Corps Commodant established a Marine Mascot which was a very loving bulldog. The Navy in turn established a very lovable goat. What transpired later was a friendly rivalry of who had the best mascots. It went so far that the bulldog was dognapped and threats were made to goatnapp our mascot. Eventually the missing bulldog was "located" and the goat never did get goatnapped. However, one poor marine who was assigned the task of walking the bulldog on a day that I happened to be out for a walk, sure was not happy about me bending down to pet their mascot and unfortunatley, the marine was seen by the Commodant and given a severe verbal reprimand. In Beirut, Lebanon in June 1983, the USS Virginia CGN-38 (Nuclear powered guided missile cruiser) was on patrol of the coast of Beirut. We had received permission to go ashore to Green Beach which was a Marine Beachhead. From there we went to the old Beirut Hilton hotel which had been livable again through extensive clean up from all the bombing and me and 50 of my shipmates were allowed to go down to the basement and rub elbows with marines assigned there. We shared photos and drank beer and had a good time. In October 1983 at approximately 4:00AM Beirut time, the Commanding Officer of the Virginia told the crew that the Marine BLT at the Beirut Hilton had been totally destroyed by a terrorist bomber. Now, I may poke fun at my fellow Marines, but I have never felt so angry at that cowardly attack on those Marines. I am constantly reminded of how dangerous our world really is and how fortunate that we have Marines, Sailors, Airman, Soldiers and Coast Guardsmen. I dearly miss the military service and especially my very dear friends that I met in the Beirut Hilton. May God continue to bless the USA and watch over all our brothers and sisters currently on active duty and those planning to join our armed forces. Thanks for letting me bend your ears. Ray
In 1988, My Navy Squadron was deployed for two weeks to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico for military ops along with other CVW squadrons. During the evening after work we occupied the base bar like the 'good' sailors we were. Little did we know that the Marines were also involved with military ops at the same time we were. As you can imagine, it only takes one Squid and one Jarhead to get things a bit wild especially when drinking gets involved or a woman is around. You know, Navy vs. Marine stuff with some taking it way too personal but it was all in good fun to bide the time. Well, that week the "Zoomies" rolled in, just in case, Zoomie: A pejorative term for Marines assigned to an aviation unit or all members of the Air Force. NOTE: We never called Marines Zoomies just the USAF members.
As I said, the Zoomies rolled into base and low and behold they showed up at the bar the first night on base. Now, the 'friendly' words of "love" between the Sailors and Marines did go from friendly to a bit heated but it was calmed down a bit until the USAF walked in. What I do remember, was some loud mouth Zoomie sounded off to one of my guys about how the USAF is so much better than the Navy and how their pilots can run circles around our pilots. UGH! Here we go....Now you know that this will not be a 'friendly' exchange and as soon as one of them confronted one of our sailors face to face, the Marines got up, stated and I quote " Are you messing with our brothers?" LOL
The night ended with MPs hauling out couple of people to the brig (Marine and sailors), some (Zoomies) to the base hospital, and the bar shutting down for the night. It was only 9 p.m. and no where to go.
Basically, yes, the we vs them is all in good fun but that example is one of many when the Marines and Navy, oops I mean, Navy and Marines band together when that time is needed. Hell, I remember a bunch of giving the Army members pure hell about transporting them more than the Marines. I am sure Army vs. Air Force exist as they were once one entity.
I have experienced the "Brown Shoes" vs "Black Shoes" rivalry. All in good fun! Well that is my take from a Brown Shoe Airdale Shellback. ;)
Would our resident jarhead like to add to the conversation?? lol
Thanks Tim....I found that quite humorous & it took me back to the laughter I shared listening to my Navy & Marine brothers at home. Great memories to bring forward in ones mind..thank you for the journey!
Replies
Now,I did hear stories about problems between Navy and Marines during the Vietnam War but that was before we ever enlisted. Stories of ships sounding "General Quarters" while Marines were on board and things like that but never during my time in the service.
I look at it this way,if two drunks want to go at it over something stupid like that,I want no part of it. There are more important things to fight about like this new form of Socialism that Obama is bringing into this country. First,take away all of your arms and then all of the last few rights that we have left. In fact,there is a lot of talk about Obama wanting to start a manatory draft. Yeah,lets train all the dummies,criminals,and gangbangers how to use military weapons so that they can be used on us later on. Alot of people sees this coming like a freight train wreck. Whatever differences Navy and Marines have had in the past should be left in the past. Brothers in arms always in my book.
As I said, the Zoomies rolled into base and low and behold they showed up at the bar the first night on base. Now, the 'friendly' words of "love" between the Sailors and Marines did go from friendly to a bit heated but it was calmed down a bit until the USAF walked in. What I do remember, was some loud mouth Zoomie sounded off to one of my guys about how the USAF is so much better than the Navy and how their pilots can run circles around our pilots. UGH! Here we go....Now you know that this will not be a 'friendly' exchange and as soon as one of them confronted one of our sailors face to face, the Marines got up, stated and I quote " Are you messing with our brothers?" LOL
The night ended with MPs hauling out couple of people to the brig (Marine and sailors), some (Zoomies) to the base hospital, and the bar shutting down for the night. It was only 9 p.m. and no where to go.
Basically, yes, the we vs them is all in good fun but that example is one of many when the Marines and Navy, oops I mean, Navy and Marines band together when that time is needed. Hell, I remember a bunch of giving the Army members pure hell about transporting them more than the Marines. I am sure Army vs. Air Force exist as they were once one entity.
I have experienced the "Brown Shoes" vs "Black Shoes" rivalry. All in good fun! Well that is my take from a Brown Shoe Airdale Shellback. ;)
Would our resident jarhead like to add to the conversation?? lol
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