Is it okay to say to a Marine: "Semper Fi"?

[REM 3200]

As a "looks older than he really is" teenager, when I went to "family nights" at my father's lodge, every Mason I met shook hands with me the same way. As a result, I believe I know the "secret Masonic handshake".

In a friendly tone I have to tell you that I am 99.999999% positive that you don't. Sorry.

 

[Mydogmax]

If someone says Semper Fi to me, The first thing I ask, Are you a Marine.
And Oooha is Army, OooooRah Is Marine....
And no I don't get offended if a civi tells me Semper Fi.

OooooRah must have came after my day . Left in 1968.
Never once heard it.

 

[richardw]

OooooRah must have came after my day . Left in 1968.
Never once heard it.

I joined in '59. Never heard the term OORAH until i went through recon training in '69. Learned its origin was with 1st Amphib recon team in 1952 in Korea. The team was making submarine accesses to areas of interest. They were taken by the claxon horn when the sub dove. It sounded like AARUGHA, AARUGHA: Dive, Dive. The recon team began to use that sound as get-go rally cry. By the time I was in recon it had evolved into OORAH. It was not in general use until later. As I recall it began to take hold in the mid 70's and slowly gravitated Corps wide over a decade. It was very common when I retired in '89.

 

[jimbo728]

I joined in '59. Never heard the term OORAH until i went through recon training in '69. Learned its origin was with 1st Amphib recon team in 1952 in Korea. The team was making submarine accesses to areas of interest. They were taken by the claxon horn when the sub dove. It sounded like AARUGHA, AARUGHA: Dive, Dive. The recon team began to use that sound as get-go rally cry. By the time I was in recon it had evolved into OORAH. It was not in general use until later. As I recall it began to take hold in the mid 70's and slowly gravitated Corps wide over a decade. It was very common when I retired in '89.

Richard, My oldest brother joined Marine Corps in `60. Retired after 24 yrs. He had the same arm full of stripes as you and he was a Richard too. Thanks for reminding me of him.. Very impressive
Lost him about 6 yrs ago. I have some fond memories.
Thanking you for service is an understatement.
Jim

 

[Cadillac84]

I'm a Marine -- well, an old one (80), but I'm active in the Marine Corps League and I have a bunch of identifying stuff on my car (nobody said we were modest!). When someone says, "Semper Fi" to me, it tells me that something I have done made that person know that I was a Marine and that I was proud of it. You see me; go ahead. I take it always as a token of respectful greeting. One of my favorite "greeters" is a formerly active Ranger. He can Semper Fi me all day!


On the other hand, I use it another way and that may confuse the issue some. When I'm filling up my car, and I see a person whom I identify as a Marine, I'll "Semper Fi" him/her and usually that person will assume that I also am a Marine. But, I am NEVER offended by the greeting whether from a Marine, "other" branch veteran, or a civilian. When someone says it to me, I assume that person knows that I consider it a special greeting and it is almost never said by someone who is also pointing a gun at me or swinging a fist!

 

[Cadillac84]

OORAH, and Semper Fi, MGySgt. I joined the Corps in 1960 and served active for 4½ years. Never heard "OORAH" until I joined the League and heard lots of other Marines saying it. I like it, and I will greet other Marines with it and it always gets a return OORAH. The whole thing about "Once a Marine, Always a Marine" is part of that "mentality" that does make us different.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

IMHO it's internal to the Marines, they are a chapter within the larger fraternity of military and veterans. I am familiar with some aspects of Freemasonry practices and greetings but as a non-Mason I have no right to use them. I have many Jewish friends but I do not wish them a "Happy New Year" at Rosh Hashanah.
Years ago I was spending the afternoon with a friend (gone alas) and his girlfriend. We were kidding each other about our service experiences-he had been in the National Guard before going into the Marines. Finally his girlfriend said:
"Are you going to let him keep calling you a jarhead ?"
"He has the right to do that-he's a doggie !"
BTW there is such a thing as an ex-Marine. It's someone who received an OTH discharge.

 

[rubiranch]

Personally I never would.

I think it would be trying to put myself up to their level, which I'm not.

 

[timjake]

Resurrected 6 year old thread