"Desert Storm 101st Style" by SFC Peter G. Varisano

Ooohrah?

By SSgt Stover

HOOOAAH VS OOORAH JOKE... Rivalries between the services are legendary, of course, but the soldiers of the Army and the Marines of the Corps do have one thing in common: They both make funny noises. Which is endearing, because most of what they do for a living isn’t the least bit funny. We were at dinner and a General was holding forth on the challenges facing the Army in the post-Cold War World, when from the back of the room came this grunting, coughing sound as if someone was struggling with a belch or was about to hurl and came out with a "Hoooahh". One too many toddies before dinner, I assumed. Then it happened again. Another guy. "Hoooahh". Then another. And another. I soon learned this is the Army’s equivalent of shouting "Amen, brother!" in church. Depending on how you say it, "Hoooahh" means "right on". Or it means "damned shame, ain’t it." For all I know, it can also mean, "pass the ketchup." It can mean anything but "NO!!" Marines, likewise, do the same thing. Only theirs is "Ooorah!" "Men we’re going on a 20-mile run." "Ooorah!" "Then, we’re going to do 500 pushups." "Ooorah!" "Then we are doing a complete Junk On the Bunk and weapons inspection." "Ooorah!" "Then we will go out to the field for 20 days, no showers and no hot chow. " "Ooorah!" "Afterwards, when we get back, I’m buying the beer." "Ooorah!" This sometimes comes out sounding like "Aauuaghhh!" kind of like "Ah-uoh-aghh!" "Ah" as in opening your mouth for the doctor, "uoh" as in getting punched in the stomach and not expecting it and "aghh" as in you just got out of a cold pool and slipped into a Jacuzzi that’s set to hot. The Navy has a catchy little phrase and its just "Liberty Call", or "Beer" or "Women" or "Chow." This depends on what is happening at the time. Since the Air Force was the next stop on our tour, I asked an Air Force Major If members of his service were into this kind of noise making when they are excited or highly motivated. Your guys have something they say? I asked. Sure, he replied. "Fore." 

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