Oorah origins story
MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C.(Oct. 29, 2004) -- "Oorah!"
Marines hear it each and every day. Ingrained into Marine minds since boot camp, this distinctly Marine call is barked back and forth in an almost endless stream of motivation. However, take a step back and ask that Marine, "where did 'Oorah' come from exactly?"
The answer is rarely the same. Countless stories abound regarding the mysterious origins of our beloved phrase.
However, unlike many Marine traditions, "Oorah" is rather new. As any veteran of the past 50 years would say, no Marine before 1950 could be found saying it. The true popularization of the word came in the '80s and '90s, when it fully emerged from the murky secrecy of Marine reconnaissance through drill instructors and by other means into use by Marines around the world.
"As far as I had been told, 'Oorah simply means 'let's kill,'" said Staff Sgt. Hugo Monroy, drill instructor for Platoon 1094, Delta Co., 1st RTBn. "As far as its origin, I really don't know. I always assumed it was simply a Marine tradition that was passed down from Marine to Marine."
The stories of "Oorah's" origins range from the logical to the absurd, including stories such as it being Turkish for kill, which is in fact ?ld?rmek, or even simply a direct counter against the Army's "Hooah."
But where did the word really come from?
Marines and historians have determined the true origins of "Oorah" lie with recon Marines stationed in Korea in 1953. During this time, reconnaissance Marines in the 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Co., found themselves traveling via submarine to where they were needed. The memorable call of "dive, dive!" would be called on the intercom and a klaxon alarm, which made a very distinct "Aarugha" sound, would announce the descent of the sub below water.
The recon Marines, who heard this sound often, started using it as a motivational tool during runs and physical training. Over time, the word "Aarugha" came to be too much of a mouthful, and eventually molded itself into the familiar "Oorah," according to Maj. Gary Marte, a retired Marine.
Confirmation for this version of the story rests with the official Marine Corps Training Reference Manual on the history of Marine recon, titled "Aarugha," the manual gives credence on the origination of the phrase with reconnaissance Marines.
"Oorah" is just one of the things that separates Marines from any other branch of service, and has become a part of our lasting history.
"It is the traditions, the history, that makes Marines stand out," said Aulton Kohn, Parris Island Museum information receptionist. "The stories passed from drill instructor to recruit, and from Marine to Marine, they add the color to the Corps."
www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/eeaec65e52f6343a85256f3b00518e2d?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,Oorah
Marines hear it each and every day. Ingrained into Marine minds since boot camp, this distinctly Marine call is barked back and forth in an almost endless stream of motivation. However, take a step back and ask that Marine, "where did 'Oorah' come from exactly?"
The answer is rarely the same. Countless stories abound regarding the mysterious origins of our beloved phrase.
However, unlike many Marine traditions, "Oorah" is rather new. As any veteran of the past 50 years would say, no Marine before 1950 could be found saying it. The true popularization of the word came in the '80s and '90s, when it fully emerged from the murky secrecy of Marine reconnaissance through drill instructors and by other means into use by Marines around the world.
"As far as I had been told, 'Oorah simply means 'let's kill,'" said Staff Sgt. Hugo Monroy, drill instructor for Platoon 1094, Delta Co., 1st RTBn. "As far as its origin, I really don't know. I always assumed it was simply a Marine tradition that was passed down from Marine to Marine."
The stories of "Oorah's" origins range from the logical to the absurd, including stories such as it being Turkish for kill, which is in fact ?ld?rmek, or even simply a direct counter against the Army's "Hooah."
But where did the word really come from?
Marines and historians have determined the true origins of "Oorah" lie with recon Marines stationed in Korea in 1953. During this time, reconnaissance Marines in the 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Co., found themselves traveling via submarine to where they were needed. The memorable call of "dive, dive!" would be called on the intercom and a klaxon alarm, which made a very distinct "Aarugha" sound, would announce the descent of the sub below water.
The recon Marines, who heard this sound often, started using it as a motivational tool during runs and physical training. Over time, the word "Aarugha" came to be too much of a mouthful, and eventually molded itself into the familiar "Oorah," according to Maj. Gary Marte, a retired Marine.
Confirmation for this version of the story rests with the official Marine Corps Training Reference Manual on the history of Marine recon, titled "Aarugha," the manual gives credence on the origination of the phrase with reconnaissance Marines.
"Oorah" is just one of the things that separates Marines from any other branch of service, and has become a part of our lasting history.
"It is the traditions, the history, that makes Marines stand out," said Aulton Kohn, Parris Island Museum information receptionist. "The stories passed from drill instructor to recruit, and from Marine to Marine, they add the color to the Corps."
www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/eeaec65e52f6343a85256f3b00518e2d?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,Oorah
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I heard explanations for both hooah and oorah today from a female coastie that made me laugh so hard I almost passed out...
Mike0 -
Pretty good account. Thank you, Mike. The call has been popular throughout much of the Corps since the 60s when non-recon type Marines began using it as well.
The shout, sounding something like "Aahuga" was sounded with a great amount of enthusiasm and emphasis, generally with the first and last syllables receiving the sharpest sound of the three, i.e. AhhhUUUUUUGah! or AhOOOOOOOOGa! When stated in this manner it was always loud, guttural, and often personalized by the individual with a unique sounding twist or two somewhere in the mix. Upon greeting another Brother up close it was customarily said in a soft, quite manner, i.e. ooora/uuura - this by the 60s as well. It began spreading about the middle of the NAM years - late 60s and early 70s, which is the time that I was a DI in San Diego, where we taught it to some recruits. And later as I recall, the sound had pretty much gone by the wayside to the type of "OoRah! sound heard today - although I did teach my HS ROTC students the Old Call in the 80s and 90s. I never heard the Army's Hooah sound until the 80s came along. Don't know it's history.0 -
army, only wishing to be at the level of marines....tried to copy it with who-ya....in use today. 0 -
Oorah is only hooah with a **** in your mouth
Oorah in only hooah while you gargle on a sailors ****
I heard these from a young female coastie and thought it was pretty damn funny - she says there are a dozen variations
Pretty salty
I did find the origin story fascinating - I had never heard it before
Mike0 -
mrmike08075 could you be a little more crude than that. 0 -
You panty waist wanna bees have no frinking clue where the Army Ranger Hooah comes from.
As a member of that e-lite fighting force let me enlighten your sorry asses:
If you have ever seen the movie "The Longest Day" you will have seen the origin of this phrase(Oh and for your edification this was during WW2 which was before Korea so that means Hooah predates the dumb ass jarhead aooogh or what ever it is). Robert Mitchum plays the part of MG Cota.
Major General Norman Daniel "Dutch" Cota, Sr was the assistant Division Commander of the 29th DIV on Omaha Beach(No Marines were there BTW)he is an original badass too because he was highest ranking guy to land in the 1st waves.
Well it just so happened that the 29th had landed in a bad spot and were getting thier ass shot off.
Well Omar Bradly saw all this going on and was about to pull the plug when Gen Cota found the leader of the Rangers from 2nd and 5th BN who were on Omaha getting their asses shot of too and told them:
Rangers Lead The Way!!!!!
That is our moto now if you didn't know that.
And with all the mortar bombs and MG-42 fire going on the commander of the Rangers said:
Who Us?
But with all the crap flying around it sounded like:
HOOHA!!
Everyone thought man those Rangers are some big balled badass muthers yelling Hooah and charging MG-42's............
And that you bunch a Jarheaded knuckle dragging morines and wannabees is where the Hooah came from.
BTW all the marines did on D-day was play Navy Bellhop which is what most of them do on any given day[:0]
[:D][:D]0 -
And so the fight started! 0 -
I always thought the gung ho origins story was a pretty good one...
It's one of my favorites anyway...
Mike0 -
quote:Originally posted by Sam06
You panty waist wanna bees have no frinking clue where the Army Ranger Hooah comes from.
As a member of that e-lite fighting force let me enlighten your sorry asses:
If you have ever seen the movie "The Longest Day" you will have seen the origin of this phrase(Oh and for your edification this was during WW2 which was before Korea so that means Hooah predates the dumb ass jarhead aooogh or what ever it is). Robert Mitchum plays the part of MG Cota.
Major General Norman Daniel "Dutch" Cota, Sr was the assistant Division Commander of the 29th DIV on Omaha Beach(No Marines were there BTW)he is an original badass too because he was highest ranking guy to land in the 1st waves.
Well it just so happened that the 29th had landed in a bad spot and were getting thier ass shot off.
Well Omar Bradly saw all this going on and was about to pull the plug when Gen Cota found the leader of the Rangers from 2nd and 5th BN who were on Omaha getting their asses shot of too and told them:
Rangers Lead The Way!!!!!
That is our moto now if you didn't know that.
And with all the mortar bombs and MG-42 fire going on the commander of the Rangers said:
Who Us?
But with all the crap flying around it sounded like:
HOOHA!!
Everyone thought man those Rangers are some big balled badass muthers yelling Hooah and charging MG-42's............
And that you bunch a Jarheaded knuckle dragging morines and wannabees is where the Hooah came from.
BTW all the marines did on D-day was play Navy Bellhop which is what most of them do on any given day[:0]
[:D][:D]
Actually that "Who us?" Was at Bella Wood in WW1, and what came out of all the noise and confusion was "yOOOR A!" and the rest was history! [:o)] [:D]0 -
It is what it has become, a battle cry of universal US freedom fighters.
Like a bugle signal call, a new way to rally spirits to go fight and win.0 -
In the Navy we had a different battle call if I remember correctly.
Usually "I'll have another" which was often followed by "she ain't that fat"0 -
quote:Actually that "Who us?" Was at Bella Wood in WW1, and what came out of all the noise and confusion was "yOOOR A!" and the rest was history!
And your old ass was there[;)]
[:o)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Sam06
quote:Actually that "Who us?" Was at Bella Wood in WW1, and what came out of all the noise and confusion was "yOOOR A!" and the rest was history!
And your old ass was there[;)]
[:o)]
[:D] HAHAHA! A hearty good morning to you, Sam!!!!!! [:D]0 -
And too you as well sir! 0
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