SIR… In reply to some of the questions about where the word Ooorah may have originated… After a lot of research this explanation seems to be very good possibility… If anyone reads this and knows these facts not to be true please feel free to correct me…
It seems 1st Amphibious Recon can be credited with introduction of Ooorah sometime around 1953… Shortly after the Korean War Recon. Marines were serving aboard the USS Perch, a WW11 diesel Submarine retrofitted to carry Navy UDT and Recon Marines…
Whenever the Sub was to dive the 1MC would announce "Dive Dive"
followed by the AHUGA-AHUGA of the ships diving horns…
In 1953 or 54 while on a conditioning run Sgt. Major John R.
Massaro serving with the 1st Amphibious Recon Battalion simulated the AHUGA as part of the cadence… Legend has it he took it with him when he went to serve as Instructor at Drill Instructor School at San Diego, there he passed it on to the student D.I.s who in turn passed it on to their recruits where it eventually became part of Recon cadence…
Overtime the AHUGA sound morphed into OOORAH… Today the Official Marine Corps Reference Manual on the history of the Corps is titled… AHUGA…
Howard W.Kennedy USMC 1956 1962
In 1961 at San diego Marine Corps Training Gen.Krulak was CG.We never heard that,not saying it was not there just in our cadence it was never used.SemperFi is the only thing I remember.
Was on the field 59-61, never heard it, probably a Recon thing at that time.
in san Diego in plt. 177 in 67 never heard that said
After reading this post, I was thinking that did not sound very likely to me and the more I read the other responses, I am happy to see that I am not the only one to doubt this accounting. I served from July 1962 until October 1966 and never heard it. If there is anything about the story to be true, it must have been from the “Left Coast” since I served all my time on the Atlantic side of the world.
PI in ’64, never heard it
I was in from 10/65 to 10/69, PI…NAS Memphis…Nam ’66 to ’68 and New River ’68 to ’69. Never heard it !!! Same with the yellow footsteps, don’t remember ever seeing them either !!! Semper Fi … Do or Die !!!
Maybe all wrong…..1st time I herd it was, during a med cruse, and somewhere in the Mediterranean, 2 Marine jets were dispatched to an airbase either to Iran, or Iraq… Not knowing for sure, or which ship I was on, Was 1958, or 59..believe it was the USS Comstock…I know it was an LSD…These to jets were to take photo’s of the base in question, and hall ass back to the Carrier…The story was released all over the convoy.. Jet 1 to come in at, or near moc1, to shake the bushes, while jet2 crossed several seconds later with cameras full blown…they got a bonus when 2 hanger doors were open…Upon safe return of both jets, the fleet skipper asked/ordered (5) cheers for the 2 Flight officers…Hip Hip Hurrah, Our Marine Skipper just droped the 2 HIPs, and the h Geo. W.
Oh the Yellow Foot Prints were at San Diego in January 68 but I agree with this oorah not being around during my time. Maybe Recon? I’ll ask a couple friends next time I see them. I didn’t hear oorah until I started working with this latest generation of Marines. SF
I was in 1968-1972 and never heard it used once !
Not a better sound Sir!! I served from 1976-1996. Semper FI!!
I believe this to be a true statement from what I originally learned while serving with First Force Recon from 1961 to 66. I first heard it while with First Recon Bn. in the1960s during runs and the story of Sgt. Major Massaro and it’s inception.
I went into the Corp in 1960,and i never heard it ,went back into the Corp in 1966,and still had not heard it until the 80s,and i went thru San Diego,so i thought it originated in Paris Island.
Was in 1966 to end of 1969 (Vietnam August 1967 – Sept 1968: DMZ & Phu Bai areas) and Camp Lejeune after: never heard it.
’65 – ’69…I never heard it either, Bob. Maybe an East Coast thing. ~ Jim Robinson
I too was in from ’65 to ’69 and nvr heard it either.
We were taught this at S. D. In March 69. Our D. I. Would say OOHRAH and we all had to answer back until until he thought we were loud enough.
I went to boot camp in San Diego 09/1968 and never heard it thru 1972. I thought it to be a New Corps thing our scream was “Do or Die Semper FI”
I did boot in San Diego 6/70 – 9/70 and out of Corps end of 5/74 and I only heard it said once. That time was at a bachelor party outside of Camp LeJeune where several Recon Marines were attending as they would be the honor guard at the wedding the following day. They shouted it out a few times after some serious drinking but that was the only time I heard it. During boot we also screamed “Do or Die Semper Fi”, though it was changed by a DI replacement a couple of weeks before boot graduation to “Semper Fi Till I Die”. That last one always seemed redundant to me at least, since I had paid attention in that class at least and knew what Semper Fi means.
It must not have taken long to spread. I was in Feb6,74 and everyone was using it on the parade deck at MCRD San Diego.Semper Fi was usually used later when you got screwed over.
I was in from 1960 to 1964 and I never heard of it.
Used while at ITR Camp Gieger, NC 1970
I was in the Marine Corps 1959 until 1968 and I never heard it until I saw a Clint Eastwood movie. Our response was always “Gung Ho”.
I went through PI 1952, out 1954 and we always used “Gung Ho”, never heard any other response at duty stations. Has to be a Recon thing.
Had to have been an infantry thing. I spent nine years in the air wing (2nd & 3rd) and one tour in Saigon (MSG 1968) Never heard OOHRAH my whole time. Even so, love to hear it and say it.
Went through MCRD in 59. Served until 65 and never heard of it…
First time I heard the sound was when I reported in to 3rd Recon Bn in 1959 on Okinawa. I was walking past a group of Marines who were being talked to by a GySgt. Ever so often they would utter the sound which sounded like they were clearing their throat.
To Bob Dearborn, who sent in a comment. Your dates and locations you were in nam are pretty much like mine. By any chance were you in the 2nd Battalion, 26th marines ? I was in weapons platoon 60 mm, either in foxtrot or gulf company. Grunt all the way.
We also used OOHRAH in boot camp. San Diego, Plt 3172 Sept. 69..
I was in the CORPS ’66-70 and never heard it. Works well for me now but was new to me in the 80s
I was in from 1966 to 1968 never heard it when I was in the green machine .. Marines used phrases like gung-ho , chineese meaning “working together.” I was with suicide charley 1/7. Boot camp – San Diego
Anyone come across the term FUBAR, not sure where it came from, but it seems to tie in with SNAFU. Maybe some of you had heard them before.
fubar is fuc… up beyond all reason R M bulkfuel 1391 66 70
Hey Rob; I was bulkfuel 1391 75-79. You are the first time I heard 1391 since I got out.
And there was FUBIJAR. f U BUDDY I’M JUST A RESERVE.
Rob, 1391 class 66-11
Never heard it while in “Gung Ho” is what we used ,Grunt in the 2nd Marine Div. C Company and no where else, gotta be a new thing ,new Corps.Semper FI.
never heard it 1966 plt 1130 MCRDSD we only used Semper Fi
I served from 1958 to 1962, heard; Semper Fi, Gung Ho, etc. but never Oohrah. Also I believe the Yellow Footprints were at the train station in Yemassee, SC in 1958 but I’m not sure of it.
74 to 80 3077 plt Hollywood marine heard it in basic
Went thru MCRD Parris Island in 1972. We said it, as well as gung ho, and continued to say it during my 4 year tenure with Co. E, MarSptBn and 2nd Radio Battalion, 8th Marines at Camp Lejeune.
I was in from 56 to 59 and all we said in answer to Semper Fi: was Do or Die. Some said till I die. I prefer Till I Die.
Active duty ’64-’68, ‘Nam ’66-’67; reserves until ’84; never heard it. First time I heard Oorah was in the early 2000’s, from my son-in-law, who served in the 80s.
I was with 2/5 in 61 and we never said that & got out in 69 and don’t remember that ever being said.
well, you know it doesn’t really matter, does it?? when WE say it, it tells EVERYBODY “back-off, I WILL hurt you!!!” it was just as true in 1965 at P.I. as it is in 2016 at S.D.!! it is and forever shall be both a greeting from one Marine to another, and a warning to those who just might be STUPID!!! LOCK AND LOAD!!!!!!!
When I went through boot camp MCRDSD in 1957 it was, aye, aye sir and sad to say the Army was using that way before that. Was pissed we copied from the Army.
the navy has been saying aye aye since the navy was formed and they got it from the English navy
Army sez AAwah!! My son and his platoon in Army boot camp said it, sounded kind of sissy fided the way they said it! I heard the new Marines Say just RAHH! Jack Hartzel Echo 2/9 67-69 0331
Army says “Hooaah!”.
Went through PI in ’62, got out in ’66. Never heard it while I was in. But it seems a solid part of the Corp’s language now, and that’s great.
Graduated 24 June 1968 never heard Oohrah before early 2000’s. I remember hearing it for the first time wondering WTF? The more I heard it, the more ‘Oohrah’ grew on me. I thought I had missed something.
In from ’58 thru ’64. Never heard “OOHRAH”. SNAFU originated in WW II’. “FUBAR” (F***ED UP BEYOND ALL RECONITION) came later I think: heard frequently, More concise & more to the point.
In from 1966 – 70. In Vietnam 67-69 I never heard OORAH until the 80’s. We used Gung Go and Semper Fi from MCRD San Diego to Oak Knoll Naval Hospital and Treasure Island uwhere I was discharged. I like the above explanation of where OORAH came from – sounds reasonable. We use it in Marine Corp League and any Marines I meet.
68-72. Nope, never never heard it. Heard a lot of other things, but “do or die” xstill imprinted.
I was from May 1950 till my discharge in 1958. I didn’t hear it then but have using oorah for a very long time. When a marine says Semper Fi to me I respond with oorah. My rememberance of how it began is the same as what Sgt Kennedy explained.
I don’t think ” OOHRAH ” was ever spoken in any of the Gomer Pyle, USMC episodes & they started in 1964.I’m sure , if it was widely used, the writers would have used it.
I too went through boot camp in 1961 at San Diego, never heard oorah. It was gung ho. In fact I never heard it until I joined the Marine Corps League about 5 years ago.
Rex Spraggins, I served 1953 – 1963 never heard it until after discharge, was in platoon 36 MCRD. Asked many times what happen to Gung Ho, no one could tell me
I was in 2nd Recon Battalion at Camp LeJeune from 58 to 60, never heard “OOHRAH” there.
first heard this at staging battalion at Camp Pendleton in June 1970 from 2 Recon Marines who were assigned with our unit. We were forming up headed out to RVN
went thru bootcamp at san diego july 1963 plt 348 would love to hear from anyone that was there.richard l mingione, from toledo ohio
I was in the MC from 61-65 and never heard this so, finally I asked my bro. who retired as GySgt from the corps. This was about 4 years ago and he gave the same answer that Kennedy states at start of this article. I know I’m gonna start some shit but, I did ask him if the 2nd or 3rd battalions might have started this cause our DIs at MCRD would tell us that the 2nd and 3rd would do all kinds of monkey shit. Still laughing……………Semper Fi
I never heard this until I was assigned with 3rd Recon Bn. in 1970 prior to going to RVN. I thought it was a recon thing. After my discharge in 1972 I went back into the USMCR 1984 and then OORAH was widely used.
In the Corps from 66 through 69. Never heard it once. Ever….no matter what unit I was in or where I was stationed. It was strictly an Army thing and no Marine would ever be caught dead using it.
Are all of you telling me that the Marines are copying the Army. Shame…a damn shame. It still sounds horrible to me coming out of the mouth of Marines. Disgusting Army garbage.
Cpl. the Army is “HOOWAH” not “OORAH”. I have many friends who were in the Army and they say “HOOWAH”.OORAH was a recon thing even before your tour.
I entered boot camp in Jan. 1969 and never heard it. I was in Nam ’69 and ’70 – 1st Recon Bn, Bravo Company and never heard it there either. But I use it a lot now.
I was stationed with a buddy at 8th & I (Silent Drillteam) in 1953. He transferred out mid 1953 and went to Recon on the West Coast. He explained to me at a later date as we only live 15 miles apart that the recon group used it while he was stationed there. Myself I still use Semper-Fi
I was in 63 to 67 and never heard Oohrah until my son graduated boot camp in the mid ’80s.
I was in San Diego from I978 to 1981 heard it all throughout Boot Camp
I was at PI April 1963 and then Camp LeJune 63 / 64 and never heard OORAH. I first heard it in the 90’s when a fellow marine used it. I think it must have started being used late 70’s or early 80’s Semper Fi
Cpl. G. Suniga 63-69 plt 280 MCRD. Never heard until my Gsgt nephew retired in 2000. In Nam from late 63-65 two tours never heard it. 0361
Firstvi heard it was at the 3rd. Maf brig in Danang,the prisoners would rake there canteen vups on yhe fence and yell hoorah to invite a riot, which they did and burnt the compound to the ground in i believe in 67. Bob sweeney I 3/4 1968 and 1969
I was in 1961 – 1964, never heard it ! Gung Ho was used though !
san dego nov 68 never heard it in bc first heard in 80s 68-72
Served from ’58 to ’63 never heard ooorah! Come to think of it never heard of amphibious recon either.
Why does’t somebody just ask the SgtMaj. He lives in Utah. I found him in the white pages. Damn good Marine,
Served from 1959 through 1965 never heard it. We said Semper Fi
Served 54-57 and never heard it though I like it and use it as others when responding to someone’s Semper Fi.
P.I. 1963, I never heard it during my four years. Only many years later.
Never heard the term when I was in from “60” to “64”. I think it may have originated when some doggie stubbed his toe on the way to the gee dunk. Ooorah that hurt. At least it sounds like a doggie term to me. Real Marines growled like animals and never acknowledged pain.
Was at Camp Geiger 1969 and heard oohrah from the recon.
In 1950 the call was GUNG-HO
I never heard it until I went to my local lumber store. The kid who worked there saluted me said HOOORA WHEN HE SAW MY USMC TRUCK STICKER. That was 1986. Joined the MARINES when they sent me my DRAFT NOTICE IN 1965.. MY BROTHER IN LAW CONVINCED ME. HE WAS A MARINE IN LEBONION BACK 1957 OR 1958 OR 1959. HE AND A BUDDY WERE THE ONLY TWO MARINES CAPTURED IN THAT ACTION. I still won’t let him forget it. MY MOTHER WOULD NOT SPEAK TO HIM DURING MY TOUR IN NAM. THAT WAS BACK IN 1966 THRU 1967 AND PART OF 1968. I was stationed at DANANG WITH THE FIRST1ST MAW AS A GROUNG SUPPORT TECH WORKING ON THE FIGHTER JETS. I DID SURVIVE TET I.THINK. STILL HAVE THE GREAT MEMORIES OF THAT TIME THERE AND THE PEOPLE I KNEW. THE BEST FRIENDS I EVER HAD OR WILL HAVE. ANYONE WHO WAS THERE AND WORKED IN THAT GROUND SUPPORT .SHOP PLEASE CONTACT ME AT BMCARRON@AOL.COM. NO WANT A BE’S PLEASE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ” SEMPER FI” TO ME AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE. LOVE ALL YOU MARINES NEW AND OLD. WE ARE THE BEST FIGHTING FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE NEVER MIND THE WORLD. HAVE A FEW BEERS ON ME. I CERTINLY WILL. GREAT TALKING TO YOU ALL. BRENDAN McCarron. LANCE CORP BECAUSE I TRYED TO BEAT UP ALL AIRFORCE GUYS AT THEIR CLUB AT DANANG DURING A GOING HOME PARTY FOR SGT BELL. LOVED IT ALL.
I went through MCRD San Diego in 1970; the way Ooorah was used then was if another Marine pasted you and said Simper Fi you answered with Ooorah! I still use it that way today! Simper Fi Brothers!
I went into the Corps and did my boot training at Parris Island in 1960 and I was in until 1964.I never heard ooorah the only thing I heard was Gung Ho or Semper Fi
I was in from 52 to 55 never heard it, just Gung Ho.
i served 76′ to 82′ i was always under the understanding that Ooorah replaced ‘KILL’ when mothers complained the the corp was teaching there children to kill. this all happened at the end of the Nam incident. went through SD
Platoon 269,mcrd san diego,sept.59-sept-63,never heard this oorah or hoorah or whatever,sounds like something the army thought up.semper fi was good emnough for me and 57 years later still is
in, in ’51, on left arm under EAG are the words “GUNG HO”…..ooorah to that.
From ’56 to ’61, I never heard “ooh-rah”. Never heard of “yellow footprints” either. Must have been too busy trying to keep my azz out of troublle. I remember SNAFU (Situation Normal , All F..ked Up) . . . FUBAR: (F..ked Up Beyond All reason) . . .and then there was BOHICA: (Bend Over, Here It Comea Again).
78 Parris Island: DIs used it all the time. 2md Recon, we used it in PT, greeting one another, or answering the CO or 1st Sgt. I tell it out loud when I see any Marine in uniform. I was told in Baghdad in 2004 by a young Marine they were told not to say that anymore. WTF? Like many here I still use it. Its a part of me. M
P.I. ITR, BST Camp Geiger in 1966, Staging at Camp Pendleton in ’67. M 3/7 1st Mar Div Grunt in RVN 1967-1968, A 1/2 2nd Mar Div. ’68-’69. Never heard it. Gung Ho or Do or Die, Semper Fi, Can Do! Can Do! was the MCRD Parris Island jargon in ’66. Never heard it used in a running chant. Lo ada Lo used in marching cadence. We chanted while running on Med Criuse “We have been to Vietnam, we have killed the Viet Cong. Blood and Guts, Blood and Guts. Kill! Kill! Kill!” Aussie tourists loved it and cheered us as we passed by their docked cruise ship in Spain while stomping our feet to a running cadence call of “Let me hear your left foot go and then let me hear your right foot go and let hear your both feet go. Makes a great impression when a Company of Marines does it all at once. Very loud and forceful. First heard the term Oooh Rah in the late 1980s.
PLT 2113 San Diego 8/70–11/70, never heard that. We barked, WOOF WOOF WOOF !!!!!!Or KILL KILL KILL !!!!! First time I heard Ohh-rah was a flick at the movie show.
63-66 WEST 2MAW 1MAW 1341 1st time I heard it was on NCIS. I found ‘nunc et semper’ a reasonable response to the greeting Semper Fi. The translation is ‘now and always’, or ‘nor and forever’. On occasion OOORAH does occur as a response To Semper Fi.
I got out in 58 and never heard it, just gung ho and semper fi.
gil archuleta & cwo3 cavanaugh are close. i was in 3rd recon bn. & 3rd force recon in Nam ’68-’69. we never actually wrote it but “ooorah” was more of a gutteral or throaty expression used on many occasions, usually after completing some physical exertion or a long run.just recon’s way of not showing pain. when i attended Army jump school the SEAL candidates used “who ya” & later the Army used “who ah” to copy us. recon Marines certainly don’t copy the Army as Cpl claimed. “oorah became more widespread after i got out & spread to the rest of the Corps. that’s fine, just remember Recon started it !!
I never heard that saying till I met the then SSGT R. Lee Ermy in Boston, although he may be a good one to ask. I was in MCRD-PI 1957 and most of the Drill Instructors were using the term “GUNG HO” Chinese for “All Together” so I have it tattooed below my Fighting Devil Dog with Camo Steel Pot and K-Bar in mouth. I know the Army uses the term “HooRah” a lot in the Airborne units. SNAFU & FUBAR was also used in the late 50’s So was “Dirt Bag” I think we were all lower than whale shit any way at the time.
This comment is for Tony Guzman and Bob Dearborn: 1st, Tony; is your first name Oscar by chance, and do you live in or near San Marcos, TX?? Reason I ask is, I was w/Fox, 2ndBatt, 26th Marines from Khe Sanh all the way through the “77 day” siege and more. I knew an Oscar Guzman, however he was in Hotel company. To Bob; were you in RVN and with 26th Marines?? If so, you and Tony should join the Khe Sanh Veterans association. Our 26th Marine Regiment Chaplain, Ray W. Stubbe started this organization back in 1983 and we would like to have you join us. BTW, you do not need to have been @Khe Sanh to join.Gary Ross, F/2/26, RVN Jan ’68 till May ’70.
65 to 68; booth camp P.I. in 65 the only thing we screamed was kill V C.
’65-’69 – Hollywood Marine. 35 months overseas including 29 months in Nam – never heard it
Sgt. D. Massuto. 67to71 Vietnam 70 Never heard it
At PI in ’72, our “Hats” employed OOO-RAH as a cadence maintenance “filler” between the usual double-time cadence calls, and, as a “gut check” (the old “I can’t hear you, Ladies” drill) during PT. I estimate OOO-RAH will endure long after I am pulling guard duty Upstairs. As Jar Heads, might we at least recognize a common spelling for the expression? Starting with agreement that THERE IS NO FORKING “H” IN “OOO-RAH”! The first syllable is like “coot”, or, “boot”, minus the consonants. Not like “dough”, or, “blow”. Or, “oh”, followed most frequently by “my”. Sound it out, Leathernecks. It’s OOO-RAH! Say it loud, say it proud.
MSgt Monak, It looks to me as though there really is an ‘H’ in ‘OOO-RAH’… right there as tail-end Charley; but I do understand your intention. I went through boot camp at PI, 7May71-16Aug71 (including a month at Naval Hospital Beaufort with pneumonia). I never heard OOO-RAH once at PI in either 3rd or 2nd Recruit Battalions. But regarding the yellow footprints: I clearly recall exiting the civilian bus in the dead of night (at the ‘gentle suggestions’ of the Drill Instructor who boarded the bus), and standing on the yellow footprints outside the wooden temporary WWII platoon forming barracks. Not having heard OOO-RAH during my time in the Corps (71-77), I don’t feel comfortable using the term, but I gladly accept other brothers doing so as yet another proud USMC tradition.
Sgt S. Farley. 1966-70. Vietnam 2/68-3/69. VMA-214 BLACKSHEEP Ordnance. The first time I heard OORAH was at my nephew’s MCRD graduation in the early 80’s. Scared the crap out of me when all the graduates came to attention yelling in unison, OOO RAH!!! By the way my Army friend says “HOORAH” to me — the Army’s way, each morning when we come to work. Just saying.
Sgt. W.McGrath went to P.I. in 63, LeJune till 65, P.I. again as permanent personal till 66, Nam till 67. Never heard it and never saw yellow footprints either time I was stationed at P.I.
I was in ’70 to ’74. Went thru San Diego for boot camp Plt 2128. I sure do remember the yellow footprints. They were everywhere. Don’t remember any ‘oorah’s anywhere. I remember reading a novel about Army paratroops where the doggies used the term “oorah”. It was always ‘semper fi’ wherever I went, but then I was never near any recon marines. Might have been different for them. I was stuck at El Toro for my entire enlistment. I know, I know. ” Soft duty.
62 TO 66 PLT 368 PI. Did not hear it in that period. Stan Siok (CPL)
75 To 79 PLT 202 PI . Used Extensively throughout boot camp and during my time at Memphis, Cherry Point, Jacksonville, Okinawa, and Atlanta.
I heard it & said it plenty, from camp lejeun to 1st recon in danang Nov.68 to 69
60-63 and never heard it. Queustion on the uni also. When did USMC start using the gold spread jump wings? Pretty sure it was much later.