Author Archives: Patrick Cleland

Blood Wings

Nationality: United States
Age: 85
Occupation: Major General (retired)
Residence: Melbourne, Florida
Performance Date: 4/18/13
Primary Language: English

The informant is a military veteran who served for thirty seven years. He retired a two star major general, a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Silver Star Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal with oak leaf cluster. He is a Master Parachutist and served in the 503rd Parachute Infantry and the 187th Regimental Combat Team.

This is a tradition practiced by the Army Rangers and it occurs upon completion of Ranger school. The informant recalls that once he had made the required amount of jumps out of a plane and fulfilled basic training requirements, he received this a pin similar to the one pictured below.

Airborne Badge

Protruding from the other side of the badge, opposite where the two stars are located, are  two sharp rods which are meant to go through the uniform and be inserted into a safety catch on the inside of the shirt. When the informant was first presented with the badge, however, these safety catches were not used. Instead, the rods went through the uniform and the officer who put the pin on would strike the pin with his palm so as to puncture the skin, giving the new member “blood wings”

This tradition has been around for a long time, according to the informant, and is very meaningful. It occurs at a liminal moment, when one goes from being a trainee to an  acknowledged Army Ranger. It is the culmination of  great deal of hard work. The wound inflicted will leave a scar, symbolising the permanace of this position. Now, if they are ever questioned as to the legitimacy of their status as a Ranger, they can show the scars. Also, it makes the moment of graduation, which is a happy one, more memorable. When they see the scars, it will remind them of the moment they graduated. It is also a test of discipline and will power to withstand the pain of being jabbed in the chest by two sharp rods.

 

“Pop It Up, Take Big Bites, Make Sandwiches”

Nationality: United States
Age: 56
Occupation: Attorney
Residence: Corning, New York
Performance Date: 3/14/13
Primary Language: English
Language: Korean, German, French

The informant is a former Army Ranger who attended West Point Military Academy from 1975-1979. During his time, he was taught many traditions and secrets that were exclusive to the army.

The phrase “Pop it up, take big bites, make sandwiches” was one of such phrases heard at West Point. A “plebe” is a first year student at the academy. If you heard this from a superior officer while you were a plebe, it was a very good thing. It meant that whatever good deed you had done had earned you certain privildges. “Pop it up” was referring to one’s chest. They should stand tall and proud with their chest out for what they had done. The next two phrases have to do with the rules that were enforced on plebes while eating. Like many aspects of being a plebe, these rules were strict and often absurd, but intended to teach discipline. While eating, plebes had to cut up all of their food into small pieces, even things as small as Cheerios. Thus, the instruction to “take big bites” meant that they no longer had to abide by this rule. When sandwhich fixings were available, they were not allowed to make them, instead eating the meat, bread, and cheese individually. Hearing this phrase, however, voided this rule. The informant notes, though, that there were still other required rituals which had to be observed.

The informant remembers this phrase because it was always his goal to hear it. Now, he uses it himself in situations other than eating. Thus, phrase has transcended its original purpose and now is taken as simply a compliment or substitute for saying “good job” no matter the context. Although the rules may have been harsh, the informant cites traditions like this phrase as reasons that West Point helped him succeed.

The Silver Salute

Nationality: United States
Age: 85
Occupation: Major General (retired)
Residence: Melbourne, Florida
Performance Date: 4/18/13
Primary Language: English

The informant is a military veteran who served for thirty seven years. He retired a two star major general, a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Silver Star Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal with oak leaf cluster. He is a Master Parachutist and served in the 503rd Parachute Infantry and the 187th Regimental Combat Team.

The overview of the tradition is that when you are first commissioned and graduate from whatever training or academy you attend, the first enlisted man to salute you must be payed a dollar–usually a silver dollar.

“Informant: Well, there’s one, uh, for example. When you are first commissioned, you give a, uh…the first salute that you receive, you give that individual that salutes you a dollar. Usually a silver dollar.

Interviewer: And why is that exactly?

Informant: Uh…nobody knows

Interviewer: (Laughter) Just a tradition?

Informant: Right. Well, in fact, some officers would, uh, stand by the side of the road as the newly commissioned would be leaving and he would…he would salute every one of em’ and make them get out of their cars and pay him a dollar. I had to set him straight so  traffic could keep moving”

Although the informant claims not to know the reason or origin of this tradition, it seems to fit Arnold Van Gennep’s theory of rites of passage being a source of tradition. Before being commissioned, these men did all of the saluting and were never saluted back by their higher-ranking officers. After making to second lieutenant, they have crossed the liminal point to where they have now earned the respect of being saluted by enlisted men. The paying of the dollar is a reciprocal sign of respect which commemorates the first time being saluted by an enlisted member. By going through the process of paying the saluter instead of just returning the salute, the moment is made more memorable and meaningful.

“Raining Green Paint”

Nationality: United States
Age: 59
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Corning, New York
Performance Date: 3/14/13
Primary Language: English
Language: French

The informant is a substitute teacher who went to college in Florida. While she was there, she roomed with an international student from Ireland. This roommate is the person who first said that it was, “raining green paint”. When Winter would to turn to Spring and the trees and leaves started growing, the informant’s  roommate would say that it was “raining green paint”. The friend was from Ireland, and the saying supposedly comes from there. This saying stuck with the informant because it is a somewhat poetic notion. It suggests that nature is being designed for our viewing pleasure and gives a positive outlook on the changing of seasons.

Guyspeak

Nationality: United States
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Wilmington, North Carolina
Performance Date: 3/21/13
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish, Portuguese

The informant is a college student from Wilmington, North Carolina. He has studied Spanish and Portuguese and has spent a considerable amount of time in both Spain and Brazil. This piece of lore started in Brazil.

“Guyspeak” is a group of slang terms used by the informant and his group of friends. It is based off of the broken English of Brazilian a man with whom the informant spent time while in Rio de Janeiro. This man called everyone “guy” and would consistently confuse “is”, “are”, and “am”. The informant, as well as those with him, liked how this sounded and adopted it themselves, even though they knew English perfectly well. Some examples the informant gave of Guyspeak are as follows:

“Hey guy. You are come to market?”

“I are not happy.”

Upon returning to the United States from Brazil, the informant and his continued to use Guyspeak. This eventually caught on with friends who never went to Brazil or met the man on whom it was based. Now, it has spread to many people who don’t even know where it started. This way of speaking has caught on mostly for its humor. Although it could be taken as offensive or making fun of foreigners, the informant insists that he is friends with the person and know