Tag Archives: military

“Play Stupid Games Win Stupid Prizes”

Nationality: American
Age: 23
Occupation: US Marine
Residence: Fort Mead, Maryland
Language: English

Text: “Play stupid games win stupid prizes”

Context: This folk speech is commonly used in the military as a warning to others not to make “stupid” decisions because they will result in “stupid” consequences. Quoted are examples provided by the informant for using this saying:

“If you do dumb things, that’s what you will get as a result. Like not taking out your trash or making your bed (stupid game) and they check it and they flip your mattress or throw the trash on the floor (stupid result).” Another example given was “you fall asleep with your rifle, you play stupid games.” 

Interpretation: With the high expectations that come with being military personnel, this folk saying essentially encourages each other to perform the duties that they are expected to perform by authority figures. Often in the military, when one person makes a mistake, everyone gets in trouble, or the consequence is ridiculous as shown in the informants’ examples. By warning each other of the consequences to unnecessary mistakes, they are looking out for their team by potentially saving themselves from over-the-top consequences that come with the smaller mistakes.

Hooah – Folk Speech

Nationality: American
Age: 56
Occupation: Physician
Residence: Los Angeles
Language: English

Text: Hooah

Context: “Hooah is a term that just about everyone in the military knows. It doesn’t really mean anything specific, it’s more of a general term that means different things in different contexts. You can use it like ‘dude,’ so if we’re in a conversation, I could say ‘hooah’ to be easily agreeable. Or if there’s something awesome I could say ‘HOOAH!’ enthusiastically. If I jump out of a helicopter, I’ll yell ‘hooah’ and that’s sort of an army specific thing. If you ask me to do something I don’t really want to do, I’ll say ‘hooah’ (said with a dejected tone). It can really be used for anything.”

Analysis: It’s no secret that the military has its own unique jargon that is shared amongst its members. Because military life is so difficult, those involved form a bond of companionship stronger than most other groups or organizations in the world, and language is the primary means through which this takes form. But what I think sets “hooah” apart from the countless other military terms and phrases is how broadly usable it is. I can’t think of any terms from any groups that can mean as many things as this. The fact that it is so universal in the military but completely absent anywhere else speaks to the strong community aspect of the institution, which I feel is often overlooked when discussing it.

Memorial Day Jump

Text:

TT: Every year since 2003 the arctic airborne 2nd battalion 377th parachute field artillery regiment has a Memorial Day jump honoring 7 men who died in combat from the unit. On this day 7 lucky service members of the unit are selected to wear that fallen paratrooper’s name tape instead of their own and jump from the standard C-130. 

Context:

TT: On Memorial Day 2021, I was given the honor of jumping with a PFC’s name tape in honor of his sacrifice to his country. Afterwards, family members of the fallen would talk with us and share stories and it’s just a really beautiful way to honor them and keep their legacy alive – especially since in the airborne community a big saying is “Paratroopers never die, they simply Slip away” (we call the limited steering capability of our parachute a “slip”)

TT served in the military in the Airborne 2nd battalion for five years before retiring in 2024. 

Analysis:

Some rituals have deeply personal significance, TT offers a Memorial Day story used to honor the fallen. This ritual was specific to their battalion, but funeral rituals or celebrations for the dead are common in many cultures for many different events. The United States has created an annual festival commemorating veterans through Memorial Day, but the parade is still an example of a funeral or “death day” celebration. Other examples of the celebration of loved ones who have passed are El Dia de los Muertos in Latin America and the Qing Ming Festival in China. Both events are culturally significant festivals designed to honor passed family members.

The Fort Point Ghost Walk

Text: “I think like 3 years or so ago I went on a tour of Fort Point underneath the golden gate bridge and there was like this scary tour pertaining to the ghosts of soldiers who served in the fort in the past. Part of the tour contained people in ghost costumes but it also included explanations of supernatural events and examples of the tour guides communicating with ghosts in the rooms or sites where they are believed to be.

Context: CH is a resident of Mill Valley in Orange County where he claims to be an hour or so away from the fort where he went on this tour. The scariest part according to him was the setting of the tour, the dark and twisting corridors of the old fort, which added to the overall sense of unease and tension. He also remembered a point where his tour guide tried to talk to the ghost of a soldier who passed away in the room he was in which was very scary. CH said this was a Halloween tradition that people could experience annually around that time of year but that the tour would likely lose its charm after going again.

Analysis: While there have been reports of supernatural activity at the fort over the years, including sightings of ghostly apparitions and unexplained sounds and movements, these claims have not been scientifically verified. It is important to note that many of the stories and legends surrounding Fort Point are based on historical events, such as the fort’s use as a military prison during the Civil War, and the deaths and tragedies that occurred there over the years. These stories have been passed down through the years and have become part of the folklore and mythology surrounding the fort. The people dressing up as these ghosts and telling scary stories of ghosts believed to be inhabiting the fort are ways of perpetuating this belief and are not only a way to attract tourists and visitors, but also a way to keep the rich history of the fort alive and well. The way CH described it the tour he went on seemed to involve some examples of ritual where the guides tried to communicate or interact with apparitions.

The legend of Green Mist in Chino Hills

Nationality: USA
Age: 53
Occupation: Soccer Coach
Residence: Lafayette, CA
Performance Date: 4/4
Primary Language: English

Context:
The performer is a 53 year old male who grew up in Chino Hills. At a family dinner, he told the story about the place he grew up to his three kids, his wife, and a guest.

Text:
A green eerie mist that would cover the ground in chino hills. Chino hills “Hill of Hope” cult compound. This was a real place located deep in the hills and very hard to get to. We had to off road and hike in. It was a fenced compound with guards. There were also rumors of military experiment. I heard about that since I was a kid and I read about an article couple years ago confirming the rumor. But when I was little, no one knows what was happening there and all the young people like to drive up there to do like a dare or something. It’s almost like all the kids have to do it… before they graduate from high school or something. It was really creepy, like straight out of a horror movie. It’s not like that anymore…… They stop experimenting there for couple decades now.

Analysis:
Legends often happen around military-related locations because the secrecy involved could provoke wild imagination. It is also possible that the military base fueled the rumors in order to keep people away from the area. The rumor of a cult in the midst of green eerie mist on top of unknown military experiments also makes the place even more strange and mysterious. This legend was used to keep people out of certain places, but it made people want to challenge the legend more. The legend also developed a legend quest that associates with it and it usually takes place on the verge of transitioning from childhood and adulthood.