For Poolee and Marines mom and Marines Brats

[usmc4669]

Question 1. Why do Marines wear a red stripe on their dress Blues.

Question 2. When did it originate

Question 3. What does it stand for.

Question 4. Who are the only Marines to wear a scarlet dress uniform.
:marine: :marine: :banana:

[Keth]

The scarlet stripe represents sacrifice, it is also know as the "blood stripe" and it was earned in "the halls of Montezuma."

As for the Scarlet uniform I can only guess that it would be a high ranking officer or something.
Keth

[gatormatt]

I think the Marine Corps Band wears a scarlet uniform. I'm not really sure what the reasoning is.

[marinemom]

Okay, after more than 35 years as Marine wife and mom, I ought to know these.

1. The red stripe was placed on military uniforms in the early 1800s to designate engineers who were responsible for blowing up defense positions of the enemy, building bridges etc., and of the cannonaders. One of the old "legends" was that the Corps ran out of uniform parts while in the Mexican War campaign, and stole trousers from the Army and they were all for cannonaders.

2. So, the red stripe on the Marine uniform began about the time of the Mexican Campaign.

3. Marines refer to it as the "blood stripe", and it is meant to signify blood shed in the Corps campaigns.

4. The only Marines who are authorized to wear scarlet dress are the members of the Marine Band. "The President's Own".

Now usmc4669, here is one for you. Where does the term "blouse" come from?

[usmc4669]

marinemom:

Darn you. LOL

[usmc4669]

What does the red stripe on Officers' and NCO's dress blue trousers signify? It signifies battle honors from the Battle of Chapultapec in the Mexican War

. The uniforms of 1798 were piped or trimmed in red, and red trim has continued to this day in the red trouser stripes on Marine officers' dress blue uniforms. Sky blue trousers have been worn since 1840.

ENLISTED MARINES HAVE worn red-trimmed blue uniforms since 1798 when the United States Marine Corps was activated to serve in the new "Frigate Navy." Their blue uniforms were worn for all military duties, except fatigues, and generally followed the pattern worn by officers. Prior to the adoption of forest-green service uniforms in 1912, the only exception was in the 1834-1840 period in which the green color of Revolutionary War Continental Marines' uniforms was temporarily revived. From the 1850s to 1912, all enlisted Marines' winter dress, undress, and fatigue uniforms were blue. Since 1912 the blue uniform has been reserved for dress except for ships' detachments, embassy guards, and other high visibility duties. The enlisted blue coat remained virtually unchanged, except for quality of cloth, until 1949 when breast and shirt pockets were added. This uniform, with minor changes, is still worn today.
Marine dress blues are the only uniforms made up of all the same colors of our nation's flag. Blue represents bravery. Red represents sacrifice. White represents honor. Marines defend their colors and live by them.
The collar of their "dress blues" uniform is similar to the leather stock worn around the necks of their American Revolution-era predecessors, which is how Marines earned the nickname "leatherneck." The scarlet stripe on their trouser leg is the "blood stripe" earned in "the halls of Montezuma." Officers carry the replica of a sword presented by an Arab chieftain after a Marine victory on "the shores of Tripoli" two centuries ago. A desert chieftain presented Marine Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon with a sword - a scimitar - to show his appreciation. Mameluke warriors of North Africa used the scimitar. By 1825, all Marine officers were mandated to wear the Mameluke sword and have done so ever since. Their hats or "covers" are marked by a quatrefoil to symbolize a white cross used in the days of sailing ships to identify their Marine officers.
Gunny

[usmc4669]

marinemom;
Blouse.
This term can mean a lot of things,

Blouse.
The service or dress coat worn by Marines. Also the act of tucking pant legs into boots so that the fabric "bloused" over the boots (worn mostly by Army personnel and in utilities). Additionally, the art of tucking in a shirt with military creases so that it appeared tight over the entire belt line and causing a slight overhang between the two outside creases in the back.
Now witch blouse are you talking about?

Gunny

[marinemom]

Gunny,

I know what a blouse is - and I can still iron the pleats in a uniform shirt, but now the wimps have them sewn in, lol - but you did not answer my question - where did the term "blouse" originate as military attire?

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

You can have military creases sewn in? Why on earth did that not exist when I needed it? Or, if it did, why didn't someone tell me?

[cmbell]

Marinemom:

The term blouse was used even back in the Roman empire days for the military. A Toga was a form of a blouse. If the term blouse was used before then. You have me stumped on that one also.

[marinemom]

Yeah, Echo, I know what you mean, lol.

Now, the actual origin of the term blouse comes from the Medieval French term "blieaut". This was the name for the colored tunics that were worn by various lords' armies.

Each lord had a different color and cut for the blieaut to distinguish his men from an enemy's on the field of battle, and to allow his soldiers to know friend from foe with a quick look. End the blieaut evolved into blouse when he wars between England and France were almost ongoing during that time.

[TracGunny]

I found references to the blouse throughout military history as cmbell has. I do not know if it is a "modern" term the authors applied for clarity of subject or if the term has existed for that long. You got me also, marinemom, I could not find it in my books or in my web searches.

[TracGunny]

Okay, so I would have gotten my answer if I had waited one more minute to post... note to self - learn to type faster...

Thanks marinemom, fun question to research...

[usmc4669]

marinemom:

Now usmc4669, here is one for you. Where does the term "blouse" come from?

You never said anything about the Military.

Gunny

[marinemom]

Geez, on a Corps website and I didn't say "military"?????

TG - one of the benefits of 12 years of Catholic education - or "confinement", as we called it, lol - with a French order of nuns was that you had to read a lot of history in French, and you looked up a lot of stuff.

usmc4669, I'll have to think of another one for you.

[usmc4669]

marinemom:

Is this a blouse?