"Phrase---OOH-RAH-UH-RAH"

[redneck13]

:flag: :evilgrin: The phrase OOH-RAH or UH-RAH, I hear Marines using it. I also have used it myself. Not sure exactly how to spell it, though. Then the question comes to mind....."Where did it come from?" One or two Marines have told me...."It's a Navy Seal Call." Now of course Gunny Ermy uses it a lot. My Priest a former Naval Chaplain attached to the Corps, uses it. When I was on the Drill Field, 2nd Recruit Bn. above us, when they were dismissed by the Drill Instructor's, they said, "AYE, AYE SIR, OOH-RAH." I had never heard it used before that time, and now it's used by us Marines. So can anyone help me out here? It's a question of...."Who's sayin' is it, Marine's, or Seals?" Be nice now. SF. Bail out.

[jinelson]

I have used the term since the late 1960's and was always told the correct spelling was OORAH!!! I believe that the info below is correct and the best information regarding the origin. I have never heard of a better one that pins it down as specifically.

OK, HERE IT IS! THE DEFINITION AND HISTORY OF 'OORAH'

Right after Korea in 1953 the 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company, FMFPAC can be credited with the birth of "OORAH" in the Corps.

Specifically, where it came from was when Recon Marines were aboard the Submarine USS PERCH, ASSP-313. The Perch was an old WWII diesel boat retrofitted to carry UDT and Amphib Recon Marines. If you remember the old war movies, whenever the boat was to dive, you heard on the PA system, "DIVE,DIVE", and you heard the horn sound "AARUGHA", like an old Model "A" horn.

Sometime in 1953 or 1954, 1st Amphib Recon Marines, while on a conditioning run on land singing chants, someone imitated the "Dive" horn sound "AARUGHA", and it naturally became a Recon Warrior chant or mantra while on runs. It is sort of like the martial arts yell and adds a positive inference to the action. And this became part of Recon lexicon.

Former SgtMaj of the Marine Corps, John Massaro, was the company gunny of 1st Force in the late 50s and when he tansferred to MCRDSD as an instructor at DI school he took "AARUGHA" with him and passed it on to the DI students and they , in turn, passed it on to recruits.

Just as "Gung Ho" became symbolic of the WWII Raiders, so did "AARUGHA" become part of the new "running Marine Corps."

Over time, "AARUGHA" EVENTUALLY CHANGED TO "OORAH". The official Marine Corps Training Reference Manual on the history of Marine Recon is titled "AARUGHA", giving credence on the orgination of the 'POSITIVE RESPONSE' accenting anything that is meant to be good and uniquely Marine Corps.

It is part of Marine Corps language, like "Pogey Bait", "SOS", etc.

OORAH!!!

[kentmitchell]

Well, that's a novel answer, anyway.
I never heard it in my time (56-60) but that doesn't mean anything other than it would come later.
We growled, yelled gung ho or just used a Rebel yell.

[greensideout]

I never heard if it in my time as well, '60-'64. I also question the "Gung Ho" part of the definition and history. If "Gung Ho" came from the Boxer Rebellion how is it then attributed to WW-II Raiders?

[Static_Sky25]

Gung-Ho the phrase came from the boxer rebellion yes, but just as other phrases have been adopted to mean other things so was "gung-ho" during the second World war....

for those who don't know ... Gung-ho translates to "Work together" Col Edison Adopted this motto for his WWII raiders On account that his raiders could do anything as long as they worked together... it was a throwback to unit adhesion he wanted his men to remember that they were much more effective as a whole, not fighting their own "private wars" long story short... it was around but Edison made it fit his needs, and as all specfor operaters he and his men became famous ... so did his mens motto...

Sort of a "there is no I in team" or a "there is no you, me, my, I recruit... you are now just life support for your rifle..."

[DevilPuppy88]

I heard somewhere that OORAH was like turkish or something like that for KILL.

[Ann Marie]

I know this is posted now, but I saw a post from 2006 when I was researching the spelling of Ooh-Rah. I found the information from wikipedia quite interesting and thought I'd post it. I've only included the "Orgin" information from widipedia so if you'd like to read the entire cultural information, etc. Here's the site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oorah_(Marines)

Ooh-rah (also spelled Urah or Hoo-rah) is a spirited cry common to United States Marines (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps) since the mid-20th century. It is comparable to the Hooah (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Hooah) cry used in the Army or Hooyah (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Hooyah) by the Navy SEALs (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Navy_SEAL). It is most commonly used to respond to a verbal greeting or as an expression of enthusiasm.

There are several potential sources from which the word "oorah" originated.
The 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Amphibious_Reconnaissan ce_Battalion), FMFPAC (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Forces_Pacific) can be credited with the introduction of "Ooh-rah!" into the Marine Corps (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps) in 1953, shortly after the Korean War (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Korean_War)<SUP style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap" class=Template-Fact title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from August 2010">[citation needed (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]</SUP>. Recon Marines served aboard the USS Perch (ASSP-313) (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/USS_Perch_(SS-313)), a WWII-era diesel submarine (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Submarine) retrofitted (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/USS_Perch_(SS-313)#Conversion_to_transport_submarine.3B_Korean_W ar) to carry Navy UDT (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Underwater_Demolition_Team) and Recon Marines (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Amphibious_Reconnaissan ce_Battalion). Whenever the boat was to dive, the 1MC (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/1MC) (PA system) would announce "DIVE! DIVE!", followed by the sound of the diving klaxon (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Klaxon): "AARUGHA!"
In 1953 or 1954, while on a conditioning run, former Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Sergeant_Major_of_the_Marine_Corps) John R. Massaro (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/John_R._Massaro), while serving as company Gunnery Sergeant (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Gunnery_Sergeant) of 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, simulated the "Dive" horn sound "AARUGHA!" as part of the cadence (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Military_cadence). Legend has it, he took it with him when he went to serve as an instructor at the Drill Instructor (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Drill_Instructor) school at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Marine_Corps_Recruit_Depot_San_Diego). He there passed it on to the Drill Instructor students and they, in turn, passed it on to their recruits where it eventually and naturally became a part of the Recon cadence, and thereafter infiltrated Recon Marine lexicon.<SUP id=cite_ref-0 class=reference>[1] (http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/#cite_note-0)</SUP> Over time, "AARUGHA!" morphed into the shorter, simpler "Oorah!" Today, the official Marine Corps Training Reference Manual on the history of Marine Recon is titled "AARUGHA!"
Other possible origins of "Oorah!" exist. One states that the term is derived from the Turkish language (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Turkish_language) phrase "kill them all" translated as "öldürmek" or "hepsini öldürün", which was adopted as a Russian (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Armed_forces_of_Russia) battlecry "Urrah!"<SUP id=cite_ref-1 class=reference>[2] (http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/#cite_note-1)</SUP>


So Ooh-Rah and thank all of you current enlisted men/women and your family as well as all you veterans for you service. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[advanced]

Well, that's a novel answer, anyway.
I never heard it in my time (56-60) but that doesn't mean anything other than it would come later.
We growled, yelled gung ho or just used a Rebel yell.

We never used it during my time 67-69, matter of fact I'd never even heard of it till a couple of years age. Talkin to friends I believe it came into the Corps in the mid 70's.

[DrZ]

We never used it during my time 67-69, matter of fact I'd never even heard of it till a couple of years age. Talkin to friends I believe it came into the Corps in the mid 70's.

It was well in place when I graduated boot in late 69. When we were dismissed from formation to our hooches...we made one step back, shouted Aye Aye Sir and then Ooorah and beat feet to those damn hot tin sheds. That was SD and perhaps PI started using it a bit later.

[Sheila Hays]

We never used it during my time (59-62), I never heard it until the new Marines on this board used it. We have alot of vets on here, old Corps. Semper Fi. Sheila Hays

[Mongoose]

It was well in place when I graduated boot in late 69. When we were dismissed from formation to our hooches...we made one step back, shouted Aye Aye Sir and then Ooorah and beat feet to those damn hot tin sheds. That was SD and perhaps PI started using it a bit later.
Im like Russ, we never heard it in bootcamp.67-68. I really dont remember hearing it all while I was in the Corps.

[SGT7477]

It was knocked into our heads June 1974 while in boot camp OOHRAH, Never Forget, Semper Fidelis.

[Old Marine]

OOORAHHHHH was used while I was on the Drill Field at San Diego 1966-1973. It was used along with many more words/chants.

[rsta]

67-71 and never heard of it til I saw "Gunnys" show onTV.

[martinj]

Also another thing recon marine started was the high and tights, but everyone copied them so they changed to no regs.

[Mongoose]

67-71 and never heard of it til I saw "Gunnys" show onTV.
Rsta was my bunk mate in bootcamp. We never heard it. So it would seem like it depended on the Bn. or series you trained with. S/F

[Sheila Hays]

I met a woman when I was in Carmel, Ca. for Thanksgiving. She was pushing Marine Corps bulldog in a stroller, he was old, his back legs wouldn't support him.
I told her that he looked like the M.C. bulldog, I knew this because I had been in the Corps. A man who was walking behind her said "Semper Fi", boy was I taken aback. I also replied "Semper Fi", right away we were exchanging MOS's. He was a Nam Vet, 0311, how proud we made each other feel.
We left each other with a smile. I'm so proud to have been a Marine, I'm older now but I still smile every time I hear "Semper Fi".

[lastcigar]

In 1966 -1970, SD boot camp and I never heard it till several years ago.

[mcvet57103]

I was introduced to "OooRah!!!" by my Drill Instructors ( Nov 1974) when getting my first PT (thrashing) in the receiving barracks at Boot. We were told it was the appropriate possitive verbal response to any training situation. Example: "All right Maggots, bends and Motherf***ers, ready begin!". "Sir, Aye Aye, Sir!" "I CAN"T HEAR YOU LADIES!!" "SIR, AYE AYE, SIR!". OOHRAH!!! LOL Ahhhh the memories................SF

[Sheila Hays]

I never heard it, never on Parris Island or MCRD San Diego. They still had Quonset huts for the male recruits and for the females, I was in a wooden barracks. After a hurricane, the wood swelled, it made it impossible to open the portholes. We still had some women recruits escape.

[sdk87to91]

1987-I remember our Senior DI criticizing the way we were hollering it out. OOOrah , we were singing it like it is spelled, however he told us to actually bark it out like a big bad dog would bark. He taught us to emphasize the first syllable with a punching "Aoor" and follow through with the "ahh".
It was much more motivating and sounds pretty scary. The other platoons in our series were still saying it like pansies when we were barking like the devil dogs we wanted to be.
It was heavy.
I still use it when I need to shut down a dog fight or get myself pumped up.

I can remember some dogs we had that liked to fight indoors. I would shake the house with a loud Ooorrah, and everything wold stop, and I could get their attention, and obedience.

[Sally]

I have used the term since the late 1960's and was always told the correct spelling was OORAH!!! I believe that the info below is correct and the best information regarding the origin. I have never heard of a better one that pins it down as specifically.

OK, HERE IT IS! THE DEFINITION AND HISTORY OF 'OORAH'

Right after Korea in 1953 the 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company, FMFPAC can be credited with the birth of "OORAH" in the Corps.

Specifically, where it came from was when Recon Marines were aboard the Submarine USS PERCH, ASSP-313. The Perch was an old WWII diesel boat retrofitted to carry UDT and Amphib Recon Marines. If you remember the old war movies, whenever the boat was to dive, you heard on the PA system, "DIVE,DIVE", and you heard the horn sound "AARUGHA", like an old Model "A" horn.

Sometime in 1953 or 1954, 1st Amphib Recon Marines, while on a conditioning run on land singing chants, someone imitated the "Dive" horn sound "AARUGHA", and it naturally became a Recon Warrior chant or mantra while on runs. It is sort of like the martial arts yell and adds a positive inference to the action. And this became part of Recon lexicon.

Former SgtMaj of the Marine Corps, John Massaro, was the company gunny of 1st Force in the late 50s and when he tansferred to MCRDSD as an instructor at DI school he took "AARUGHA" with him and passed it on to the DI students and they , in turn, passed it on to recruits.

Just as "Gung Ho" became symbolic of the WWII Raiders, so did "AARUGHA" become part of the new "running Marine Corps."

Over time, "AARUGHA" EVENTUALLY CHANGED TO "OORAH". The official Marine Corps Training Reference Manual on the history of Marine Recon is titled "AARUGHA", giving credence on the orgination of the 'POSITIVE RESPONSE' accenting anything that is meant to be good and uniquely Marine Corps.

It is part of Marine Corps language, like "Pogey Bait", "SOS", etc.

OORAH!!!


This is definitely the one I'd been taught.

[R Landry]

From a US Army viewpoint:

Hooah was derived from the original spelling and acronym H.U.A., which meant Heard, Understood, Acknowledged.
In popular culture

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Hooah.jpg/220px-Hooah.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hooah.jpg) http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hooah.jpg)
a HOOAH! energy bar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HOOAH%21_Bar)




"Hooah" can be found in the scripts of several military-related movies. One well-known example is Al Pacino (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Pacino)'s character, a former U.S. Army officer, in the movie Scent of a Woman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scent_of_a_Woman) (which may have popularized the longer "Hoo-Ah" version). "Hooah" also features prominently in Black Hawk Down (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hawk_Down_%28film%29), which depicts United States Army Rangers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Rangers) at the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mogadishu_%281993%29), Somalia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia) and Lions for Lambs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lions_for_Lambs) a film about the war in Afghanistan. In Basic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_%28film%29), Samuel L. Jackson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_L._Jackson)'s character finishes each line of his training briefings with "Give me a 'Hooah', Sergeant!". In the 2004 American film The Manchurian Candidate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Manchurian_Candidate_%282004_film%29), Denzel Washington (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denzel_Washington)'s character responds an order with it during the brainwashing procedure. It is also extensively used by Matt Damon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Damon)'s character in the 2010 movie Green Zone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Zone_%28film%29).
Used as the meaning of "Heard, Understood, Acknowledged" by private young soldiers in the movie Renaissance Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Man_%28film%29) from 1994.
In place of "I really hate my job but it's a guarenteed paycheck."
In the episode "Semper Fidelis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semper_Fidelis_%28Jericho_episode%29)" of the TV series Jericho (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho_%28TV_Series%29), former U.S. Army Ranger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Ranger) Johnston Green (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnston_Green) realizes that a detachment of "U.S. Marines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps)" are imposters because they use the word "hooah." Genuine Marines would have said "Oorah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oorah_%28Marines%29)" instead.
The GI (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GI_%28military%29) unit in Red Alert 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Alert_2) sometimes says "hooah" in response to an order by the player.
It is also incorrectly used in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_of_Girlfriends_Past) by the Sarge, a member of the U.S. Marines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps).
The computer game America's Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Army) makes frequent use of the phrase, and pressing the H key on the keyboard in version 2 or below would make the player's character shout "Hooah" over the radio to other members of the player's team, sometimes eliciting a series of "Hooahs" in reply.
In the microtransaction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtransaction), free to play (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_to_play) game of Combat Arms (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Arms_%28video_game%29), "Hooah" is featured as a voice-com taunt.
"Hooah" can be heard in Crysis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crysis), yelled by a Marine on the USS Constitution and at least one other point in the game.
In Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers:_Revenge_of_the_Fallen), the NEST team replies "Hooah" when Major Lennox gives instructions before the battle with the Decepticons in Egypt.
In the videogame Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_of_Duty:_Modern_Warfare_2), the U.S. Army Rangers are heard multiple times throughout the game using Hooah for "anything and everything except 'no.'"
In the videogame Medal of Honor (2010 video game) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor_%282010_video_game%29), several Rangers from the U.S. Army military forces are heard using Hooah (or HUA) as for understanding and acknowledging orders from their commanding officers.

[mcvet57103]

1987-I remember our Senior DI criticizing the way we were hollering it out. OOOrah , we were singing it like it is spelled, however he told us to actually bark it out like a big bad dog would bark. He taught us to emphasize the first syllable with a punching "Aoor" and follow through with the "ahh".
It was much more motivating and sounds pretty scary. The other platoons in our series were still saying it like pansies when we were barking like the devil dogs we wanted to be.
It was heavy.
I still use it when I need to shut down a dog fight or get myself pumped up.

I can remember some dogs we had that liked to fight indoors. I would shake the house with a loud Ooorrah, and everything wold stop, and I could get their attention, and obedience.LOL I had a similar situation when I was home on leave from Boot. I went to a local rock concert. Can't remember the band any longer, but they were good. After one particularly awesome song, the crowd started cheering, yelling, and clapping, and me in my enthusiastic attitude at the time barked out an extremely loud OOOORAAAAHHH!!!! The whole place went quiet and everyone looked at me like I was from another planet. It had become such an instilled reaction that I did it without thought to where I was. LOL Last time I did that. LOL SF

[FireDocUSMC]

Oorah is a battle cry common by Marines since the mid-20th century. It is comparable to hooah in the US Army and hooyah in the US Navy and US Coast Guard. It is most commonly used to respond to a verbal greeting or as an expression of enthusiasm.

Semper Fi ! Do or Die ! MOS-7051 CFR

[advanced]

In the 60's we never heard of ooorah. In the Nam when we attacked we just gave the old Rebel Yell.

[HST]

Ca ca dow or di di mow depending of if you were kicking azz or had just walked into an ambush, Like Billy and Russ, I never heard of it until a few years ago.

[FistFu68]

:evilgrin: Beau Cou Dinky Dow :banana:

[doc h fmf]

I first heard it in 1985 field medical service school, sing cadance in pt.


Semper fi my brothers and sisters


stephen doc hansen hm3 fmf

[HST]

:evilgrin: Beau Cou Dinky Dow :banana:

And proud of it!

[Old Marine]

Recon used to use it at Camp Pendleton in the late 50's. Drill Instructors in 2s RTBn at SD began using it in the late 60's when they were told they could no longer use the words, kill, kill, kill.

[Kegler300]

Ring-dang-doo...

[The DUKE]

Graduated PI late in the 60's it was for sure and for certain
in full use then my bro's,
don't know if its a DI thing or the age thing with the DI's or what
but Ive used it since the dawn of man in my Jarhead life.

[FireDocUSMC]

Shelia, I was from your neck of the bush, lived in San Berdoo Co., for over 20 yrs...I was a Hollywood Marine...and we had Quonset huts as well...we were only in wood barracks the first couple days, then Quonset, after the Range & IT, then in brick barracks until grad day.

It was not the First 90 days for me in Bootcamp, as I was in for an extra month, after being injured and sent to MRP. I enlisted during Nam, I was 24 & married with a son, however I was not at home when my parents received the draft notification.

Then I picked up a new Platoon and DI's for the remainder 30 days...and back then DI's did pamper Recruits, (smacked) and cussing shoo 'd away the Doves...then Mom's of America came down on the Corps by way of Congressman & Senators.

I never looked at it as Abuse/Corporal Punishment dates back to 10BC (as I was a Private ha ha), as some may have called hand punishment...but it was essential to training, especially in the time of War.

Not having been a Female Recruit, I do not know if the same happened for them. Also, there were a few Muggings/Blanket Parties/visit to the Mop room, if a Boot could not get with the program.

So OORah, was not heard much as was Ooof! Oww! Ugh! did not use S*^#! or F#&%, meant more was to come. I made the mistake of writing home that Boot was like the Boy Scouts and the DI was looking over my shoulder.

It became "Private I Need to be Motivated" stand at attention, no eye f'ing me and I had to take what was dished out.

I miss those days and those that followed, thank you for your service firerescue at drdocyoung.com MOS 7051

[silverdollar]

I was in from 1954 until 1958 and I never heard it until I read these forums.

[linda1945]

We never used it during my time (59-62), I never heard it until the new Marines on this board used it. We have alot of vets on here, old Corps. Semper Fi. Sheila Hays

I never heard of it until I came aboard Leatherneck. Never did hear it in my time either Sheila ('63-'65).
Semper Fi

[pimin]

Wow a really old thread. Never heard it 66-70.