Other procedures also go into the tradition of mess night. Perhaps concluding that the new commanding officer of the ships Marine Detachment thought the elaborate dinner a regular occurrence, a Navy officer admonished Barnett: We dont do this every night, you know! Colonel Heinl remembered something like a mess night (but without alcoholic beverages) while serving in the battleship Idaho as a midshipman in 1936; a fife and drum section marched through officers country playing The Roast Beef of Old England to summon the officers to dinner. I observed more than one lieutenant bring out his container of chewing tobaccoarugha! Following that lead about the British mess nights in China, I corresponded with Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak and read Brigadier General Robert C. Williams charming memoir. Early in the 18th Century, an aristocrat obviously in his cups referred to a certain lady whose very countenance supposedly enhanced his being like spiced toast. The social custom took hold, and diners took pains to compose the wittiest and briefest toasts. Vice President of the Mess: Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States. The band plays the National Anthem. The procedure is the same as for the serving of the Port, described above. There, it continues to the right as diners pour for themselves. 0000005438 00000 n President of the Mess: introduces the guest of honor. Using access to the dining menus, the dietitians then analyzed each . two quart bottles of club soda The mess night is fashioned to fit a formal gathering, with a military flavor present. A contemporary reported that, following a mess night held on Okinawa in the immediate post-Vietnam era, an outraged battalioncommander held a mess night every night for a week following the unprofessional and ungentlemanly conduct of his officers at the original gathering; apparently by evening number seven, they got it right.. When members of the 1953 3rd Marine Regiment combat swim team were invited to have dinner with their British rivals in the midst of an annual competition, they did not realize the following events would lead to one of the Marine Corps' most honored traditions. Finally, Colonel Heinl recalled mention of affairs vaguely similar to a mess night at the turn of this century in the personal papers of senior officers, maintained at the Marine Corps Research Center. 0000001898 00000 n . These helpful inputs usually came accompanied with the loan of a dog-eared pamphlet, adorned with a units crest, that were provided as souvenirs at earlier mess nights. Lieutenant Colonel Merrill L. Bartlett, the author of this monograph, earned his undergraduate degree at Washington State University and was commissioned via the Platoon Leaders Class program in 1963. A traditional prime rib came as overcooked roast beef, and the lone drummer made his only appearance of the evening to escort the token meat course to the president of the mess for approval. Then the fun of mess night begins with the meal. Tributes are given to battles Marines have fought in the past as well as the future, Watkins said. Marines mess nights originated in 1920 in Shanghai with 4th Marine regiment. two twelve-ounce cans of frozen lemonade concentrate A friend reported the officers of one battalion in our regiment conducted a mess night in the field during maneuvers. Throughout the fleet in 1914, however, officers expressed outrage. United States Marine Corps. The formalities of mess night begin when the mess marches in, followed by the head table guests. Be a good sport about fines. Wardrooms throughout the fleet in 1914 witnessed a variety of going dry commemorations, liberally punctuated with witty soliloquies that demeaned the character of the pompous Secretary of the Navy. Swartz, Oretha D.Service Etiquette(Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1989). Life in an officers mess was the epitome of the world of gentlemen, and seniors expected juniors to conform. The latter officer once served on detached service with the City of Philadelphia as its Commissioner of Public Safety, and undertook a determined program to rid the municipality of vice and demon rum. The next senior officer sits to the left of the President of the Mess, and then by seniority the remaining officers alternate from the right of the guest of honor to the left of the President of the Mess. An anthem is played in its entirety, also, for every toast. with me shall be my brother. President of the Mess: Mister Vice, the U.S. Navy., Vice President of the Mess: Ladies and Gentlemen, the U.S. Navy.. 1900: a steward sounds six bells. Those officers and guests desiring to avail themselves of the bathroom facilities do so before the beginning of the dinner. The band strikes up Stars and Stripes Forever. and those seated at the head table proceed into the dining room and position themselves behind their assigned chair. A variety of stimuli have provoked the preparation of this study, not the least of which are the disappointing mess night witnessed that evening at TBS. Report-example . Wine from Portugal, usually Port, meant to embrace the beverage of an ally as a poem by Swift declares: Be sometime to your country true 0000003577 00000 n Cigars appeared and the president of the mess lit the smoking lamp; however, ashtrays had not been provided. of honey butter. The officers drank the loyal toast to the reigning monarch according to custom; in some regiments, royal dispensation allowed them to remain seated for the toast; in others, everyone rose and a certain number of heel taps might follow the toasts. During the formal meal portion of the mess night, members of the mess have the opportunity to charge another mess man with a fine if he has a legitimate reason to. On the morning of the dining in, the committee met at the officers club to review final preparations. The evening reached its climax for many of us as we joined our seniors at the bar, snifters of brandy in hand. President of the Mess: Chaplain, please say grace.. The mess functioned as the home of bachelor officers; unlike today, most junior officers remained single for obvious economic reasons. The new tradition flourished and gained in popularity thereafter. -2ndLt Blue Falcon recommends fine for 2ndLt Gamer being nerdy warrior. The rafters which once rang with the laughter of Presidents now lie in grim disorder, Most important, Colonel Heinl suggested I contact General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. 0000002268 00000 n accompanying them, Marine Corps mess nights have become increasingly dissimilar. Bugler sounds officers call, and everyone returns to the dining room. Serve in 6-ounce mugs with 2 tsp. A Marine is assigned to be president of the mess; he is in charge and controls the flow of events. STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI PUNCH Scenario: a mess night arranged by Headquarters, 6th Marines and held at the Officers Club, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Johnnie C. Watkins, the Sergeants Course staff noncommissioned officer in charge at SNCO Academy, Camp Hansen explained, the event has evolved into a distinct celebration unique to U.S. Marines conducting it today. Feliciano also feels that mess night is more than just a tradition-- it's a learning experience as well. co-author (with Colonel Joseph H. Alexander) ofSea Soldiers in the Cold War: Amphibious Warfare in the Age of the Superpowers, 1945-1991(Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1994); and co-author (with Dirk Anthony Ballendorf) ofPete Ellis: An Amphibious Warfare Prophet, 1880-1923(Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1996). Constant reference to the origins of our tradition of themess night to Eighth and Eye intrigued me. Heat to boiling and reduce heat; allow to simmer for five minutes. Invited guests are also part of the group. Dickinson, R. J.Officers Mess: Life and Customs in the Regiments(Tunbridge Wells, Kent: Midas, 1973). If the president grants permission, the mess member must state his case on why his comrade must be fined. Daniels grew fond of relating the tale of a young officer who never drank before entering the Navy, where his messmates taught him a fondness for the loathsome habit. During the next three years, it participated in amphibious operations in the Solomons, Gilberts, Marshalls, and Okinawa., President of the Mess: Mister Vice, the 2d Division., Vice President of the Mess: Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2d Division., Band: plays six bars from Victory at Sea.. But a careful reading of the oftcited piece makes no such claim: Tales are told of nights of revelry, when the wine flowed and souls of great men, freed from the cares of state, allowed their with and spirit to soar unhampered while gracing the officers mess beneath the beams of the old house. The young officers appeared not nearly as excited as my class, long since retired, and seemed to view the affair as simply another evolution in their passage through TBS. Huntley, VA, 7 June 1979. The commanding officer of the barracks, then-Colonel Williams, served as the president of the mess; General Shepherd was the guest ofhonor. The new commanding general, normally Spartan and disinclined to partake liberally of mess life, did not advocate conspicuous luxury; instead, he merely suggested no reason to undergo unnecessary privation: Let us all be as comfortable as possible, he advised his staff. Naval Institute Proceedings64 (June 1938): 891-93. Some officers, if they could afford it, might have a glass of Port or a snifter of brandy; most could not, however. I made this as an educational tool so that. Unlike Americans, Britains responded to each toast by draining their glasses and sometimes throwing them over the left shoulder so that no lesser toast might be drunk. Toasts were always drunk with Port wine, and in bumbers. This unusual name for a wine glass had its origins from the continental custom of always toasting the Pope first,au bon Pere, which in its convoluted form became simply bumper. In the Book of Navy Songs (Naval Institute Press, 1955), a doggerel proclaims most proudly: Make it a bumper, comrades, Ben H. Fuller, Butlers Brawl, Fuller MSS, MCHC. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. The latter summoned us to dinner with a short selection; perhaps it was officers call, adjutants call, or some such. Band: plays The Marine Corps Hymn; at the completion of the music, officers and guests respond with the Marines and drink the punch all at once. John A. Lejeune refused to emulate the lavish social scene of his predecessor, and formal dinners at Eighth and Eye became somewhat infrequent and subdued affairs. Many junior officers spent their evening stifling yawns while hoping that the colonel would go home so they could go to bed! The Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, and personal friends of General Shepherd attended as well. Instructing his captive and bemused audience to take notes, the impeccable adjutant ate and drank his way through a token dinner. pour over cracked ice in a glass punch bowl. Maj. Efrem A. Wilson, director of SNCO Academy. Naval Institute Proceedings61 (March 1935): 377. Barnett had just reported aboard, having caught up with the cruiser in the harbor of Smryna, and found the evenings entertainment most enjoyable. one pint of peach brandy Early Marines received rations of rum, at sea or ashore, but often the amount doled out was diluted with water to avoid drunkenness. The Vice President of the Mess is seated at the extreme right and farthest from the head table. This is a list of acronyms, expressions, euphemisms, jargon, military slang, and sayings in common or formerly common use in the United States Marine Corps.Many of the words or phrases have varying levels of acceptance among different units or communities, and some also have varying levels of appropriateness (usually dependent on how senior the . "The purpose mess night is to recognize and pay homage to the Marines who came before us," the Brunswick, Ga., native explained. The committee asked the menu adhere rigidly to custom and tradition. Section IV,. Thirty days prior to the Dining In, similar invitations (except that the honor of your presence was replaced with your presence) were sent to the faculty and staff of the Marine Corps University, and to each member of the current class of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. The Navy and Drinking,Nation98 (9 April 1914): 385-86. The remainder of the participants makes up the mess. Like a mess night should be, it was an evening to remember. Most Marines likely shared the Air Force generals sentiments following their first mess night; I know I did. Except for minor variations, however, the format for this exceptional event remains wedded to a scenario gleaned from our British cousins. Those eschewing alcohol merely pass the carafe to the next person, and respond to the next toast with the water goblet. During the competition, Marines from the swim team were invited to attend what the British Royal Marines call a "mess night". The evening bears no resemblance to a drunken party, in most instances. President of the Mess: Mister Vice, the regiment., Vice President of the Mess: Ladies and Gentlemen, the 6th Marines., Band: plays six bars of Mademoiselle from Armentieres.. Stewards remove the dinner plate, bread plate, utensils used for the main course and wine glass. Lieutenant Colonel Bartlett lives, researches and writes on Vashon Island, Washington. The Vice President of the Mess sees to the liquid refreshments for both the guest of honor and the President of the Mess. Traditional roast beef was followed by rum sherbet, and a salad of champagne frappe. As the chilly desert wind blew sand across the improvised table, the officers of this unit conducted the affair with considerable sang-froid without the regimental commander ever knowing of it! While the Navy conducts mealtimes in the wardroom with far more rigidity and ceremony than the other services, nothing I witnessed during that tour even remotely resembled a mess night or a formal dinner. 841 Views Download Presentation. Uploaded on Aug 10, 2014. Don't drink too much until after. ; prohibition against leaving the table or smoking untilafter the toasts. This favorite of Vietnamese from the. Naval Institute Proceedings99 (November 1973): 51-55. 1805: the commanding officer of the regiment arrives. 1.96K subscribers I try to explain what a Marine Corps mess night is. A third member of the committee arranged for the loan of flags representing each of the foreign officers expected to attend, and a copy of each nations anthem for the director of the post band. Overview. "The president also forcescertain members of the mess to perform humorous rituals," Watkins added, "It all depends on how creative the Marine sitting in as president is". Bo took Nate's desire for a private pack-sense connection with Mike as a challenge. Both Marines left visibly impressed. George Barnett, Soldier and Sailor Too, Barnett MSS, MCHC. 50, 64. Shocked and dismayed by the ukase, the socialite wife of the CMC outmaneuvered Daniels with authorization to use liquor in cooking. In a cheesecloth bag, place: 14 sticks cinnamon, 8 whole cloves, and 1 teaspoon whole allspice. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; Following a similar, celebratory dinner a couple of years before in the islands, Smedley D. Butlerobviously in his cupsserenaded the nearby jungle foliage for the remainder of the night; a future CMC, Ben H. Fuller, thought the spectacle so outrageous that he recorded the incident for his personal papers, labeling it Butlers Bawl., Even after four decades, General Holland M. Smith remembered the conduct of the officers mess in nearby Olongapo and Colonel Lincoln Karmanys strict compliance to the social niceties of the mess. Mix 1 quart orange juice with cup of white sugar and cup of brown sugar. Vice president of the Mess: Long life to the United States and Success to the Marines. The band plays the Marine Corps Hymn and then everyone says The Marines and drinks the cup of punch (all of it). This Vietnamese hors doeuvre is to remind everyone that after the Marines landed in 1965, their primary mission was to root out the. As a formal dinner, dinner dress uniforms, or, for civilians, black tie, are worn. Typically a specific set of Rules of the Mess will be published in advance, mainly so you can plot and plan to exploit them. "The toasts of the mess is what mess night is all about," Watkins mentioned. Seagoing Customs,U.S. President of the Mess: Ladies and Gentlemen, the mess will adjourn for ten minutes.. Band plays The Army Goes Rolling Along. Everyone says The U.S. Army, takes sip of Port, and sits down. This course reminds diners of Marine Corps deployments to the Caribbean between the Spanish-American War and World War Two. But except for a token glass of fizzy wine and a slight improvement over the rations usually offered each evening, nothing appeared to suggest a mess night. Appropriate reference was made during the evening to the history of the other armed services, and thus the assembled Marines paid deference to the senior officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force in attendance. The unit band played the regimental march and a bugler or piper sounded the mess call. General Shepherd remembered an impressive evening. Exceeded only by to the Marine Corps' birthday, mess night is one of the Corps' most celebrated traditions. Bugler: Sounds officers call, and everyone returns to the dining room. During the tenure of Secretary John D. Long (1897-1902), the Department of the Navy even prohibited the sale of alcohol to enlisted men at stations ashore. No one should leave until the guest of honor has departed for the evening. Almost two decades ago, the author of this study challenged a new generation of Marines to codify this enjoyable and important tradition. Naval Institute Proceedings63 (June 1979): 41-48. The steward carries the plate around the head table and serves it to the President of the Mess, who says: I pronounce this beef fit for human consumption and commend it to the enjoyment of the mess and our guests. The steward retrieves the plate and utensils, rejoins the fifer and drummer, and the three of them march out of the dining room to another chorus of The Roast Beef of Old England.. "In the 25 plus mess nights I've been to since I've been a Marine, I've seen a lot of insane situations," Watkins recalls, "For example, I've seen Marines have a pizza delivered to another member of the mess during the meal". A final member of the committee supervised the stocking of the anteroom bar; specifically, the committee provided the following guidelines: --the usual alcoholic beverages should be available, including beers But alcohol continued to be available to officers in their wardroom messes, a privilege that affronted Daniels egalitarian principles. When no one took the indefatigable and determined Daniels seriously on the matter, he suggested that alcohol and drunkenness prevailed among the officers of the fleet and seriously impaired its efficiency. In the next year and a half, it participated in four campaigns: Chateau-Thierry, Soissons, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne. It starts with a social hour where Marines of the mess have drinks with one another as well as meet and greet the guests. Fortitudinewas the motto of the Marine Corps during the early 19th Century; it means strength, fortitude, or even guts. Formal dinners, or anything resembling todays mess night might have disappeared altogether given the egalitarian moralizing of Secretary Daniels and the tide of temperance that followed in the 1920s. One disappointed observer, the daughter of Major General Wendell C. Neville, noted tartly that: The Lejeunes, you know, they never entertained. By that era, Lejeune had become a teetotaler and his good friend, Smedley D. Butler, a military prohibitionist. Stewards serve a small dessert, a specialty of the club, called chocolate decadence (a chocolate mousse). Krulak, Victor H. 17 August 1978. HOT BUTTERED CRANBERRY CIDER He estimated that more than 50 officers from boththe sea services attended, captured Chinese banners taken during the Boxer Rebellion decorated the dining room and a Filipino orchestra played a mixture of Spanish love songs and American ragtime melodies. For those who have not been a part of a mess night, Marines who have been around the Corps several years and attended many mess nights recommend that no one pass up the opportunity to participate in one. Naval Institute Proceedings63 (August 1937): 1169. The signal for dinner might be chimes or simply the mess corporal announcing gentlemen, dinner is served. The commanding officer, or more likely the senior dining memberprobably a bachelor majorentered the dining room first, followed by the other officers in strict order of seniority. Instead of dinner jackets, officers wore mess kit, an outfit appearing first as a uniform with the gunners in the 19th century.