Sgt Grit Marine Forums

My brother, a retired Army Bird Col. and I, have been having a friendly argument regarding this term and the Army equivalant. "Hooah". One of his theories is that it evolved from the Viet Nam word for yes. As I never heard this term used when I was in the Corps in the late fifties, I was wondering approximately when it came into common usage.

 Actually, it's from the Japanese word (hoo atta des) which translates roughly as "let [the] Marines take care of it".

This is opposed to OOH RAH, which is from the Japanese (OORA-kyto) meaning "Chick magnet". 

Thanks Skivvy Stacker, but I doubt my Bro will buy this explanation!

Skivvy Stacker:

 Actually, it's from the Japanese word (hoo atta des) which translates roughly as "let [the] Marines take care of it".

This is opposed to OOH RAH, which is from the Japanese (OORA-kyto) meaning "Chick magnet". 

And you found all that in Uncle Chesty's Book of Facts 

  Semper Fidelis,
     Chris

Marty, below is probably the most widely accepted history, courtesy of Sgt Wolf (Bob Rader), a long-time contributor to the Grit Board, through one of GunnyG's websites:

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.

Semper Fi & Gung Ho,

Sgt. Wolf

Frank has it right as to Ooorah.

Hooah is the same as the phrases "calling Ralph", "bowing at the porcelin god", "sounding like a used car salesman...Buuuuiicccck". and many other phrases.

Think about it, the last time you got drunk enough it made you sick, you kneeled over and then went  Hoooooooaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh

  Semper Fidelis,
     Chris

That sounds right - in '68 it was "ah -oo-aah" with the "oo" sort of an "r," but down in your throat mucus.

BamaMarine7276:

Skivvy Stacker:

 Actually, it's from the Japanese word (hoo atta des) which translates roughly as "let [the] Marines take care of it".

This is opposed to OOH RAH, which is from the Japanese (OORA-kyto) meaning "Chick magnet". 

And you found all that in Uncle Chesty's Book of Facts 

  Semper Fidelis,
     Chris

Too much. 

Brother Frank has my vote.

I have heard several doggies make a sound like "Ooo-Haa" but it sounds to me like they are trying to imitate "Ooo-Rah!!!"