When did this start?

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I hear the terms "stampede strings" and "wild rags" thrown around all over the place these days.  Now, I grew up in the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest, mostly in rural areas where people on horse back or even driving wagons were not uncommon.  "Cowboys" (another term over used) and farmers and outdoors folk of every kind, even "lumberjacks" (aka "timber beasts" or "loggers"), and every imaginable kind of working men and women were everywhere.  Most wore a neckerchief of some sort and many wore chin strings or straps, but I never hears "stampede strings" or "wold rags" until ten or fifteen years ago.

 

I heard chin strings, chin straps, tie downs strings, or simply tie downs.

 

I also heard bandanas, neckerchief, and in some northern regions shawls.

 

Another term I hear all the time any more is the Marine "Ooorah!"  I never heard that until NCIS came on the TV.  "Semper fi", "Semper fi Marine", Semper fi MaC", and "gung ho", were commonly heard, but "Oorah" wasn't.

 

One last one: when I was a kid the "reds" were commies and the "blues' were usually U.S. military good guys.  When did that get screwed around?  I am still offended no end when someone suggests that I'm red anything, even red neck.

[John Barleycorn, SASS #76982]

I recall Rush getting a hard time for calling the North Koreans, NorKs and the Chinese, ChiComs. 

[Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme]

Well, don't let anyone see you get red in the face over it, you old timber beast. Just pull down your sombrero, tighten down on your wind strings and wrap your wild rag over the lower half of your face.

 

 

Wikipedia states that "oorah" has been used in the USMC since mid 20th century. Probably didn't become common usage til after you were out.

[Badlands Bob #61228]

Ooorah was commonly used in Marine basic training in the late 70's.   We were actually given a lesson and had to audition in front of our DI to make sure we got it right.    I don't know when it started.  

[Blackwater 53393]

The red/blue thing is the result of election night television!  One of the networks showed how each state voted or was leaning by coloring that state red for Republican or blue for Democrat and the talking heads began referring to the states by color rather than party affiliation.  The next election, all of the networks did it!

[Cholla]

Wild rags had to do with wearing them on your head, aka doo-rags, while riding a motorcycle or Jeep with the top down.

[DocWard]

I fired off a text and asked Mrs. Doc, who has been riding horses since she was a kid, and competing for almost as long. Her response when asked how long she has heard the terms "stampede string" and "wild rag" was "forever." So fifty years, give or take.

 

As for the term redneck. as the term relates back to West Virginia coalminers fighting the mine owners and government (many of whom were Scots-Irish), and before that my Scots-Irish forebears who signed and anti-Anglican covenant, often using their own blood, I'll wear that particular moniker if someone chooses to label me with it.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, Badlands Bob #61228 said:

Ooorah was commonly used in Marine basic training in the late 70's.   We were actually given a lesson and had to audition in front of our DI to make sure we got it right.    I don't know when it started.  

When I enlisted in '77, it was already there. While we didn't audition for it, if we didn't perform it to our Drill Instructor's satisfaction, we kept doing it until we did. I still let one out if the occasion calls for it. 

[Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme]

49 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

The red/blue thing is the result of election night television!  One of the networks showed how each state voted or was leaning by coloring that state red for Republican or blue for Democrat and the talking heads began referring to the states by color rather than party affiliation.  The next election, all of the networks did it!

I believe that it was Tim Russert who did it for the first time on tv.

[Utah Bob #35998]

Went to jump school with a Marine Recon 1st Lt. He never said Oorah. 
He got hung up on the 250 ft tower one day and barked like a dog for awhile.

Nobody in the Army said Hooah like today either.

 

And a poncho liner was a poncho liner, not a woobie.

Time marches on.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

A “woobie?”   OMG

[irish ike, SASS #43615]

Go to any tac store they are called stampede strings.

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

When did this start?

 

  ............. probably just after you stopped watching for it .........

 

[Utah Bob #35998]

2 hours ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said:

A “woobie?”   OMG

Yeah. That’s what the troops call em these days.

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619]

8 hours ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

 I am still offended no end when someone suggests that I'm red anything, even red neck.

 

Me too....

[Blackwater 53393]

I’m somewhat of a redneck, both by lineage and attitude. When called one in a derisive tone, I generally remind whoever that we’re the ones that really make this country run and keep everything working.

 

 

[Slapshot]

9 hours ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

 

 

Another term I hear all the time any more is the Marine "Ooorah!"  I never heard that until NCIS came on the TV.  "Semper fi", "Semper fi Marine", Semper fi MaC", and "gung ho", were commonly heard, but "Oorah" wasn't.

 

One last one: when I was a kid the "reds" were commies and the "blues' were usually U.S. military good guys.  When did that get screwed around?  I am still offended no end when someone suggests that I'm red anything, even red neck.

Ooorah was popular saying for us Marines when I was in during the beginning of the 80's. Now I think every Military branch uses it or a version of it.

 

Redneck well hell yeah thats what I am. A Redneck Country Plowboy. And I wear it like a badge of honor. IMO there are far worse things to be called than a redneck.

[Cholla]

35 minutes ago, Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 said:

 

Me too....

Even a red-blooded American?

 

I heard redneck came from laborers working in the sun and getting red necks. Since I have worked in the construction trades almost my entire life, I suspect I would be labeled a red-neck.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

I'm also about as Redneck as one can be. And I'm proud to declare it for all to hear. OOHRAHHH!!!

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619]

56 minutes ago, Cholla said:

Even a red-blooded American?

 

Or even a Red Gauntlet....

[DocWard]

4 hours ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said:

A “woobie?”   OMG

 

2 hours ago, Utah Bob #35998 said:

Yeah. That’s what the troops call em these days.

 

Yep. Things have a way of picking up nicknames. It's said the term comes from the movie Mr. Mom. Michael Keaton worked to get his son to give up his woobie,  or security blanket. Regardless of how the name got attached, it stuck. Some of the toughest, most high speed infantrymen, paratroopers, Rangers and SF soldiers I've known call 'em woobies. I call mine a woobie, and I would fight over it.

 

It's nothing new. Soldiers have been giving pieces of equipment nicknames, either endearing or not so endearing, for ages. Probably since there were soldiers. Whether it's Old Slabsides for a 1911, BCGs (Birth Control Glasses) for the ugly military issued prescriptions eyewear, or Donkey D.... Uhmmm... Well... What they call the nozzle used for a Jerry Can... Which is a nickname itself...

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

16 hours ago, irish ike, SASS #43615 said:

Go to any tac store they are called stampede strings.

Never were until about ten years ago.  Then again, why would anyone go to a tac store for a leather lace anyway.  Had leather laces of all sizes all over the place for all kinds of reasons.

[Tennessee Trapper Tom]

The term Ooh Rah started in wwll. Australia in 1953. marine Reconnaissance aboard submarines. Comes from the Dive Dive Dive and the Ahoga that followed. You navy guys should know this. It became a sort of battle cry.  Marines is ohh Rah, Army is hooah (spelling corrected for the concerned) , and navy seals is ooh ahh!

[Pat Riot]

The first time I heard / saw the terms “Wild Rags” and “Stampede Strings” was on a sign at “Walker ‘47” or “The Cowboys and Indians” store in SoCal in 1997 when I first joined SASS. I called Wild Rags “neckerchiefs” or “bandanas”. I took “stampede strings” as they were called as I never used them until I got into SASS and experienced some pretty breezy days at the range. 
 

Personally, I think the Oorah, Ooo-ahh,   Ooo-yah business is quite stupid, but that’s just me. 
 

Red vs Blue and Commies in the mist. 
I remember when Russert, et al, started this horse s***. I recall one interview between news talking heads where it was actually mentioned out loud that he originally started with Blue as Republicans and Red as Democrats and the logic (he’s obviously a Democrat) was that Blue Dog Democrats were “conservative”, but “they” thought about it and many Republicans considered many Democrats on the Left to be Socialists or even “bordering” on Communism so the color Red would solidify that perception so they switched colors. 
 

Here’s something I found in this regard. 
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/13010/where-did-idea-red-states-and-blue-states-come

[Grass Range]

I grew up here in  horse country. Never saw or heard of a hat string of any kind or a wild rag. This probably came from Hollywierd. A neck scarf is common when it is cold and can also be tied over the top of your hat to keep it on in the wind.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

23 hours ago, Badlands Bob #61228 said:

Ooorah was commonly used in Marine basic training in the late 70's.   We were actually given a lesson and had to audition in front of our DI to make sure we got it right.    I don't know when it started.  

I leftthe Corps in early 1978.  Guess I missed it.

7 hours ago, Tennessee Trapper Tom said:

The term Ooh Rah started in wwll. Australia in 1953. marine Reconnaissance aboard submarines. Comes from the Dive Dive Dive and the Ahoga that followed. You navy guys should know this. It became a sort of battle cry.  Marines is ohh Rah, Army is ooh yah, and navy seals is ooh ahh!

Air Force is " Huh?"

[irish ike, SASS #43615]

9 hours ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

Never were until about ten years ago.  Then again, why would anyone go to a tac store for a leather lace anyway.  Had leather laces of all sizes all over the place for all kinds of reasons.

Well, we've been riding /caring for horses for 40 years. And we and where we buy them call them stampede strings. We buy ones wiht some sort of horse hair thingy on the end purely for looks.

https://www.amazon.com/stampede-string/s?k=stampede+string

[Rip Snorter]

Check out photos of William S. Hart.  He travelled the West as a young man, and his costuming was faithful to what he had seen.

[Alpo]

17 hours ago, irish ike, SASS #43615 said:

Go to any tac store they are called stampede strings.

 

 

10 hours ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

why would anyone go to a tac store

 

I don't do horses, but I'm pretty sure tack has a K on it.

[bgavin]

In our house, a "woobie" is a big thick sock filled with uncooked rice, and tied off.
It is heated in the microwave for 6 minutes then tossed into the bed.
It keeps the feet toasty warm, all night long.

[DocWard]

12 hours ago, Tennessee Trapper Tom said:

The term Ooh Rah started in wwll. Australia in 1953. marine Reconnaissance aboard submarines. Comes from the Dive Dive Dive and the Ahoga that followed. You navy guys should know this. It became a sort of battle cry.  Marines is ohh Rah, Army is ooh yah, and navy seals is ooh ahh!

Respectfully disagreeing,

 

The Army phrase is “HOOAH!” 

[Texas Jack Black]

On 5/2/2022 at 12:58 PM, DocWard said:

I fired off a text and asked Mrs. Doc, who has been riding horses since she was a kid, and competing for almost as long. Her response when asked how long she has heard the terms "stampede string" and "wild rag" was "forever." So fifty years, give or take.

 

As for the term redneck. as the term relates back to West Virginia coalminers fighting the mine owners and government (many of whom were Scots-Irish), and before that my Scots-Irish forebears who signed and anti-Anglican covenant, often using their own blood, I'll wear that particular moniker if someone chooses to label me with it.

 Actually the word REDNECK goes back to 1631  It has to do with religion . Nothing to do with the coalminers  yet the term has been thrown around to describe many types of people .

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

31 minutes ago, DocWard said:

The Army phrase is “HOOAH!” 

I've heard it more like hooah.  It seems to have devolved into meaning "Yeah, okay" rather than "WATCH OUT!! I'M THE BADDEST THING YOU'VE EVER MET AND I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!"

[DocWard]

1 hour ago, john brown said:

 Actually the word REDNECK goes back to 1631  It has to do with religion . Nothing to do with the coalminers  yet the term has been thrown around to describe many types of people .

So, I have to ask, did you read my entire post, to include the anti-Anglican Covenanters, which goes back to 1638 and 1641 among primarily lowland Scots Presbyterians? Or did you stop at “coal miners “ so you could disagree?

57 minutes ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

I've heard it more like hooah.  It seems to have devolved into meaning "Yeah, okay" rather than "WATCH OUT!! I'M THE BADDEST THING YOU'VE EVER MET AND I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!"

Yep

[Texas Joker]

Heard. Understood. Acknowledged. 

 

HUA! hoooaahh! Shout an order get a hooaaah known it'll get done