Oorah
Encyclopedia
Ooh-rah is a spirited cry common to United States Marines
since the mid-20th century. It is comparable to the Hooah
cry used in the Army or Hooyah
by the Navy. It is most commonly used to respond to a verbal greeting or as an expression of enthusiasm.
The 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company
, FMFPAC
can be credited with the introduction of "Ooh-rah!" into the Marine Corps
in 1953, shortly after the Korean War
. Recon Marines served aboard the USS Perch (ASSP-313)
, a WWII-era diesel submarine
retrofitted to carry Navy UDT
and Recon Marines
. Whenever the boat was to dive, the 1MC
(PA system) would announce "DIVE! DIVE!", followed by the sound of the diving klaxon: "AHUGA!"
In 1953 or 1954, while on a conditioning run, former Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
John R. Massaro, while serving as company Gunnery Sergeant
of 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, simulated the "Dive" horn sound "AHUGA!" as part of the cadence
. Legend has it, he took it with him when he went to serve as an instructor at the Drill Instructor
school at 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. Over time, "AHUGA!" morphed into the shorter, simpler "Oorah!" Today, the official Marine Corps Training Reference Manual on the history of Marine Recon is titled "AHUGA!"
Other possible origins of "Oorah!" exist. One states that the term is derived from the Turkish
phrase "vur ha!" translated as "strike!" or "kill them all!", which was used as a battlecry at the Ottoman Army and adopted as a Russian battlecry "Urrah!"
or earlier to be familiar with "Oorah!", but most post-Vietnam Marines and Vietnam War
Marines who continued to serve after the war will have learned it throughout their careers.
A couple of shortened versions of "Oorah!" can come out as a short, sharp, monosyllabic guttural "Er!" or "Rah!"
Another phrase similar to "Oorah" is the bark
, also commonly used by Marines, due to the nickname "Devil Dog
s" from the Battle of Belleau Wood
in World War I
.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
since the mid-20th century. It is comparable to the Hooah
Hooah
Hooah is a U.S. Army and a Canadian Armybattle cry used by soldiers and also in use by the U.S. Air Force airmen "referring to or meaning anything and everything except no."-Usage:Some popular usages of HUA include:...
cry used in the Army or Hooyah
Hooyah
Hooyah is the war cry or battle cry used by the United States Navy SEALs, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams, and Navy Deep Sea Divers. Recently, the US Navy as a whole has adopted it as a result of MCPON Rick West's regular use of the saying...
by the Navy. It is most commonly used to respond to a verbal greeting or as an expression of enthusiasm.
Origins
There are several potential sources from which the word "oorah" originated.The 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company
United States Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion
The United States Marine Corps's Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, formerly Company, was a specialized team of Marines and Navy Corpsmen that performed clandestine preliminary pre-D-Day amphibious reconnaissance of planned beachheads and their littoral area within uncharted enemy territory for...
, FMFPAC
United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific
Marine Forces Pacific are the forces from the United States Marine Corps that fall under the United States Pacific Command. It is the largest field command in the Marine Corps. Headquartered at Camp H. M...
can be credited with the introduction of "Ooh-rah!" into the Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in 1953, shortly after the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Recon Marines served aboard the USS Perch (ASSP-313)
USS Perch (SS-313)
USS Perch , a Balao-class submarine, was the second submarine of the United States Navy to be named for the perch, a rather small European fresh-water spiny-finned fish....
, a WWII-era diesel submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
retrofitted to carry Navy UDT
Underwater Demolition Team
The Underwater Demolition Teams were an elite special-purpose force established by the United States Navy during World War II. They also served during the Korean War and the Vietnam War...
and Recon Marines
United States Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion
The United States Marine Corps's Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, formerly Company, was a specialized team of Marines and Navy Corpsmen that performed clandestine preliminary pre-D-Day amphibious reconnaissance of planned beachheads and their littoral area within uncharted enemy territory for...
. Whenever the boat was to dive, the 1MC
1MC
1MC is the term for the shipboard public address circuits on naval vessels of the United States. This provides a means of transmitting general information and orders to all internal ship spaces and topside areas, and is loud enough that all embarked personnel are able to hear it...
(PA system) would announce "DIVE! DIVE!", followed by the sound of the diving klaxon: "AHUGA!"
In 1953 or 1954, while on a conditioning run, former Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is a unique non-commissioned rank and billet in the United States Marine Corps....
John R. Massaro, while serving as company Gunnery Sergeant
Gunnery Sergeant
Gunnery Sergeant is the seventh enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is a staff non-commissioned officer...
of 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, simulated the "Dive" horn sound "AHUGA!" as part of the cadence
Military cadence
In the armed services, a military cadence or cadence call is a traditional call-and-response work song sung by military personnel while running or marching...
. Legend has it, he took it with him when he went to serve as an instructor at the Drill Instructor
Drill instructor
A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer or Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in the armed forces or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. In the U.S. armed forces, they are assigned the duty of indoctrinating new recruits entering the military into the customs and...
school at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego is a United States Marine Corps military installation in San Diego, California. It lies between San Diego Bay and Interstate 5, adjacent to San Diego International Airport and the former Naval Training Center 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. Over time, "AHUGA!" morphed into the shorter, simpler "Oorah!" Today, the official Marine Corps Training Reference Manual on the history of Marine Recon is titled "AHUGA!"
Other possible origins of "Oorah!" exist. One states that the term is derived from the Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
phrase "vur ha!" translated as "strike!" or "kill them all!", which was used as a battlecry at the Ottoman Army and adopted as a Russian battlecry "Urrah!"
Culture
Owing to its relatively recent origins, it is less common for Marines who served in the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
or earlier to be familiar with "Oorah!", but most post-Vietnam Marines and Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
Marines who continued to serve after the war will have learned it throughout their careers.
A couple of shortened versions of "Oorah!" can come out as a short, sharp, monosyllabic guttural "Er!" or "Rah!"
Another phrase similar to "Oorah" is the bark
Bark (dog)
A bark is a noise most commonly produced by dogs and puppies. Other animals that make this noise include wolves and quolls. Woof is the most common representation in the English language for this sound...
, also commonly used by Marines, due to the nickname "Devil Dog
Devil Dog
Teufel Hunden, a mistranslation of Devil Dogs in German, is a motivational nickname for a U.S. Marine.-U.S. Marine Corps legends:...
s" from the Battle of Belleau Wood
Battle of Belleau Wood
The Battle of Belleau Wood occurred during the German 1918 Spring Offensive in World War I, near the Marne River in France. The battle was fought between the U.S...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Other uses of "Oorah"
- "Oorah" is also used by United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Hospital CorpsmanUnited States Navy Hospital CorpsmanA Hospital Corpsman is an enlisted medical specialist for the United States Navy who serves with Navy and United States Marine Corps units. The Hospital Corpsman works in a wide variety of capacities and locations, including shore establishments such as naval hospitals and clinics, aboard ships,...
, Master-At-ArmsMaster-at-armsA master-at-arms may be a naval rating responsible for discipline and law enforcement, an army officer responsible for physical training, or a member of the crew of a merchant ship responsible for security and law enforcement.-Royal Navy:The master-at-arms is a ship's senior rating, comparable in...
and SeabeeSeabeeSeabees are members of the United States Navy construction battalions. The word Seabee is a proper noun that comes from the initials of Construction Battalion, of the United States Navy...
s because of their close association with the Marine Corps. - "Oorah" is also used by the Russian Ground ForcesRussian Ground ForcesThe Russian Ground Forces are the land forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, formed from parts of the collapsing Soviet Army in 1992. The formation of these forces posed economic challenges after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and required reforms to professionalize the force...
for the same purposes, though historically the cry was a genuine battle cry, shouted in unison and with a long drag on 'a' while attacking in formation. "Oorah" is a correct transliteration for "Ура" (as it would be rendered in Cyrillic), the Russian equivalent of "Hooray." Proper pronunciation of this word places emphasis on the second syllable, in contrast to the Marine Corps exclamation. It is possible that the Russian word was a loanword form of "hurrah"--there is commonality in both the placement of emphasis and the purpose of the words. The depictions of WWII and 19th century wars in Soviet films made the prolonged, overlapping waves of "Ooraah" a symbol of courage and defiance needed for pushing the attack forward and, by extension, a symbol of Russian infantry in general. - "Oorah" is also used by the Military of BulgariaMilitary of BulgariaThe Military of Bulgaria, officially the Bulgarian Army represents the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria. The Commander-in-Chief is the President of Bulgaria . The Ministry of Defence is in charge of political leadership while military command remains in the hands of the General Staff,...
as salute to higher ranked officers and politicians. "Oorah" was also used by the Bulgarian infantry while bayonet attacks. - In the Netherlands, the cry "Long live the Queen!" is usually followed by three times "Hoera" . A notable example is the State Opening of Parliament, when parliamentarians cheer the Queen in this way after she finishes reading the Speech from the Throne.
- "Oorah" is also used by Oorah Kiruv RechokimOorah (organization)Oorah, or sometimes Oorah Kiruv Rechokim, Hebrew for "awaken and bring in those who are far," is an incorporated Orthodox Jewish kiruv organization founded in 1980 "with the goal of awakening Jewish children and their families to their heritage." It is a United States based 5013 non-profit...
. - "Oorah" is also used by the Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceThe Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
.