Quote Originally Posted by davedove View Post
I understand the name Leatherneck derives from a uniform that the Marines wore sometime in the 1800's. Included as part of the uniform was a leather collar, so they gained the name of Leathernecks. Or at least that's what the Gunny said on Mail Call.
Thanks to Todd for the info on that. You can still see the symbolic "leather neck" collar on the upright collar of the dress blue blouse. And while we're there, you can also see the red piping on the blouse which symbolizes the fact that many of the first Marines didn't have uniforms, so they took the redcoats from the British in the Revolution, turned them wrong side out, and wore the blue lining out (with the red underenath showing a little).

The officers still were a "rope" cross on their dress covers as a remembrance of the rope they'd put on their hats so the Marine snipers in the rigging of the ships would know who not to shoot! And all officers are required to own a Mamaluke sword like the one givien to Lt. OBanion during the war against the Barbary pirates.

Oh, yeah, and all officers and nco's wear a "blood stripe" down the trouser leg. (I told you we were all indoctrinated from the beginning. )

Is this TMI? I promise to quit now.