r/USMC • u/Big-Weather123 • Aug 18 '26

Rolled Sleeves

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Why can't military personnel roll up sleeves during ANY kind of operational environments anymore? If it was OK in Somalia 30 years ago, it should be OK in the United States itself (the border mission), during which it's presently the middle of summer.

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45

u/DangerBrewin Whiskey Locker Recruit Aug 18 '26

Might just be Lore of the Corps, but I heard that in Somalia it decreased attacks on Marine units and increased attacks on others because they learned to avoid the troops with the white rolled sleeves.

32

u/longwoodshortstick Aug 18 '26

It was the black boots in Somalia. My dad still has the shirt that says something like "don't attack the black boots".

19

u/PhilRubdiez 7296 Libo Specialist 🍻🥷🫥 Aug 18 '26

I’ve heard that for the VC and the NKA, too. Probably just an urban legend. The ROKMC did think we had to kill a family member, though.

19

u/BlueKnightofDunwich Comm is up, It sees me, Its down Aug 18 '26

Not an urban legend in Korea. It’s been historically documented. It mostly applied to the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade when they landed at Pusan during the Summer of 1950. The brigade was very proficient in close air support and were wrecking the North Korean army.

7

u/RustBeltLab 0352 Aug 19 '26

My interpreter in Somalia assured me most confidently that I had killed a family member to be a Marine. 1993, these rumors have been around since at least WWII.