It refers to their hair cuts being tight and high which supposedly makes their heads look like jars.
Read the full replyQuestion ask by my eldest daughter (dating a Marine)
What does it mean/refer to when someone refers to a Marine as a "Jar Head"
I always thought it referred to their haircut... hell I have two ex-husbands that are Marines.. you'd think I would know!
Thanks :)
Katie
Here's a link to a discussion on alt.fan.tom-clancy on the subject.
The term "leatherneck" comes from a uniform marines wore in the nineteenth century. They wore a peice of protective leather around (you guessed it) their necks.
- Max - ======= "We are simultaneously the most loved, hated, feared, and respected nation on this planet. In short, we're Frank Sinatra, and Sinatra didn't become Sinatra playing down for punks outside the Fontainebleau."
- Dennis Miller
I served in the USMC from 1968 until I retired in 1991 and never did hear a definitive answer to "why Jarheads". Why are sailors "Squids" and army soldiers "Dogfaces"?
Thought I remembered Gunny saying that "jarhead" came from the fact that the older uniforms made the Marines look like their head was "screwed on" hence "jarhead." I could be wrong though, the brain doesn't work like it used to.
bill
64.5: 260, 3 sp, a/c, SVO cam, Performer, Holley 390, Pertronix, Hi-Po exhaust, 1.5" front & 1" rear drop, Jacobs wires, Torq D's66: '93 5.0, C4, a/c, ps, Performer RPM, Holley 600, Pertronix, bench seat
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Thank Goodness us Air Force folks are just "Fly Boys" !!
-ERIC Ret. (4-1-03) USAF, MSgt.
89 5.0 LX Vert, Cobra long block, 2.5" O/R H-pipe, 2.73s w/Locker 40 Series Deltas and some kinda Wild Assed Cam!Check out the Ford Engine Heaven!
No kidding.
Scott Williams USAF SRA '94-'98
Thanks guys. She was happy to hear that it wasn't really some hidden insult.
Kate
| > Thank Goodness us Air Force folks are just "Fly Boys" !! | >
| >
| > -ERIC | > Ret. (4-1-03) USAF, MSgt. | >
| >
| > 89 5.0 LX Vert, Cobra long block, 2.5" O/R H-pipe, 2.73s w/Locker | > 40 Series Deltas and some kinda Wild Assed Cam! | >
| > Check out the Ford Engine Heaven! | >
| >
| > > >> What does it mean/refer to when someone refers to a Marine as a "Jar | > > >> Head" | > >
| > > I served in the USMC from 1968 until I retired in 1991 and never did | hear | > a | > > definitive answer to "why Jarheads". Why are sailors "Squids" and army | > > soldiers "Dogfaces"? | >
| >
| |
Wait, I heard it had something to do with the Lobotomy scars? Just kidding!
M my A ass R rides I in N Navy E equipment
Marine: the sound s*it makes when it hits the fan.
USMC: Uncle Sam's Misguided Children
Don Manning
Or the square needle test @ MEPS. Scott Williams (former USAF)
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