Plebe Sayings

Why Didn't You Say Sir?

Sir, sir is a subservient word surviving from the surly days of old Serbia when certain serfs, to ignorant to remember their lord's names, yet to servile to blaspheme them, circumvented the situation by surrogating the subservient word, sir, by which I now belatedly address a certain active, who correctly surmised that I was syrupy enough to say sir after every word I said, SIR.

Portland Cement

Portland Cement is the product obtained by finely pulverizing the clinkers produced by calcining, to incipient fusion an intimate and properly proportioned mixture of argillaceous and calcerous materials with no additions subsequent to calcination excepting water and calcined or uncalcined gypsum.

Classification of the M1903A3

U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1903A3
Manually operated
Air Cooled
Magazine fed
Single shot
Shoulder weapon
Weight approximately 8.5 lbs.
Length approximately 43 5/16 inches.

Definition of Leather

SIR: If the fresh skin of an animal is cleaned and divested of all hair, fat, and other extraneous matter, be immersed in a dilute solution of tannic acid, a chemical combination ensues. The gelatinous tissue of the skin is converted into a nonputrescible substance, impervious to and insoluble in water. THAT SIR, IS LEATHER.

What Time is It?

Sir, I am greatly humiliated and deeply embarrassed but due to unforeseen circumstances over which I have no control the inner workings and hidden mechanisms of my chronometer are in such unaccord with the great sidreal movements by which time is commonly reckoned that I cannot with any degree of accuracy state the exact time but without fear of being too far wrong I will state that it is approximately minutes seconds and ticks after the__hour. SIR ...and there are five ticks to a second.

How's the Cow?

SIR: She walks, she talks, she's full of chalk and the lacteal fluid extracted from the female of the bovine species is highly prolific to the nth degree.

Definition of Discipline

General John M. Scofield

The discipline which makes the soldiers of a free country reliable in battle is not to be gained by harsh or tyrannical treatment. On the contrary such treatment is far more likely to destroy than to make an army. It is possible to impart instruction and to give commands in such manner and such a tone of voice to inspire in the soldier no feeling but an intense desire to obey, while the opposite manner and tone of voice cannot fail to inspire hatred and a desire to disobey. The one mode or other of dealing with subordinates, springs from a corresponding feeling in the breast of the commander. He who feels the respect due to others cannot fail to inspire in them regard for himself, while he who feels and hence manifests disrespect towards others cannot fail to inspire hatred against himself.

General Orders

To take charge of this post and all government property in view.
To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.
To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.
To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own.
To quit my post only when properly relieved.
To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentinel who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Officer of the Day, and officers and noncommissioned officers of the guard only.
To talk to no one except in the line of duty.
To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.
To call the commander of the relief in any case not covered by instructions.
To salute all officers, and all colors and standards not cased.
To be especially watchful at night; and during the time for challenging to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without property authority.