MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The thunderous sounds of Marines laughing, clapping hands and cheerful fists pounding on tables rang off the walls of a warehouse here as Marines enjoyed an evening filled with food, drinks, frivolities and traditions.
It was an evening that imitated the gathering and celebrations held by warriors hundreds of years ago in history.
Marines of Marine Air Control Squadron 4 and Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron gathered at a Warrior’s Mess Night to strengthen ties and unwind at a warehouse by Penny Lake here April 3.
“It’s a time honored tradition that all Marines look forward to,” said Gunnery Sgt. Mark Rausch, a radar watch chief with MACS-4 detachment bravo. “This is a good way for all of us to come together and just mingle and enjoy having a good moral-building camaraderie event.”
MACS-4 Marines started the evening with a three-mile hump from the Airfield Operations building to a warehouse north of Penny Lake with their faces tactically painted, clad in desert cammies and load bearing vests with canteens.
Once the Marines arrived at their destination and the meal was ready to be served, Rausch who acted out the President of the hall for the night, yelled out the traditional words of “I proclaim this meal fit for human consumption.”
Once those words reached the Marines ears, they lined up with their plates in hand ready to serve themselves a feast made up of beef, mashed potatoes, corn, bread, cookies, soda and beer. Continuing the traditions of Warrior’s Mess Night, without warning a Marine would stand at attention and yell out the phrase “Mr. Vice, I respectfully request permission to shed a tear for Lord Admiral Nelson,” to ask permission to use the restroom.
Marines would fill the hall with laughter and jeering as Marines requesting permission often stuttered and were ordered to sit down by a Marine all referred to as Mr. Vice, acting the part of Vice President of the hall.
Marines continued the night’s frivolities and traditions slinging accusations of behavior not befitting the nights event as they stood before the President and Vice President presiding over the Warrior‘s Night.
The laughter grew and reverberated off the walls as Marines were punished with paying one dollar fines or were ordered by the President of the hall to drink from nasty tasting grog brewed from various hot sauces and foul tasting mixtures.
One Marine was ordered to dance and sing “I’m a little teapot” in front of veryone in attendance because he repeatedly failed to address Mr. Vice roperly.
“It’s a pretty motivating event,” said Rausch. “The number one tradition I think is the camaraderie.”
Marines in attendance would serve each other drinks and strengthen their comradeship through jokes and conversation as the night wore on.
“I love it,” said Cpl. Jason Green, an air traffic control specialist with MACS-4. “This is the best way of group camaraderie. You get everybody together and you get to share some other experiences that you might not
be able to at the work place.”
The evening gave an opportunity for more experienced Marines to share another side of the Marine Corps never experienced by junior Marines.
“This is the first time I did a Warrior Night,” said Cpl. Amanda Austill an air traffic controller with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. “It’s just fun to hang out with the people you work with and hear them come up with some stories.”
The evening was an echo of celebrations filled with traditions and laughter warriors have had all throughout history. While some say the tradition of Warrior’s Night began with Marines in China during the Boxer Rebellion, a lot of people say it points back to times when warriors would get together and have one last meal before they went into battle, Rausch said.
Either way it is a tradition that all the members look forward to participating in, said Rausch. “Overall it’s to foster good unit moral and esprit de corps.”