Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F535 returned 99 results.
This is a military rite where the commander of a unit upon his
departure from that unit is given a sword by his most trusted non-
commissioned officers for the leadership and command
responsibility he exhibited while he was in command of that
particular unit during a dinner or gathering in that commander's
honor.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; Merced
Keyword(s): RITUAL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
If you were doing a year's remote duty or a year's combat duty
your last ninety-nine days you were dubbed a double digit midget
on base because of the envy everyone had of you since your time
was nearly up. You made a short calendar where at the end of every
work day you would color in the appropriate number of that day. When
you finally got to day one, your tour was over and the next day
you were returning back to the states.
Where learned: ITALY ; SICILY ; Comiso Air Station
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
A custom that prevailed through military basic training was
when you had a recruit who was throwing the entire squadron behind
in all aspects of training to the point where the Drill Instructor
would take the person's faults out on the rest of the unit, during
quiet hours members of the unit would surprise the recruit by
throwing a blanket over him and holding him down while others
would beat him to inspire him towards motivation during drills the
next day.
Where learned: TEXAS ; SAN ANTONIO ; Lackland Air Force Base
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
The dap was a custom originated by African - American
servicemen who served during the Vietnam conflict. It comprised a
series of handshakes or gyrations made during handshakes to show
the unity of black soldiers. It was broken into either short or
long time daps according to how much time the participating
soldiers had available to them.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; Merced ; Castle AFB
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 SPEECH -- Gesture |
There is a tradition associated with sailors that those who
cross the equator for the first time on their cruise must go
through a variety of tasks on board the ship by sailors who are
veterans of the crossing in order to say that they are an able
bodied seaman.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; San Jose
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
There is a tradition among Air Force pilots that they perform
a flyby to celebrate a kill during aerial combat. Upon shooting
down a plane where the enemy breaks off the engagement, the pilot
returns to base where he buzzes the airfield and produces a sonic
boom before he lands the plane.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; Merced
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
When I was playing football in college and injured my ankle on
a play, because medical treatment was limited the coaches took my
ankle and packed it in red clay and sent me back to the dormitory.
The next day the swelling had left and most of the soreness,
I was able to resume practice in a couple of days.
Where learned: NORTH CAROLINA ; Salisbury
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
THE NAVY HAS THIRTEEN BUTTONS ON THEIR UNIFORMS TO
COMMEMORATE THE ORIGINAL THIRTEEN STATES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Overall body coverUpper body and arms |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY A MAN WHO WAS ON A SUBMARINE
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. IF A SUB USED ALL ITS
TORPEDOES BEFORE COMING BACK FROM A CRUISE, AS THE
SUB CAME BACK TO ITS BASE, THE CREW WOULD ATTACH A
BROOM TO THE PERISCOPE. HE SAID THAT IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN AND A HUGE AMOUNT OF
PRIDE WAS HAD BY ANY CREW WHO COULD RETURN TO BASE IN
SUCH A MANNER.
Submitter comment:
HE WAS A RATHER UNUSUAL SUBMARINER BECAUSE HE WAS
SIX FOOT TWO INCHES TALL. I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
EVERY TIME YOU CROSS THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE WHILE
ON BOARD SHIP, YOU PUT A MESSAGE IN AN EMPTY WHISKEY BOTTLE,
SEAL IT TIGHTLY WITH WAX AND THROW IT IN THE WATER.
Submitter comment: NAVY CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALMA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Irregular |
Date learned: 03-09-1970
MANNING THE RAILS IS AN OLD NAVAL TRADITION FOR HONORING
VISITING DIGNITARIES.
ALL THE CREW LINE UP AT THE RAILS OF THE SHIP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALMA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Irregular |
Date learned: 03-09-1970
WATER LINE
THE NEW SEAMAN ABOARD SHIP IS ASSIGNED TO A "DECK
DIVISION." CHIEF BOSUN TELLS HIM ONE OF THE SHIP'S
BOATS IS LOOSE AND THEY NEED SOME LINE TO TIE IT
BACK UP TO THE SHIP. SO HE TELLS THE NEW SEAMAN TO
GO DOWN TO THE BOSUN LOCKER TO GET "TWENTY FEET OF
WATER LINE."
THE "WATER LINE" IS ACTUALLY WHERE THE WATER REACHES
ON THE BOAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NEW SEAMAN ON SHIP
"CHARLIE NOBLE'S LEAVE PAPERS"
SOMEONE FROM THE PERSONNEL OFFICE WILL GO TO SEE A
NEW SEAMAN (USUALLY THE PETTY OFFICER DOES THIS).
HE'LL TELL THE NEW SEAMAN "CHARLIE NOBLE'S LEAVE
PAPERS ARE READY TO BE PICKED UP AT THE PERSONNEL
OFFICE." CHARLIE NOBLE IS IN HIS DIVISION SO HE
HAS TO FIND HIM. THE NEW SEAMAN LOOKS ALL OVER
AND NEVER FINDS CHARLIE, WHO DOESN'T EXIST OF COURSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
"CHARLIE NOBLE" IS A NAME GIVEN TO VARIOUS IMAGINARY
FIGURES IN PRACTICAL JOKES PLAYED ON THE NEWEST SEAMAN
ON BOARD SHIP. ACTUALLY, CHARLY NOBLE IS THE
SMOKESTACK THAT COMES OUT OF THE SHIP'S GALLEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN A NEW SEAMAN COMES ABOARD SHIP THE OLD SALTS
TELL HIM TO STAND MAIL BUOY WATCH UP ON THE FOC-SOLE
(FORECASTLE). THE BRAND NEW SEAMAN IS SUPPOSED
TO WAIT FOR A "MAIL BUOY" THE SHIP WILL PASS AND
WITH A BIG BOAT HOOK REACH OUT TO GRAB THE MAIL
SACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE SEA BAT IS A VERY RARE NAUTICAL ANIMAL. THEY
AREN'T CAUGHT VERY OFTEN, BUT WHEN THEY ARE, THEY ARE
PUT IN A BOX. EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN AT SEA FOR
AWHILE HAS SEEN A SEA BAT, BUT IT'S STILL A REAL
OCCASION. WHEN YOU CATCH ONE, YOU PUT IT IN A BOX
ON THE STERN OF THE SHIP. SEA BATS DON'T LIVE VERY
LONG, SO YOU PASS THE WORD FOR ALL WHO HAVEN'T SEEN
ONE TO COME WHILE IT'S STILL ALIVE. ALL THE NEW
SEAMEN GO TO SEE THE BAT, WHICH IS UNDER A BOX WITH
TWO PEEPHOLES TO LOOK INTO. YOU HAVE TO GET DOWN
ON YOUR KNEES TO LOOK IN. OF COURSE, THERE'S NOTHING
IN THE BOX. THE NEW SEAMEN REALLY GETS RAPPED IN THE
BUTT.
Submitter comment:
BUT THERE REALLY ARE SEA BATS. THE INFORMANT SAW ONE
IN THE GOLDEN GATE PARK AQUARIUM. AFTER A LONG
BIOLOGICAL NAME, IT SAID "SEA-BAT."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
ROOT CROPS SHOULD BE PLANTED WHEN THE MOON IS LIGHT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; RED BOILING SPRINGS
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 04-10-1972
CARL SAID THERE WAS A SUPERSTITION IN THE MARINES (4 YEARS AGO
HE WAS RELEASED) THAT "THREE ON A MATCH AND THE THIRD MAN
GETS KILLED."
Submitter comment: THIS WAS SAID, WHILE A THIRD PERSON CAME UP TO GET A CIGARETTE
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE ; EVENING CLASS ; BLACK AMERICAN HISTORY
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
Date learned: 02-12-1969
MARINE HISTORIC EVENT
THE REASON THAT OFFICERS HAVE X'S ON THE TOP OF THEIR HATS DATES
BACK TO THE BATTLE OF THE BONHOMME RICHARD AND THE SERAPIS. THERE
WERE MARINE SNIPERS IN THE RIGGING AND THEY HAD THE MARINES PUT
X'S ON THEIR HATS SO THEY WOULDN'T GET SHOT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 03-08-1972