Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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DISHONORABLE NAVAL DISCHARGE
IF YOU WANT FOLKLORE, YOU MUST MEAN TRADITIONS,
RIGHT? WELL, HERE IS A BIT OF NAVAL TRADITION. WHEN
I WAS IN THE U.S. NAVY, I WAS STATIONED IN SAN DIEGO,
CALIFORNIA. ONE TIME WE WERE ALL ORDERED TO (GO) OUT
ON THIS LARGE FIELD, (SOMETHING LIKE DRILL FIELD) AND
STAND AT ATTENTION. SOON THE OFFICERS LED THESE THIRTY
OR SO MEN ON THE FIELD. THE MEN WERE ALL DRESSED IN
BLACK. THEY HAD BLACK HATS, SHIRTS, TIES, BELTS, PANTS,
SHOES AND SOCKS. THEY WERE ALL BLACK! WELL, ONE BY
ONE THEY WERE TOLD TO COME FORWARD TO GET DISHONORABLE
DISCHARGES. THE CHARGES THAT WERE PLACED AGAINST THEM
WERE READ PUBLICLY. WHEN THEY WERE LED OFF THE FIELD,
ALL OF US WERE TOLD TO TURN OUR BACKS TO THEM. ALL OF
THESE MEN DRESSED IN BLACK WERE PUT ON A BUS AND LET OFF
IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO. THEY HAD NO MONEY EXCEPT $2.00
WHICH WAS GIVEN TO THEM. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS HAS
BEEN THE NAVAL TRADITION FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED OF YEARS.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED OF THIS TRADITION IN THE NAVY.
Where learned: NAVY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
Date learned: 05-19-1965
LINE OF NAVAL PRISONERS
HERE IS ANOTHER NAVAL TRADITION I LEARNED WHEN I WAS
IN THE SERVICE. IF THERE'S A LINE OF PRISONERS
THAT ARE GOING TO BE SENT TO THE BRIG, AND
SOMEONE BREAKS THROUGH THE LINE, EVEN IF IT IS AN
ACCIDENT, HE WILL GET THE LONGEST TERM OF ANY OF THE
MEN IN THE LINE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN THE U.S. NAVY.
Where learned: NAVY
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 05-19-1965
Saying
Saying About Navy Chow:
The cooks perform miraces. How else could you take good food and turn it to crap without passing it through the human body?
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B400] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Where learned: NAVY
Keyword(s): Chef ; COOK ; Crap ; FOOD ; HUMOR ; INSULT ; JOKE ; Navy ; Rude ; Saying
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
The Lady in White
Legends tell of a ghost of a lady who warns ships
of impending doom and must turn back to port or else
they will perish. An example is of a British ship
called the Usk which was visited by this phantom lady
and told to turn back. The captain believed her and turned
back and he was beached. Months later the ship went down
with all hands, burned at sea not heeding her warning.
Submitter comment: My father learned this while in the Navy.
Where learned: NAVY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Entry filtered.
Story
The recruit would go around the base in a constant search looking for a piece of paper. He would go through elaborate to attract attention [sic]. He would turn over rocks, pick up other pieces of paper or what have you. After each act he would exclaim "no, that's not it!" Finally he got the attention of the camp doctors who then had him confined. Finally the doctors deemed him unfit for service and gave him a medical discharge. Then the guy said he finally found the right piece of paper.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Bogg Number [B600] crossed out and replaced with B646
Keyword(s): Discharge ; FEIGNED INSANITY TO GET OUT OF MILITARY SERVICE. ; Fool ; INSANITY ; INSANITY ; Mental Disorder ; MILITARY ; Parable ; Recruit ; Sanity ; Wise Fool
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic |