Re: Korean War Marine Humor

[Ed Evanhoe <gangster@oio.net>]

>John,

> >>I respectfully disagree with you & others on that.
>When you call a groups of people as "shitload",
>it obviously denigrates that particular group. <<

In this usage, "shitload" is G.I. Slang  indicating
large numbers without being specific.  Something
like saying "many," "lots," and so on.

> >>I haven't heard any G.I.s speaking of
>a "shitload" of Americans. We would have been
>offended by hearing such a remark. <<

Maybe you haven't, but I have heard someone
say, "There's a shitload of G.I.'s on the next hill"
and the like.  And no one was offended by it.  It
was simply part of the G.I. vocabulary at the time.
BUT, again, you are trying to judge language and
events of 50 years ago by  changing ethical/moral
standards you, and you alone, have must apply.
History does not work by changing standards:
Either something happened or it did not.  IT IS
NOT THE PLACE OF AN HISTORIAN TO PASS
JUDGEMENT, ONLY TO REPORT HISTORICAL
FACTS AS COMPLETELY AND EVENHANDEDLY
AS POSSIBLE.  I fear you have not learned this
lesson yet.

Ed

Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, Ok, 74523-0916
Author: DARKMOON: Eighth Army Special Operations in the Korean War
Life member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
Co-list owner: KOREAN-WAR-L (hosted by the Univ. of Kansas)
Web site:  http://www.korean-war.com