Marine Corps Pipers

**dfmacliam** · 16th August 09, 07:43 AM

I found this article on Military.com and I thought I would share it.. I know we have had discussions relating to the subject, so I felt this is relevent..
Marine Pipers

**Chas** · 16th August 09, 09:10 AM

The article has a date of December 2005. Has there been any movement since then by HQMC as to a skill designator, a tartan, and a uniform?

Regards

Chas

**dfmacliam** · 16th August 09, 10:02 AM

I am understanding this matter has been officially submitted to the Headquarters Marine Corps for consideration. I have been reading many articles of Marine Pipers doing duty, especially in Iraq.. one article mentions a Marine playing the Marine Hymn over loudspeakers in the town of Ramadhi.. Marine Pipers are continueing their piping for Marine functions and eventually they will get the formal recognition..

**Chas** · 16th August 09, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by peacekeeper83

I am understanding this matter has been officially submitted to the Headquarters Marine Corps for consideration. I have been reading many articles of Marine Pipers doing duty, especially in Iraq.. one article mentions a Marine playing the Marine Hymn over loudspeakers in the town of Ramadhi.. Marine Pipers are continueing their piping for Marine functions and eventually they will get the formal recognition..

And so they should - it will only benefit the Marine Corps as a whole.

Regards

Chas

**macwilkin** · 16th August 09, 10:39 AM

Just a point of information, but the first USMC pipers mentioned in the article that took up the pipes while stationed in Londonderry during WWII did not wear Highland attire; the Company of Military Historians depicts the Marine Pipers and Drummers in the standard issue USMC sevice uniform.

The "Polar Bear" Marines stationed in Iceland in 1941-42 served with the Tyneside Scottish, and there are accounts of the pipers of the Geordie Scots playing for the Marines. My great-uncle Robert Williamson was a Naval Corpsman with the "Polar Bear Marines".

T.

**dfmacliam** · 16th August 09, 11:38 AM

I had been reading accounts of Marine Pipers in "action", and one stirring moment, aside from the memorials played for the Fallen Marines... Was the piper who was playing the Marine Corps Hymn over loudspeakers, in Ramahdi, Iraq, and litterally stopping everyone in their tracks, and when he finished.... Every Marine within earshot was cheering... I would have loved to witnessed that.
I have noticed that the pipers are coming from all ranks, both enlisted as well as officers...

**Urchurdan** · 16th August 09, 12:45 PM

I didn't know about pipe playing in the US Marine Corps. I shouldn't have been surprised though, as the son of my present Clan Chief has a son (heir to the Chiefdom) who is an accomplished piper. He is also currently a Colonel in the USAF. I am sure there must be many, many more like him in the American Armed Forces?

**Swampthing** · 17th August 09, 08:32 AM

Yeah, my band had one Marine down here for EOD school.
He obviously didn't have the band uniform, so he wore his Leatherneck tartan kilt with
his dress "C" uniform, it all went together well.
He completed EOD school not too long ago and went up to Cherry Point,
and he either is or will be deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq, not sure which one.

Also, the Air Force does have a pipe band.