Tales of Texas Heroes – Part 6 – “Brotherhood and Traditions” By Charles Murray

The phrase “Band of Brothers” goes back more than 400 years when Shakespeare wrote Henry V: “We few. We happy few. We band of brothers, for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.”  The phrase “Band of Brothers” summarizes the intense brotherhood felt by warriors who serve together.  Many Americans today associate the phrase with the title of Stephen Ambrose’s book and his story of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.  Texans might also associate it with the opening line of the song “Bonny Blue Flag.”

Brotherhood often carries past discharge from duty.  Organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion are open to veterans of all service branches.  Others, like the Marine Corps League, are specific to one branch.  Some organizations are even more specific.  Texas Heroes Museum President Weldon Koenig belongs to the United States Submarine Veterans; Museum Director Dick Peck is a member of the Super Sabre Society; Museum Director Glenn Altwein is a member of several organizations, including the Military Officers Association of America and the Texas Army National Guard.

Brotherhood is an essential element in an effective combat force.  It causes individuals to work together as a team.  As General Patton said, “An army is a team.  It lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team.”  Mottos help build brotherhood.  Some familiar mottos are “Semper Fidelis” (Marines), “This We’ll Defend” (Army), and “Peace is Our Profession” (Strategic Air Command).  Divisions and Units often have nicknames, like “Old Ironsides” (1st Armored Division) and “Hell on Wheels” (2nd Armored Division).  Each branch of the military has an official song like “Anchors Away” and “From the Halls of Montezuma.”  Marching cadences not only help keep the troops in step, but the lyrics serve to form a bond within the unit’s members.  Yearbooks provide reminders of fellow servicemen and servicewomen.  Military uniforms – standardized clothing – subconsciously remind personnel that they are part of a team.  Many popular songs in WWI and WWII, like “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,” were sung by both military personnel and civilians.

Traditions also serve to bind troops together.  The U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines have well-established line-crossing rituals.  One widely-known tradition is the Shellback Initiation, held onboard as a ship crosses the Equator.  Dozens of similar traditions are observed, including crossing the 180th meridian; crossing the Antarctic Circle; crossing the Artic Circle; passing through the Panama Canal; and circumnavigating the Earth.

Some traditions are started by the men and women who serve. One of the best-known examples is the World War II graffiti “Kilroy Was Here.”  Another example is “Nose Art” painted on airplanes. 

A tradition that I was unaware of until recently is “short snorters.”  Legend has it that a civilian aviator named Jack Ashcroft started this tradition in 1925 by signing dollar bills.  In World War II, signed dollar bills became a record of who had served with you.  Moreover, it involved a drinking game and a status symbol.

The word “snort” is slang for a stiff drink, and “short” is less than a full measure.  When the men were out drinking, they might be challenged to produce their short snorters.  If you failed to comply, you were obliged to buy a round of drinks.

Pilots carried short snorters for special events, such as flying across the equator or into a different country.  Foreign currency was often used.  The craze caught on, and people used short snorters as a kind of signature scrapbook for famous people as well as friends.  One collector had between 400 and 500 notes taped together measuring 200 feet long and rolled in a bundle 15 inches thick.  The tradition was resumed in 1965 with “Astronaut Signed Dollar Bills.”

The Texas Heroes Museum recently received a donation of short snorters.  Signatures include Jimmy Doolittle and Bill Lear.  Also see an example of Hawaiian “Invasion Money.”

Visit the Texas Heroes Museum to see short snorters, uniforms, shoulder patches, service medals, ribbons, graffiti, yearbooks, and more.  You can also listen to our CDs with more than a dozen military-themed songs from days long past.