You can hear it echoing from the
hallowed halls of Fort Benning, Ga.’s Infantry Center to the ranges of Fort
Lewis, Wash. It is uttered at award ceremonies, bellowed from formations, and
repeated before, during and after training missions. Visit just about any Army
office building, sports field, dining facility, gymnasium or academy and you
will probably hear someone exclaim "HOOAH!"
No matter how one might
spell the word - with or without a hyphen, a U instead of two Os or so on - the
word is still an expression of high morale, strength and confidence. And, when
powered by an overwhelmingly proud, and usually loud, tone of voice, hooah seems
to stomp out any possibility of being bound by the written word.
"It’s an affirmation that I fully agree with and support the idea or intent
expressed by the person to whom I make that response," said Maj. Gen. F. A.
Gorden, Military District of Washington commander. "It applies not only to the
letter of what was said, but to the spirit of what was said."
Former
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan has his interpretation. "I don’t
know how exactly to spell it, but I know what it means," Sullivan said. "It
means we have broken the mold. We are battle focused. Hooah says ‘Look at me.
I’m a warrior. I’m ready. Sergeants trained me to standard. I serve America
every day, all the way.’ "
The modern hooah, primarily associated
with but not restricted to the infantry, originated with the Second Dragoons in
Florida as "hough" in 1841. In an attempt to end the war with the Seminoles, a
meeting was arranged with the Indian Chief Coacoochee. After the meeting, there
was a banquet. Officers of the garrison made a variety of toasts, including
"here’s to luck!" and "the old grudge" before drinking.
