Can you say "Hoooo Rahhhh!' mister?
Posted on 03/10/2006 2:53:24 PM PST by Kaslin
A former college teammate of Pat Tillman – the NFL player who left football to join the Army and was killed in Afghanistan – has followed in his footsteps and joined the Marines.
Jeremy Staat, who also played professional football, left the game at age 29 to endure the rigors of boot camp and life in the military.
Staat was an offensive lineman at Arizona State University while Tillman played there, and the two were roommates.
After college, Staat moved on to the National Football League, playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams, plus one year of arena football with the Los Angeles Avengers.
He had early thoughts of leaving football for military service, but Tillman urged Staat to stay in the league until he could get a retirement plan, the Marine Corps News reports.
Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Tillman decided to leave the NFL to serve in the U.S. Army. He was killed in action in 2004, a reported "friendly fire" death that is now being probed by the Pentagon.
"That was the turning point for Jeremy,” said Janet Goodheart, Staat’s mother. "After Pat was killed, he began to dwell on things. He visited me at home and we had a real serious talk. He told me he was through with football.”
Staat had reasons for joining that went beyond Tillman’s death, he said.
"The big reason was because I was really disgusted with the amount of money entertainers get and what they pay troops overseas,” he told the News.
"It didn’t seem right that we pay all those entertainers millions to catch a football and we pay our Marines pennies to a dollar to catch a bullet.
"I wanted to be a part of something that is going to live forever instead of getting trophies. What are trophies good for – collecting dust?”
But the combat utility uniforms took some getting used to, according Staat.
"I looked at them as a new uniform. Instead of having a football helmet, I had a Kevlar. Instead of wearing shoulder pads, I wore a flak jacket.”
Tillman’s old buddy said he plans on leaving a lasting impression in the Marine Corps – and maybe watching a few football games on his days off.
Can you say "Hoooo Rahhhh!' mister?
PING
Ooh-Rah doesn't begin with "H".
Jeremy Staat
Great story.....another great Marine
Arizona State BUMP!!!
And it doesn't begin with "Ooh" - it's U-Rah!
Jeremy Staat is a real American.
BS
I think ooh-rah is correct.
Good for him!
The Marines I work with always spell it "U - Rah" because "Ooh" sounds like O.. On google, I've seen it both ways. Personally I like the "U" because that's how it sounds, but I'm not going to quibble about it, especially in light of the fact this is good news about a fine young man heeding the call of service. (I.e., no offense meant)
Hey! Jack is Old Corps! And he speaks with an accent... Just be glad Sgt Carter didn't get into it!
Pyle! Are you queer or something? It is not "Ueeee Weeee!" It is "Ooh-Rah!"
Jan Michael, do you have any idea how fat and ugly you will be in 30 years?
BS
What you "personally like" is irrelevant.
Tell you what you can do, sweetheart, go spend some three months at one of the Depots bellowing "ewe-rah" and then come back and tell us how it's spelled.
But...no one want to join the military, right?
Good for him! Another great American.
It is actually more of a UGH sound, not a U sound...
Ah-UGH RUH!
makes it sound sharper...
Someone told me it is an English translation for the Russian phrase, "KILL THEM ALL"
Classic....
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We said, "Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to drill we go!"
Well... That's good enough for me...
But this thread is really about Jeremy Staat, a good Marine to be!
Good Night, Chesty!!! 
Did I spell 'Chesty' right?
#2, I feel...
Old A.A. will let us know...
For the ping list.
wrong enemy
Thanks to all. Being former Navy, there is nothing quite so humorous as Marines arguing about spelling.
;-)
Wow.
At 6 foot 5 and 300 pounds he almost doesn't need a flak jacket.
Oh? A squid, eh?
Oh good! 
I have someone to discuss place mats with...
Yes, kind of hard to "spell" it! But, it's not Russian for "Kill them all" ;)
Ok, sure, I'll mention it to the 8 Marines in my office who spell it "U - Rah" in their emails, one Marine spells it "OO-Rah". FYI, trained with Marines in 1983, 1986, 1992, and 1996. But what do I know. As I mentioned in a previous post, no offense was meant. Mole Hill meet Mountain.
And since when could Marines spell?
Huh?
Your enemy are not people trying to praise the Marines
LOL! Now you've done it.
What? I don't understand what you are trying to say. I'm not the "enemy" I'm in the friggin' US military.
You'd think with so many Active Duty, Reservists and vets around a little inter-service smack talk would be fun...
Take the Doohickey residence, for example. I spent 15 years in the Navy - 13 active, 2 drilling reserve.
Mrs. Doohickey on the other hand is a Chair Force reservist.
Think there's no smack talk around here?
What I am saying is don't fight with people who are trying to praise the Marines. We have other enemy out there where our energy should go. Be nice.
Ok, that makes sense. Wasn't trying to be mean.
what ever happened to H-U-A-A... Heard, Understood And Acknowledged???
Hearing the cry there, and seeing it in several references, it was spelled as "Oooh-Rah!!!
The "OOOH" portion is pronounced as it is in "ooze"....
What say you, JoeSixPack1, SandRat, or freema,
daughter/wife/mother/aunt/etc/of Marines?!
My time aboard Parris Island was during THE biggest buildup in Corps History - 35,000 SOB (Souls On Board) according to the History Museum at PI.
It so happened that the Iwo Jima Monument on the Parade Deck there (every dime paid by Marines) had its official Dedication Ceremony soon after I graduated from Boot Camp, in which I had served as Right Guide, and went straight to the podium.
Because of my experience, I was given the high honor and privilege of carrying the American Flag in it, as Guidon Bearer out front with the "A" Company Commander, leading eight full companies of United States Marines.
In 2002, my husband and I took our grandson, then 16 and in JRROTC, to Parris Island for a graduating Company ceremony to receive their emblems and the right to be called MARINE.
Here is my photograph at the 50 years point since dedicating the Monument...
It obviously still is true that if there is a parade on that field, "the wind will come"..:)
The National Anthem is interminably long when you are a small person holding a full-sized American Flag straight out against the wind!!
[My DI from Boot Camp on the sidelines of the Dedication Ceremony raked in lotsa dollars with bets with scoffers on my ability to perform my Guidon Bearer duties to perfection..:)]
Aye-Aye Gunny!!!
Interesting stuff. I sure as heck didn't want to get in a debate over this!! I'm still waiting for this to be released:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418689/
All American hero.
I wish him the best.
ROTFLMAO!
ROTFLMAOPIMP!
Well if this thread is any indication, Staat is in for one good ride. LOL!
I'd be willing to bet he'll be prouder of becoming a Marine than he was when he made the pros. Good on him!
I had no idea a film was being made.
Wow. The book is pretty awesome. Especially the part describing the scene from the ships-my uncle was there.
And with Clint Eastwood behind the camera, I'm sure it'll be good. Although, they have Reese Witherspoon's hubby playing the main role.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.