A Dog Story: Parris Island Mascot Promoted to Corporal

[My father retired at Parris Island, SC, 1973]

There were many smiles, a smattering of applause and more than a few laughs
when Archibald Hummer was called before Col. Gregory Douquet to become the
Marine Corps' newest corporal Friday during the morning colors ceremony at
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

With his handler, Cpl. Alexander Long, trailing behind, Hummer, an English
bulldog and the depot's official mascot, trotted to a spot on the asphalt in
front of Barrow Hall and sat politely as Douquet affixed a set of Velcro
chevrons to his tailored service uniform.

Douquet, commanding officer of Headquarters and Service Battalion, said
Hummer's meritorious promotion was much deserved for all the 3-year-old
pooch does as the wrinkly face of the depot. "Symbolism is very important
to the Marine Corps, and one of the key, iconic symbols of this depot is
Hummer," he said.

Hummer's promotion package -- which included details about his time in
service, leadership skills, behavior and his experience with families
visiting the depot -- was reviewed and approved by Brig. Gen. James B.
Laster, commanding general of Parris Island and the Eastern Recruiting
Region. Hummer was promoted to lance corporal in March 2007.

Hummer was a 14-week-old puppy when he became the depot's mascot in April
2006. Like thousands of Marines before him, he walked the yellow footprints
into the receiving building and became a recruit. His training -- primarily
housebreaking and obedience -- met every definition of "basic."

Hummer replaced Lance Cpl. Mac, who retired in 2006 because of a spinal
injury, according to the depot.Mac served as the depot's mascot from 2002 to
2006.

Hummer's duties now include attending Emblem Ceremonies on Thursdays and
colors and graduations on Fridays.

Douquet said the dog is a big hit when holding court at the Douglas Visitors
Center on Family Day.

"Hummer is by far the most popular of any Marine at the depot," Douquet
said. "Sometimes Hummer thinks the depot exists for Hummer."

The dog is just one in a long line of mascots at Parris Island that started
with Mike, an Irish terrier, which was the depot's first recorded mascot in
1915. A monument to the dog across from the commanding officer's quarters is
the oldest monument on the island.

Though an icon in his own right, Hummer was only a few brown dots of fur
from being a different kind of mascot. The dog was purchased by the Corps
from the same Valdosta, Ga.,breeder who provides the University of Georgia
with its line of "Uga" bulldog mascots.

"The only reason he's not their mascot is because he's got a few brown spots
on him and they want their dog to be pure white," Douquet said. "We're happy
to have him though. He's a great dog."

The dog's handling duties are rotated annually to one of Headquarters and
Service's Battalion's non-commissioned officers.

Long, a Port Royal, VA native, said living with and caring for the dog since
June has been a challenge and an honor.

"It's everything I've thought it would be and a little bit more," he said.
"He's an icon. There are few official mascots that can generate this kind of
publicity. The great thing about my job is that I get to take care of him
like he's my own pet."

Long said he expects the dog to have a little more attitude around the house
now that he and the dog are the same rank.

"We haven't really talked about that yet," he said. "But I'm sure when he
realizes that, he'll try to take advantage of me."

Jill

Shows that sometimes appearance is everything. My brothers bulldog
could never decide whether to growl or hide when I offered to take him
for a walk. He thought a walk should involve maybe twenty feet and
five minutes while I was into a half hour and a mile. Some marine he
would have been.

Jo
"jmcquown" wrote in message
...
[My father retired at Parris Island, SC, 1973]

There were many smiles, a smattering of applause and more than a few
laughs when Archibald Hummer was called before Col. Gregory Douquet
to become the Marine Corps' newest corporal Friday during the
morning colors ceremony at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

With his handler, Cpl. Alexander Long, trailing behind, Hummer, an
English bulldog and the depot's official mascot, trotted to a spot
on the asphalt in front of Barrow Hall and sat politely as Douquet
affixed a set of Velcro chevrons to his tailored service uniform.

Douquet, commanding officer of Headquarters and Service Battalion,
said Hummer's meritorious promotion was much deserved for all the
3-year-old pooch does as the wrinkly face of the depot. "Symbolism
is very important to the Marine Corps, and one of the key, iconic
symbols of this depot is Hummer," he said.

Hummer's promotion package -- which included details about his time
in service, leadership skills, behavior and his experience with
families visiting the depot -- was reviewed and approved by Brig.
Gen. James B. Laster, commanding general of Parris Island and the
Eastern Recruiting Region. Hummer was promoted to lance corporal in
March 2007.

Hummer was a 14-week-old puppy when he became the depot's mascot in
April 2006. Like thousands of Marines before him, he walked the
yellow footprints into the receiving building and became a recruit.
His training -- primarily housebreaking and obedience -- met every
definition of "basic."

Hummer replaced Lance Cpl. Mac, who retired in 2006 because of a
spinal injury, according to the depot.Mac served as the depot's
mascot from 2002 to 2006.

Hummer's duties now include attending Emblem Ceremonies on Thursdays
and colors and graduations on Fridays.

Douquet said the dog is a big hit when holding court at the Douglas
Visitors Center on Family Day.

"Hummer is by far the most popular of any Marine at the depot,"
Douquet said. "Sometimes Hummer thinks the depot exists for Hummer."

The dog is just one in a long line of mascots at Parris Island that
started with Mike, an Irish terrier, which was the depot's first
recorded mascot in 1915. A monument to the dog across from the
commanding officer's quarters is the oldest monument on the island.

Though an icon in his own right, Hummer was only a few brown dots of
fur from being a different kind of mascot. The dog was purchased by
the Corps from the same Valdosta, Ga.,breeder who provides the
University of Georgia with its line of "Uga" bulldog mascots.

"The only reason he's not their mascot is because he's got a few
brown spots on him and they want their dog to be pure white,"
Douquet said. "We're happy to have him though. He's a great dog."

The dog's handling duties are rotated annually to one of
Headquarters and Service's Battalion's non-commissioned officers.

Long, a Port Royal, VA native, said living with and caring for the
dog since June has been a challenge and an honor.

"It's everything I've thought it would be and a little bit more," he
said. "He's an icon. There are few official mascots that can
generate this kind of publicity. The great thing about my job is
that I get to take care of him like he's my own pet."

Long said he expects the dog to have a little more attitude around
the house now that he and the dog are the same rank.

"We haven't really talked about that yet," he said. "But I'm sure
when he realizes that, he'll try to take advantage of me."

Jill

"Jofirey" wrote in message
...
Shows that sometimes appearance is everything. My brothers bulldog could
never decide whether to growl or hide when I offered to take him for a
walk. He thought a walk should involve maybe twenty feet and five minutes
while I was into a half hour and a mile. Some marine he would have been.

Jo

Apparently this bulldog is very proud and convinced he should have been
promoted sooner After all, he gets to wear a uniform with stripes

Jill

"jmcquown" wrote in message
...
[My father retired at Parris Island, SC, 1973]

There were many smiles, a smattering of applause and more than a few
laughs when Archibald Hummer was called before Col. Gregory Douquet to
become the Marine Corps' newest corporal Friday during the morning colors
ceremony at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

With his handler, Cpl. Alexander Long, trailing behind, Hummer, an
English bulldog and the depot's official mascot, trotted to a spot on the
asphalt in front of Barrow Hall and sat politely as Douquet affixed a set
of Velcro chevrons to his tailored service uniform.

Douquet, commanding officer of Headquarters and Service Battalion, said
Hummer's meritorious promotion was much deserved for all the 3-year-old
pooch does as the wrinkly face of the depot. "Symbolism is very
important to the Marine Corps, and one of the key, iconic symbols of this
depot is Hummer," he said.

Hummer's promotion package -- which included details about his time in
service, leadership skills, behavior and his experience with families
visiting the depot -- was reviewed and approved by Brig. Gen. James B.
Laster, commanding general of Parris Island and the Eastern Recruiting
Region. Hummer was promoted to lance corporal in March 2007.

Hummer was a 14-week-old puppy when he became the depot's mascot in April
2006. Like thousands of Marines before him, he walked the yellow
footprints into the receiving building and became a recruit. His
training -- primarily housebreaking and obedience -- met every definition
of "basic."

Hummer replaced Lance Cpl. Mac, who retired in 2006 because of a spinal
injury, according to the depot.Mac served as the depot's mascot from 2002
to 2006.

Hummer's duties now include attending Emblem Ceremonies on Thursdays and
colors and graduations on Fridays.

Douquet said the dog is a big hit when holding court at the Douglas
Visitors Center on Family Day.

"Hummer is by far the most popular of any Marine at the depot," Douquet
said. "Sometimes Hummer thinks the depot exists for Hummer."

The dog is just one in a long line of mascots at Parris Island that
started with Mike, an Irish terrier, which was the depot's first recorded
mascot in 1915. A monument to the dog across from the commanding
officer's quarters is the oldest monument on the island.

Though an icon in his own right, Hummer was only a few brown dots of fur
from being a different kind of mascot. The dog was purchased by the Corps
from the same Valdosta, Ga.,breeder who provides the University of
Georgia with its line of "Uga" bulldog mascots.

"The only reason he's not their mascot is because he's got a few brown
spots on him and they want their dog to be pure white," Douquet said.
"We're happy to have him though. He's a great dog."

The dog's handling duties are rotated annually to one of Headquarters and
Service's Battalion's non-commissioned officers.

Long, a Port Royal, VA native, said living with and caring for the dog
since June has been a challenge and an honor.

"It's everything I've thought it would be and a little bit more," he
said. "He's an icon. There are few official mascots that can generate
this kind of publicity. The great thing about my job is that I get to
take care of him like he's my own pet."

Long said he expects the dog to have a little more attitude around the
house now that he and the dog are the same rank.

"We haven't really talked about that yet," he said. "But I'm sure when he
realizes that, he'll try to take advantage of me."

Jill