If you follow the Marine Corps and use the Internet, you’ve no doubt seen the epic video of Marines in Afghanistan lip-syncing the Britney Spears song, “Hold it Against Me.” In April, Battle Rattle profiled the Marines behind the video. They were 19 performers in it, all members of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 466 (Reinforced), of MCAS New River, N.C., or HMLA-169, an attack squadron out of Camp Pendleton, Calif. The video exploded in popularity after Spears posted a link to it on her Twitter page. On Saturday, she posted the following with the photograph, taken at her concert Friday…
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It’s not every day that I learn a new word while searching for the latest and greatest Bored Marine Video. Today is one of those days. Below, Marines with Combat Camera in Afghanistan perform “Don’t Turn the Lights On.” This is no Britney Spears jam, though. This song is originally by Chromeo, an “electrofunk duo.” And thus, the word of the day: electrofunk. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smq97z8UrSU&feature=youtu.be[/youtube] I have to say, this Bored Marine Video is a cut above the typical material. Well-produced? Check. Well lip-synced? Check. Psychedlic undertones? Absolutely. For the record, it appears these Marines are based at Camp Leatherneck, where…
In February, Battle Rattle pitched in and helped Staff Sgt. Matthew Hansen win a contest that named a NASCAR race in honor him and his late twin brother. It’s time to play catch-up with that story. The Matthew and Daniel Hansen 400 was held Saturday in Richmond, Va., bringing attention to the ultimate sacrifice made by Sgt. Daniel Hansen, who was killed two years ago in Farah province, Afghanistan, when his foot patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device. He was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant. The race was won by Kyle Busch, but as several dispatches from Richmond…
One week ago on Monday, a Marine corporal in Afghanistan posted a video of him and his buddies lip-syncing Britney Spears’ “Hold It Against Me.” It was amusing, well-edited and uplifting — and quickly became one of the most popular current YouTube videos in the world after Spears herself shared it on Twitter three days later. By now, you’ve probably seen the video. As I write this post, it has been viewed more than 2.6 million times in less than two weeks. YouTube statistics show it’s the third-most popular music video on the site this week. [HTML1] Not wanting to…
Git-R-Done! That simple saying evokes one of two reactions in most of the American public: a violent, disgusted shudder or amused glee. I’m in the gleeful category, which is why I was amused to hear everyman comedian Larry the Cable Guy has taken his new TV show, “Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy,” on the road to feature Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif. The History Channel will air the show Tuesday, April 12, at 9 p.m., according to the Facebook page for the Marine Corps Motion Picture and Television Liaison Office. The show’s website doesn’t say much about it right…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCdqBr2U2cA[/youtube] “American Idol” contestant Paul McDonald drew the ire of some viewers for wearing a Marine Corps dress blue blouse during a March 9 performance. The jacket bore no patches, chevrons or other military insignias. McDonald sported the tunic during a live performance of “Come Pick Me Up” by the musician Ryan Adams. His hometown newspaper, The Huntsville (Ala.) Times, ran this story about his wardrobe selection the following day that drew varied comments from web readers. “Just because he’s free to do so, doesn’t mean we have to like it,” wrote commenter Rockadile12. “The uniform was actually worn by…
It turns out having your pets spayed and neutered isn’t the only cause close to Bob Barker’s heart. The 87-year-old longtime host of “The Price Is Right” announced today that he will donate $2 million to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, a nonprofit that provides assistance to injured members of the armed forces and their families. He is scheduled to present a check tomorrow in Los Angeles, and will be joined by retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Mike Myatt. Barker was a Navy fighter pilot in World War II. In a news release, he says he hopes his donation…
We try to keep press about promotional gimmicks on Battle Rattle to a minimum, but liquor maker Crown Royal has a pretty cool one in the works now. Bottom line: It could result in a NASCAR race being named after twin Marine brothers. The company has launched a campaign to nominate service members who should be considered in the “Your Name Here” 400 program. The race will be named after one of five finalists, based on who garners the most votes on NASCAR.com. The Marine contestant is Staff Sgt. Matthew Hansen, who has deployed three times since 2002, according to…
Why are these Marines wearing gas masks? Is it a biological attack? Chemical warfare? A skunk on the loose? Nope. Turns out they’re just playing dodgeball in Afghanistan. That’s the story out of Combat Outpost Payne, home to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, out of Twentynine Palms, Calif. It’s among the Corps’ southernmost outposts in Helmand province, a hub where Marines patrolling the deserts leading to Pakistan in Light Armored Vehicles catch a break. There’s more to the story — and more photos — here: Marines and sailors with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), played “combat dodge ball”…
This morning, I met with Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent in his office for a wide-ranging interview. We discussed a variety of issues for future stories, and eventually the subject of this blog, Battle Rattle, came up. Kent, the Marine Corps’ top enlisted Marine, then asked about “the handshake video.” As in, had we seen the video of him shaking hands with recently retired Commandant Gen. James Conway? The one adapted from the service’s 2009 birthday message and set to the music of legendary rapper Snoop Dogg? For those not familiar with what I’m talking about, feel free to review it here. Fair…
