Do we have any turtles on here?

Maj Kim Patterson — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 03:33:02 -0400

During WWII, villages took offense about the free spending and boisterous behavior amongst service men. A group was created, the Turtles, and dad was a lifetime member and imperial turtle (he was allowed to induct new members) the other day, I came across my original membership card and before he passed, he elected me to be an imperial turtle and follow the tradition. This site is mostly Army but there is an Air Force presence. So to my frenemies I ask: "Are you a Turtle?" Please respond with the correct answer or a simple no. Just wondering if any of this tradition is still alive. There were a few others that I hope to ask at another time.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Aug 26 at 2015 4:26 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 04:26:16 -0400

Nope ... not me, at least! ;-)

Response by COL Jeff Morris made Aug 26 at 2015 6:06 AM

COL Jeff Morris — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 06:06:41 -0400

Sorry, never heard of this.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 26 at 2015 6:26 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 06:26:37 -0400

The only turtle I ever heard of was being on tour in Korea. One was referred to as a turtle because of how slow the in-process was for newbees. Camp Casey in-process center was referred to as the "turtle farm" because you could spend days there waiting for transport to your unit. We also had "turtle ditches" - cement rain runoffs 1-2 feet deep that a lot of newbees sober or otherwise would trip over and/or fall in. In that respect I was a turtle.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 6:27 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 06:27:58 -0400

Maj Kim Patterson, You bet your sweet ass I am. :-)

Response by PO1 Mike Edgecomb made Aug 26 at 2015 7:32 AM

PO1 Mike Edgecomb — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 07:32:00 -0400

YBYSWIA

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Aug 26 at 2015 7:45 AM

Sgt Jay Jones — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 07:45:39 -0400

I have never heard of being a "Turtle". Could you please provide more information I.e. requirements, expectations, purpose, etc.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 26 at 2015 7:49 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 07:49:37 -0400

Maj Kim Patterson great post. Thanks for sharing such interesting info!

Response by LTC John Shaw made Aug 26 at 2015 8:37 AM

LTC John Shaw — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 08:37:07 -0400

Interesting, I have never heard of this.

Response by CPO Joseph Grant made Aug 26 at 2015 8:53 AM

CPO Joseph Grant — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 08:53:50 -0400

Nope

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 9:15 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 09:15:45 -0400

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 26 at 2015 12:49 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 12:49:57 -0400

And for the rest of us wanna-bees:

http://turtleville.tripod.com/

Are You A Turtle?

Some American Fighter Pilots were relaxing in an English Pub during World War II when they, somehow, got onto the subject of "Turtles". They described a person who was clean minded, usually minded their own business, but when the need arose, would stick their neck out for themselves and other people in need had the attributes of a turtle. That's how the International Association of Turtles began. Sounds crazy unless you have been around...

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Aug 27 at 2015 5:07 AM

Maj Kim Patterson — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 05:07:12 -0400

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Aug 27 at 2015 5:24 AM

Maj Kim Patterson — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 05:24:15 -0400

More info can be found on Wikipedia or other similar site, to become a turtle you must think with a clean mind and answer 4 questions correctly. You then can obtain a membership card and more history. If anyone would like to know and attempt to answer four questions, pm me.

We older vets need to keep some traditions alive

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Aug 27 at 2015 6:43 AM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 06:43:33 -0400

Never heard of it.

Response by PO3 William Lynch made Jan 12 at 2019 9:21 PM

PO3 William Lynch — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 21:21:59 -0500

You bet your sweet ass I am

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2019 1:34 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 01:34:41 -0500

Never heard of a turtle, only a shellback which my grandfather was.