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24 | OHCC LIVING | APRIL 2026 | Village Vets We had another great turnout for Jeff Powell's briefing on his time as a Forward Air Controller in Vietnam. "Hairy" doesn't even begin to describe the dangers Forward Air Controllers faced ensuring our men and women received the air cover they needed. It has been over 50 years since the Vietnam War ended, but brave FACs like Jeff helped ensure we owned the skies — often at tremendous personal risk. Presentations like his remind us of what professionalism, courage, and commitment truly look like. On a much lighter note — because every good veteran gathering balances gravity with a little mischief — I was reminded of a moment from a few years ago while facilitating transition courses for separating Marines at Camp Pendleton. At last count, I've led more than 60 classes serving over 5,000 Marines, their spouses, and even a few "Green Side" Navy Corpsmen preparing for civilian life. During one class, a motivated group of Marines decided to question my Navy background and heritage. Naturally, I responded in kind. Then I asked them, as self-proclaimed crayon eaters, what their favorite crayon was. I expected boos, hisses — maybe even a minor uprising. Instead, I got a loud, proud, perfectly synchronized response: "That'll be RED, sir!" The confidence was impressive. The volume was unnecessary. The commitment? Outstanding. So why are Marines sometimes called "crayon eaters?" The nickname is classic inter-service ribbing. It jokingly suggests Marines are so tough they skipped coloring with crayons and went straight to eating them — poking fun at Marine intellect while quietly admiring their battlefield grit. The joke went viral in the mid-2010s through social media memes. Rather than protest, Marines did what Marines do: they embraced it and turned it into a badge of honor. Hoorah. Despite rumors, it didn't officially start with the Army. It grew organically from good-natured service banter. Many older veterans say they never heard it during their time in uniform, suggesting it's more modern internet humor than ancient Corps tradition. As for the preferred f lavor — sorry, color — "Jarhead Red" dominates the unofficial polling. Edible chocolate crayons even exist, proving once again that no good military joke goes unmonetized. For the record, my favorite crayon is Navy Blue. Written by Bob Bechill

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