"EDIBLE CRAYONS for Marines!?!???" Topic

Agreed, most of you youngsters will consider me Old Corps,
since I served over half a century ago. Over time and
back in the day, there were many jokes, descriptions, comments, backhanded respects and derogatory remarks from other branches of services that either evoked physical response. laughs, or mutual respect and many, many shared adult beverages.

My topic is two fold.

First, what does this "crayon eater" thing mean and when did
it start? This makes no sense to this old Salt, other than
it has to be a grunt thing. You young breed, please bring
me up to speed.

Secondly, and the kicker. There is a young, fairly recent
discharged Marine, who actually has started a business
making EDIBLE CRAYONS. Packed like an MRE and labeled
"Crayon Ready to Eat". These are candy and in colors
matching with "descriptive color names" for our various fellow branches of service. Now only available in San Diego, plans follow to make these available online.

I know it is April Fool's Day. But this and the interview
came from an established news channel and is not a prank.

So, fellow Marines, what is the story behind this crayon thing?

Enjoy your pranks on your brother and sister Marines, and
please don't p@## off your platoon Sgt. or God forbid the
Company Gunny or First Sergeant.

Semper Fi to you all,

Sam

I'm almost afraid to ask, but link?

Hoping I won't be violating rules for posting a link to a fundthefirst.com site:
link

I have used some unkind words for a number of fellow servicemen, including our amphibian friends, and my father who was Navy, used some I never heard. But I never heard them called "crayon-eaters" Just in the abstract, a washable edible crayon sounds like something I should consider for the grandchildren. Bound to be easier on my son's feet than the Legos, too.

John,
mil.com if you subscibe. As I understand, the crayon eater
name has been around for a while. That was my primary question. Never heard the term back in the day.

Robert, my longest serving family member was a retired
Master Chief Bosun's Mate. 37 years service going back to pre war China Seas and WW2. I joined long after his retirement, We laughed about the deck ape,swabbie, jarhead. seagoing bell hop, etc. comments and appropriate reactions of the different times.Fond memories of the many beers and sea stories. Other than the usual rivalry and banter, they were always filled with mutual respect.

I miss those precious times we shared.

Various stories about the origin but one thing is clear – it is virtually impossible to insult a Marine because insults get adopted as nick-names – witness "jarhead"

See also link

Crayon eater is a derogatory term for dumb kids. link

I had an Army guy call me a crayon eater. I said I plead guilty. I then told him all of the guys in the neighborhood gave his daughter the nickname "Crayon". He was speechless.

Semper Fi Mac,

Wolfhag

ohhhh, Wolf, :-)
Things change but stay the same.

"Sea going bell hop!"

" Yeah, and the last belle I hopped was your…"

The drill has never changed.

Think of me when I am in the dawghouse.

Semper Fi, brother

Sam

Sam,
I always thought crayons went well with Hot Sauce. The brown ones tasted like C-Rat S--- Disks.

Wolfhag

Hey Bill,
Just read your two links. Now, I have the answer to my first question and understand. Thanks for sharing the link, loved
the responses and comments there posted.

Thanks for taking the effort to find those and sharing.
Now I will know what this "new breed" is talking about.

Best always to you and the editors.

Sam

Yep, we used to call the navy "squids". Then someone looked up squid in a dictionary and one of the definitions was "a higher form of marine life" :0

Is that like eating the old camo sticks ? 🤔