The Grog Bowl

[Viking]

We're having our Infantry Ball in September, and I am on a mission. I am sick and tired of attending functions where the Grog Bowl is not given the attention it deserves.

At The Ranger Ball, the mixing of the Grog Bowl is a solemn affair and, in my opinion, a highlight of the ball. It gives the attendees a moment to reflect on those who came before them. A variety of alcohol is presented to the crowd and ceremoniously poured into the bowl. The MC announces the significance of each ingredient, usually derived from a battle or campaign fought by their predecessors. Salt for the tears of those who were lost, sand from the beaches of Normandy, Italian wine, Panamanian Seco, etc it is all significant.

My mission for our ball is to set a precedent for future Infantry Balls for my newly stood up unit. I will not have a half-assed ceremony. I am sure I can put this together, but if anyone has any recommendations I would be very open to suggestions. What did you like/not like, what worked and what didn't?

[kenshinw3]

I was MFIC for one. Being from GRP, I selected a bottle that was from or represented each GRP's AOR. I had a Soldier from that GRP or served in that GRP to come up, say a few words, remember the men from that GRP, open the bottle and take a drink. After taking a drink, he would pour the rest in the grog. That went on thru all GRPs and MACOMs. We then toasted the MIA table, all attention was on that table as MR. Vice delivered a narrative.

Thought...for Infantry Ball..cover down on the historical campaigns where the infantryman has made a contribution-which really is all campaigns. Have a bottle representing each era starting from the Revolutionary War for example to present. Have a different Soldier cover down on each era, say a few words, bust the bottle open and christen the grog. A twist on what we've done in GRP.

[Gryfen-FL]

Funny that....

I'm working on some stuff for the rites of passage we do. Looking at using these for the 'alcohol': http://www.webstaurantstore.com/anchor-hocking-139ur-1-liter-34-oz-glass-carafe-12-cs/55197000.html

[Papa Smurf]

Once the grog bowl is complete, the first cup is served by the most junior member to the most senior member - each make a toast before opening up the bowl for the festivities.

[Justaclerk]

Here's a video of correct proportions presented by Alton Brown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZPV6ZGTrCw) (Good Eats). Get through the history and you get to the potent bowl.

[eltrane]

Presentation unit mugs, or canteen cups? I have been to two and the first we used canteen cups, the second we were given mugs (this was in Germany). I agree that this event was important, and ingrained in my memory. Obviously it should be done early in the ball, when everyone still has most of their wits about them. Best of luck on this.

[P38]

Viking,

Is this a generic 'Army' Infantry Ball, or is it tied to the lineage of a specific Infantry Division or Regiment? You mentioned that you are in a newly stood up unit. New units are usually old units reborn with colors returned from storage. What is the campaign history of the new unit? To make it personal to the members of the mess, I'd recommending selecting beverages that have a connection to your units campaigne history with a nice short summary of the campaign to be given just before the bottle is poured into the bowel. Make it something that a G.I. would have found in the celler of a bombed out house on each battlefield.

[grog18b]

I thought this was about everyone coming to my house for the Super Bowl...

[Max Power]

I'll have to dig around for it, but once upon a time I found what was essentially a protocol manual that outlined the speaking parts that were necessary, what branches have which liquors, etc. Should have saved it. It was either from the Sergeant Major Academy or from West Point.

[Viking]

I thought this was about everyone coming to my house for the Super Bowl...


LMAO! I couldn't figure out how "Grog" had worked its way into so many threads until I figured out the search was hitting on your name....


P38, concur. This is IMO what makes them so meaningful. I will research our lineage a bit more, but also plan on including momentous contributions of the National Guard and Infantry in general.

Eltrane, I am all about the canteen cup....

[Spinner]

I've had my share of concoctions made with several different types of alcohol, some good, some not so good.

Based on my experience with what we called jungle juice that I made in the past, I've got to know:

How does it taste?

[CDRODA396]

For a newly stood up unit, I'd try and get some unit funds, hold a raffle or "coerce" people into donating and buy a damned nice, silver grog bowl...BIG BOWL, and engrave something nice on it to commemorate the christining of it, and the unit...then store it where it can be seen by everyone in the unit so that between events it'll evoke those funny little stories about Mr Vice or SGT So-and-So the last time it was used, and make sure it gets used for all subsequent events.

When I was prop-blasted in the 504, we drank from the Tucker Tumbler...passed along since shortly after WWII and named after the Regimental Commander during WWII, LTC Rubin Tucker...later MG. It was amazing to have that much history in your hands (took two to heft that bad boy up and drink!) and drink some grog with some "Stank" to it!

Clarence E. Bowman, a master engraver, was commissioned to direct the design of the official silver service for the executive mansion in 1942. In addition, he helped design the base of "Tucker's Tumbler," the trophy of the 504th Parachute Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division in 1948. Bowman also created fifty goblets that include the names of seven hundred and fifty men of the original members of the 504th Regiment.

The 504 had enough cups made to have all the Plank Holder's names engraved on them....I'd get one per man, engrave his name and the date on it....then for all future affairs, all the Plank Holders will be easily identifiable by thier Silver goblet...expensive but over the years would be well worth it...you could even establish the tradition that when someone passes, their goblet is returned to join his Brothers and display it in the Unit HQ. I think that would be pretty neat.

[Savoy6]

What ever it ends up, recommend following something along the lines of CDRODA 396 and also have the ceremony written on some type of declaration of sorts with the beverage listings, order of ingredients and verbage/lineage. Frame it up nicely so it carries on the the tradition with the Grog Bowl. Best of luck and tradition founding.