Call it ‘Camp Luh-jern’

[TommyGun]

To be honest, I'm getting sick of being told that I'm misprouncing the name Lejeune. I've been in the Marine Corps for almost 20 years, and I have never.....not once.....heard of any Marine pronounce it "Luh-Jern". Although that may be the original way to pronounce it, I've heard it pronounced the "regular" way for an entire career. I'm not mispronouncing the name. That is the way it was taught to me and that is all you still hear today....almost 20 years later.

[hawk71049]

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To be honest, I'm getting sick of being told that I'm misprouncing the name Lejeune. I've been in the Marine Corps for almost 20 years, and I have never.....not once.....heard of any Marine pronounce it "Luh-Jern". Although that may be the original way to pronounce it, I've heard it pronounced the "regular" way for an entire career. I'm not mispronouncing the name. That is the way it was taught to me and that is all you still hear today....almost 20 years later.

Well, like you said TommyGun, I to was taught the way you pronounce it was... "Luh-Joon" I assume that is what you are referring to as… the old way.

So, on that word... I did look it up, and found the attached (http://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/article_Apr08_Lejeune.asp) quoted in the Leather Neck Magazine. We are in fact incorrect; I will now pronounce the name of our base as ... Luh- JERN.

So, in respecting the family and the General (and what I believe the Marine Corps is trying to get back to, some good old basic roots) I think I am not too old of a dog… to be taught a new trick here and there, besides I recall A quote from Emerson, that went something like this.

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." That then would appear to be honoring our tradition, as it once was, then let it be so, I say… hawk

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[SSgtAllen3381]

I will call it what I've always heard it called. CAMP LAJOON.

Seriously, how are "we" disrespecting the man and his family for mispronouncing the name? I'm sure he won't mind.

This thing shouldn't even be an issue.

[hawk71049]

I will call it what I've always heard it called. CAMP LAJOON.

Seriously, how are "we" disrespecting the man and his family for mispronouncing the name? I'm sure he won't mind.

This thing shouldn't even be an issue.




Did you read the article in the Leather Neck article that I used a referance? Just a part of it is provided below.

“Respect” is the issue down in Pointe Cou**pee (pronounced pon kupee) Parish, La., where the citizens, including nearly 200 descendants of the general’s family, have for two centuries pronounced the family name Luh-JERN, albeit spelled Lejeune. Today’s Lejeune family traces its heritage back to the Jean Baptiste Lejeune family. Louisiana is “gyrene” territory, with six Marine generals hailing from the bayous, including two Commandants, Ma**jor Gen*eral Commandant John Lejeune, the 13th, and General Robert H. Barrow, the 27th.

If I was taught to pronounce your name SSgt. Align instead of SSgt. Allen would that not cause you to mention this to me that I was mis pronouncing your name? If I continued this would it not be a sign of disrespect?

Well, like I said, in my below post, I have always pronounced it as "Luh-Joon" until I read the article in the Leather neck, which IMHO fairly well explained that out of respect we should pronounce it correctly, simply my thoughts! nothing more or less.

Do as you will SSgt. Allen……..hawk

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[SSgtAllen3381]

No, I wouldn't see it as a sign of disrespect and wouldn't think anything less of you. If you continued to do it, after you knew the correct pronunciation, I would just ignore you.

But, everyone has their right to do what they wish in saying how they wish. I will, like you, continue to say it the way it's been said for years and actually the way it's spelled as well.

Yes, I read the article and I still think too much is being made of this. I respect what you are saying, but this is really a non-issue.

Have a good one.

[CommunityEditor]

Lt. Gen. John Archer Lejeune is one of the Corps’ all-time heroes, a legendary leatherneck who became the first Marine to lead an Army division, and who later ushered in a new era of amphibious warfare.

So why can’t Marines pronounce his name the same way he did?

That question has been raised by a growing number of veterans, Lejeune family members and some active-duty Marines, who wonder why Camp Lejeune, N.C., the base named in the late general’s honor, isn’t pronounced “Camp Luh-jern,” using the same French-Creole pronunciation preferred by the Baton Rouge, La., native.

“We all pronounce our name ‘Luh-jern,’ and that’s what we’re trying to make clear,” said John Lawrence Lejeune, 82, a distant cousin of the former commandant who lives in Baton Rouge. “It would be greatly appreciated if it was done so.”

Over the last few months, the group has ramped up the campaign to “take back” the Lejeune name. They’ve contacted Commandant Gen. James Conway, written articles published in Marine publications and paid for posters and banners displayed at Camp Lejeune this summer.

One of the posters welcoming deployed Marines back to Camp Lejeune showed a hand-drawn likeness of Lt. Gen. Lejeune along with this plea:

“Welcome home ... to the most disciplined and aggressive fighting force the world has ever known! And Marines ... say and speak my name correctly: Luh-JERN. Semper Fi!”

A 30-foot-wide billboard with the same theme was hung outside Lejeune’s main gate around April, but it has since been taken down, base officials said.

Retired Col. John Bates, executive director of the Armed Services YMCA in Honolulu, said the common “Luh-June” pronunciation has “always kind of hung in my craw,” considering the way Marines pride themselves on their sense of history.

“Our culture is a little bit different, and now it’s a matter of pride and respect for John Archer Lejeune,” said Bates, a three-time Purple Heart recipient stationed at Camp Lejeune before deploying to Vietnam. “It’s just the right thing to do to get everybody back on track.”

Advocates of the “Luh-jern” pronunciation said many old-Corps veterans pronounced the name the same way Lt. Gen. Lejeune did, but that things became lax over the last few decades due to a lack of awareness.

“It’s not a revolutionary thing, it’s an evolutionary thing,” Bates said, adding that Conway told him he, too, is behind the “Luh-jern” effort.

“The commandant said, ‘Yes, I know it’s supposed to be Camp “Luh-jern,” and we’re going to fix that,’” Bates said.

A spokesman for Conway, Lt. Col. T.V. Johnson, said he is unaware of any formal plan to address the matter.

“The commandant believes deeply in our history and our tradition,” Johnson said. “If historical data reflects that that is indeed how to pronounce the general’s name, then I’m sure the commandant is in support of that.”

Col. Richard Flatau, base commander, could not be reached for comment. Several sources said he tends to use the family’s preferred pronunciation but does not correct others who do not.

There are at least nine or 10 active-duty Marines and corpsmen named Lejeune now serving with the Corps, including a few based at Camp Lejeune, said 1st Lt. Philip Klay, a base spokesman. A direct descendant of Lt. Gen. Lejeune’s family is deployed to Iraq as a first lieutenant with 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, and was unavailable for comment.


Article: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/09/marine_lejeunename_092908w/


http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh23/aliceamm/Military%20Times/092908mc_lejeune_john2w287.jpg
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

[Gunny08]

I say pronounce it any way you want. In my early days by the way, the old-timers pronounced it somthing like 'Lehscherne', not 'Luhjerne'. As long as we know what we're talking about, what difference does it make? This being an 'American-English' speaking country, we tend to screwup and bastardize all manner of foreign words. Take for example, 'Lima, Ohio and 'Leema', Peru. Hell, even the natives don't pronounce New Orleans correctly.

[Lone_NCO]

If anybody asks I'd just say North Carolina, 2nd Marcordiv or 2nd MLG lol. I understand the respect issue, but I just can't imagine NCO's sitting there Marines down in PME's for practice saying Luh jern....I know we have more important things to do then that, PFT, CFT, MOS learning, helping PT our Marines so they dont get kicked out under the new BCP standards, etc

Great man, dont care about this though. I am sure that he is not turning over in his grave about this. His family better just deal with him being idolized throughout the Marine Corps.

[MACHINE666]

This has to be one the most inane threads to merit discussion yet - the pronounciation of a name? Let's get real!

But okay - I'll humor everyone here for a moment. The name "LeJeune" is French, is it not? Having taken 2 years of high school French, and living near the French/German border currently, I have learned that a native speaker would look at you funny if you pronounced that name as "Le-Jern" or whatever this ridiculous thread is about. Like speaking any language, there are various dialects depending on the region of the land where it is spoken - and believe me learning the textbook "high German" is alot easier to understand than the local "Pfalzish" way of speaking here. Unless you're going to be rubbing elbows with his next of kin anytime soon, I recommend pronouncing it the way most people can understand, and that's the way it has been reinforced. We're not Rhodes scholars here for crying out loud....

:rolleyes:

[TommyGun]

Apparently it merits discussion in the 'Marine Corps Times' and in 'Leatherneck"...which is why I started the thread. Agree with most of you that it is a non-issue. I don't think it will ever change back....nor do I think it should be. Its probably been called "Luh-Joon" far longer than it was ever called "Luh-Jern".

[USMC_8156]

Funny MACHINE666 mentioned it, I've taken a few years of French myself, and I believe the family is incorrectly pronouncing the name. So, to respect THEIR ancestors, how about they get with the program and pronounce it the way their French ancestors would, eh?

Or would that be stupid because names and languages evolve over time? Durrr.

[hawk71049]

Funny MACHINE666 mentioned it, I've taken a few years of French myself, and I believe the family is incorrectly pronouncing the name. So, to respect THEIR ancestors, how about they get with the program and pronounce it the way their French ancestors would, eh?

Or would that be stupid because names and languages evolve over time? Durrr.

8156,

can you imagine, telling a family they are not pronouncing their own freaking name properly...
not me...lmao

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[USMC_8156]

8156,

can you imagine, telling a family they are not pronouncing their own freaking name properly...
not me...lmao

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Not at all hawk, that would be ridiculous. But the family coming out now and saying that we're pronouncing the name of our base incorrectly is equally as ridiculous.

My point was that over time, their Creole pronunciation of Lejeune went from an accented "Lay-jew-eune" (It's hard to type out a french accent...) into Le-Jerne. I understand how it happened, and if you can pronounce it in the French way, it makes sense. However, over time, the American accent has shifted away from the Creole one, and instead of Le-jern, the phonetic Le-jewn stuck.

The family really put up a billboard? I mean come on...get a job. I have a jacked up last name. I don't cry and bitch when people mispronounce it, because that would be....well...dumb.

Do you really think that we should make a movement to change the way 200,000 Marines pronounce it, hawk?

[hawk71049]

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Funny MACHINE666 mentioned it, I've taken a few years of French myself, and I believe the family is incorrectly pronouncing the name. So, to respect THEIR ancestors, how about they get with the program and pronounce it the way their French ancestors would, eh?

Or would that be stupid because names and languages evolve over time? Durrr.


Not at all hawk, that would be ridiculous. But the family coming out now and saying that we're pronouncing the name of our base incorrectly is equally as ridiculous.

My point was that over time, their Creole pronunciation of Lejeune went from an accented "Lay-jew-eune" (It's hard to type out a french accent...) into Le-Jerne. I understand how it happened, and if you can pronounce it in the French way, it makes sense. However, over time, the American accent has shifted away from the Creole one, and instead of Le-jern, the phonetic Le-jewn stuck.

The family really put up a billboard? I mean come on...get a job. I have a jacked up last name. I don't cry and bitch when people mispronounce it, because that would be....well...dumb.

Do you really think that we should make a movement to change the way 200,000 Marines pronounce it, hawk?

You see 8156,

I tend to agree with your reply to Variable Wind in the thread “Why there has been a breakdown in disipline in the military”


Holy smoke Batman, an on-topic post!

I think this is a cycle...my generation (which is currently 16-28, I'd guess) is one of the most undisciplined, useless little punks in the history of the world. The sense of self-entitlement is amazing, and like you say, we have no pride.

What I don't believe is that it is the first time this has happened in history. Everything is cyclical, and eventually things will pop back into a more harsh environment in which we raise chidlren, which will result in a superior adult class. Not surprisingly, the men and women from my generation who grew up with parents who were not afraid to discipline and love their children are the ones who are successful.

I spoke with a teacher recently who said she believes it comes from the way the Baby-Boomers rasied us, and eventually, hopefully, a generation will mature back into a reasonable group of parents.

If the correct pronunciation of the Generals last name is in fact LeJERN, and the family holds firm in the correct manner in which we should pronounce it, then who am I not to follow their simple request, and pronounce it accordingly . Then combined this with the articles in both the Leatherneck and the times, further adds merit in making amends and correcting our ways. What is it.., do we believe the family is not blowing smoke up our ass… then why should I/we not be willing to respect their request and make a simple adjustment in my/our pronunciation of a member of their family and a Great General.

You see I read some of your reasoning as to how his name has or could have changed over time, over our misfortunes, even the ease of its proper pronunciation is difficult forget about the spellings etc… Combind that with the fact you had a couple years of French, (I though come on 8156) then when you went on to say that you believe the family was mispronouncing it… after the articles that have been written on this subject… further make me question your motives as well as to why you would not accept the change.

So, in support of your above quote, my dad would show me how to hook up the plow to the horse, no he didn’t go into no written 10 page SA or go into a big explanation as to why, it was simple this is how we do it and this is how you’re going to do it too. No, 8156 there was no movement on my part to prove to him he was wrong, or show him how ridiculous all of it was, because had I done that he would have quickly kicked my butt, but then this was my generation as you have clearly pointed out in your above quote… the harsh generation right?

I truly think a lot of our roots have been lost, ignored or left lying by the way side, by those that either don’t care, or wish to reason them to be something other than what they are, thinking their thoughts or origin to be far superior to the facts, or are unwilling to accept that what they have perceived being correct was somehow lost over time or the perceived easy way of doing things and or misfortune.

8156, General Lejeune was not just any General find listed below some of his highest credits.

Hell, the general is credited with single-handedly saving the Corps after World War 1.
His name is used……... to recognize A major base in North Carolina, MCB Camp Lejeune
His name is used……...in memorial halls at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md
His name is used………Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va
His name is used….…..as well as a major highway in Florida

All this named in honor of the general not to mention….his impressive military record.

Marines treasure and respect their history and traditions. The Lejeune family believes that, in time, the general’s name will be put back on track.

John Archer Lejeune (LeJERN) raised the bar in our Corps from the time he entered the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in the Class of 1888, to his leadership in World War I and his fight to keep our Corps of Marines prominent in the War Department’s long-term planning. The rock-hard fact is: We Marines owe our 13th Commandant our honor, courage, commitment and above all RESPECT.

8156, you ask…Do you really think that we should make a movement to change the way 200,000 Marines pronounce it?

Yes, I know your generation needs, movements, campaigns, leatherneck magazines, times articles, headlines, research documents, white papers, handouts, guidelines and poster boards prior to even considering any changes and even then it is doubtful that change will in fact come about. As evidence reference the thread now being posted too. “Why there has been a breakdown in disipline in the military” yes, as a couple others have mentioned, it is difficult to be concerned with this issue, when NCO’s are having difficulty with getting their troops to simply pass the PFT, trying to keep them in the service. Since the Generals birth in 1867, to his graduation from U.S. Naval Academy, in 1888 and thereafter General Lejeune’s last name has digressed into being mispronounced for over a hundred years, it is with reason that I believe it will take equally as long to restore the rightful pronunciation of the Generals last name. IMHO, this issue is more than about some General’s last name not being pronounced correctly, it’s about change, roots, traditions, honor, respect discipline, training and execution.

So, 8156… all the… movement, campaigns, leatherneck magazines, times articles, headlines, research documents, white papers, handouts, guidelines and poster boards will have no meaning until discipline has been restored within the ranks. Our traditions are understood with meaning as to what we are Marines. As you have said in your above quote… I also believe everything is cyclical. If the leadership in the Corps wishes to restore the roots of the Corps and this Generals correct name pronunciation is a part of the roots, change will come about from the top down. It will begin in boot camp and carry up through the ranks, and those like yourself should accept and appreciate your heritage with discipline and respect… hawk


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[USMC_8156]

Lejeune's accomplishments have nothing to do with this, nor does the discipline in the Armed Forces today. My point is that just like the Lejeune's over time changed the pronunciation of their last name, the pronunciation of the Base's name has changed. It really isn't that difficult.

I appreciate my heritage just fine, I just do not care if General Lejeune's Great-great-great-great-grand daughter is upset that we don't call it Le-Jern.

I'm sure he would care more that we are kicking ass and taking names than we are pronouncing his name correctly. If he is any Marine I would care to know, anyways.

[Lone_NCO]

Ok hawk, I see your feelings are very strong about this so I just wanted to point out a couple things ok...

First off i've heard this talk from retirees who say they've heard this topic before in years past, it hasnt changed. I would like to think thats not because we're a $hitty generation per say but for some kind of logic. Or by you and a few others theory that would make at least the generation of most of our parents a $hitty generation as well.

Secondly and far more importantly, if camp Lejuene was established in May of 1941 and the good General died in Nov of 1942, dont you think he would've been pretty pi$$ed if they named a base after him incorrectly? I mean things change over time, but my grand father who served from 1948-1952 called it camp Lejuene... Thats not even 10 yrs, things dont change that much in that short of a time period.

With those things said, I understand you trying to be respectful, but putting that information together makes me question the topic. Most people who have been around for a whole lot longer then us (these guys are all at least 60) have said its a difference in pronounciation due to location.

[hawk71049]

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Lejeune's accomplishments have nothing to do with this, nor does the discipline in the Armed Forces today.
So say you, I however believe differently, and that’s fine… to each his own.


My point is that just like the Lejeune's over time changed the pronunciation of their last name, the pronunciation of the Base's name has changed.
Is there a name around or existing today where that cannot be said? The point is that this name is not being pronounced correctly according to the family, for 100 years or so, best I can determine.


It really isn't that difficult.
Nope, you certainly have that straight!


I appreciate my heritage just fine, I just do not care if General Lejeune's Great-great-great-great-grand daughter is upset that we don't call it Le-Jern.
Ok... that is good to hear... and yes... that is obvious!


I'm sure he would care more that we are kicking ass and taking names than we are pronouncing his name correctly. If he is any Marine I would care to know, anyways.
You know you may be correct.
I suppose that being where he is an all.. may be somewhat difficult to verify.. Unless you’re clairvoyant to.

There is just one little bitty thing that seems to be throwing rocks at your theory, and it is this… are you calling those family members that are alive today…liars? What about those damn Lejeune’s that are alive today and serving in the Marines as well as kicking ass… they to then must have it all wrong and are liars as well…. hawk



Ok hawk, I see your feelings are very strong about this so I just wanted to point out a couple things ok...
Nah… not really Lone_NCO, my feeling are for those of the Corps, see I am not, nor have I been positioned near a base since my discharge in 78. Only visits through friends being in the Corps.


First off i've heard this talk from retirees who say they've heard this topic before in years past, it hasnt changed.
Yeah, me too.


I would like to think thats not because we're a $hitty generation per say but for some kind of logic.
I agree, and I never said that… I believe someone else referenced this…I used this as material to support the discussion, I truly could not come to that conclusion… because, like I said… I have not been around the current generation of Marines, long enough to come to that conclusion.

I laugh here… because when I was in… the same things were being said. I think terms or expressions like this are used as eye catchers, to assist one in seeing how their impact might affect the whole.


Or by you and a few others theory that would make at least the generation of most of our parents a $hitty generation as well.
I agree…


Secondly and far more importantly, if camp Lejuene was established in May of 1941 and the good General died in Nov of 1942, dont you think he would've been pretty pi$$ed if they named a base after him incorrectly? I mean things change over time, but my grand father who served from 1948-1952 called it camp Lejuene... Thats not even 10 yrs, things dont change that much in that short of a time period.
I did catch the time gap and am not sure how this relates to the whole story, as you have mentioned that does seem suspicious, but there must be some merit to the story or Leatherneck mag. and times would not have went to the length they did creating this article. Hell, for all I know the base may have received his name after his death.


With those things said, I understand you trying to be respectful, but putting that information together makes me question the topic. Most people who have been around for a whole lot longer then us (these guys are all at least 60) have said its a difference in pronounciation due to location.
The information I put together was extracted from one article from the leatherneck, and yeah in one year (damn) I also will be 60. I do understand the variance in pronunciations of words… phrases… even names due to locations but when a family comes out to say… hey, look this is how we pronounce our name I tend to take notice… nothing more nothing less… Then add that to the publicity this topic has received by creditable publications… tends to add the icing to the cake… you know.

But, then a Gunny Sergeant once told me… hawk… because all the geese fly north for the winter.. Doesn’t mean North… is the direction to go…

I just want to take a moment and thank both of you for what you do, who you are… protecting our freedom, our rights to communicate freely, to live in our place in a free society, one in which we respect each other’s rights to voice his or her opinions, and do so without fear for life and happiness…
sorry… just could not hold it back, any longer…

OOOOOHHHH RRRRAAAHHHHH...
SEMPER FI !!!!........ hawk

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[Gunny08]

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Hell, for all I know the base may have received his name after his death.
I
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That may be. When I was young (I enlisted in 1946) some of the older Marines spoke of having been stationed at 'New River' in 1941or '42, not 'Camp LeJeune'. Shouldn't that be 'Neuse River'? As far as I know, the Corps had no Camps up to that time anyhow. It was probably named LeJeune about the same time as Camp Joseph H. Pendleton. the PAO at both bases should be able to verify.

[hawk71049]

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That may be. When I was young (I enlisted in 1946) some of the older Marines spoke of having been stationed at 'New River' in 1941or '42, not 'Camp LeJeune'. Shouldn't that be 'Neuse River'? As far as I know, the Corps had no Camps up to that time anyhow. It was probably named LeJeune about the same time as Camp Joseph H. Pendleton. the PAO at both bases should be able to verify.


They may have been referring to MCAS New River... :confused:

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[Bonn-cto]

Hi,

I had to add to this interesting link, I have my own story to share. My father who was a navy corpsman was stationed at Camp Lejeune where I was born. (I am also prior Navy) and of course used the "Lejeune" pronouciation all my life.

A few years ago, my husband's cousin came from Texas to visit the DC sites and Annapolis. As we were talking one afternoon, I asked how she got a name like "Luh-jern". She said that she was named after a family member who was a general in the marine corps and one of the reasons she wanted to visit Annapolis. I asked what general and when she said Gen. Lejeune with the pronounciaton I always heard it - floored me. Since she lived in Texas, I had assumed she just threw an "R" into the mix like they do with "Warshington". She said, no it was the way the family always used it when they lived in Louisiana.
(We are related to the General on his mother's side, Laura Archer Turpin and mentioned in his "Reminscences of a Marine", J. Archer Turpin was Laura's brother).

I wonder who this "Lejeune" distant cousin mentioned below is?? Does anyoe know?

“We all pronounce our name ‘Luh-jern,’ and that’s what we’re trying to make clear,” said John Lawrence Lejeune, 82, a distant cousin of the former commandant who lives in Baton Rouge. “It would be greatly appreciated if it was done so.”

I have no issue with which to pronounce"Lejeune" but I bet you aren't going to get the masses to change the pronounciation to Luh-jern.

Just my 2 cents.

[Lone_NCO]

:thumbup: Hawk, just gotta give you credit. On the few things we debated about you actually responded back intellegently and like an adult. Wish there was more on the forum like you.

[Gunny08]

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They may have been referring to MCAS New River... :confused:

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No. I checked it out. MCAS New River did not exist then. The land was acquired in 1941 but was commisssioned in 1944 as Peterfield Point and separated from Camp Lejeune. I remember references to it, but didn't know where it was. That was the name until about 1951-52. It was renamed MCAS New River around 1968. Prior to that it was MCALF New River.
Camp Lejeune had been established in 1941 as Marine Barracks, New River. 1st Marine Division was stationed there. The base was renamed Camp Lejeune in late 1942. The old-timers were right.

[hawk71049]

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No. I checked it out. MCAS New River did not exist then. The land was acquired in 1941 but was commisssioned in 1944 as Peterfield Point and separated from Camp Lejeune. I remember references to it, but didn't know where it was. That was the name until about 1951-52. It was renamed MCAS New River around 1968. Prior to that it was MCALF New River.
Camp Lejeune had been established in 1941 as Marine Barracks, New River. 1st Marine Division was stationed there. The base was renamed Camp Lejeune in late 1942. The old-timers were right.

wow,

Thanks for the update, was not sure, you know, very interesting as well... guess us old farts get it right once in awhile... :eek:

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[hawk71049]

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:thumbup: Hawk, just gotta give you credit. On the few things we debated about you actually responded back intellegently and like an adult. Wish there was more on the forum like you.

Awww shucks Lone_NCO… appreciate the complements, like you & 8156 said (as well as others on this thread) I respect your opinions, and you as individuals…it’s when we can beat a topic to death, set down and have a cold one w/o conflict… then we are all the better for our choice of actions. Always remember; actions define character... character defines who we are… with appropriate measured actions to the occasion at hand... men become monuments to those that follow.

SEMPER FI !!!!........ hawk

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[Sammy2g3]

I don't think it will ever change. Thousands are taught to say 'lajoon", saying it luh-jern doesn't even sound right. No disrespect, but I will continue saying it the way I know. However, I'd be pissed if someone mispronounced my name after it was named after me. However, where's the r in lejeune.

[MCBRAT]

Forgive me if I duplicated my post,I wrote before my member confirmation came.

My dad joined the Corp 10 years before I was born,I moved to Jax in 69 (1st grade) He served two tours as Medi Vac in Viet Nam.
My uncle died in Korea,a b-i-l was one of the 19 year old Marines killed in the Beirut bombings and 90% of the men in my family are in some branch now.My oldest boy is going into the Air Force.

My mother "Mrs.Hill" (adored by all) ran Instructional Management School sitting directly outside of several Majors' offices for 26 years.Although she was C.S. E-9 they gave her a 21 gun salute at her funeral in 89.

When you are raised by a woman with a degree in English you understand the dynamics of the language.The English pronounciation of all French omits the "r" - listen to PePe LePew.

When speaking English,speak English!

To suggest that we that pronounce LeJeune the way the Majors and Colonels did decades ago is dispresepctful is ridiculous and offensive.

In easy times this would be absurd but especially in such a dangerous world.I cannot believe anyone would consider this nitpicking newsworthy.

Try telling it to the family of a fallen soldier!

Sounds to me like someone wants to draw attention to his book for profit.

God Bless America.

Semper Fi.

[Deebelle369]

This has to be one the most inane threads to merit discussion yet - the pronounciation of a name? Let's get real!

But okay - I'll humor everyone here for a moment. The name "LeJeune" is French, is it not? Having taken 2 years of high school French, and living near the French/German border currently, I have learned that a native speaker would look at you funny if you pronounced that name as "Le-Jern" or whatever this ridiculous thread is about. Like speaking any language, there are various dialects depending on the region of the land where it is spoken - and believe me learning the textbook "high German" is alot easier to understand than the local "Pfalzish" way of speaking here. Unless you're going to be rubbing elbows with his next of kin anytime soon, I recommend pronouncing it the way most people can understand, and that's the way it has been reinforced. We're not Rhodes scholars here for crying out loud....

:rolleyes:

Having a VERY Polish last name thrust upon me by marriage, I have learned not to get my undies in a bunch everytime ( And I do mean EVERY time) someone mis-pronounces my name.
Machine - In french it would be Luh-jern only the n is kind of "swallowed" (don't know how else to say it and can't really speak it for you so you could hear it) like many n's in the french language. But you are right about native tongues in different parts of the same country. The slang varies too. There will always be someone correcting a perceived bad pronounciation.

[MCBRAT]

I see where New Oreleans natives were mentioned and in all fairness,non-Oreleanians pronounce it correctly.It is not "Nawlins"

Being the daughter of an English instructor with several degrees I was taught to pronounce phoenetically correct.

My maiden name is "Hill" try mis-pronouncing that!
While at Jacksonville Jr.High (there was no middle school back then) our class was told to research our surname meanings.

Being so uninterested I didn't do it.Everyone's surnames had such exotic meanings and when the teacher called on me I said it meant "small mountain" little did we know then such an unassuming name had 5 lines to the Mayflower.

I married a Jordan,(pronounced "Joordan" not "Jhurdan" ) and although it is assumed to be Jewish as in the river Jordan all I can find leads to Finland.

Both names are thought to belong to black people and while I'm certain we all have some of every blood,I look as white as white can be.

Maybe people will get interested in lineage over this instead of buying the book on the correct pronounciation of "Lay Zhoone"!

[MCBRAT]

Check out Geneology.com.You find the coinciding letter of the surname and search for the name.

You'll see many people that commit "random acts of genology" and will let you knwo if they know families of that name.

I was able to help two people find ancestors.I lived in a weird little town in NH that was all French Canadian and the town is full of the names they were looking for.

Make sure you understand that not every fact of ancestry is always so honorable even from the Mayflower!!!

[Gunny P]

If my name is spelled "Johnson" but I pronounce it "Shoonsin," the first time we meet you'll look at my name tag, say "Johnson," I'll correct you and guess what? From that point on you'll say "Shoonsin" when you see me. Why? because that's my name. It doesn't matter what the grammar books say, doesn't matter if you spent your career pronouncing it one way or another. If the man pronounced his name "Lajern," then that's how the damn thing is pronounced. End of story. We're never too old to correct something we've been doing wrong. For example, take a look at the regulation on how you should stand in civvies during the National Anthem (ALMAR 052/08, MCO P5060.20 para 7003.2). We all KNOW you stand at the POA because that's what we've been doing our whole careers, but is that correct when you check the reg? When we see the right way to do it (whether it's pronouncing a name or rendering respect), we correct ourselves. No need to make a big deal out of it, you just start doing things the right way and move on.

[MCBRAT]

My dad's 73 now and having spent over 30 years at JeLeune since 53,he'll never say it any other way.

I assure you for all the sacrificing my family has done for this country none has ever mneta disprespect and for all the crap going on today-no one really cares.

It 's clear that the man that stirred this all up is trying to sell his book.

Good luck changing everyone....

[Gunny P]

...We're never too old to correct something we've been doing wrong ...

I stand corrected. SOME of us are a little too old to change our ways. Give my respect and admiration to your dad. Semper Fi,

[THORSHAMMER69]

As many of you know, there are alot of people who join the military and end up having everyone kind of "Americanize" their name because it's easier to pronounce or something. It happened to me. I came in with one of those crazy last names and now even I pronounce it wrong. Simply because it's easier than repeating it 10 times every time I tell someone my name. I wonder if this is what happened in General Lejeune's case. We will probably never know but it would be interesting to know.

[NRTrackChamp2004]

Thats actually a good point that I dont think anyone has brought up yet.