A grog bowl tradition

Memories from my first Ranger Ball:

It's customary at each Ranger Ball to concoct a bowl of Ranger punch (also known as a grog bowl in some Army ceremonies) on stage. Each ingredient is introduced and added by a chosen Ranger. My first Ranger Ball was in 2006:

The “ingredients” are all types of alcohol, except for a few: the first was water representing the basis for all liquids and also for being the liquid carried by Rangers in their rucksacks. Each alcoholic liquid represented various historic wars with Ranger participation.

Before the ingredient was mixed, the Ranger doing the announcing asked for any veterans in attendance to stand while the alcohol was added. For example, any veterans of WWII who served with the Ranger Battalions in the European and North African Theaters were asked to stand. English Stout, French red wine, German red wine and Italian red wine were all added symbolizing the various actions of Rangers performing in those regions.

Following that, veterans of WWII who served in the Pacific Theater were asked to stand while rice wine was added symbolizing the Rangers’ actions in that region.

The Korean War veterans were asked to stand next while Soju, typically a rice wine made with potato, wheat, barley, sweet potato or tapioca, was added. Applause ensued.

Then Vietnam. Quite a few audience members rose for the beer added to the mixture symbolizing the combat raids, long range reconnaissance patrols, prisoner of war rescues and air mobile assaults conducted by thirteen Ranger companies in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Rangers who served in Grenada for Operation Urgent Fury then stood as rum, the elixir of the Caribbean, was added.

Then the Panama Veterans stood as Panamanian Seco was included to represent the first time the entire Ranger Regiment fought together in the history of the Rangers.

Those who served in Desert Storm stood next. Symbolic of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Defense of Kuwait, a canteen cup of sand was added.

Ick!

Those Rangers who fount in Mogadishu, Somalia stood as Arak, a clear, colorless, unsweetened, anise-flavored distilled alcoholic drink, was added.

Following that stood those who fought in Kosovo for Operation Joint Guardian. Those Veterans stood as Plum Brandy, a local drink to that region was added.

The announcer then asked anyone who participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan to please stand while Everclear was added to represent the ever presence of the Rangers spearheading the ground war there. The entire room full of active duty Army Rangers, including Max stood. The uniforms were breathtaking.

Next another canteen cup of sand was added for Operation Iraqi Freedom. When Veterans were asked to stand, again, the entire room of Rangers stood. There was still clapping but it wasn’t as loud; the majority of the room wasn’t clapping for themselves.

The final ingredient was rattlesnake venom added for the future Ranger strike operations anywhere in the world.

The Ranger who added the last ingredient saluted the announcer and said, “The punch is now complete.”

Bottoms up! It was a tradition, but let’s be honest, it was disgusting. I think one would have to already be drunk to want try it. Nevertheless I, along with everyone, reached for my glass of punch. I took the tiniest sip of what was the most potent potion I have ever before encountered (and I did my fair share of bartending in college). I had to do it for Max...for spirit.

I turned to Max, almost choking, “This is the foulest thing I have ever seen or smelled.”

He laughed and proceeded to drink his. Truth be told, he did flinch a little.