The 2AM (Chicago Time) Factoid

OK ..... it's 2AM in Chicago and time for another useless factoid.

DID YOU KNOW, that in the US Army during WWI, it was a Court Marshall offence for a trooper fighting in the muddy trenches of France to NOT be properly clean-shaven at all times?

"Chicken GUANO outfits!", you say.

Well, there was a very good reason. In case of a mustard-gas attack, a gas-mask could not seal out the gases if not worn tight to the skin. Beards allowed gas in. A disabled trooper risked the lives of his fellow fighters. Hence, the general order that all troops in action needed to shave every day, OR ELSE.

When I was in basic training in the army, they sent us to the "gas chamber" and used C.S. (similar to tear gas) to help us gain confidence in our protective masks. I decided that I would skip shaving that morning. My drill sergeant noticed just before my group was to enter the chamber. There just happened to be another soldier that was required to carry a disposable razor on him at all times to randomly dry shave with at the order of a drill sergeant. He had to do this because he skipped shaving for a day... When he noticed that I didnt shave ( he was checking the fit of everyones mask) he called that private up and made him give me the razor. This razor had been used, dry, several times. He then made me shave with it... I thought that was the worst pain I would ever feel. UNTIL I had to take my mask off in the chamber. When you have that mask on, your face is sweating. We were in the middle of the desert in Oklahoma in early August. my pores were nice and open. There is nothing like having the crystals from c.s. gas get into your pores on a freshly dry shaven face.
TIP: never rub the crystals into your skin, or your eyes.

I hate when that happens, too, D.J. :cry: 8)

When I was eighteen and only had to shave twice aweek, my stage mustache fell off once because I didn't shave before the performance. I was Less serious, but still a good lesson.


X

1) dragon flies have six legs, but they can't walk

2) out of all mammals, cats sleep the most with as average of 16 hours a day

3) Despite their sleepy appearance, Koala bears are wide awake; they are actually drunk! Eucaliptus leaves, the Koala bears main food stuf, produces a natural alchohol. Because the leaves also have very little nutrition, that Koala eats all the time, meaning that it is drunk all the time.