MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- From something as simple as U.S.M.C. tattooed on your arm, to something as detailed as an eagle, globe and anchor or the Iwo Jima monument, tattoos seem to be a growing trend upon Marines.
For years, military personnel have been getting tattoos that represent their branch of service, a certain duty station, or even a memory of something that happened in a combat situation, which is fine as long as you stay within the regulations dealing with tattoos.
According to Marine Corps Order MCBUL 1020.34G, Marines are prohibited to have tattoos or brands on the neck and head. In other areas of the body, tattoos or brands that are prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale, or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the Marine Corps are also prohibited.
"I totally agree with the rules and regulations set for tattoos now," said Tim W. Goodrich, tattoo artists at Odyssey Tattoo. "But I heard that they're trying to make the rule to where Marines can't get tattoos below their elbows. I feel that if they do that then it doesn't reflect the direction tattooing has taken in the last 20 years."
Cpl. Timothy M. Buquoi, squad leader, 1st battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, A Company, got his first tattoo of a Japanese calligraphy symbol on his arm at the age of 18. Buquoi now has one full sleeve (tattoos covering the whole arm) and other tattoos scattered throughout his body, one of them being a tattoo with the number of his primary military occupational specialty.
"I think a lot of military personnel get tattoos of their branch of service because they're a minority," said Buquoi, a Dallas, Texas native. "Especially Marines, not only are they a minority among civilians but Marines also feel like they're elite to the other services."
Goodrich, a former Marine, said that Navy and Marines are the most common military branch to get tattoos because of their rich tradition.
"The Naval services seem to carry a lot of honor," said the Goodrich. "I don't think any other branches members have the pride that a Marine does. I mean about 50 percent of my cliental are Marines."
Goodrich explained how the old stereotype of tattoo studios being shady places next to bars and pawnshops is far from the truth in today's society.
"My tattoo studio is in a family shopping center with a high volume of foot traffic," said the former Marine. "Tattoos have become a highly accepted means of self expression."
Tattoos were said to have began in Ancient Egypt and then spread to Southeast Asia and China. In places like Burma, tattoos were only used for religious markings, while Japan used tattoos for ornamental purposes.
The art then spread to Australia where it was used to indicate certain tribes as well as their stature or and marital status within their respective tribes.
Tattoos first started to become popular among military personnel during the Civil War. Soldiers tattooed the emblems of their fighting units on themselves.
The more common tattoos that are seen on people today became popular during World War II when troops got tattoos that represented patriotism, courage and lost brothers in arms.
"Getting tattoos is such an old Naval tradition, I can't see any regulation being made that would stop service members from displaying pride in their branch of service with a tattoo," said Goodrich. "I see tattoos becoming a bigger and bigger trend and don't think that's going to end anytime soon."