James Harden Daughety wrote The Buffalo Saga. Daugherty served in the 372nd Infantry which was later detached from the 92nd Infantry Division as the 3215 (I still don't know what type of security unit this meant). What is the slang meaning of catgut as used by colored people in the 1940s? Shipboard while a regiment was sailing for the ETO, a bully out of frustration used his helmet to strike another soldier over the head. The othe soldier went to the dispensary, got some stitches and then to the PX (or ship's store), got himself a bottle of Coca-Cola which he busted over the bully's head. Per the witness, "This called for more catgut." Both men were disciplined. In another incident, one GI was playing an ocarina (small blow type mysical instrument) and two soldiers decided to silence the musician. One went as scout to locate the exact location of the musican and the thrower, when informed, would throw the coke bottle. The thrower became impatient and threw the bottle into the dark. A scream of pain. It was the scout or thower's conspirator who was struck. "This called for still more catgut." If catgut stood for disciplinary action, how did this term come about?
In my earlier days "Catgut" was used for stitching up wounds. Sounds like they didn't like each other.
Yes used for stitches...I remember my step-father rigging up a pulley system using catgut out the front of the house and called my brother and I out the front. He said grab this piece of catgut and walk toward the street - He had it rigged up to a scale...He wanted to see the breaking strain (we used it to catch large fish). Well we walked and walked until finally "TWANG"! The broken line whipped around and struck my calf, opening it up nicely...i grabbed my leg and hopped around and around "Ow! Ow!Ow!"...Fortunately my stepfather was a paramedic and saw to my leg but to this day i have an impressive scar running across my leg.
