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    Doc Jargon: Heard it through the grapevine

    Doc Jargon

    Photo By Kaitlin Knauer | Doc Jargon, cutting through the jargon that is the U.S. Army. Send your Army...... read more read more

    FORT RILEY, KANSAS, UNITED STATES

    10.06.2022

    Story by Jennifer James 

    Fort Riley Public Affairs Office

    Dear Doc Jargon,

    My mom and I are having a debate about the title of the oldies song, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”

    She said it was a military term. I say there is no way as grapes aren’t exactly a military thing. Can you help us settle the dispute? I’m betting she’s made a grape mistake.

    Signed,
    My Mom ain’t raisin no fool

    Dear No Fool,

    I hate to squeeze all the juice out of your argument, but mom is right. If you give her a chance, I bet she’s right about one or two other things also.

    Back before your mom’s time, the telegraph lines resembled grape vines and earned that title as a nickname. Most communication, including military related news, was transferred over those trellised wires. By the time Marvin Gaye recorded that song, telegraphs were fading from the technological landscape and the wires were being replaced by telephone lines. Now, the term has become a way to describe rumors or hearsay.

    I will admit, I now have that song stuck in my head.

    Sincerely,
    Doc Jargon

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.06.2022
    Date Posted: 10.05.2022 14:46
    Story ID: 430777
    Location: FORT RILEY, KANSAS, US

    Web Views: 60
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN