So THAT'S where the expression comes from!

Posted by realSailorJim@reddit | Jokes | View on Reddit | 8 comments

A little unknown military history ...

Many people don't know this, but at the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn (spoiler alert: also known as "Custer's Last Stand"), Custer's position was given away because his scouts disturbed a flock of nesting Western Meadowlarks. His foes, being native to the area, noted the startled flock rising into the sky and had him pinpointed with little effort.

This tactical error is celebrated in the military to this day with a simple expression.

Whenever any military maneuver goes completely tits up from the get-go, it is called "a Custer Flock."

The more you know ... (cue the rainbow and music).

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SolOberlindes_2564@reddit

A small unit returned from a reconnaissance around the 7th Cavalry’s position.

General Custer asked the unit’s leader to report, and the young lieutenant said, “well, Sir, it’s bad news and good news both.”

Custer demanded the bad news first, and the lieutenant said, “Sir, we are completely surrounded by approximately five thousand well-armed mounted Sioux warriors, and we are cut off from Colonel Reno’s detachment.”

“Damn it!” said Custer. “Well, what’s this good news, then, Lieutenant?”

The lieutenant stood up a little straighter. “Well, Sir, the good news is that we’re not going back to North Dakota!”

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predat3d@reddit

A real life bumper sticker seen in Indian Country:

CUSTER HAD IT COMING

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Trivi_13@reddit

Seing Custer was part of a genocide, yes.
He had it coming.

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stewieatb@reddit

As the armies assembled for the Battle of Little Bighorn, Custer's headquarters sat atop a nearby hill. He was waited on by a Geordie soldier who'd come from England and been press-ganged into the Confederate Army.

As the Indian army approached, the sound of their drums began to fill the air.

"Listen!" Said Custer. "They've got war drums."

The Geordie replied "Thievin' bastards!"

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cryptotope@reddit

A local artist was commissioned by the local historical society to paint a mural commemorating Custer's last stand.

The day came, and the artist stood before the crowd. "I call it 'Custer's Last Words'," he declared, before pulling back the drapes.

His masterpiece revealed, the crowd stood in complete silence. In the middle of the scene, a bearded man, nailed to a cross. Surrounding him on all sides, scores of indigenous people...completely naked and engaged in every sex act imaginable, a veritable sea of copulating bodies.

Finally, the historical society representative gathered enough of his wits to ask..."Custer's Last Words?"

"Yes," the beaming artist nodded. "Jesus Christ...where did all those ducking Indians come from?"

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