Military

‘You’re not some p-ssy sitting on the sidelines’ & other Mattis-isms: Secretary of Defense edition

Jim Mattis is widely regarded in military circles as one whose reputation borders on the mythological.

Battlefield tactics, quiet-mannered calculations and noteworthy quotes — so many in number they could fill an entire CVS receipt from top to bottom — has elevated the retired Marine general into the pantheon of Marine Corps demigods alongside legends like Chesty Puller, Carlos Hathcock, Dan Daly and Smedley Butler.

And while his time as President Donald Trump’s secretary of defense exuded a slightly more toned down “Chaos,” as such a position warrants, his tenure in the administration was not without a few memorable statements — “Mattis-isms,” as many affectionally refer to them.

With Jan. 1 being Mattis' first day off the defense secretary job, we decided to recap a few of the best Mattis moments that emerged during his tenure.

“YOU’RE NOT SOME P-SSY SITTING ON THE SIDELINES”

Shortly into his tenure as SECDEF, Mattis visited with sailors at Washington state’s Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor to personally tell the young men and women in attendance what their military service means.

Always comfortable in his natural service member habitat, Mattis didn’t sugarcoat his appreciation.