The odd history of the use of Geronimo as a war cry...

[MineralMan]

In 1939, a popular movie, with the title "Geronimo," starring Preston Foster, Andy Devine, and Chief Thundercloud (Tonto in the 1938 film, The Lone Ranger) as Geronimo, was the inspiration for WWII paratroopers who yelled "Geronimo!" as they jumped out of their airplanes. It began with Private Aubrey Eberhart, who saw the film while in training with three other paratroopers. While discussing their training, and their fears of their first jump, they decided to yell "Geronimo!" as they left the plane.

It caught on, and became the cry for their entire unit. It spread, as they spread out in Europe and the Pacific during the war, until it became universal.

That's another side to the use of the word by the military.

It even inspired a song in tribute to the bravery of the paratroopers:

Down from Heaven comes ELEVEN
and there's HELL to pay below
shout "GERONIMO" "GERONIMO".

Hit the silk and check your canopy
and take a look around
The air is full of troopers
set for battle on the ground

Till we join the stick of ANGELS
killed on Leyte and Luzon
shout "GERONIMO" "GERONIMO".

It's a gory road to glory
but we're ready here we go
shout "GERONIMO" "GERONIMO".

Here's a website that tells the story:

http://www.b-westerns.com/geronimo.htm

Maybe we should take another look at this...you think?