Originally called ditto bag because it contained at least two of everything - two needles, two spools of thread, two buttons, etc. With the passing of years, the 'ditto' was dropped in favor of ditty and remains so today. Before WW I, the Navy issued ditty boxes made of wood and styled after foot lockers. These carried the personal gear and some clothes of the sailor. Today the ditty bag is still issued to recruits and contains a sewing kit, toiletry articles and personal items such as writing paper and pens.
the one thing that sticks with me about the Ditty Bag was a statement by my Co.Commander. /Gunners Mate First Class. DeLapp/ He always said that there are ( Two things that you don't need in the Navy, #1 A Wife and #2 A Car. If the Navy thought you needed them they would have put them in your Ditty Bag.
After 59 years, yes I still have my recruit issued ditty bag. Everything else is gone I don't know when or where but I have been careful not to part with my memorial ditty bag. I may take it to my grave with me.
wow....its been 48 years and you know, I hadn't thought about that? Not sure I remember what they look like now? Time flies when you are having fun! lol
Dittybag! Wow, if I didn't loose it aboard a ship, then my ex-wife gave it away along with all my uniforms... Whites, dress blues, pea coat.... That's why she is EX!!!
Yuppers, still have mine, in the bottom of my sea bag. I remember tying them down to the end of your rack in basic, top rack port side, bottom rack starbord is the way they told us. That was 35 years ago, guess my mind isn't as bad as my wife says.
Still have my ditty bag and seabag issued 34 plus years ago. Ditty bag holds my shoe care things and the seabag is still in good shape and is in use once in a while when packing for camping etc.
I do not have the one from boot camp, but I do have my second one. also sea bag and dress blues with hat. (discharge date 12/5/75) larry phillips em2(ss)
Ah, Yes, ditty bags..If tied to your rack correctly, It was supposed to resemble a part of the female anatomy, acc to co commander of 476 rtc,Great Lakes, 7/19/66
My late uncle served on a four stacker in WW1 and on a DD in WW2 (cant't recall the ships sorry it's been years.)and on my hearing I had joined up he gave me his Ditty bag from WW2. Thing is when he was in WW1 they called it a "Detail bag" maybe both roots are true as I can see "detail" being slanged into ditty.
Let's see, mine was issued in February 1959, went in the bottom of my sea bag on graduating from boot camp and stayed there for the next four years. It is still there, over in storage, together with such valuable and virgin, never used items as my flat hat, itchy-scratchy sweater, and clothes stops! Someday, my descendants will open this Navy time capsule and scratch their puzzled heads trying to figure out what they were used for. (Nothing, kids, nothing at all!)
On my very first day in Sigonella, some of my shipmates wanted to show me around a little, and one of our trips was to one of the beaches. I put some dry clothes and swim suit in my ditty bag and they locked it the trunk of the car we were cruising around in. Someone broke into the car and trunk and actually stole my ditty bag.
The most dangerous phrase in the language is, "We've always done it this way." - Rear Admiral Grace Hopper
The one other thing I'm getting out of these posts is, I'm not nearly as old as I thought. I'll mention no names, but a couple of you posting on this thread belong in the Navy Museum in DC.. As always No disrespect to Anyone or their rank OR their station in life
Still have my ditty bag from boot 2/67 (has tire chains in it now), stencils and sewing kit complete with dozens of buttons, still have my blues with sweater and watch cap but the dungarees, ball cap, and field jacket wore out but I still have the replacement jacket from Japan. Sadly my whites and sea bag were stolen from the transit barracks I was in for the last two years of duty. Shoe care stuff is somewhere but I haven't used it in many years.
Shoe care stuff is somewhere but I haven't used it in many years.
