Life was so much simpler for me - BM3. Entered bootcamp Aug 68 - tacked Crow on Oct 69. Numerous waivers during that time as they wanted PBR coxwains for Vietnam. Bosun's mate pretty much the same throughout history. My 3 minute chow call used to thrill my buddies!

USS Piedmont AD-17 1968 to 1971
USS England DLG-22 1971 to 1971 (later became CG-22)

Great stuff being posted!

Ran across a little tidbit from late 1944 concerning non-rated personnel insignia.

Today the 1, 2, or 3 diagonal stripes represent the Seaman Recruit, Seaman Apprentice, and Seaman rates. The usage came about in 1948 when a lot of the insignia were revised. Today you have the three stripes and a specialty mark above the stripes to designate an "A" school designated seaman.

In the fall of 1944, that system of stripes was put in place to indicate the grades of WAVES and SPARS. The male sailors were designated by the piping on their cuff, 1- Apprentice Seaman, 2- Seaman 2nd class, or 3- Seaman 1st class & petty officers.

Please explain to all of us the colored loop worn under the right???. armpit area. I have a picture of my Dad in Navy Basic about 1943. He is wearing his blue flat hat also. if you were an engineering non-rate, wasn't this red??... Saw this red strip on a down sailor in "The Sand Pebbles" during the battle at the boom.

The loop around the right or left arm were called "Branch Marks" and corresponded kind of like the stripe color for non rated today.

The "Seaman Branch" wore a white stripe around the right shoulder. The " Engineroom Branch" wore a red stripe around the left shoulder. Other engineers were called "Artificers Branch" and although engineering divisions, not of the engineroom itself. The non ratedmen striking for Machinists Mate, Watertender, Motor Machinists Mate, Boilermaker were the engineroom gang.

Back in the 1900s the stripe also indicated whether you were assigned to the stbd or port watch, depending on the shoulder.

Pretty intricate system.

Just a personal observation, but with the USN having a style overhaul with the work and service uniforms. A very distinctive move would be to re-institute the "Flat Hat" for its dress blues/whites. My profile has a photo of the USCG version from wwwaaaayyy to long ago. It certainly set us apart.

Course, you BeauZeaus in the USN, would tell the babes that the white shield on our right sleeve was the Public Health Service VD warning badge, and we had to convince them that it meant " crew on the Presidential Yacht" .

quote:

Originally posted by MastersMate:
A very distinctive move would be to re-institute the "Flat Hat" for its dress blues/whites. My profile has a photo of the USCG version from wwwaaaayyy to long ago. It certainly set us apart.

Course, you BeauZeaus in the USN, would tell the babes that the white shield on our right sleeve was the Public Health Service VD warning badge, and we had to convince them that it meant " crew on the Presidential Yacht" .

Great Update MastersMate. Thanks and Your profile picture is PRO!!!... I always thought the USCG uniform was classy!!!, Then it got dumbed down to looking like some tour bus driver’s uniform. Speaking of BS spoken to the ladies on the beach. When my Dad was stationed in Australia during WWII, the younger guys would always tell the ladies the hash marks were to signify how many kids the sailor had back in the States!!!

PS, MastersMate, we should get a thread going on "Enlisted Distiguishing Marks", like assitant fire fighter, or Mount Captain. Heck, I imagine CDR Mack even wore one like "Seaman Gunner" before he deserted on us and went to "O" Div.

Hmmmmm or was it "Seman Gunner" in his case back in those days?????

Not sure when old topics get deleted, but just a bump to keep this around.

quote:

Originally posted by MastersMate:
Not sure when old topics get deleted, but just a bump to keep this around.

They don't go away anymore unless we delte them.

When I made S2/c and I went on liberty I and many others rolled the sleeve cuffs up.
When I became S1/c those 3 white stripes were always shown.
Bring back memories. !!
When I made Coxswain I cross-stiched my crow on the right sleeve of my undress jumper..
The CMAA said great job now take it off. Oh well