Check These Out: Buddy Finder | Videos | SpouseBUZZ | My Friend Network | News | Military Equipment



Moderators: catherine0830, DC2crabby, TMC_SW_Ret
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
  Login/Join 
mmcmss
The Master Chief
Picture of mmcmss
Posted
Hello Shipmates…Eagle on Crows/Devices? For many years the U.S. specified modified forms of the Napoleonic Eagle in the devices and insignia used to distinguish the various ranks and ratings of enlisted men and officers. This eagle was usually cast, stamped or embroidered facing left and the same practice was used by the Navy. Why the Napoleonic eagle faced left is unknown. In 1941 the Navy changed the eagles facing direction to follow the heraldic rules which faces the right toward the wearers sword arm. This rule continues to apply and the eagle now faces to the front or the wearers right.

MMCM(SS) Greg Peterman USN Retired
 
Posts: 571 | Registered: Thu 21 September 2000Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
sb5
Member
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by mmcmss:
Hello Shipmates…Eagle on Crows/Devices? For many years the U.S. specified modified forms of the Napoleonic Eagle in the devices and insignia used to distinguish the various ranks and ratings of enlisted men and officers. This eagle was usually cast, stamped or embroidered facing left and the same practice was used by the Navy. Why the Napoleonic eagle faced left is unknown. In 1941 the Navy changed the eagles facing direction to follow the heraldic rules which faces the right toward the wearers sword arm. This rule continues to apply and the eagle now faces to the front or the wearers right.

MMCM(SS) Greg Peterman USN Retired


True. But to the Navy personnel, especially those making Third Class, it is affectionally called a Crow. Something one can slip a Bluejackets Manual up their sleeve to sew on their first red cheveron.
 
Posts: 642 | Registered: Thu 04 March 2004Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
6396992
MacTheKnife
Picture of 6396992
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by mmcmss:
This rule continues to apply and the eagle now faces to the front or the wearers right.

Thanks, Master Chief. You might be interested in knowing that was one of HGR's favorite 'gotcha' questions of young officer interviewees (to check their 'attention to detail').

"Mack the Knife"
CDR USN (Ret)


Illegitimi non carborundum
 
Posts: 2770 | Registered: Thu 09 June 2005Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
2807123
Basic Training
Posted Hide Post
Master Chief.
If you look a little further back in history, the imperial eagle of Rome's legions also faced to the left. This was a symbel of strength in the Roman world.

Ralph Young
Clinton, UT
 
Posts: 3 | Registered: Tue 21 March 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
cacapon
Basic Training
Posted Hide Post
i don't know a crow from an eagle. i do know that i earned a bm3 rating in 72 and wore it proudly until i was honorably discharged a year later. here's to the service men/women and veterans. Beer
 
Posts: 11 | Registered: Sat 09 September 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Mastersmate
Hoof Hearted
Ice Melted
Picture of Mastersmate
Posted Hide Post
From down in the Navy History topics, get you a bit more information on the evolution of the "crow".
http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7010097960001/m/5250013070001
 
Posts: 2396 | Registered: Wed 14 June 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
13476584
Basic Training
Posted Hide Post
Very interesting stuff Master Chief, and it reminds me of a time aboard USS Darter SS576 when we were having PI by CONSUBLANT VADM Grenfield in Charleston (1960). As he inspected the TM3 next to me, he asked the young "knuckle dragger" why his crow was looking aft and the torpedo was facing aft, without hesitation the young torpedoman responded "I work in the Aft. torpedo rm. sir!"

VR
Joe Lunn
QMC(SS)USN Ret.
 
Posts: 7 | Registered: Fri 09 March 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
GerryRM3
A man is never lost at sea...
Picture of GerryRM3
Posted Hide Post
.


USS Liberty, Never Forget.

I believe in Murrays Law, he thought Murphy was an optimist.
 
Posts: 9490 | Registered: Wed 12 May 2004Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Limpet6
Member
Posted Hide Post
I haven't looked lately, but I can think of at least one person in the Navy who wears an eagle that looks to the left.

Might be more than one person.
 
Posts: 314 | Registered: Fri 14 May 2004Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Mastersmate
Hoof Hearted
Ice Melted
Picture of Mastersmate
Posted Hide Post
quote:
I haven't looked lately, but I can think of at least one person in the Navy who wears an eagle that looks to the left.


Now the curiosity is piqued. Some quick looking and no answer, this might turn into one of those head and azz scratchers.

A stab, the Midshipman Petty Officers at Canoe U. in Maryland ?????
 
Posts: 2396 | Registered: Wed 14 June 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Boats22151
Member
Picture of Boats22151
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by MastersMate:
quote:
I haven't looked lately, but I can think of at least one person in the Navy who wears an eagle that looks to the left.


Now the curiosity is piqued. Some quick looking and no answer, this might turn into one of those head and azz scratchers.

A stab, the Midshipman Petty Officers at Canoe U. in Maryland ?????


I'm kinda curious myself, especially if they're doing it legally.

There's an urban legend in the Navy that in time of war enlisted personnel are authorized to wear their crows facing left (outward) vice right (inward). Several years ago the uniform office researched the issue and found nothing anywhere to support this.
 
Posts: 1907 | Registered: Wed 23 July 2003Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Mastersmate
Hoof Hearted
Ice Melted
Picture of Mastersmate
Posted Hide Post
Slapping forehead shsrply with a belaying pin, hope it wasn't this plain.

The starboard collar device of a Navy Captain ?????
 
Posts: 2396 | Registered: Wed 14 June 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
TinkFixer
Member
Picture of TinkFixer
Posted Hide Post
MastersMate was almost right...it is on one of the collar devices of a midshipman 1C.
 
Posts: 1226 | Registered: Mon 06 May 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
TinkFixer
Member
Picture of TinkFixer
Posted Hide Post
And MastersMate is right again!
 
Posts: 1226 | Registered: Mon 06 May 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
OddBall1st
On Warning 30 days.
16 Nov
Fin

Picture of OddBall1st
Posted Hide Post
Limpet6....

.....The Trident Eagle faces left !!
 
Posts: 1001 | Registered: Tue 24 May 2005Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Mastersmate
Hoof Hearted
Ice Melted
Picture of Mastersmate
Posted Hide Post
quote:
The Trident Eagle faces left !!

The Trident ???

Disregard,I found it. Red Face
Excuse me while I embarassedly crawl back up onto the Turnip truck that I just fell off.

Semi geezerly Bosn.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mastersmate,
 
Posts: 2396 | Registered: Wed 14 June 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
Limpet6
Member
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by MastersMate:
Slapping forehead shsrply with a belaying pin, hope it wasn't this plain.

The starboard collar device of a Navy Captain ?????


That's the one I was thinking of.

Of course, Oddball is right, the eagle on a SEAL's Budweiser also faces left.
 
Posts: 314 | Registered: Fri 14 May 2004Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
 Previous Topic | Next Topic powered by eve community  
 


© 2008 Military Advantage, Inc.