service dress blues, 1946-1952
The Cadet Corps “Service Coat, Blue” appeared in 1939. From the beginning, the lapels indicated the program of study for a cadet (later cadet-midshipman and still later, midshipman). This is the only static element of the coat itself. Over time, the cuff insignia changed with the identity of the Cadet Corps. and the coat gained a sword slit in 1944 when USMMA cadet-midshipman began wearing the cap insignia of naval midshipmen.
This coat represents an interesting period in the history of the Academy. Although it is without any identification markings, it would have belonged to one of the 24 U.S. Navy or Army veterans who graduated from Kings Point between 1949 and 1952. The pool of individuals could be further narrowed if I knew who held the position of “Mustering Petty Officer” (per the patch on the shoulder) during the period. It is worth mentioning that during the late-1940s and early 1950s, Petty Officer rates were only worn by fourth classmen; thus the absence of three obliques on the coat’s cuffs.
The ribbons sewn on the coat chest indicate that the wearer was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Second World War. Using Midships as a guide, the ribbons appear on the uniforms of cadet-midshipmen 1st-class in yearbook photographs in 1949. Since the U.S. Navy and Army authorized World War II Service Ribbon
| year | c/m with ww2 mm zone & mm victory ribbons | c/m with ww2 theatre & usn victory ribbons |
| 1949 | many | 1 |
| 1950 | 7 | 2 |
| 1951 | 8 | 17 |
| 1952 | 0 | 4 |
| 1953 | 0 | 1 (usn) |
