whites, 1945
Whites have been a staple of Cadet Corps uniforms since its sojourn at Fort Schulyer in 1939 through 1942. These uniforms are invariably unlined and without any interior pockets. And since they are made of a variant Palm Beach Beach cloth, all notions are removable with some internal and fly buttons made of plastic. The U.S.N.R. or the seldom-seen U.S.M.C. pin in gold were often worn; although cadet-midshipmen are also known to have worn an embroidered U.S.N.R. on black wool with the uniform up to early 1942.
This uniform was originally owned by Erwin M. Hellerman ’45 (Deck). He graduated from Kings Point in May, 1945. He did his “Sea Year” on a tanker – the MS Tidewater. This vessel was involved in a collision off Scotland Light with the SS Kofresi – which was mentioned in a cable to FDR. This happened in May 1942 well before Mr. Hellerman’s arrival, but probably part of the crew’s wartime lore. After graduation, Mr. Hellerman sailed as a third mate for a couple of years, beginning and ending his sailing career on the SS Anson P. K. Safford. This ship was a Liberty operated by United States Lines from 1943-1948. Afterward, he went to work for and eventually joined the board of directors of the ship construction company, Marinette Marine out of Wisconson. The company was founded by his father in 1942 and changed hands a couple of times over its history.
The shoulder boards on the uniforms are those of a newly commissioned ensign in the U.S. Maritime Service. This uniform, undoubtedly went directly to the owner’s closet since there was rarely an occasion to wear whites on the freighter which Mr. Hellerman sailed. This uniform came to me without the gold pin nor any ribbons – I’ve found these are often removed as keepsakes by the old owners or families.
