United States Maritime Commission Cadet Corps Training Cadre/Cadet Officer cap badge.Single piece construction.Woven in silver and bullion.Circa 1939-1940. In the past, I’ve been asked if I’ve ever come across any examples of the United States Maritime Service (USMS) officer cap badge with eagles facing their left (viewer’s right). For researchers of U.S. Navy uniforms, the […]
Insignia & Honor Awards of the U. S. Merchant Marine
This chunk of text was originally posted to Facebook and is swirling around the net. A uniform says a lot. When Kings Point was in the process of construction, the U.S. Coast Guard (who was overseeing mariner training) was of the mind that the Academy and all the Maritime Service training stations were “for the duration.” […]
Second World War Merchant Marine cap & uniform notes
This post originated as a note for engravers interested in the faithful representation of United States Merchant Mariners of the Second World War – and the later years, in particular, when there was a surge in individuals joining the fleet. 1. Note on officer caps and cap badges Liberty ship masters (captains) and licensed officers […]
Gulf War Mementos
In the middle of January 1991 – on Wednesday the 16th, to be exact – my family flicked on the Zenith, and we sat and watched the evening news in silence. Dan Rather spoke in a droning monotone and then the screen went dark. We saw a collage of hulking forms outlined in an eerie […]
The Last Full Measure
Every time I visit the American Merchant Marine Museum at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, there’s always a little something that captures the imagination – it is like a huge curiosity cabinet. Since I have been looking a bit closer at the history of the Merchant Marine Combat Bar ribbon, seeing (and holding) a […]
U.S. Army Transportation Corps, Water Division ship’s officer
U.S. Army Transportation Corps, Water Division hat badge Three piece construction. Stamped gold metal, red enamel on shield. No hallmark. Circa Second World War era. In the post immediately preceding this one, I detailed several variations of the U.S. Army Transportation Corps, Water Division (USATC-WD) hat badge. Here, I present two additional examples of the […]
U.S. Army Transportation Corps, Water Division ship’s officer
U.S. Army Transportation Corps, Water Division hat badge Three piece construction. Stamped brass with gold wash and applied red paint on shield. Gemsco (NY) hallmark. Circa Second World War era. At the mid-point of the Second World War, and as the U.S. military establishment turned greater attention and allocated more resources toward the task of […]
United States Maritime Service Shore Patrol
There is very little documentation regarding the form and function of the United States Maritime Service Maritime Shore Patrol (MSP); nor even a standard naming convention. Literature refers to the organization as: Maritime Shore PatrolMaritime Service PatrolMaritime Service Shore Patrol Administratively, the United States Maritime Service (USMS) Inspection Office oversaw MSP’s activities. In practical terms, […]
United States Lines & USNRF
Military uniforms tell a story. The bit and bobs that are scattered across them offer clues to their context and sometimes even political battles fought far from the crew compartment or barracks. American Merchant Marine uniforms in the inter-war period were work clothes. I was bothered by a statement by a General Dalton of the United […]
“Firmitas adversaria superat” and “Alt for Norge”
Second World War U.S. Merchant Marine ribbons and two medals. USMM Victory Medal. Norway War Medal. USMM Combat Bar. USMM Defense Bar. USMM Atlantic War Zone Bar. Late Second World War and Postwar era. Uniformed members of the U.S. Armed Services wear an array of ribbons on their chests. The small strips of cloth denote […]