Comments

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  Jim Decota March 19, 2013 at 6:09pm

  You got it Chief! That is who I was talking about, Admiral Elmo!

  Gene, Just because you don't live near a ship doesn't mean you can't go back! We have crews that come in from Michigan and Ohio twice a year. They live on board for the week while they continue the restoration and maintenance. MS isn't that far from a couple of museum ships. Maybe you should grab a few more vets from on here and put together a MS crew!

  We were able to obtain our uniforms for the ships here in the NE from Defense Re-utilization. All the Navy museum ships can as well! Plus, Seafarer still has a sizable supply in inventory, both the old style and the new. I have spoken to the owner of Seafarer a few times. The Navy practically put his company out of business when they changed the uniforms! I have been told they are now assembled by federal prisoners from material made in Indochina!
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  Gene Gowen RM2 March 19, 2013 at 11:52am

  Jim

  another thought....What can we, who are not near a Historical Ship, do to

  help these guys get reg. uniforms to represent the Navy like your group

  did?  Great job outfitting them.  Looking smart and standing tall...

   

   

   
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  Gene Gowen RM2 March 19, 2013 at 11:27am

  Jim

  I love the two pics you put up...You know...the one of the Sea Scouts  and then

  the one of U.S. Navy Sailors..., Oh that is not fair...Sea Scouts always looked

  better than those guys.  What the Hell happened???.
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  Lindsey E. Ford HMC (SW) March 19, 2013 at 10:40am

  You must be referring to "Uncle Elmo" as in Admiral Zumwalt, he was CNO when I came in in 72.
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  Jim Decota March 19, 2013 at 10:22am

  It seems that there was a point where it became "change for the sake of change"! I believe that came in the late 60's early 70's, courtesy of the CNO of the time! Those ugly pull over utilities not only were ugly, they were dangerous (flammable)! We spent all that time in the pool learning how to take our bell bottoms and make floaters out of them when we had to abandon ship. Then they proceed to eliminate them! Those decisions came from the Tin Man from OZ ("if I only had a brain")!

  Luckily, we were able to locate a significant supply of those chambray shirts in surplus and outfitted many of our historical ships crews in uniforms that not only are correct, but the veteran crew members receive many comments from visitors at how sharp they look! Even when you put them on a bunch of old guys that are challenged in the waist area! Put those dungarees and chambray shirts back on them and they "begin" to look like sailors again!

  OK, a few may look a little slovenly! But hey, that's the Navy I remember!
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  bill coffman March 18, 2013 at 11:53pm

  I went to RTC San Diego back in April--June of 1951 any one out there that went through about the same time???. That was when the Navy was the Navy.
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  Lindsey E. Ford HMC (SW) March 18, 2013 at 3:31pm

  It is just a simple case of someone in Washington justifying their overpaid and under worked position. I can see changes that are safety related - like corofam shoes only allowed onboard ship for inspections. I remember when they got rid of the brown shoes in the 70s just to bring them back years later for the avaition types.
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  Lindsey E. Ford HMC (SW) March 18, 2013 at 2:02pm

  I was there in 72 also, co 288 I believe - July to September.

  The dungarees were a sharp uniform, the first thing I did when I got to corps school was going to the exchange and bought a couple of sets.

  As far a tacking on a new rank, the answer is probably not, I have heard the shell back and chief's iniations have become politically correct. I saw one description of a shell back iniation described as a flight deck cook out. Traditions are dying off one at a time:(
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  Alton Ray Adams March 18, 2013 at 1:21pm

  I was with an all state company there in 72 and we were issued the new utility style uniforms. I think the new working uniform is stupid looking they should go back to the dungarees that was a sharp outfit. I was wondering do they still let senior PO tack on the crow for those making third class? With such a feel good government I just don't know.
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  Lindsey E. Ford HMC (SW) March 18, 2013 at 12:51pm

  The rules have drastically changed since 72 when I came in, I saw them change one by one. I remember being able to wear my peacoat with civies. The clubs opened at 11 am, that changed just after I retired, they did not open until 1600 at the earliest. Guess too many sailors going to lunch and not coming back. Submariners really got drastic about alcohol - anyone convicted of DUI lost their dolphins and their submarine designation.

  The small bases are most likely extinct now, with all the base closures and consoldations.