[lysander]

Another thing I find interesting about the USMC cover is the increase of stitching on the crown. Original WW2 era covers have no stitching on the crown, for many years only the front three panels were stitched (as seen in XUSNORDIE hat above), and you have to press and starch the cover to get that nice square shape. Now, the entire eight edges of the crown are stitched.

And what's with the embroidered EGA? What was wrong with learning how to iron on the EGA and "USMC" on the pocket of your utilities so they were straight with no folds, gaps or doubles?

(How many of you had to toss a shirt because of that? Kids, these days, they have it easy!)

 

[GardenValley]

From the first "utilities" in the early 1940's, the EGA and USMC was screened onto the left breast pocket. That practice continued through the M1958 utilities but was discontinued when McNamara standardized all the "utilities", "fatigues", what have you, between all the services. The Marine Corps afterward initially utilized a brass template and ink roller to apply an EGA to the pocket of utility jackets (it's a jacket in the Corps, not a shirt) prior to issue. However, the results were seldom uniform and generally poor. It was at this time that a commercial company, Ken Nolan, Inc., run by a former Marine, devised the "iron-on" for both the pocket of the utility jacket and the utility cover. However, the EGA was always screened onto the cover by the manufacturer so the iron-on for the cover was seldom used.

The stitching on the cover evolved over time to where it is today. The sateen cover issued in the 1960's did not have stitching all the way around it, but only on the front panel and the two adjoining panels. However, the front panel had two small pieces of cardboard stitched inside the panel to make it stand upright. Beyond that, there was a "cover block" available at the Exchange that was used to starch the cover into the desired shape, and starching the cover was a very common activity for all Marines, except those in the field in Vietnam.

I'm happy to share our uniform with the SeaBees and the Corpsmen assigned to the Corps.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Here’s mine even came with a flaming bomb.

Phil I thought you were Navy????......CWO Ordnance Tech?????

 

[Phil “Murphy” McGrath]

Phil I thought you were Navy????......CWO Ordnance Tech?????

I am Navy, however that cover was won on a side bet for beating a Marine Gunner @ 600 its been sanitized of the EGA by baking on the dash of my then car for a few months showing it off and many washings after. It is MY prized shooting award better than any first leather, he took quite the drubbing from his team mates and it about killed him for loosing it too Squidly Diddly slick sleeve by one point and having too hand it over I think he would have rather taken a beating had it been offered. The Ordnance Bomb is a old pin-back that I think is older than I am. I do clean the green that grows on it every once in a while.

I do wear it often as my range cover.

 

[crayj46]

dunno, in 64 the cover was stitched all around, or maybe not, and no steenking cardboard, just soaked in pure starch and dried over large cans. and we called everything, except ponchos/horse blankets/field jackets/shooting jackets, worn over a t-shirt a "blouse"

 

[Rich D]

"Corpsman".....geezus.....like the bafoons who think "Ordinance" is "ordnance"

From Navy.com. Bunch of "buffoons" there, I guess.

Navy Hospital Corpsmen provide treatment for thousands of Sailors and Marines, using quick thinking to help keep them fit and ready to serve at the best of their abilities. They may:

Assist Navy Physicians and Dentists with surgeries
Specialize in radiology, search and rescue, optical or preventive medicine
Transport the sick and injured to safe quarters
Operate some of the world’s most sophisticated medical and dental equipment

 

[danthman114]

Another thing I find interesting about the USMC cover is the increase of stitching on the crown. Original WW2 era covers have no stitching on the crown, for many years only the front three panels were stitched (as seen in XUSNORDIE hat above), and you have to press and starch the cover to get that nice square shape. Now, the entire eight edges of the crown are stitched.

And what's with the embroidered EGA? What was wrong with learning how to iron on the EGA and "USMC" on the pocket of your utilities so they were straight with no folds, gaps or doubles?

(How many of you had to toss a shirt because of that? Kids, these days, they have it easy!)

in 1999 we (marines) did a survey for new utility uniform. the embroidered ega was one of the options the marines picked to make the uniform proprietary. that's why when you look at the pattern theres a small .25" ega every 18". they had so many options to choose from and some were really stupid. like zip off sleeves and legs. yep very retarded... no iron fabric was very popular with the marines. also theres an insert in the elbows and knees for padding. as for the pattern, there was MANY to choose from and the digital is what most picked but it looked more like the cadpat. much more green in it. in the initial testing they sent it to camp Pendleton and let the snipers play in it. they said it was too green and needed more brown. so a gunny there had a watchband with a brown he really liked that was originally a ralph lauren color that is nown known as coyote brown. also the boots we have now weren't always coyote brown (at least for the new generation boots) the early boots to go with the digital utilities were infact digital pattered as well but didn't last long. they tested them in bootcamp and the pattern wore off with use and looked really bad... I'm sure theres more

 

[sbird]

"From navy.com"
Cheese and rice that's funny.
So along these lines. Our shirts where blouses, what are the trouser blousers called and how is it spelt?
I never paid attention in school except history and girls. My mind was on killing commies and split tails.

 

[Rich D]

Here's my new one. Got the pin from the Sea Bee Museum. I took out the top stitching, and may take out the stitches on the pleats. My original didn't have either, and never saw starch. Saw a lot of grease, oil and sun, though.

 

[NWDave]

Very interesting, especially from the viewpoint of 20 years of wearing dixie cups and Ballcaps for the first 4 in the navy and regulation covers and ball caps in the Air Force. Just before I retired in '87, I was introduced to BDU's and the struggle the AF was going through to look tactical, besides the fatigues we use to wear in Tactical Air Command, and other commands as well.

A question of custom and courtesy:

If you've never served in the Marine Corp or as a Corpman attached to the Corp, you better NEVER wear the 8-point or some variation of it with the EGA attached, embroidered or inked on. Without the EGA, it's tolerated by a few. I'm speaking of wearing out in the civilian world.

 

[Rich D]

Lots of 'em,

 

[XUSNORDIE]

From Navy.com. Bunch of "buffoons" there, I guess.

Navy Hospital Corpsmen provide treatment for thousands of Sailors and Marines, using quick thinking to help keep them fit and ready to serve at the best of their abilities. They may:

Assist Navy Physicians and Dentists with surgeries
Specialize in radiology, search and rescue, optical or preventive medicine
Transport the sick and injured to safe quarters
Operate some of the world’s most sophisticated medical and dental equipment

Wasn't being derogatory towards those who were Corpsman (HM)......I know the rating well as would anyone who served in the Navy/USMC.....HM's humped my big six up a hill when I busted my knee. Spent enough time in rehab with them afterwards twice....once at Balboa and then Portsmouth prior to my medical discharge....

I was just being my typical facetious self about the spelling.....; )

 

[Louis1332]

Corpsman is a person, Corpsmen are a group of people... at least that's the way I read it.

In the 70s (at least) the Army fatigue shirt nomenclature was, Shirt, Man's, Utility. The field jacket nomenclature was Coat.

And while I'm on Army terms I heard/ used while I was in-

M16A1- M16, 16, rifle
M16A1 w/M203- 203, grenade launcher, M203
M1911A1- forty five, pistol, 1911
M60- 60, M60, machine gun
M2HB- fifty, fifty cal, fifty cal machine gun, machine gun (never heard ma deuce)
M14- 14, M14, rifle

 

[Fridlo]

I couldn't wear one. I'd feel like I was trying to pass myself off as a Marine Vet. Actually am an Army Vet.

Fridlo

 

[Rich D]

​

I couldn't wear one. I'd feel like I was trying to pass myself off as a Marine Vet. Actually am an Army Vet.

Fridlo

First, thanks for your service. I wouldn't wear one of these either, but I do have a couple of shirts with Brit Commando insignias. If I ever meet a Brit that earned it, I'll give it to him off my back and buy him a beer---or three. Some things, a person has to earn.

 

[Thor]

Who wears the 8 point?:
Marines
Sea Bees
UDT
Seals
I think Navy guys in littoral waters wear blue ones.


Hope I missed no one.

Well, I’m going to ruin someone’s day with this.

 

[nf1e]

So the Navy and Marine Corps seem to have their heads screwed on straight.
How about the Army. Why did they ever adopt a French painters hat?
Was it preparation for retreat or what?
Was it part of transgender training?
Never did get that one.

 

[James Murdock]

Still wear this one when I’m shooting. Not one of my originals but close as I could find.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Who wears the 8 point?:
Marines
Sea Bees
UDT
Seals
I think Navy guys in littoral waters wear blue ones.


Hope I missed no one.

You missed a bunch......so earlier I posted the "after" pic of me wearing an old "inspection Cover" taken last night....never worn in field only for "inspection" or seeing the "old Man".....; )

Here's the "before" when I was a young gung ho IYAOYAS AO3...early 1980's...man remember when you could run all day through mud and never quit?....LOL

Depending on command and rate lots of Navy wore them....

Hard to beleive this is the old mug in post #19.......

[/IMG]

 

[GardenValley]

What were you doing that necessitated wearing a camo uniform? I'm not intending to be rude, but I've never understood why personnel not actually serving in an environment where a camo uniform is necessary would ever wear it. I don't understand why personnel serving in a job aboard ship or on an airbase, or any job where they are not humping in the boonies would ever need a camo uniform.