CW4AFB Posted July 29, 2018 Share #1 Posted July 29, 2018 Amigos--I picked up a really neat grouping of photographs of the Marine Detachment assigned to the USS Delaware and boy, do I have some questions--here's the first one: This photo, labeled "The Big D's Devil Dogs," appears to show a pretty disheveled group of Marines wearing all sorts of gear but my question pertains to a couple of them that appear to be wearing the cover from their "frame" hats (without the frame of course) as a hat--if it was just one guy I could believe he was the detachment clown but there are several---has anybody else ever seen this? Even in the dark days of the early 1970s I would never have even considered taking the cloth cover from my blues or my greens and turning it into a work hat....help me out here.... Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted July 29, 2018 Share #2 Posted July 29, 2018 Never seen that before...a few possibilities strike my mind, knowing Marines... A) They're clowning around B.) Some brand new LT thought it would be a good idea C) Some salty Sgt/SNCO thought it would be a good punishment In the case of B and C, the Marines may have worn them for a photo to be belligerent and vent about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted July 30, 2018 Share #3 Posted July 30, 2018 Not uncommon during that era to do stuff like that when clowing around....seagoing, PI based and China Marines would use parts of their uniforms as a part of a costume Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCR79 Posted July 30, 2018 Share #4 Posted July 30, 2018 May be the aftermath of a Shellback Ceremony Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARFOREUR/AF SgtMaj Posted July 30, 2018 Share #5 Posted July 30, 2018 Another possibility could be they were participating in Shellback Festivities/initiation while crossing the equator. I see a lot of different clothing, and guitar etc....If you look at the far left of the photo you see a sailor and Marine dressed properly. Probably because they had already done the initiation. I have several early shellback photos in my collection that are similar to this one only exception is there are a few Devil Dogs in mine wearing mop heads lol. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fly USMC Posted July 30, 2018 Share #6 Posted July 30, 2018 May be the aftermath of a Shellback Ceremony Bill exactly what I was thinking.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CW4AFB Posted July 30, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted July 30, 2018 Thanks guys for the help--I believe you have nailed it.... Just in case anybody was wondering what the battleship USS Delaware looks like, here is another photo from the grouping showing the Big D going through the Panama Canal---pretty powerful looking ship.. and if you look closely you can see a small rowboat trying to catch up to the ship---most likely Marines that overstayed their Liberty in Colon City---yeah, it can happen, believe me... Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CW4AFB Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share #8 Posted August 8, 2018 Here's a more traditional view of one of the Marines from the USS Delaware---but another question---are those rubber boots he is wearing or just a trick of the shadows?.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted August 9, 2018 Share #9 Posted August 9, 2018 Looks like he's wearing rubber boots, probably pulled a working party Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CW4AFB Posted August 9, 2018 Author Share #10 Posted August 9, 2018 Looks like he's wearing rubber boots, probably pulled a working party Brig---I think you are right---and I just realized you are stationed at Quantico---I was just there two weeks ago as a speaker for the WWI Symposium 18-20 July--it would have been good to finally get to meet you and grab some chow. Nobody warned me how hard it is to get off Quantico at 1600 on a Friday evening... s/f Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted August 10, 2018 Share #11 Posted August 10, 2018 Getting of Quantico anytime after noon is a nightmare...I stick to back roads, more mileage, lot less time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMaddoxUSMC Posted July 31, 2019 Share #12 Posted July 31, 2019 Also looks like he's wearing a wooly pully under his Blues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMaddoxUSMC Posted July 31, 2019 Share #13 Posted July 31, 2019 Or are those maybe just the cuffs of the gloves turned down.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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