UNUSUAL NAVY PATCH

[jefmil]

 

I am familiar with the seaman guard which has an "S"at the top and a "G" at the bottom. However this patch has a "W" at the bottom. Does anyone know what the "W" stands for?

Jefmil

[Garth Thompson]

WW2 US Navy rank patch for a Seaman Guard a rate limited to use during the war. It is fairly scarce.

Garth

[sigsaye]

Actually, not a "Rank" patch. navy enlisted do not hold "Rank", they hold "Rate". Either way, this insignia is a "Distinguishing Mark" which is an insignia to identify a skill of position other than the Sailors "Rating" (job). It is "Seaman Watch". Same as "Seaman Guard", just This are just what they indicate. These guys were Guards and Sentrys at Stateside Naval Bases. Originaly just at the Boot Camps, eventually, most Naval Stations. Their duties were eventually taken over by Coast Guardsmen with the "Port Security" Rating.

 

Steve Hesson

[Bearmon]

Actually, not a "Rank" patch. navy enlisted do not hold "Rank", they hold "Rate". Either way, this insignia is a "Distinguishing Mark" which is an insignia to identify a skill of position other than the Sailors "Rating" (job). It is "Seaman Watch". Same as "Seaman Guard", just This are just what they indicate. These guys were Guards and Sentrys at Stateside Naval Bases. Originaly just at the Boot Camps, eventually, most Naval Stations. Their duties were eventually taken over by Coast Guardsmen with the "Port Security" Rating.

 

Steve Hesson

Steve I beg to differ but enlisted sailors hold both rank and rate. rank = E-6, rate = electricians mate

Now say EMC and that is both rate and rank Electricians Mate Chief Petty Officer

[sigsaye]

Steve I beg to differ but enlisted sailors hold both rank and rate. rank = E-6, rate = electricians mate

Now say EMC and that is both rate and rank Electricians Mate Chief Petty Officer

Sorry Bear, it's Rate and Rating. We do Not hold rank, that's for all those others. Familys been active duty Navy Enlisted since 1939, read all the books, learned it all the hard way, taught it to recruits, got the T-Shirts.

 

Steve Hesson

[RustyCanteen]

Sorry Bear, it's Rate and Rating. We do Not hold rank, that's for all those others. Familys been active duty Navy Enlisted since 1939, read all the books, learned it all the hard way, taught it to recruits, got the T-Shirts.

 

Steve Hesson

 

Did you "buy the t-shirt" or was it issued?

 

Steve is right, the "Navy way" is sometimes a little different but they love that! :thumbsup:

 

There is of course a pay grade. There are technically two answers, but "traditionally" it is referred to as rate, a rated man is higher in "rank" than a non-rated man, etc.

 

RC

[blkjack07]

Sorry Bear, it's Rate and Rating. We do Not hold rank, that's for all those others.

Good explanation of "rate" and "rating" here, for us non-Navy folks....

 

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id=258

[sigsaye]

Did you "buy the t-shirt" or was it issued?

 

Steve is right, the "Navy way" is sometimes a little different but they love that! :thumbsup:

 

There is of course a pay grade. There are technically two answers, but "traditionally" it is referred to as rate, a rated man is higher in "rank" than a non-rated man, etc.

 

RC

The first T-Shirts were given to me by my dad, then got a batch issued, bought a few, and "picked some up" here and there along the way The Navy is different than other services. We do not refer to E-4 to E-9 as "NCO"s, but rather as "PO"s or "CPO"s. The Navys enlisted grade systems (there have been several) have traditionally been pay being based on time at sea and experience. The Navy started to organize enlisted Sailors like the other services in the early 1880s, and it was a bit painful and cumberson as ships crews vary in size unlike Army formations.

 

Until that time, the only enlisted Sailor who had military authority over all other enlisted Sailors all the time was the Master At Arms. The other Petty Officers were basically craftsmen or specialists in a field and their authority only was in effect while on watch and then only for the men assigend directly to them. The system seems awkward, but at the time it worked as many SAilors drifted back and forth with the merchant service and the same system was in place there. Also, there was the traditional fear by the officers of mutiney. This way, they felt that no real clear leader would appear amung the enlisted Sailors. Teh MAA bing also one of the most hated men aboard. It was his job to enforce all policies, proceedures regulations and "wishws" of the CAptain and Navy. There even exsisted special punishments for assaulting the MAA.

 

Steve Hesson

[topdcnut]

Let us just say that this patch whether issued at Sampson NY or elsewhere, SW or SG was worn by many sailors but to my knowledge has never been worn by a petty officer or Chief. Of course, now that I have said this a pic of a PO or CPO uniform with one on it will surface................. but I doubt it.

I also believe that this DM post dated the reference to the USCG PS rating as these were being issued until near the end of the war.

 

John

[jefmil]

Thanks for the identification.

Jeff