Bob Hudson Posted January 16, 2015 Share #26 Posted January 16, 2015 As the wide ones were only briefly used, likely he was a 1stSgt when they transitioned to the thinner, modern style rank That must have been just before they started using the ones with rifles on them? In the same thrift store I also picked up a couple of sets of enlisted black EGA's with cover and collar pieces. I suspect they came from the same source as the metal chevrons. They seem to be early "modern" EGA's with clutchback collar pieces. Those would have been worn on the shirt collar of the khakis: Here's Gomer Pyle's DI wearing the chevrons on his utilities: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share #27 Posted January 16, 2015 Around then, the rank was reimplemented in 1958, I think the wide chevrons were used until around 1960 or so... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMaddoxUSMC Posted January 16, 2015 Share #28 Posted January 16, 2015 When the ranks were officially changed in December 1959, both the insignia and the structure itself changed. Lance Corporal was added as E-3 bumping the rest up a rank, E-6 (Tech Sergeant) was bumped up and reverted to Gunnery Sergeant, and Sergeant Major was moved up to E-9 alongside the newly created Master Gunnery Sergeant. I imagine they would have switched over to the new insignia pretty fast to avoid anymore confusion than I'm sure there already was. Sucked to be a salty PFC who was looking to pick up Corporal and now there's a whole other rank you have to go through first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMaddoxUSMC Posted January 19, 2015 Share #29 Posted January 19, 2015 Brig - came across some of the chevrons with the "Appd" code on the back.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/USMC-1950S-GUNNERY-SGT-GUNNY-COLLAR-RANK-RARE-/360870543583?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item54058f80df Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMaddoxUSMC Posted February 2, 2015 Share #30 Posted February 2, 2015 This is interesting, here is an image of 1stSgt J. E. Bresette from an old 1/9 cruisebook I have. This is 1963 and he is still wearing the wide chevrons. I did not think that they were still in use by that time. Maybe some of the salt-dogs wore them just because they could! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin B. Posted February 2, 2015 Share #31 Posted February 2, 2015 That is really interesting. First sergeant (though it moved from E-7 to E-8) and PFC were the only grades whose stripes could be used both pre- and post-1959. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMaddoxUSMC Posted February 2, 2015 Share #32 Posted February 2, 2015 Yes that is correct! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 10, 2015 Share #33 Posted February 10, 2015 I was reading some old copies of MARINE CORPS GAZETTE tonight and ran across this 1953 article: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMaddoxUSMC Posted February 10, 2015 Share #34 Posted February 10, 2015 Wow that's awesome! The only ranks that would have been used at the time of testing would be PFC through MSgt since they didn't add back in 1stSgt and SgtMaj until Dec 1954. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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