US Victory Museum Posted November 3, 2008 Share #1 Posted November 3, 2008 Ensign (2nd Lt.) A WWII Era named PHS (Public Health Service) Commissioned Corps Service Dress Blue uniform. This is a private purchase tailored uniform procured from the Slavin Uniform Co. (1968 East 6th Street, and 423 Euclid Ave. Cleveland OH) for on Olive E. Wright (3761). Without a mannequin or model, and with the poor lighting available the photos don't do this uniform justice. The uniform is in mint condition. It came without the right collar insignia; however, I have seen numerous pairs on Ebay, so I'll be bidding on a set to complete the coat. No hat was available, nor did it come with the correct tie; the tie shown did come with the uniform, but normally it would be worn with the dark blue WAVES/SPARS style tie. If you want to see better quality photos and to educate yourselves with regard to this service during WWII, then I recommend Katy's web site (http://www.blitzkriegbaby.de). Choose the PHS icon, then 'III. PHS Uniforms' read that page and then choose '-service and dress uniform.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted November 3, 2008 Author Share #2 Posted November 3, 2008 The PHS Commissioned Corps Bullion Cuff Device. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted November 3, 2008 Author Share #3 Posted November 3, 2008 The PHS Commissioned Corps Collar Device (Left). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted November 3, 2008 Author Share #4 Posted November 3, 2008 The Gilt PHS Uniform button. After trying numerous times to photograph the button only to get a blurred image with excessive glare, I decided to cover the flash port of the camera and snap this picture. Good enough. One of these days I'll get around to reading the manual and figure out the proper way to turn off the flash, but I was in a rush... LAST PICTURE IN POST. Go to Katy's site. She's more adapt at taking pictures than I. Mike US Victory Museum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted December 14, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted December 14, 2009 This is an addendum to my original posting of a woman's uniform of the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service during WWII. Those officers detailed to armed services wore the uniform of that service adorned with PHS insignia and buttons. e.g. Those officers assigned to the ground forces in the ETO, PTO, CBI, or Middle East wore the standard WAC uniform, but with its buttons replaced with PHS buttons, and the WAC coat insignia (Pallas Athena) and hat insignia "walking buzzard" replaced with the PHS counterparts. PHS officers detailed to the Navy or Office of Naval Intelligence wore the uniform of the commissioned corps. This uniform would have been worn over a white dicky; the tie would be identical to the dark blue ties of the Navy W.A.V.E.S. and Coast Guard SPARS. A pair of black pumps (shoes) and a service beret, or garrison cap bearing PHS insignia would complete the uniform. ---------------------------------------------------- So why the addendum? I posted the original string in November 2008. Since then I had been actively seeking to replace the then missing right side PHS pin with a correct WWII era right sided pin. It only took a YEAR to find a correct and matching one. A whole year for one pin. For every 20 to 30 pins I look over, only one will be WWII era. I'm starting to suspect that the size of Public Health Service was small during the second world war. Bear in mind these pins are identical for males, as well as females. I would estimate that for every twenty correct era pins I have seen, only one of them is right sided. These pins are like USMC EGAs, they are mirrored, and for what ever reason I cannot grasp, the right sided pins are about as rare as hen's teeth. I never see these pins in matched sets, but only solitary and it's always the left side pin. Every time I chased down a lead, someone else bought it. On this board from time to time there are discussions as to why someone might over pay for some trivial item. I can tell you why - it's because we get sick of waiting and are willing to grab the next available one and won't be taking any prisoners in the process. I didn't over pay for this particular pin which I won on Ebay ($20); but you had better believe that I pounded in a maximum bid of $110.00 with 5 seconds to go in the auction because I was going to win it no matter how absurd the price. During the past year this uniform was displayed with only ONE pin. I'm sure that had I placed a modern pin on it until I could secure an original, that nobody could have distinguished the difference; however, Homie don't play that way. I don't use fillers, and I won't ever knowingly display a reproduction or use an anachronistic artifact. Msn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted December 16, 2009 Share #6 Posted December 16, 2009 Great Uniform and nice to see it "finished". Were these insignia worn on an overseas style cap using the "left" hand insignia like the Marines did? That may explain why there are more lefts than rights. BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alissajjeep Posted January 27, 2016 Share #7 Posted January 27, 2016 Love! This is the next impression id like to do! Great info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Minton Posted September 1, 2017 Share #8 Posted September 1, 2017 So why the addendum? I posted the original string in November 2008. Since then I had been actively seeking to replace the then missing right side PHS pin with a correct WWII era right sided pin. It only took a YEAR to find a correct and matching one. A whole year for one pin. For every 20 to 30 pins I look over, only one will be WWII era. I'm starting to suspect that the size of Public Health Service was small during the second world war. Bear in mind these pins are identical for males, as well as females. I would estimate that for every twenty correct era pins I have seen, only one of them is right sided. These pins are like USMC EGAs, they are mirrored, and for what ever reason I cannot grasp, the right sided pins are about as rare as hen's teeth. I never see these pins in matched sets, but only solitary and it's always the left side pin. I believe the reason one pin is more common than the other is that men only wore one on their shirt collars, with a rank pin on the other. This would be the more common of the two USPHS pins, since there were likely more men in the USPHS Commissioned Corps. I believe only women wore two, hence the scarcity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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