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1943 Press Photo Chief Boatswains Mate Gilbert Peterson patrols Grand Coulee dam


tthen
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I recently got this picture just because I thought it was strange that the US Navy was guarding inland Dams. I live in Washington state and was unaware of this fact. Anyway enjoy

 

Tom

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Nice photo, not one I've seen. I think he is more likely USCG (and I think I see the USCG shield on the lower right sleeve near the cuff). All branches performed guard/patrol duties around vital infrastructure throughout CONUS in WWII, but the USCG provided a large part of that. There is a great photo book for anyone interested in the WWII USCG called 'Prints in the Sand', about the beach patrols they did.

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I think it's a really cool photo, love the composition of the image. If only it was a color photo, that's the only way it could be improved. Imagine the view back then! I just realized the caption said 'Chief', he's wearing a jumper so it's more likely he's a third, second, or first class petty officer than a Chief, but normal newspaper mistake (I've been misquoted by the papers before, sometimes the reporters jumble what they write). Really awesome pickup though, these old press photos are cool

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Bob, thanks for the confirmation. Warhawk when you noticed he was not a Chief I took a closer look at the photo and your right. He has a single stripe on his rate patch. So he's a Boatswain 3rd class Petty Officer.

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Apparently there is an article that accompanies this photo, seems to have been published between May and October 1943 in various newspapers. If you have a newspapers account, you can see it.

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