Unknown USN rating from USS Boxer uniform

[24th_infantry]

I've been looking all over the place to find out information about this rating. I'm going to be purchasing a grouping which belonged to a navy vet who served aboard the USS Boxer during the Korean War. He definitely saw a lot of action but I cannot figure out what this rating mean. It almost looks like an hourglass with a "football" shaped object in the center. I really would appreciate help identifying this patch. Thank you very much for all the help!

 

I'm also going to include pictures of his ribbon bars in case it might be of any help. 

[Tolzer]

THIS WOULD BE A PHOTOGRAPHER'S MATE.

 

[Tolzer]

·      Navy Presidential Unit Citation

·      Navy Unit Commendation

·      Navy Good Conduct

·      National Defense

·      Navy Occupation Service Medal

·      China Service Medal? Yellow Ribbon with Red Stripes

·      United Nations Korea Service Medal

·      United Nations Medal

·      Republic of Korea Presidential Unit

[dpcsdan]

Photographer's Mate as used from 1948-1994.

[collectsmedals]

1 hour ago, 24th_infantry said:

It almost looks like an hourglass with a "football" shaped object in the center.

It is meant to be a camera lens focusing light onto the photographic film. When I was on the U.S.S. Nimitz my office was right next to the photography lab. so I saw a lot of sailors wearing these. I had no idea the rating had been discontinued.

[David Minton]

The specialty mark is supposed to represent a cone of light passing through a lens. And, agree it is a Photographer's Mate. This speciality mark replaced the 4x5 Press Camera that had been used from the rates creation (1922?) until 1948.

[David Minton]

3 minutes ago, collectsmedals said:

It is meant to be a camera lens focusing light onto the photographic film. When I was on the U.S.S. Nimitz my office was right next to the photography lab. so I saw a lot of sailors wearing these. I had no idea the rating had been discontinued.

It was eventually merged into Mass Communication Specialist, if I recall correctly.

[US82Bravo]

·      United Nations Korea Service Medal

·      United Nations Medal

 

The ribbon with  campaign stars  and full size medal shown in the first post is the Korean Service Medal, a US award authorized by President Truman in November 1950. It is not a UN medal.

The multi-striped blue - white ribbon represents the United Nations Service Medal (Korea), an international award authorized by the United Nations  in December 1950 as the United Nations Service Medal.

 

Larry