They were YELLOW dots, not white.

[JerryTheGerman]

Hey there y’all, this has been something I’ve been meaning to post for a while now. I’ve been looking at corpsman with the dots on their helmets for a while now and have come to the conclusion they were not white but in fact yellow. Here’s the evidence I have so far: 1. USN regulations for the circles do not mention “white dots” but yellow ones 2. In all footage I’ve seen of these in use the color has been yellow such as on Tarawa and Eniwetok 3. All “white dot” examples I have seen have either an army rank or serial number. 4. Most photos of the navy dot have either initials or small rank inside of them. I believe this misconception may have happened due to most of the photos of these helmets were in black and white and not color making it look as though the yellow and white colors were the same. Also the footage of them on Tarawa is over saturated due to the pacific heat which makes the helmets look more white and not yellow but you can clearly see a difference in color of the white bandages and the color of the dots. Also an example by General Cheese shows these being used late war on the back of a helmet. Just a reminder these were used by beach battalion corpsman and not sailors attached directly to marines.

[Bugme]

Yes and no. Great research by the way. However, the white circle does appear in North Africa and the MTO in the early part of WWII used by Medics as well as other units as designated by different commands. White was also used in the PTO but, was often used for a different designation other than medical or evacuation. However, yellow was also used for designations other than medical throughout the PTO during different operations. And then there was the Army who used their own medics, not Navy Pharmacist Mates like the Marines. The Army medics did indeed use white circles. So, as much as we would all like to have this be clear cut... it isn't.  This debate about the color and designations has gone on for as long as I have been collecting. Your information is helpful as another cog to add to the research stream. 

[JerryTheGerman]

59 minutes ago, Bugme said:

Yes and no. Great research by the way. However, the white circle does appear in North Africa and the MTO in the early part of WWII used by Medics as well as other units as designated by different commands. White was also used in the PTO but, was often used for a different designation other than medical or evacuation. However, yellow was also used for designations other than medical throughout the PTO during different operations. And then there was the Army who used their own medics, not Navy Pharmacist Mates like the Marines. The Army medics did indeed use white circles. So, as much as we would all like to have this be clear cut... it isn't.  This debate about the color and designations has gone on for as long as I have been collecting. Your information is helpful as another cog to add to the research stream. 

Yup I totally agree, I know many different sailors used these helmets for different purposes, GeneralCheese’s example I used was used by a sailor who never saw use in any beach battalions. I’ve also seen quite a few examples of red being used as a color for sailors who operated Higgins boats. And I do agree that white dots were used by different units in the MTO and PTO, I just wanted to make sure to state that the “Tarawa corpsman” did not have “white dots” to other collectors. There was also an example on eBay of one of these jackets selling and it was also in yellow in the same style as the Tarawa corpsman who wrote names and sentences on the back of their jackets, sadly I don’t think a member on here got it. I feel as though the naval beach battalions used these markings until around after Saipan, when they were faded out and most likely switched to ship gray. 

[JerryTheGerman]

Here’s an example of a helmet that fell perfectly under regulations for beach battalion personnel. It sold on eBay a while back but I’m not sure if anyone on the forum got it.

[suwanneetrader]

I"ve had this along time and posted before getting little info.  Maybe this is a better discussion to post in.   If some of you know what a yellow circle meant in WWII how about WWI?  I'm hoping.  Also disregard what I paid and retail its in title for my kids. 🤪  Richard

[manayunkman]

Interesting camo scheme Richard that makes sure you see the dot.

[suwanneetrader]

Still looking for someone knowledgeable on this helmet.  Richard

[dskjl]

Here is an example out of ALASKA.

[JerryTheGerman]

38 minutes ago, suwanneetrader said:

Still looking for someone knowledgeable on this helmet.  Richard

Can’t say for sure what it could be? Possibly communication or HQ? Who knows? I don’t believe in WW1 they would be having the same problems with medics faced to the PTO

[JerryTheGerman]

25 minutes ago, dskjl said:

Here is an example out of ALASKA.

Great helmet, I believe these came from a CB unit that was stationed there. Overall a great example of a corpsman and CB helmet!