US Navy petty officer trade? ID: Electrician's Mate

[Martynmoose]

Hi. I think that this is a petty officer first class but would love to know his specialisation please. 

 

Thank you

[KurtA]

Electrician 

[Father V]

I believe you’re looking at this one: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrician's_Mate . As you can see from the article this is quite an old rating so it doesn’t narrow the timeline much.

[Martynmoose]

Many thanks KurtA that's appreciated. All the best

[Martynmoose]

Just now, Father V said:

I believe you’re looking at this one: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrician's_Mate . As you can see from the article this is quite an old rating so it doesn’t narrow the timeline much.

Many thanks that's great. All the best

[Martynmoose]

This is on a Johnny cash shirt for the USS Anzio so not that old. I suppose 1990-2010

[sigsaye]

1 hour ago, Martynmoose said:

This is on a Johnny cash shirt for the USS Anzio so not that old. I suppose 1990-2010

It is pre 1984. In 1984, the eagle was changed to the fat parrot looking thing.   The JC shirts were adopted in (IIRC), 1975. I remember buying them, putting on my SM3 crows. Then into the locker with them. Got them back out to change to SM2 crows. Then back into the locker. Then got them out to put on SM1 crows. Then, I made Chief in Great Lakes, while pushing boots. Got them out to take off the crows for Anchors. They had dry rotted, so tossed them and bought new shirts. I never wore that uniform as a Non-CPO. To me, it looked awful 

[Martynmoose]

Many thanks. You obviously didn't like this uniform so as USS Anzio was launched in 1990  it is probable that the shirt was worn earlier on another vessel and then rebadged for the Anzio when he was put on this ship after 1990?

[sigsaye]

22 hours ago, Martynmoose said:

Many thanks. You obviously didn't like this uniform so as USS Anzio was launched in 1990  it is probable that the shirt was worn earlier on another vessel and then rebadged for the Anzio when he was put on this ship after 1990?

Could have been.   We were required to maintain 2 of those, and the rating badge is at least 6 years older than 1990, as it is the pre 1984 style. 

[Martynmoose]

Many thanks. The label on the shirt is quite complete but doesn't appear dated unless it's in some sort of coded form?

[sigsaye]

5 hours ago, Martynmoose said:

Many thanks. The label on the shirt is quite complete but doesn't appear dated unless it's in some sort of coded form?

Show a pic of the label and someone here can translate it. 

[Martynmoose]

Will do. Will as pic later today. Thank you

[Martynmoose]

This is the label. I'm guessing 1985 as there is an 85 in the contract number, just guessing. Thank you

[Father V]

in these “late” contract numbers, yes, the -85- means 1985.

[Martynmoose]

Many thanks for confirming. All the best

[sigsaye]

11 hours ago, Martynmoose said:

This is the label. I'm guessing 1985 as there is an 85 in the contract number, just guessing. Thank you

So, what you have is a shirt, with a contract date of 1985. But, we know that in 1984, the Navy changed the style of Eagle. What this means, is that the original owner got a crow that still in stock. The Navy did not, pull useable items off the shelves. So , there were still the older crows were still available. Plus, once guys saw how awful the new ones looked, they searched out old crows. I would keep a box up in the signal shack. When guys advanced, got another hashmark, whatever, they’d take their old insignia, drop them in the box and if what they needed was in there, they’d take them.   Kept the older, ( and better), in use way past the adoption of the ugly crows. That was common practice then. 

[Martynmoose]

Many thanks that's very interesting. I did wander if they continued to use old stock. All the best

[Father V]

@sigsaye awesome detail to know!