Consolidated Topics - USN Uniforms with other branch SSI's and Devices

[mvmhm]

MODERATORS NOTE 14 March 2026

 

Aloha Everyone,

 

I've been consolidating member topics which have been languishing in our old USMF reference sections and have not been accessible since our upgrade(s) more than 15 years ago.  These topics have been scrubbed and edited and are now being presented in these Consolidated Topics.

 

This topic is specifically for USN Uniforms with other branch SSI's and Devices on shoulders or pockets.

 

So, here we go, back to 2010...

 

Salvage Sailor

 

1st Marine Navy jumper, posted by mvmhm

 

Here's the recent stuff I've found...the Navy jumper is named to F1c Frank J. Decker....

 

 

...and the embroidered on twill 1st Marine Division patch.

[warguy]

WWII Navy Corpsman w/ 2nd & 6th Marines patch

 

I thought I would post this here instead of new acquitions as there is some neat history with this as well as some debate on disputed myths on the wearing of Navy rates. Here is the story:

 

I have an aunt and uncle that live in the Pacific Northwest. I am not able to travel there much to see them, but they occasionally visit me here in AZ. For a few years now, they have told me a story about a friend of theirs whose husband died in 2003. The widow has told them for a few years that she wants her husbands material including medals and a uniform to go to someone who will appreciate it. My aunt thought of me immediately. I have spoken to the widow on a few occasions by phone and she has described a healthy amount of material belonging to her late husband Wilbur James Abbott who passed away in 2003. Wilbur nicknamed "Bet" (a phonetic play on the last syllabal of his last name) was a Navy corpsman who served on the front lines with the Marines in WWII. I have a copy of Bets obituary. In it, it states Bet was awarded the purple heart twice, the bronze star, and other medals appearing on his uniform which I will identify in a moment. Both his wife and the obituary describe him serving on Tarawa with the 2nd Marine division, and then later assigned to the 22nd Marine regiment with the 6th Marines and saw service on Guam and Eniwetok. My uncle who knew Bet for many years said he used to describe some of the horrific fighting he was exposed to.

 

So, jump ahead to this weekend. My daughter runs cross country for a D-1 college and ran a regional race in my Aunt and Uncles hometown. Here was my chance. Before travelling there to see my daughter, I made arrangements to pay a visit to Bets wife. On Friday night, we navigated copious amounts of traffic and poorly designed highways to a small house in an old neighborhood where I spent the next two hours visting with Bets wife who was wonderful. At the end of that visit, she gave me Bets green tunic and his shirt and tie which is depicted below. More to follow....

[warguy]

During the visit, Bets wife took me to a small office which I dont believe has been changed since Bet's passing. There, she shared several photos, some taken in combat, and a few studio images of Bet taken during the war. On the wall in the office, was a frame containing his medals. Present was the bronze star, purple heart with oakleaf cluster, and the medals representing the ribbon bar on his tunic, which are the Navy commendation medal, Presidential unit citation, Pacific campiagn with four stars, American campaign medal, Navy good conduct, WWII victory and the Navy rifle and pistol sharpshooter awards. Of course, I noticed quickly that the tunic was void of the purple heart and bronze star ribbons. I also noticed pretty quickly that the medals displayed in the frame were post war replacements with more modern slot brooch construction. A quick peek on the backside of those medals confirmed they were un-named. I asked the wife if she remembered Bet receving the original medals or if she had the named medals somewhere. Sadly, she stated she knew of no other medals, and described to me her recollection that Bet was "rescued" from an island as one of eight survivors and ended up in Hawaii with no papers or possessions. It is unknown if perhaps his medals were lost at that time, as she also told me that he had to apply to the Government to receive his purple heart and bronze star, and that was done long after the war. She said he tried to borrow a nickel from the Red Cross but was refused as he had no paperwork. Now more on the uniform......

 

The uniform itself is interesting in a couple respects. First, it is dated 1943, but clearly visible in hand is evidence that there was once the pharmacists rate on the right sleeve. Research indicates the Navy would wear the rates on both sleeves up til about 1941. Looks like originally Bet fixed this uniform up to display both rates, and later removed the right sleeve one. With a 1943 dated tunic, it is possible coming back from combat he forgot or wasnt informed of the change, who knows, just an interesting little detail. This kind of thing is only one of the reasons it is so nice to get un-touched stuff like this from the original source. One of the studio photos of him had him in a tunic with his rate under a 5th amphibious corps patch instead of the 6th marine patch. The second interesting thing about the group is that he displayed both rates on the shirt. The rates are both left facing eagles. I found a 1941 picture showing a corpsman again in 1940 wearing a shirt with both rates. I believe Bet went in the service in June 1942 according to his obituary. When I got the tunic home, I was delighted to find the two (right and left facing eagles) khaki rates in his pocket along with a 50 cent movie ticket. Bets wife stated he had nightmares for a few years immediately following the war, but then they seemed to go away when he was busy with his work. Once retired, they returned. She stated his Captain died in his arms, and she was very emotional (angry) in describing an incident where Bet's mother chastised him for covering himself with the body of a dead Japanese soldier once in order to hide from the enemy, who still retained the field of battle and according to him notoriously slaughtered any wounded enemy left behind. She shared a remarkable scrap book with me that Bet had assembled, with lots of stories, photos, and ephemra. He was once pictured in LIFE magazine, a shot of him hunkered down behind some rocks holding a carbine. She wasnt ready to let go of the photos or scrap book but promised to keep me in mind. She confirmed Bet served with second division on Tarawa, and then Guam. His scrapbook also mentioned Betio. The office was a bit cluttered and I couldnt help but hope that someday there might be additional artifacts unearthed. She said this is the only remaining unform, and when asked, she recalled taking several of his sailor jumpers and cutting them up to make suits for some nephews about a year after the war. Any and all comments are welcome, and if anyone has access to additional information on this war hero, please share. I am especially interested in confirming the bronze star and purple heart awards. I intend to keep in touch with Bet's wife as I try to piece together this vets service. Thanks-Kevin

[doyler]

Kevin
Thats a great story and Im sure a visit you will alway remeber,enjoy and never forget.This is fine example of how uniforms are found and dont come under the percieved ideas or regulations.I have a Chiefs uniform that was made or tailored into a Vandegrift jacket and it sports crows on both arms.It was aquired from a guy who does the motel buy thing ang I know its as found.I can say this with certainty as he rarely gives US items a second look and pays next to nothing for hem so its not in his intrest to jazz things up.Sadly he wont tell me when,where or who he got it from even though I know he keeps a ledger of everything he buys.He then sells of most everything he getys so I have no idea if there were ribbons or medals as he doesntreally know what is correct for what he buys.Sometime I will post the uniform.

Thanks for sharing this uniform and story

RD

I will add I have a 5th Marine Division uiform and was one of the first I ever bought.Had owned it over 20 years.Took it out for a display and never had loked in the pockets.In the top left pocket were two ribbons the vet had not pinned to the uniform.A Purple Heart and a Good Conduct.The jacket wasnt named but the trousers were.I later matched the name to a guy in the 5ths unit history.He was with the 5th Tank Bn and must have been wounded on Iwo.

[Kurt Barickman]

Tarawa Corpsman! I think I am in love.

 

Thanks for posting that great group!

 

Kurt

[Jack's Son]

I love these corpsman's uniforms!! Thanks for posting.

[American Heritage]

nice uniforms! When you receive his personnel file, I would be interested to know if there is a Navy Comm. recorded as a medal award or just a Comm. letter and to see the text of that award also.

 

What are some of the disputed myths you are talking about with regards to Navy Rank/rates?

[warguy]

Thanks for all the nice comments. The rank rate controversy I was referring to was the wearing of rates on both sleeves. Once again, research indicates this was discontinued in about 1940-41 but the shirt here doesnt indicate that nor the evidence the tunic once had it on both sleeves. Just interesting, and it is a topic that has been discussed on the forum off and on. I forgot to mention earlier that Bet's wife indicated he contracted double pneumonia in March and April 1945, and was mustered out. He missed Okinawa and the occupation of China with his unit. His death in 2003 was due to complications of asthma, perhaps a result of his earlier wartime pnumonia. I agree, the Navy commendation ribbon from what I understand started in 1944 as a ribbon award only, and was often conferred for life saving efforts. Thanks again for the comments and any additional info would be appreciated. Kevin

[RustyCanteen]

A fine uniform with a great background.

 

RC

[subsystem4]

Navy Corpsman with the 7th marines, 1st MARDIV patch

 

I got this named dress blue jumper and cap a few weeks ago. Someone, probably the seller since he split up this sailors large group of uniforms, tore the 1st division patch off the sleeve. The shadow of the patch and the threads were still there when i got it so I found a WWII vintage replacement and had my better half sew it on. (I wrote a note that I did this and placed it in the pocket so that If I get hit by a bus tomorrow who ever buys it knows its not thee original patch just an original patch. ) I also plan on restoring the ribbon bar as well. I have already requested his records.

[ReverendJake]

Killer piece. I love USMC SSI's on jumpers, white and blue. They just look so darn good. Thanks for sharing.

[bellasilva]

Do you have any pictures of it before the NOS SSI was applied?

[uplandmod]

Dream jumper...!!!

 

I only own one Corpsman jumper but he never put his MarDiv patch on...

 

These are always amazing!!

 

LF

[HeadOfSteel]

Stunning piece!

Just curious, but what would something like this be worth?

 

Hos

[subsystem4]

1st Marine Div Navy Pharmacist mate 1st class green jacket

 

This arrived today. 1943 dated jacket. There is a name in the sleeve but its too faded for me to read. Machine sewn SSI and rate. Matching EGAs.

-Jay

 

 

 

[American Heritage]

did you ever get his records?

[Corpsmancollector]

Jay,

 

This is a great set, nice work on the patch renovation and note in the pocket.

 

Any luck with the records?

 

Will

[subsystem4]

Yes,I have pictures of the uniform without the SSI on it showing the ghost and threads of the removed patch.

I never got the records, the researcher i used dropped off the grid it seems. I am going to try somebody else I have used in the past. i have all the info that was on ancestry printed and filled away. It looks like he may have been wounded in action at some point in 1944.

-Jay

[Jack's Son]

Besides the green dress corpsman's uniform, this is my favorite! Great piece.

[Hessian]

USN 1st Mar Div Doctor Uniform

 

I picked this up last year in a grouping of other uniforms. I held onto it because I'd never seen a set of Navy Grays with a USMC SSI. The name in the tag is E.K. Brummer. Can anyone verify this name being part of the medical 1st MarDiv?

 

The ribbons are directly sewn to the uniform.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

[ViewfinderGyrene]

Fascinating uniform, thanks for sharing! Look forward to what others may find out about him!

[Kurt Barickman]

Got nothing on the Bronze Star but have a USN Commander Endre K. Brunner who was wounded in action Feb. 15, 1945 while attached to Sixth Amphibious Group Pacific.

 

Pretty sure this is your guy. Check out the books he wrote!!!!

 

Kurt

[Ricardo]

Great uniform my friend!

 

Ricardo.

[BEAST]

Very nice! As an ETO & Pacific doc, his records ought to be really interesting to read through.

[Hessian]

Thanks for the assist Kurt and the nice comments from everyone.

 

I took a photo of the tailor label and it clearly says Lt Com E.K. Brummer. That's two "M"s vs. the 'BruNNer" that you mention Kurt. I wonder if it's the same guy?