. Interesting official military documentary about the Normandy Mulberry Harbors.   I enjoyed watching this video interesting detail about the Mulberry Harbors designed and built in the UK and built ready to be towed across the English Channel and installed as soon as the landings were accomplished. Great images of the commanding officer of the 81st Sea-Bees battalion driving a French built Citroen car described as a captured German car. Interesting also in that someone has had the time to paint the doors with the Sea-Bees emblem. And towards the end images of the captured port / town of Cherbourg, some more for me to use for Then and Now images when I can.              Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, May 19  2O25.    ….  

Sextant in use but a different model than A-12. The stop watch/chronograph is visible, attached to the bracket.  

I only recently learned about the passing of the great uniform collector Gil Sanow, and I felt compelled to honor his memory. I had the chance to get to know him through the US Militaria Forum, where I purchased some uniforms and important accessories from him—pieces that enriched my collection. But what truly enriched me was the opportunity to know him, even if only virtually. Gil was a man of integrity, kindness, and precision. He approached everything with passion and discipline, yet always managed to add that touch of humor that made even the longest and most detailed conversations about history feel warm and engaging. He was always ready to lend a hand—to everyone, even a young Italian guy who, back in 2006, was just starting out and eager to learn and grow in the world of US uniform collecting. I hope this post will be welcomed as a small tribute to someone who, like Gil, helped so many collectors grow, both in knowledge and in spirit. Thank you, Gil.

Here’s one currently posted on FB Mkt.    

I like it, good badge!

Yes, excatly ;) I need it to my Navy A-12 Sextant.        

Hi! I can give you more info on this patch. My father was a part of this unit when he was an Infantryman in the Marines. This unit specifically was the Jungle Operations Branch/Special Operations Branch of "A" Company, Marine Barracks Subic Bay. The Jungle Operations Branch patrolled up to 10 miles outside the Subic Bay Naval Facility in dense jungles and small villages to look for "intruders" (common criminals) trying to steal from the base or gain entry into the base, and members of the New People's Army (NPA) which was a communist insurgency that developed in the southern Philippines in 1968. The Jungle Operations Branch worked in small 3-4 man teams often with a native Filipino. The NPA would also try to set explosives off near the main gate to Subic, and get into the Naval Magazine (which is rumored to have stored nuclear weapons) guarded by Company "B" Marines. Company A guarded Subic's main gate and Mt. Santa Rita, a naval communications tower a couple miles east of Subic. A Company was in charge of Security and the Jungle Operations Branch. Outside of some of the horrific acts committed by the NPA and other terrorists in the region, my dad talks fondly about monkeys in the trees taking their patrol gear and throwing it back at them, all the chow they wanted, the authorization of boonie covers for the unit, access to any weapon in the armory, and suspending from a USAF "Jolly Green Giant" helicopter and talking into a high tech radio headset (I'll have to ask him about this again, but it sounded like something from the Navy Seals movie haha).

Seaman First Class with a Marksmanship badge. 

agreed, that one is NICE!

Another possibility could be, since they were available sold as Sweetheart wings like pictured above its possible some Instructors or Teachers may have decided to give them as graduation gifts / They did develop friendships another letter mentions a teacher inviting them for Christmas dinner                       ;