I've had a few of these and am quite sure it is just a maker variation. No special meaning associated with the white.

Very nice example.

Found these the other day under something. I like the Blood on the Risers poem.

Very nice! Missed it this year. I send you a message

Oh crap, I forgot that picture. I actually discovered the second (and very faint) name when I was looking for a tag in vain.  Does anyone know if this particular uniform pattern had a spec tag?  I’m still not entirely sure if this is early or late 1930’s  

not my story but when interviewing a Vietnam war navy veteran who served on the USS Kittyhawk he told me this story.   "One day when we were all in our bunks, and the walls were these thick metal ones of course. as we were talking and playing card games and stuff, one guy had his flare gun out. he was playing with it, spinning it around on his finger and crap, but what we didn't realize was that his flare gun was loaded. anyways, while he was messing around with it it discharged, the flare hitting all 4 walls before flying into his hand, taking off his thumb and burning his bunk! needless to say he was immediately discharged, and the men were told not to mess around with weapons.

Welcome from Kansas, home of MG Frederick Funston and the Fighting 20th Kansas!

Picked it up at Louisville Show Of Shows this year. 

M No. 3214 to Wilson S. Smith (G. Harris Cataloge 19) M No. 2882 James D. Connolly (G Harris Cataloge 19)

Those are some beautiful timepieces. Thought you might be interested in the following linked article, "Navigation With A Watch," from the book "Navigation Wrinkles for Combat Motor Boats," written by Geo. W. Rappleyea and published by Higgins Industries, copyright 1943: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015077087818&seq=97