Those are both Veteran's ballcaps, the Iwo Jima patch is made in China.     The Texas ball cap is a veterans reunion memento, USS TEXAS (CGN-39) in commission 1977 to 1993  

Thanks Allan much appreciated, this photo comes with a larger unattributed grouping I initially posted here:   Thinking there may be a chance to ID the ship type based on the unique looking structures on the fore deck behind the group. I would imagine also a certain size of ship and up would have Gun crews?

What a great photo! The white shoulder stripe is for unrated deck crew. The white stripe came off when they made Petty Officer 3rd Class. The Engine Room sailors who hadn't earned PO wore a red stripe on their left shoulder. The stripes correspond to the arm which a rating badge would be worn.   I hope this helps. Allan

Hoping anyone can provide more insight into this photo and potentially narrow down the ship type or class based on the background details.   The photo shows a 9-man Gun Crew posing with their Efficiency award.   The sailor on the left appears to be a Gunner's Mate with their Efficiency badge beneath on their right arm. The man in the far right appears to be a Boatswain's Mate with "E" on the right arm and possibly a Gun Captain badge on their left.   Could someone explain what the white stripe on the right shoulders of some sailors indicate?   Thank you.   Jeff

So not worth the risk in this condition? On the other hand, usually when I see these for sale they’re a lot more expensive. Thanks for the help.

Thanks for the replies. I tend to agree with the consensus, that I should just leave it alone. I wonder what, if anything, a museum would do with something like this, just to arrest any further aging issues. In any case, these look nice in my little display cabinet, which also includes a Confederate canteen, documented to have been "Taken from the body of a dead rebel at Antietam" and a couple of old Colts; 1849 New Pocket 6" bbl and an 1860 Colt Army.

A lot of that stuff is easily available online now.  Jacques Noel Jacobsen reprinted a lot of pre-WW1 regs in the 1970's as well - I beleive they can still be had fairly easily.  

Upon closer inspection of the Gun Crew photo, the Bos'n to the far right appears to have the Gun Captain badge on his left sleeve at the elbow rather than Torpedoman as originally thought.    Both him and the GM on the left also have their gunnery "E" badges below their right arm rates.   A 9-man Gun crew should narrow the ship size down I would think to larger ships armed with naval guns? Possibly armed cruisers and above?

Hello everyone, I am a french archeologist and interested in WWII history, especially in my birth place, Normandy.   I am looking for help to identify and maybe contact the family or descendants of a US Navy veteran. I recently found a silver identification bracelet among my grandfather’s belongings in Cherbourg, Normandy. According to our family history, this bracelet was probably collected after been lost by its owner in Cherbourg in 1944.   Details on the bracelet: Front: LT A.C.HAUCK - U.S. Navy Back: Engraved 'ENGLAND MAY 1944'   Based on my initial research, the owner could be Albert Charles Hauck (?), who served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve during the war (?). His presence in England in May 1944 and then in Cherbourg suggests he was involved in the naval logistics or operations following the DDay. My goal is to identify this veteran, and if possible trying to contact his family to get more information about him. If the research goes well, I have the idea that the item could rejoin the Cherbourg Liberation Museum, and been displayed with its history...   Thanks for any help!

A neat shot of CIB's in wear from the 58th AIB, 8th AD, in Gieboldehausen, Germany, 8 May 1945.