The subject of the uniform, and how it was worn, comes up here now and then, and when it does I think invariably of a signalmen who taught radioman the ins and outs of visual communicating at Noroton Heights, Conn., before they were sent off to Brookyn and assignedt to merchant ships with Armed Guard units. Some others here may remember him.
His name was Joe Hartney; he was second class at the time, and he had come to Noroton Heights after surviving the sinking of the cruiser Juneau in the Battle of Savo Island in August 1942. In appearance, he was the very model of what a sailor should look like. I went through there in late spring of 1943, so whites were the uniform of the day. Joe's were of course tailor-made. His white hat was properly shaped and squared to a degree that would satisfy any inspecting officer. Those of us who thought such things important hoped that, in time, we could come to wear the uniform as Joe did. None of us thought we'd ever move semaphore flags with the grace he displayed.
On one special morning there, we formed up on the drill field and looked on as a Purple Heart was pinned to the jumper of Joe's whites. An impressive ceremony.
Re: (no subject)
Posted by Bob Tassinari on May 29, 2010, 3:39 am, in reply to "(no subject)"
I do remember this instructor at Noroton Heights amd do agree he was a smartly turned out Navy man during the Feb-March 1043 period. Thanks forthis update to a long ago time.
Re: (no subject)
Posted by Steve Myers on May 29, 2010, 7:26 am, in reply to "Re: (no subject)"
Fast forward to the start of the Cold War and PACFLT sailors: who can forget all the tailor shops in Hong Kong and Singapore (et al)where the "smartest" of the smartly dressed folks had an entire sea bag of hand-sewn uniforms created. I will not forget Peter Woo's outstanding work from a shop in the New Territories, where, for fifty bucks one could (literally) have a couple of uniforms fashioned from a bolt of cloth - and with the "change" remaining from the work, have a civilian suit made! I wore my "P.W." Service Dress Blues from LT to senior CDR quite properly speaking until they got shiney. Ahhh, it makes one long for return of the Red Bear...
From his shop there in crowded Kowloon, He sewed as he whistled a tune, That, familiar, yet strange, For a sawbuck and change, Twas a song that transformed a cocoon...