|
Post by seabeepo3 on Apr 15, 2011 2:03:37 GMT -5
Well, some friends and I attended a dance at the old coastal artillery battery museum here in San Pedro, Calif. and opted to go out Navy since so many seem to do Army each year. Being a Navy man, myself, I was pretty excited to see so many others who decided to dress out in Navy that weren't part of my group! We started out the evening by getting straight razor shaves in uniform at a local barber, headed to a local English pub for some good chow, and then on to the dance. The night ended at the Queen Mary's Observation Deck bar, but I don't have a good recollection of the events from that point on. Ha! I do know we constantly sang (possibly screamed and butchered) "Anchors Aweigh" in between the band's song sets and basically gave the Army pals a run for their money with the girls! Here's some photos from the event held last February: Having food at an English pub prior to the dance. picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QRx0TBK1LS4RC5dhMxtkp5uiXBKJrh2lIuTVTKHcJmc?feat=directlinkEating some English chow. picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HnuFi3UShi-_O4mVFDsyWZuiXBKJrh2lIuTVTKHcJmc?feat=directlinkIn the rain, at the dance. picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BC-KBVguGzY1FfeSsuzpfJuiXBKJrh2lIuTVTKHcJmc?feat=directlinkPosing with some officers, one who was in WWII and was so happy to see us (we bought him any drinks he wanted all night). picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0IiROaHG8WDJ1gbCkE5MqZuiXBKJrh2lIuTVTKHcJmc?feat=directlinkOn-board the Queen Mary for after party drinks. picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gr1COpiiDoOFMyZ1G-0EBZuiXBKJrh2lIuTVTKHcJmc?feat=directlinkAll in all, there was actually 8 of us in Winter Blues with the flat Dress Cap and only two of us didn't have WWII peacoats. As far as impressions go, most of us were dressed out as shipboard rates (Petty Officers since it's harder to find larger sizes of the Seamen of Firemen jumpers). We had a great time and plan to be doing more Navy impressions the rest of the year. Hope you all enjoy. Comments/critiques will be listened to and appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by tk7263 on Apr 20, 2011 15:49:52 GMT -5
You guys look good.Are those all old uniforms or post war?I especially like the Seabee's liberty cuffs.
|
|
|
Post by seabeepo3 on Apr 20, 2011 19:00:58 GMT -5
A couple were opst-war, Korean War issue. Mine was a Coast Guard jumper. Kept the Electrician's Mate patch and just needed to remove the Coast Guard cuff shield and added the gun pointer patch. All the peacoats are all original, except one, which was my modern one that I had brought for my friend just in case weather was sour. All the flat caps and pants were original. Shoes were a mix of postwar leather shoes and a few originals. Some were postwar but resoled with leather soles. I think one or two neckerchiefs were modern silk ones.
Those liberty cuffs are original and match the jumper. The Seabees patch was added later. The vet in the photo was in love with those cuffs and kept saying how he saw some of his men wearing them on liberty. He thought we all looked great and was surprised to see so many people sporting the blue flat cap as most just wear the white hat.
|
|
|
Post by seabee1942 on Apr 20, 2011 20:25:12 GMT -5
I wish more guys did Navy over here in the east. Being a BU2 myself I of course have to represent the Seabees and the navy. Do you guys make it over here? When and where do you guys do events at? What sort of display do you set up for events? Trying to get more interest for the Seabee thing.
Nate
|
|
|
Post by seabeepo3 on Apr 21, 2011 0:58:49 GMT -5
We're just motivating the Navy thing this year. It took me several years to find guys that actually wanted to do Navy displays. Our first will be in July as Seabees. Maybe one in May, but that will be very minimal. The guys I'm with now had done Navy stuff (mainly dress uniforms for dances) before, but somewhat individually. We're pretty stoked that we're all in the same club and are fired up to represent the branch more than just wearing Dress Blues to a dance. Not sure if we'll make it back east any time soon, though. This impression is something we do for public stuff, though, and not necessarily tacticals... although we may start coming out for the PTO event we have each year, if it's appropriate.
|
|
|
Post by 29navy on Apr 21, 2011 6:26:18 GMT -5
Always great to see Navy.
One thing for the seabee uniform. He was wearing the shoulder patch and the Diamond "CB" sleeve patch. Shouldn't be wearing both, it's one or the other. The Diamond CB came first and the SeaBee shoulder patch replaced the diamond sleeve insignia (I believe in 1944).
Charlie
|
|
|
Post by seabeepo3 on Apr 21, 2011 11:32:18 GMT -5
That's true, per regulations and time period. However we've heard that some squids who were in when the change happened liked to wear both. Rather than removing the diamond (or the letters version), they'd just add on the color Seabees patch.
|
|
|
Post by 34thtcflyboy on Apr 21, 2011 14:07:11 GMT -5
Photo #2 at the pub looks just like so many "at the table" shots I've seen from that time, usually copied and given in a little booklet with the name of the restaurant, etc. Very well done!
|
|
|
Post by seabeepo3 on Apr 22, 2011 1:37:48 GMT -5
Thanks, Flyboy!
|
|
|
Post by anthonya on May 10, 2011 13:47:43 GMT -5
Great pictures! I too really like the one of you guys at the table in the pub. It looks really authentic, and I like your hairstyles too. I've just started doing Navy myself over the past few months and I've helped start up the USS Massachusetts Living History Group. ussmasslhg.com/Nicely done!
|
|
HQ327
1st Lieutenant
Posts: 1,336
|
Post by HQ327 on May 10, 2011 20:13:18 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by seabeepo3 on May 10, 2011 23:00:55 GMT -5
I will take this as a huge compliment. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Living History North East on Sept 26, 2011 17:47:29 GMT -5
U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS BB-59 - WWII BATTLESHIP LIVING HISTORY GROUP www.ussmasslhg.com/PICTURES_D0F5.html Doing NAVY, we are in our 1st year and things are going quite well. Always looking for new members. I've done Army for Many years, doing Navy is quite a change, a lot of learn as you go and having a WWII Battleship to use at any time make is all the more worth the trip. Geo.
|
|
mburch66
1st Sgt.
K Company, 39th Inf.
Posts: 626
|
Post by mburch66 on Sept 27, 2011 11:50:40 GMT -5
Man, living in CO with no ocean, no ships, and no real water to speak of makes doing Navy kinda hard. It's still worth it when you show up to a dance as the only guy in Dress Blue A and really get the Navy vets geeked!
|
|
|
Post by Living History North East on Sept 27, 2011 16:50:04 GMT -5
If you manage to get some time off next summer, feel free to come on out. We are planning to have a lot more active weekends. Eventually we would like to do a week long living history impression on the ship. More things we’re working on, the possibilities are endless.
Geo.
|
|
Tim
T/4.
92nd BG - 325th BS
Posts: 165
|
Post by Tim on Sept 27, 2011 21:39:29 GMT -5
Being from San Luis Obispo, I was curious as to what the actual event was called? Does it still go on? What pub were you enjoying?
|
|
|
Post by seabeepo3 on Sept 27, 2011 21:55:44 GMT -5
Tim, that event is the Great Los Angeles Air Raid held at Fort MacArthur Coastal Artillery Museum in San Pedro. They have it in February every year, rain or shine. The pub is also in San Pedro and is called the Whale and Ale. The waitress was surprised because she didn't realize the Navy was back in town after all these years. We were sad to tell her it's not because the place where our boats would be is now a container yard for Chinese shipping companies.
That dance is nice, but I recommend prepaying to save money and get there early. Also, it's rain or shine. We had rain. They did a great job of adjusting and moved the dance inside the battery magazine area. Attendance is usually high and there's a lot of dames to gander. Great to bring a date, too. Not everyone wears uniforms, but most dress nicely if they don't wear the period outfits.
|
|
|
Post by ericbruce2510 on Sept 28, 2011 0:49:03 GMT -5
Nice impressions they liberty cuffs are really cool.
|
|
Tim
T/4.
92nd BG - 325th BS
Posts: 165
|
Post by Tim on Sept 28, 2011 8:07:16 GMT -5
Thanks! Sounds like great fun. I'll look into going in February.
|
|