The Uniform of the Day.....
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Here's the basic sea bag issue. Please click on the bold and underlined words to access images of each item.
NOTE: If you have found that we have made an error with our descriptions, please send us your correction, along with documentation and we will update this page. We hope that these uniform details will help take a lot of the leg work out of researching for those individuals that are interested in sea services impressions that might not have access to a lot of the resources that we have had over the years.
All items are original and from the collections
of our membership unless labeled otherwise.
Sea Bag Layout Here's the basic layout for items issued to you as well as a few personal and hygiene items. You will note that all clothing is turned inside out and either rolled or folded to keep it clean and to maximize as much space as possible in the sea bag. The ties that you see securig the garments are called "clothes stops". They also were used to stop (tie) your uniforms to the clothes lines after you washed them. They were cotton three-strand cording with either copper, aluminum, or brass crimped ends or something as simple as overhand or figure-eight knots.
Sea Bag Here is how the sea bag looks both full and empty. All the items above fit inside if stowed properly. The hammock and mattress were both stenciled with their owner's name and rolled and lashed to the seabag for transit. These items were still necessary on some of the ships that still lacked "modern" racks. Sea bags were marked with the owner's information.
Sea Bag, F1/c D.A. DeMartino, USN F1/c DeMartino reported aboard USS HELENA (CA-75) at the end fo the war and participated in the "Around the World Cruise" as depicted by his port calls on his sea bag.
Sea Bag, A.G. Baty, USCG Baty's sea bag was actually made aboard ship. It is lightly smaller than regulation and is made of a lighter weight cotton duck compared to the issued sea bags.
Sea Bag G.W. Shaffer, USMS Shaffer's bag lacks any rank or branch of service markings. He was a sailor in the United States Merchant Service. These were the guys who manned the liberty ships, cargo ships, oilers, etc.
Cap, Complete The "flat hat" or "tally cap" was made of blue melton wool with a leather sweat band. Around the base of the cap was a black ribbon that in the early days had the name of what ship you were attached to and later on, just your branch of service, such as "U.S. Coast Guard" or "U.S. Navy". You received one of these with your initial sea bag issue.
Hat, White This was also known as a "Dixie Cup" or "Dog Bowl". The sailor was issued three of these. It was customary to save one or two to wear with your undress whites or dress blues and wear the others for everyday use or work. These were also manufactured in grey as well as black like the one pictured. Many sailors dyed this cap blue either to avoid having something bright white visible from the air or to make it less likely to show dirt and stains.
Jumper, Dress Blue The recruit was issued just one of these. It was made of dark blue melton wool with white trim. It featured an exterior slit pocket on the left chest as well as some reinforcements to keep the neck opening from ripping. There was also a pocket on the inside of the right chest that fastened with a button closure. The flap on the back had three rows of white trim and two stars either hand sewn or machine sewn in the corners. A veteran that we know stated that when he was at Great Lakes for basic training, they were told that "there was one star for each time we whipped the British's ass and there was plenty of room for more!" Underneath the flap, on the back of the jumper was a label for marking with your name and service number. The cuffs on this jumper have three rows of trim indicating that the man was a seaman first class or a petty officer as the rate on the sleeve designates on this particular jumper. The initial issue only had one row of trim for recruit. When the sailor advanced to seaman second class, another row was added.
Jumper, Undress Blue The recruit was issued two of these. These jumpers were made of a wool flannel material and were used for work details about the ship and for shore party. You will note that this style of jumper lacks the white trim and stars that the dress jumper has. The white strip on the right shoulder seam indicates that the owner of this jumper was a seaman. Had he been a fireman, he would've had a red strip of trim on his left shoulder. Petty officers would wear their rate on the same arm that they wore them on their dress jumpers. This jumper is of an earlier variation with eyelets on the sides for adjusting the sizing of the waist. This was deleted on later models of dress and undress blues. For storage, these jumpers were turned inside out, rolled up, and secured with a clothes stop on each end. These stops were also used on laundry days to tie the garments to the line for drying.
Trousers, Blue The recruit was issued two pairs of trousers. These were made of dark blue melton wool and were cut in a "straight leg" fashion. The front of these trousers were closed by two buttons that was covered up by a broadfall which in turn was secured with thirteen buttons......."Thirteen chances to say no" as we have often been told by veterans. There were two pockets set into the waist band on the front of these trousers. Many sailors had zippers added to help secure their contents. Here's a look at the pockets and broadfall from the inside. The waistband of the trousers was adjustable by loosening or tightening the lacing on the back of the trousers. As with all uniform items, these were turned inside out, rolled up, stopped, and stowed in the sea bag. Earlier trousers issued between the Great War and WWII often featured a blue and white denim lining instead of the black polished cotton. Sizing for the trousers was told on the brown paper package that they came in as well as a tag stitched to the waist band. Underneath the tag was the USN stock number for the item.
Overcoat The "pea coat" as it's more widely know was issued out to all enlisted men. These were made out of a heavy wool and closed with with ten buttons in a double-breasted arrangement. These coats were lined and a label was affixed to the inside of the right chest. The interiors of the pockets were corduroy. Even the "pea coat" had it's own way to be secured for stowing in the sea bag.
Jumper, Dress White This was a pre-war dress uniform that many of the guys liked because of how sharp it looked. This uniform was "abolished" in 1940, but according to Mr. Jeff Warner's book U.S. Navy Uniforms and Insignia 1943-1946, it was still listed in the 1941 uniform regulations and was worn as late as 1942. This jumper was made of white cotton on nearly the same pattern as the dress blue, except for the cuffs and flap being made of blue wool. and trimmed in white. The interior pocket of the dress blue was not included in this jumper either. The dress white did have a slit pocket on the left chest though. The flap was attached to the body of the jumper creating a narrow line of blue down the front slit. The stars were hand sewn. This example features eyelets waist band in the waist band for stopping to a line. The original owner of this jumper was a MM2c with at least four years of service. If you look closely at the crow, you will notice that the strip for PO1c is pulled up and under ready for advancement to the next pay grade. This jumper comes from the collection of our friend BMC Fred LaChance, USN (ret.)
Chambray Shirt There were several variations to this work shirt, both through issued items, government contracts, and privately purchased items. They were made of a blue chambray with white double stitching. The buttons varied in pattern in color for each shirt. Each shirt had two chest pockets. Most did not have a pocket flap, but some examples did feature them. Short sleeve examples have turned up in period images as well. The example pictured is based of an issue pattern and was produced by WWII Impressions.
Dungaree Trousers Like the chambray shirt, the patterns of dungaree trousers varied from each source of supply. The main features common to all patterns were the straight cut of the legs, button fly, and patch pockets on both front and back.
Leggings The sailor was supplied with leggings as part of his initial sea bag issue. These were worn during training and for excursions ashore such as shore patrol or as part of a landing force. The earlier patterns feature smaller brass hardware and a folded canvas instep strap such as this 1911 dated example. The later examples featured steel hardware and a webbing instep strap like this 1943 dated example.
Uniform Examples
BM1c U.S. Coast Guard This is a standard issue dress blue jumper with a BM1c "crow" affixed to the right sleeve with "X-stitching" often found on uniforms of this time period. On the right sleeve is a white shield designating him as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard.
F1c U.S. Navy This jumper features the red trim on the left shoulder indicating that this sailor was a fireman. The three white stripes on his cuff designate him as a fireman first class. Also on his left shoulder is the red and yellow amphibious patch worn by sailors serving in the beach battalions, landing ships, and attack transports. The yellow patch on the right chest was known as a "ruptured duck" which designated the sailor as honorably discharged after the war.
U.S. Coast Guard Specific Uniforms
Shore Establishment Uniform, BM2c The shore establishment uniform was based off the old surfman's uniform from the lifesaving stations on America's coasts and the Great Lakes. This uniform is also where the current issue USCG dress uniform evolved from. These uniforms were produced in blue, khaki, and white for all ranks and were worn mainly by those who crewed lifeboat stations and manned the beach patrols during the war. All three versions of the coat featured two patch pockets on the chest with buttoned flaps and two patch pockets on the lower part of the jacket. The collar was worn open and brass USCG seal insignias were worn on the lapel. If the wearer was a surfman, the surfman's insignia was worn on the lower lapel. On the blue version of the jacket, a black silk or satin lining was put in the jacket. A brimmed cap was worn with this uniform with a white cover for use with the blue and white uniform and a khaki cover for the khaki uniform. A larger brass USCG insignia was affixed to the front. The trousers worn with this uniform corresponded with what color that jacket was. Rank insignia was worn by petty officers and chief petty officers and all members wore the coast guard shield on their lower right cuff. For the khaki uniforms, a new style rate was produced. Here is a BM1c on a khaki background.
Shore Establishment Coat This is a standard issue coat, but the cuff shield was embroidered on a piece of blue cotton felt.
USCG Khaki Shirt this shirt is similar to the USN shirt that goes with the N3 suit. It's a very light weight cotton material with brown plastic buttons. There is a small depot tag in the back of the collar as well as black stamps in the back of the collar and the left front shirt tail.
