Thread: Navy Uniform

One of my favorite articles of clothing that we wore when I was in 65 to 68, was the blue working jacket. It was a light windbreaker jacket that was very warm for its weight and very comfortable.

The Dickie Company makes dungarees and chambrey shirts that are close to the items we wore as a working uniform. They are available at stores like Wal Mart and K Mart.

We were issued a Olive Drab Jacket, Model N-1 for use on shipboard. It was pile lined and very worm. It was called a Deck Jacket. You had to turn them in upon leaving your ship or duty station. It was considered part of what the Navy called Foul Weather Gear.

The most hated article of clothing issued was the raincoat. It was worthless. You could go to the PX and buy a can of scotchguard and it helped but as issued it was worthless in a downpour.

Whatever changes the Navy makes, I am glad that when I was there a Sailor looked like a sailor and we had .45s instead of 9MMs. (That is a whole other can of worms.

Anchors Aweigh

I still have my Cracker jacks as well (it's been over 25 years since I wore 'em, and probably 15 years since I could have fit into them again )

On my ship, the Dixie cup was the proper cover even when in dungarees. I loved my dungs. When the pants had been laundered a couple of times, they were about the most comfortable things you could wear. And that shade of blue they had before they started to fade to white still makes me nostalgic for my youth.

I hear the white Cracker Jacks will be updated with navy piping on the collar-flap and cuffs. I actually think that's long overdue. I wish they'd done that while I was in.

The Ice Cream man uniform was always the stupidest. I never wore it if I didn't have to.

joe, you sound like you were in when i was, and i have to agree, with you on the dungarees. hated the chuckas myself, bought jump boots to wear. the crackerjack uniform is what the navy should always wear, end of story. the way i saw it, the other branches uniforms were all closely similar, each branch had their own styling, and differences, but the coat and trousers were the same style, the crackerjack was one of a kind. and the only uniform you could modify for ease of opening during liberty

Active duty Army here, and man do I agree with the consensus....as stated earlier, I understand the reasons for individual uniforms for each branch, however, I think it has gotten out of hand. I miss my BDUs and as an NCO, I'm seeing some sideline drawbacks to the changes. Soldiers are losing traditions and discipline building tools such as uniform care (read: boot shining, pressing, etc.). High five to the Navy guys, your P-coat is THE best garmet I have ever owned! Never a cold night cruising through Fort Wainwright, AK.

Ah, the Pea Coat, It was a great, almost bulletproof, cold weather, wool garment which was well known for letting a great deal of wind access through the nether regions and cuffs. The only way I could stand Aleutian deck watches was to have the Bos'n mate sew in knitted cuffs and a draw string in the lining, at that point I had a great piece of uniform gear. I also agree with the person that posted the olive drab duty sea jacket for comfort.
Knitted wool watch caps were also a great item. As an aside, Shaving was optional when the weather was bad..you have seen "The Most Dangerous Catch"?? Welcome to BarPac. 1950's Sea end of the DEW line. Small ships, big ocean, Huge waves.
Thanks for the memories!
~Richard

geezer, i agree, the pea coat was the only thing that stood up to those damnable winds on adak, as long as they were to your back, i do agree with you on the aleutians, that was actually my best tour.