ID US Navy uniform

[Piorek]

Hi,
I have got uniform from USS TOPEKA can you help me establish in which years he was used and what rank and specialization of this sailor.
Thanks

 

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[LadyDigger]

That's a uniform of a First Class with 16 years or more of service (each hash mark is 4 years)....

His rating looks like one that has since been discontinued. If it had wings on each side...it would have been an Aviation Structural Mechanic....can't find one without the wings. At first I thought Hull Technician...trying to locate the rating and will post soon.

The Unit Identification patch is for the ship he served on at that time for the USS Topeka

Here's a website for the USS Topeka: http://www.usstopekaclg8.org/

Also, this particular "Cracker Jack" Uniform...looks pre-1975....The Navy stopped issuing them in the late 70's...they brought them back in the early 90's (I bought me a set of the new ones before I retired and wore it once!)...anyways...

I remember when my friends wore these and when they went out of issue...but the looks of this one...it's from old issue, not today's new issues.

 

[Piorek]

And everything clear, thanks!

 

[Caryl]

I KNOW this one.

Shipfitter, Molder, Metalsmith First class

 

[Ken from Atlanta]

The USS Topeka was not just one ship.
Four US Navy ships have shared that name. Two of those four have shared the same hull.


PG 35 - Gun Boat 1900 to 1930
CL 67 - Light Cruiser 1944 to 1949
CLG 8 - Light Missile Cruiser 1960 to 1969
SSN 754 - Attack Submarine 1989 to present
Topeka KS - Namesake city 1857 to present

CLG 8 Updated 04/19/06
EVENT DATE NATION / CUSTODY
Authorized 07/15/1940 (US)
Laid Down 04/21/1943 (US) Bethlehem Steel Corp, Quincy MA
Launched 08/19/1944 (US) Bethlehem Steel Corp, Quincy MA
Commissioned 12/23/1944 (US) Navy
Decommissioned 06/18/1949 ***
Recommissioned 03/26/1960 ***
Decommissioned 06/05/1969 ***
Stricken 12/01/1973 ***
Sold (scrap) 03/20/1975 (US) Navy


I would guess that your shirt dates from the 1944-49 era, based on the tag, and the fact that the USS Topeka patch doesn't have the ships number on it, I could be wrong though, hopefully there are some Navy guys here who can help.

 

[LadyDigger]

UIC (Unit Identification Patches) don't have hull numbers on them...they may now (been retired over 13 years)...but ours only listed the name of the ship, never hull numbers on UIC's. And it wasn't a requirement from the 70's to late 80's, early 90's, that ALL commands had to wear them. Mostly ship commands were required, then shore. I was never required to wear one till my last ship (Puget Sound - 1985 to 1988), nor was I required to have one on shore command until my last one (that I retired from - 1991 to 1995). Maybe they were required but the command just did not pursue the requirements that it be worn...in today's Navy...ALL are required to wear one (ship and shore).

Metalsmith....I never heard of that rating... ....

In my Naval Career...saw so many rating discontinued and a few brought to light and even some merged. I was a DM (Illustrator Draftsman)....it was merged (after I retired) to MC (Don't know what the heck an MC is!!!)...and even back in the 1950's, before all the DM's rate specialitites were merged to make one rating (DM)...they use to be DM E, DM T...etc....I learned that from a Chief I worked with who use to be a DM E...

To find out who wore this....unless there is a service number on the tag or somewhere written on it or his name...you may never know about the Sailor....back in the 70's...we were required to put our SSN on our uniforms....atleast in bootcamp we were...of course, that is not the case anymore. When they issued Service Numbers, that was used...then later on, SSN's. Don't know what they do now.

 

[Ken from Atlanta]

Can you tell what the name is on the tag? It looks like it says "Shipman" to me. If you can decipher it, the crew site posted earlier might be able to give you more info on the sailor who owned it.

 

[LadyDigger]

Can you tell what the name is on the tag? It looks like it says "Shipman" to me. If you can decipher it, the crew site posted earlier might be able to give you more info on the sailor who owned it.

Good Eye...KEN!!! Wow...I did not even see that...oh oh....I think I need to head back to the eye doc!!

I see SHIPMAN also....

Went to Ancestry to see what I could find on a SHIPMAN...well....

for WWI...1,342 listed for the Draft Registration Cards (but don't think this Sailor who wore this was that old!)

for WWII Draft Registration Cards, 1942....170 are listed.

for WWII Navy Aircraft Carrier Muster Rolls (1939-1949)...75 listed.

I bet if you contact the website I posted, they may have a roster for their ship.

I know on my website for my ship and the one before us that we were named after, I keep a roster of all I can find or who have checked in or from cruise books.

 

[Caryl]

Re: ID US Navy uniform - SOLVED

OH I am SUCH the goob! I forgot to post the dates of that rating! Sorry.
That rating was only in use from 1943-1946. HTH

 

[LadyDigger]

Re: ID US Navy uniform - SOLVED

OH I am SUCH the goob! I forgot to post the dates of that rating! Sorry.
That rating was only in use from 1943-1946. HTH

Thanks Caryl...no wonder I never heard of it!!!

 

[borninok]

This website confirms the Navy rate insignia as Shipfitter, Molder, Metalsmith. As stated: "...during World War II some ratings shared a common symbol. For example, shipfitters, molders and metalsmiths all wore an icon of crossed hammers." Therefore, the person may have been a Shipfitter, or a Molder, or a Metalsmith.

http://abbot.us/DD629/ratings/



-Mel

borninok

 

[La Beep]

Shipfitter but I think it later then 1940's. Also our boy was a bad boy 16 + years and wearing red (Bad Boy) It should be gold on dress blues. This one is wwii.

Shipfitter - Pay grades 1c and 2c established 1902; pay grades C and 3c established 1921; changed to Metalsmith and Pipefitter 1948. Re-established from Metalsmith and Pipefitter 1958.
from: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq78-3.htm#anchors

 

[Ramitt]

This is an interesting bit of history thanks. i love this stuff.

 

[prospectorYorkPA]

Metalsmith is the rate. Uniform is from the 60's (Identical to mine down to the label). I had a great 7 1/2 years in the Navy. My rate was AT2 (Aviation Electronics Tech).

 

[prospectorYorkPA]

Here is a very special navy rate.........PB2

 

[LadyDigger]

Here is a very special navy rate.........PB2

I knew alot of Sailors in my 20 years that were that rating...it was popular...LOL!!

Shipfitter but I think it later then 1940's. Also our boy was a bad boy 16 + years and wearing red (Bad Boy) It should be gold on dress blues.

Not necessarily...I had 4 red hash marks before I had my gold...and it wasn't cause I was a BAD GIRL ... I had broken service and when I went back into the Navy..I had to start my 12 consective years over again before I could wear my gold....but I got them!!!! My time in service counted for my hash marks, not my gold.