Silver (sterling) navy item.

[tubesaft78910]

I spent a number of years in the USN,1950's 1060' but have never seen anything like this.
It is to large for a neckerchief or a piece of uniform.
I figure is something that a sailor in the Asiatic fleet had made but for what, Thanks for any help, Stretch[ftp][/ftp]

 

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[diggummup]

Nice piece. It looks like a napkin ring turned into a keepsake.

 

[worldtalker]

Maybe all the ships he was stationed on?

 

[Sheldon J]

I vote on kerchief ring, been aboard the USS TEXAS it's a (very cool) floating museum and was put out to pasture sometime late during WWII, so if they served aboard her that could give you a more precise date.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

What exactly does the hallmark say?

 

[Mackaydon]

The long word is Sterling, the shorter word seems to have 'TK' in the middle of four letters/images.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

That is really cool, there's a lot of history on that thing. I would definitely try to track down that sailors records.

 

[diggummup]

LTjg. J.H. Kelly was in command of the Rescue Tug USS ATR-26!

At first I thought that was alot of vessels for one man to serve on but then again... maybe not.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/40/40026.htm

 

[worldtalker]

ain't it a dang shame we were sellin to the commies back then!

 

[diggummup]

ain't it a dang shame we were sellin to the commies back then!

Aint nothin new. We were sleeping with Osama not too long ago!

The U.S. and the CIA made the Taliban what it is today.

 

[worldtalker]

You ain't tellin me nothin i already don't know son,Hope for the Best,but Prepare for the Worst!

 

[High Plains Digger]

It was sold to the Republic of China, and Chaing Ky Sheck, or however the hell it is spelled. Not the People's Republic of China with Mousey Tongue. ROC ended up being on Formosa, or Taiwan, and PRC had the rest of China. So, no sale to commies.

But, politically speaking, I am so sick of the "One China" policy. It appears that maybe younger people have been reeducated to not knowing that we had old allies that are still hanging in there. Please forgive my rant and my probably misspellings and possible small missed facts. But I think I have the basics here.

Otherwise, interesting piece. Does look like a napkin ring that perhaps was on a stand or something. Good job on the personal history.

 

[tubesaft78910]

Hi, The mark is Y.T.Kan and the sterling. I spent over eight years in the USN, some on Submarines and some on surface craft. It is a possibility that the "Gunner" refers to a Warrent Officer and hence maybe a napkin ring. We enlisted folk did not use such niceities. The Warrent officers were a part of the Navy onto themselfs. They were Chief Petty Officers (E-7) mostly that entered a sort of bridge area between officers and enlisted. They were the peak of whatever specialty they were.
I was E-6 when I got out in 1966 and have never seen anything like this. He served on a Cruiser, Tugs, Oiler, Battleship and a Destroyer. I am sure there were more as I was on a LSD, Heavy Cruiser and Submarines and only in for 8. Thanks for all the help,darn nice board, Stretch

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Hi, The mark is Y.T.Kan and the sterling.

I dont know if you found this but the jeweler appears to be from Shanghai, China. There were only a few mentions of this mark on the net. Here is a Y.T.Kan Navy wing on the US Militaria Forum. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30610

 

[tubesaft78910]

Thanks, Kinda figured he was a old China hand. Pretty sure this is pre WW11. Stretch

 

[worldtalker]

Hey tubesaft78910,I'm an old bubblehead myself USS George Bancroft SSBN643

 

[wstgo]

USS Forrestal myself very nice find, touches my heart. I was 19 years old and working on the flight deck (purple shirt) I would try to find and return this item to any relatives if possible. Would be nice to have something from your great grandfather.

 

[ivan salis]

looks to be a WW2 and earlier ship list - mainland china did not go commie till after WW2 -- had ended --( the napkin ring -- list of ships served on was most likely made in shanghi before it fell into commie hands post WW2) 0------the free china forces pulled out of the mainland and formed up the "republic of china" on the island of formosa --now known currently known as Tawian * the US for years has supplied Taiwan with military supplies ( including the tug above) -- the Commies claim "Taiwan" is a part of their country but that its just "seperated" politically speaking under its "One China" policy -- others hold a differant point of veiw.

as a gunnery type officer warrent later on ( Lt jr grade - butter bar ) he might have been given command of a small unit like the rescue tug but --on the big ships he would have been a gunnery officer in charge of the guns .

 

[High Plains Digger]

Just got to looking back on the ship's (Atar-26) history. Built date unknown, has WWII victory ribbon, sold to ROC in 1947. It appears it is the second ship served on, so there is only a limited time that he could have been on it, then a number of ships afterward. So, when he went in is guessable at maybe later in the war, and then a number of ships after the war. That is how it appears to me from the engravings.

Ivan--it appears that we should be friends. Our info, understanding and views seem to match. Wasn't it Nixon who brought us under the One China policy? I think that is how he got his tourist visa.

 

[ivan salis]

the ships might be listed in reverse order--as in last ship served on first listed--- that would make the rescue tug -- (his only command vessel most likely) the next to last vessel he served on * -- a treat after being a JG LT type "gunnery" officer for so many years on the bigger ships .

so order of vessel served on would start with

USS McCALL (DESTROYER) DD400 WAS PART OF THE CARRIER ENTERPRIZE DESTROYER SCREEN --was with the enterprise returning from wake island * when they heard of the pearl harbor attack --the planes from enterprize sank the I -70 sub of japan enroute to pearl harbor.

USS TEXAS (BATTLESHIP) (BB 35)--A VERY OLD STYLE PRE WW1 BUILT DREADNOUGHT STYLE BATTLESHIP --THAT SAW ACTION IN BOTH WW1 AND WW2

USS CHEWAUCAN ( NAVY FUEL TANKER ) --FIRST WAR VOYAGE TO HAWAII --FROM BAYTOWN, TEXAS --MARCH 22 ,1945 ARRIVED MAY 6TH, 1945 IN PEARL HARBOR.

USS QUAPAW --(ATF 110)-FLEET TUG --MIGHT HAVE BEEN "IN TRAINING" AS A JUNIOR OFFICER ON HER

USS ATF 26 --WITH LT JUNIOR GRADE KELLY IN COMMAND

FINAL VESSEL --USS AUGUSTA (CL /CA 31-HEAVY CRUISER)