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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
Photo
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For some reason I just noticed in Johnson's Book, a photo that I was curious about. I had seen this photo a million times, so why I am asking this question is beyond me. Page 39 shows 2 PT BOAT crew with Pith Helmets on. They have a bucket and are posing next to the MOSQUITO FLEET emblem on the side of the forward cabin. The caption claims they are in New York, but I was wondering why these two guys have full beards growing. Although a supposed peace time photo, why are they allowed to have beards in the US NAVY. Does this photo all add up, or am I wrong.................
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 13, 2012 - 4:28am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Maybe they were some of Admiral Zumwalt's boys, thrown back through a time warp...?[:-laughing-:]
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jan 13, 2012 - 6:02am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
You could be right, LMAO. I just really wonder about that photo.................
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 13, 2012 - 8:34am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Hi Frank,
When I was on active duty on USS Long Beach CGN9 in 1984-1985 timeframe I remember being allowed to wear a beard, Then one day we received a directive from above that the new regulations did not allow beards anymore for shipboard personnel due to their interference with the fit of the Mark V gas mask. I remember my division CPO, Pete Sise who had an EPIC red beard and showed up to muster the next day with a clean shaven face and a large white streak where his beard used to be. That image seared the event into my memory. So at least from the time period of the mid 1960s to 1985 beards were allowed by enlisted men in the USN. IS that not your recollection for WW2 regulations? Maybe Ted would know? Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jan 25, 2012 - 12:37pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
From the 1940 & 1943 Bluejackets's Manual:
The hair, beard and mustache must be worn neatly trimmed. The face must be kept clean shaved, except a mustache or beard and mustache may be worn at discretion. No eccentricities in the manner of wearing the hair, beard or mustache are allowed.
I know when I was at Navy OCS in 1979, beards were allowed. But the CO said "Sure, you can have a beard, but you'll never get a 4.0 on inspection." So it was at your discretion.
Charlie
Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jan 25, 2012 - 3:28pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm
Thanks guys, I was always a bit curious, and this answers my question..............
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 25, 2012 - 4:46pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
I agree with Jerry and Charlie. While I was still a kid, I remember seeing beards on enlisted me and Junior officers(though not as often, usually only Mustangs), when my Dad would take me to the base exchange or commissary in the 1970's. I also remember seeing photos in my Bluejackets Manual, when I arrived at bootcamp in Sept 1984.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 26, 2012 - 6:06am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
In Ron 19 we enlisted men were not allowed to have beards however the Exec.Officer of the Squadron Lt. Commander George Bracket had a beard. He is the only person that I can remember in Ron 19 with a beard. When we berthed at Vella La Vella with Kennedy's 59 boat. I recall a couple of their crewmen with beards.
I forgot to add that I was not old enough back then to have a beard.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Jan 26, 2012 - 7:18am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm
Hey CJ! You are still not old enough to have a beard! hah hah! Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jan 26, 2012 - 11:11am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
In the book Tales of Tulagi by Jack Searles of Guadalcanal fame, there is a photo of both Jack and his brother Bob wearing full beards--they started growing them shortly after their arrival in the Solomons, but they both shaved them off around the first week of December 1942.
Of course, one must remember this was in the combat zone...
Gene K.
Posted By: comcardiv1 | Posted on: Jan 26, 2012 - 5:56pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Frank and the Gang;
As far as beards go, let us all not forget the big "Blond Viking" from Sandusky, Ohio, Lennie Thom who was the Exec of PT 109 under Bryant Larson and Jack Kennedy and Skipper of PT 61 RON 3(2) and later PT 587 RON 39. A photo of him and Al Webb, who was Lennie's Exec on PT 61, is on page 36 of Dick Kersey's Book PT 105.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 27, 2012 - 4:28pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
I think the thing that more or less threw me was the beards on those two guys before the War. I certainly do know that the PT BOAT guys had them in the war zone at times. which under the circumstances i could understand. The photo, which was no doubt staged, show's two guys with pretty full beards..
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 27, 2012 - 6:01pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
I was on the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) for 3 West Pac cruises between 1966-69 and we were allowed to have beards while on the cruise but they had to disappear before returning to CONUS - if you could grow a good beard it could stay throughout the cruise but if you were one of the guys that could just grow a "summer beard" (some beard here and some beard there) then you had to go back to clean shaven.
Jerry
Jerry Beasley
Posted By: Jerry Beasley | Posted on: Jan 27, 2012 - 7:45pm
Total Posts: 89 | Joined: Jan 9, 2008 - 4:27pm
Didn't JFK's exec L. Thom have a beard or goatee?
Posted By: Jeff Sherry | Posted on: Feb 12, 2012 - 4:47pm
Total Posts: 84 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:04pm