Posted 14 years ago
anokienurse
(2 items)
My Dad enlisted into the Navy in 1942 and was assigned to the USS Anderson, he was discharged February 1946 as a Fireman First. He was originally in the Boiler Room but asked for a transfer to another area and became Number Two Gun Loader. I would love to know more about what the symbols mean on his Patch! Any information would be most appreciated.
The patch looks to be of the Merchant Marine rating, I will have to research this one. The symbol with a anchor & clover is for a U.S. Maritine Service Specialty mark for a line personnel. Maybe AR8Jason can help with this one?
What you have is a WW II Japanese navy rating patch. Up until 1942 this would be for the rank of Nitoheiso or petty officer 2nd class. From 1942 onwards it represented the rank of Ittoheiso, petty officer 1st class. What is missing is the small metal chrysanthemum which would be above the anchor. This is why there is a hole there. Your father must have picked this up as a souvenir somewhere during his travels.
Thank you so very much for correcting me on the Patch. My father died 8 August 1991 but I have copies of his discharge papers and also sent for everything in his file. All of the paperwork just say Fireman First Class on Discharge Papers (it is a Certificate), there is a Series C up in the Right Hand Corner and a C2996688 up in the left hand corner if that helps but I just figured that was the Certificate Number. If that information is someplace else if you will tell me what to look for I will see if I can find it. My Nephew was given all of his souvenirs and anything related to his time in the Navy and that is where the picture of the patch came from. I do not know what happened to his uniform and assume it is long gone with his Patch still on it which would have given a better idea of his rating. Thank you again for helping identify the patch. Jean
Thank you. I stumbled across that same picture myself. From my research Seaman First and Fireman First were more or less the same Rate and wore the same three lines of white cuff lace on each sleeve. The only difference was that Red stripe around the left sleeve signifying the Fireman First Classification. By the way the Patch on the picture that you sent the link to is for Amphibious Forces as he was a CB.