Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
The United States Navy introduced the dress tunic for commissioned officers in the late 1870s. It is similar in style to the US Army’s olive drab tunics, but the Navy’s adoption predates the Army’s by two decades.
Worn by commissioned officers in both the Regular Navy and Naval Reserves, the tunic features strips of fabric called lace, which trim the collar, front and around the bottom. The device, a United States seal, on each side of the standing collar signifies the Regular Navy, as compared to the reserves, which both actively served during WWI. Rank is signified at each cuff, in this case a single gold band and star for an Ensign. The two chevrons, one for every six months in war zone, indicates Dodge served for at least a year. The insignia dates the tunic to the winter of 1919. In July of that year, the Navy promoted Ensign Dodge to Lieutenant junior grade.
After enlisting in May 1917, the Navy sent Ensign Dodge to a base in France. Dodge eventually served aboard the USS Nicholson. Raised in Washington DC, Donald was living in New York when he enlisted. After the war he lived in both Philadelphia and Rockport, Maine.
About This Item
- Title: Donald D. Dodge's U.S. Navy officers tunic, ca. 1918
- Creator: United States Navy
- Creation Date: circa 1919
- Subject Date: circa 1919
- Location: USA
- Media: wool, cotton, plastic
- Local Code: 2019.168
- Collection: Costume collection
- Object Type: Physical Object
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For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
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The copyright status is unknown to the contributing organization.
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