swdw
12-03-15, 12:39 AM
Heading there for our 2nd time this year. We went last year and had a blast. Most people dress in period attire so my decision was easy. Got me a set of crackerjacks since my old dress blues from the 80's won't go over my shoulders (Consequences of lifting weights for a decade).
Anyway, we were in a rush so I ordered some repros. They were ok but just not the same. I had my Dad's blues from WWII but they don't fit either.
Because of the rush last year I back tracked the insignia to the 50's and went that way as enlisted men wore dolphin pins then. Before the boomer patrol pin was issued, undetected boomer patrols used the submarine war patrol pin, so I picked one up and move the stars to that pin. Slap on the ribbons and I was ready to go.
Since I had time before this year's ball, I found a set of dress blues on ebay from the WWII era (based on the tag in the jumper). Found a repro of the dolphin patch worn by enlisted before 1947. So this year, I'll be in WWII dress blues. The dolphins are sewn on the right sleeve like they are supposed to be in that era. The patrol pin will be above the ribbons. The ribbons are current issue size rather than the larger ones like my Dad's.
My wife suggested wearing his ribbons to "honor him". I put that idea to rest immediately. She didn't get why I gave such an adamant no until she talked to some other people she knows that were in the military (my explanation didn't get through because I'm her husband and at first she just thought I was being stubborn).
So anyway, short of the ribbons and the goatee that I refuse to shave off (hey they were legal when I was in in the 80's), I now have a set of era correct dress blues sporting the appropriate insignia. All of which I earned.
BTW, what do you do with piping that is beyond hope of getting back to white? You cheat and use white fabric paint :)
Here's a link to the ball info
http://1940sball.org/1940sball/1940s_christmas_ball/
Anyway, we were in a rush so I ordered some repros. They were ok but just not the same. I had my Dad's blues from WWII but they don't fit either.
Because of the rush last year I back tracked the insignia to the 50's and went that way as enlisted men wore dolphin pins then. Before the boomer patrol pin was issued, undetected boomer patrols used the submarine war patrol pin, so I picked one up and move the stars to that pin. Slap on the ribbons and I was ready to go.
Since I had time before this year's ball, I found a set of dress blues on ebay from the WWII era (based on the tag in the jumper). Found a repro of the dolphin patch worn by enlisted before 1947. So this year, I'll be in WWII dress blues. The dolphins are sewn on the right sleeve like they are supposed to be in that era. The patrol pin will be above the ribbons. The ribbons are current issue size rather than the larger ones like my Dad's.
My wife suggested wearing his ribbons to "honor him". I put that idea to rest immediately. She didn't get why I gave such an adamant no until she talked to some other people she knows that were in the military (my explanation didn't get through because I'm her husband and at first she just thought I was being stubborn).
So anyway, short of the ribbons and the goatee that I refuse to shave off (hey they were legal when I was in in the 80's), I now have a set of era correct dress blues sporting the appropriate insignia. All of which I earned.
BTW, what do you do with piping that is beyond hope of getting back to white? You cheat and use white fabric paint :)
Here's a link to the ball info
http://1940sball.org/1940sball/1940s_christmas_ball/