Right side only?

[Eric Hood]

Did Marines at one point wear chervons only on the right sleeve? Maybe in WWI?
Semper Fi,
Eric:usmc:

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Yes, from time to time Marines only wore one chevron, including for a time during WWII as a 'war economy' measure.

[yellowwing]

Times were that tough? Dang

A whole generation going through lean years. Try telling that to the XBox kids at the mall texting their friends.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

LOL. Yeah, no kidding.

That wasn't the only 'war economy' measure. Plastic buttons replaced the metal and brass buttons, and Plastic EGA's replaced brass EGA's, no dress blues issue except for recruiters, the elimination of the leather belt (saved brass and leather).....now, this didn't last the entire war mind you, but from the period of 1942-1944 (approximately).

The army did similar things, plastic buttons, 'unit' issues of overcoats and uniforms (at least the Marine Corps wasn't that bad..but yes, the Army re-issued the heavy winter overcoat and did, in fact, re-issue their version of the Alpha blouse).

[RLeon]

One could write a book about the variations and changes of the Marines' uniforms... in fact there probablt is.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

VERY true. Many folks have. There is no one 'comprehensive' volume, though. Imagine how big it would be!

Look at all those chevron varients just since the 1900's.

[yellowwing]

The buttons design is the same since 1775 is it not?

[Sgt Leprechaun]

You got me on that one. Off the cuff, I'd say no, they've changed back and forth (much like the emblem has). I know they have been the same button since WWI at minimum.

[Eric Hood]

Thank you, Sgt. Leprechan.
Semper Fi,
Eric:usmc:

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Your welcome! I'll try and dig up some 'single side' wearing chevrons Marines in photos or uniform pics and post em.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Moved a question to start a new thread.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

While I haven't been able to find a photo of Marines wearing these, this is an example of a 'single side' USMC chevron. I believe these date from the 1870's or so. One BIG chevron LOL. Wait til you see the 1stSgt and SgtMaj...

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_02_2008/post-837-1203364391.jpg
Pic courtesy of HHBooker of the US Militaria forums website. More pics posted under the 'chevrons' reference section.

[CdtWalker]

If you are looking for a book, on WWII anyways, I would look up USMC Uniforms and Equipment 1941-1945. It is roughly $40 dollars at Barnes and Noble. Has every and anything you'd ever want to know about the uniforms and equipment of the USMC in the second world war.

I used to have a picture of a Marine from WWII only wearing chevorons on the left side. If I find it I'll post it up.

[RLeon]

Osprey publishing has a few books on the USMC. They cover uniforms and weaponry.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

The better books are:

"Grunt Gear" by Alex Tulkoff. Available from Amazon for 80.00

"USMC Uniforms and Equipment" by Bruno Alberti. Available from Amazon for 25.05

"United States Marine Corps: Uniforms, Insignia and personal items of WWII" by Harlan Glenn. Available from Amazon for 58.10.

I own Grunt Gear and the Glenn book. If you are serious about WWII USMC collecting, these are "must have" books.

Osprey books are good general reference works but the above two I own go into far greater detail and depth.

I can't speak for the Alberti book, don't have that one yet. I've heard good things about it though.

Grunt Gear was out of print for a while and was selling for well over 100 bucks. 80 bucks is a bargain for what you are getting on both of these books, they are heavy, full of photos and information, and would be good 'coffee table' books in their own right.

[ssgtedusmc]

Yes, the Marine Corps button is the same button that the revolutionary Marines wore with subtle differences in the style of eagle, the stars, the anchor and number of lines in the background.

The extra wide chevron was worn up into the early 1930's on the dress blue uniform and the narrower chevron was worn as early as WWI on the shirt and service uniform. I had a group of documents, photos and medals of a Marine Sgt who enlisted in 1920 and retired in 1939. In the photos was one dated in 1930 showing him wearing the wide chevrons on both sleeves on his dress blue uniform and on an earlier photo it showed him wearing the narrow chevrons on his long sleeve khaki shirt.

[yellowwing]

Excellent! I knew our Dress Blues Buttons were old school. Pride and Legacy!

[ssgtedusmc]

Sgt Leprechaun posted some photos of a friend's Civil War Marine kepi that has a close up of one of the side buttons and you can see it looks very much like our current button.