Question - Filipinos under the US Navy WW1 to WW2

[pedroscollection]

Friends;


      In relation to the book project we are making about the Filipino Warrior / Uniform & Impression we shall be including all Filipino warriors who fought in all sides, under the Phil. Gov't or US or even under the adversary. I have a question related to the Filipinos under the US Navy :

1. Are there Filipinos who were under the US Navy even before WW1, during WW1 & WW2 (both pre-War & during the Liberation in 1944-45) & who were not only assigned as cooks, but also fighters. Is this right?

2. For cooks under the US Navy, I believe they also wore the same uniform of other navy personel like the "All White dress" uniform like the sailor or the "blue dress". Is this right?

Although our good friend Gen. R.A. already acknowledge the 2 questions are right, I still need to know more to be sure. Its because once the book is already published, we cannot do any correction if there's an error.

We made / purchase 2 US Navy uniforms & had a photo shots. If the answer on the 2 questions above are right, then we shall be including these photos in the book we are making.

Need your help.

Many thanks;
Perry

[pedroscollection]

Hello Friends;

Mr. Gil had mailed some of us regarding the Filipinos under the US Navy shown below :

  FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH IN LONG BEACH DECLARED               
                                                                           
Long Beach, CA  - Long Beach City Council unanimously passed the  resolution authored by First District Councilman, Robert Garcia,         
  designating October as Filipino American History Month in Long Beach.  There is an estimated 19,000-profiled Filipino Americans in Long Beach   
  and this number will substantially increase after the 2010 census reporting.                                                               
                                                                           
    The Filipino Americans’ history in Long Beach goes beyond naval families  when the city was a military installation. This was chronicled when Isidro Canlas’ picture appeared in Long Beach Press (now the PressTelegram) on June 5, 1917 with the article "Native Filipino Was First to Register for Uncle Sam in Long Beach Precinct No.19".  A very articulate  Isidro Canlas spoke about how he learned to love the freedom of living under the American flag. For this reason he wanted to serve that flag and be the first to answer Uncle Sam's call and to register at his local precinct for the WWI draft in 1917. Isidro awoke at 3 a.m. on June 5th to make sure he was No.1 on the first day of World War 1 draft registration in the United States, and he accomplished this. (Courtesy of Eloisa Borah)                                                                   
                                                                           
Thus, the significance of the Filipino American History Month became pronounced when Filipino WWII veteran, Franco Arcebal spoke at the        council chamber.   He received a rousing applause after he emphasized the sacrifices of the Filipinos during and after the war.                     
A WWII veteran’s widow, Fe Bond, together with Filipino Americans Mayta Schmidt, Del Fabian and community leader, Paul Blanco, were also present  at the council meeting to express their sentiments.  Cambodia Town Officers, headed by Richer and Sithea San, submitted a letter to Mayor   
Bob Foster and all the City Council members conveying their strong support of the resolution. The Cambodians and the Filipinos are the largest Asian American communities in Long Beach.                         
                                                                           
In celebration of Filipino American History Month in Long Beach, Ala-ala: Remembrances, a WWII photo exhibit will be featured at the Long Beach     
Public Library & Information Center starting October 12.  The photos by the United States Army Signal Corps were taken during the liberation of   
the Philippines, circa 1944-45.  A local artist, while in search of eco materials for his work, found the pictures among discarded items in the dtreets of Long Beach.                                                   
                                                                           
The photo exhibit is in cooperation with Supervisor Don Knabe (L.A.County - 4th District), The Arts Council for Long Beach, Long Beach       
Public Library and Information Center, Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles, American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, and Philippine Expressions Bookshop.   

[pedroscollection]

Hello Friends;

I already got a response, Mr. Gil mentioned to me that my 2 inquiries I posted above are right.

Thanks;
Perry

[RayAdillO]

U.S. Navy impression yes, but OSP none?

Anyway, for U.S. Navy..........

1)1935- 1945 WW2 era U.S. Navy had regulation black garrison belts, not khaki.

2) U.S. sailors of this period did not wear ratings (shoulder rank chevrons) on their lightweight light blue dungaree shirts.

3) Regulation enlisted shirts had no pocket flaps on their breast pockets (unlike those worn during Vietnam war to present), only buttons.

4) The white sailor hats (squid lids) are worn traditionally with the left and right topside brims taught laterally (as if to look like an oval on top).

5) WW2 U.S. Navy was "segregated". Majority Filipinos serving on U.S. Navy ships and installations were stewards (cooks, waiters, barbers). NOT A DISHONORABLE TASK.

If a U.S. Navy impression indeed qualifies for the book, there should be at least one with apron and regulation coffee pot in hand, as an example. Another good impression is one wearing a more formal white jacket of a steward at a pre-war officers mess.

Good Luck

[pedroscollection]

Hi Ray;

Thankyou very much for your feedback - some inputs & inquiries per item you sent :

1. Noted, we'll change to black & also the shoes, Franz & Gil mentioned to me Navy wore black not brown shoes

2. I have a photo from "Life" (unfortunately I cannot place photo in the forum) of a Navy with chevron rank on the left arm (but not shoulder) in the Philippines during 1941. The uniform we have here is having a rank on the left arm.

3. The photo I'm referring on item 2 above which i'll send you in the e-mail I believe have pockets. Also a 1/6th figure of US Navy in Mariveles, Philippines in 1941 made by Dragon also have pockets. Or is it there are variations with pockets & some have none?

4. Can you show how the white hat is worn, sorry, pasensya na I cannot imagine your description he-he-he.

5. We can make an Apron - problem is the regulation tea pot. he-he.


Many thanks for your continuous support. Hope this project will materialize since many of us especially Albert Labrador our photographer, his assistant Ralph, Jojo Nicolas & his son, Jojo Dy, Philip, Ramon Macasinag & new friends like Tad, Jim,... invested their big time & effort on this. In addition, a help from Philip for lay-out & other photos from BNK Hong Kong group will soon to come.

Best rgds;
Perry

[pedroscollection]

Hi Ray;

Not to forget, your efforts with Manny also contributed allot during your stay here in the Philippines for this book project. Also your coming support of Pre War PMA uniforms will be a great help.

Best rgds & Thanks;
Perry

[RayAdillO]

Sept 30, 2010 4:11:59 GMT -5 pedroscollection said:

Hi Ray;

1. Noted, we'll change to black & also the shoes, Franz & Gil mentioned to me Navy wore black not brown shoes

Low cut black shoes okay for whites and/or whites with white canvas leggings, dungarees, navy blues.

Exception is if sailor is in dungarees and khaki canvas leggings, brown ankle boots are okay. (WW2 era).

Actually may brown canvas shoes rin sila na "topsiders"

segui-riveted.blogspot.com/2010/03/ww2-us-navy-canvas-deck-shoes.html

2. I have a photo from "Life" (unfortunately I cannot place photo in the forum) of a Navy with chevron rank on the left arm (but not shoulder) in the Philippines during 1941. The uniform we have here is having a rank on the left arm.

Ah, I see. When I say "shoulder", this doesn't mean like "insignia on shoulder boards or shoulder straps", I meant like "shoulder patches" (anywhere between edge of shoulder and elbow of same arm). Navy kasi has "rating" (E1, E2, CPO) worn as above, and speciality patches/insignia like cook, machinist, gunner etc.(worn between elbow and wrist)

Actually correct ka na meron authorized insignia nga ang light blue dungarees. Noong panahon na iyon raw kasi, hand stenciled lang ito by sailors themselves (using cardboard cutout and ink), hindi tulad ng embroidered chevrons and eagle sa whites and navy blue uniform.

Kaya lang it seems bihira ito makita sa mga photos of US sailors in action during WW2. Hindi ko lang alam kung depende ito sa situation order ng commanding officer nila na hindi nilalagay o dapat ilagay, etc.

FACTS ABOUT DUNGAREE PATCHES:

In the Navy, the individual sailor has always been responsible for applying his (or her) own rating badges onto their daily blue "dungarees" or "utility" uniform shirts (as worn by crewman [seaman through PO 3rd class] as well as the tan/khaki shirts worn by CPOs and up.--see photo of an actual bridge crew below). Non-rated (junior) enlisted sailors (paygrades E1 to E3) do NOT wear ANY rate marks on their dungaree shirt sleeves; nor have they EVER worn any markings on their work uniforms (so we don't sell those rates in this EZ-Iron style). Only petty officers (E4 to E6) wear these sleeve chevrons (aka "crows").

Until 1949, petty officer rating badges were worn on the right OR left sleeve, depending on whether the person concerned was on the starboard (right) or port (left) watch. But since February 1948, ALL distinguishing petty officer marks have been worn on the right sleeve (left-facing) between the shoulder and elbow.

Nowadays, modern-era Chief Petty Officers and above (E7 to E9) do not wear any iron-on crows on their sleeve Only during the pre- and post-WWII era did CPOs wear enlisted dungarees and had their "rocker crow" stenciled on their dungaree shirts; particularly if they worked in industrial areas or topside as boatswains, machinists, electricians, boilermen or gunners. Khaki uniforms were introduced for CPOs in 1941, along with collar devices; by the 1950s, khakis eliminated the need for CPO dungarees and so were phased-out.

Finally, rate (job specialty) markings were never authorized as part of ANY iron-on dungaree badge. ONLY the petty officer eagle and chevron(s) are authorized. The job rate markings (Gunner's Mate, etc.) are only worn with chevrons on dress, working (non-industrial area) and summer uniforms. Dungarees are considered "industrial-area" uniforms.

So take note of ranks, baka Master Chief petty officer na yung rango ay mai-posing pa natin swabbing the decks, he, he.

3. The photo I'm referring on item 2 above which i'll send you in the e-mail I believe have pockets. Also a 1/6th figure of US Navy in Mariveles, Philippines in 1941 made by Dragon also have pockets. Or is it there are variations with pockets & some have none?

Vintage WW2 from ebay. Posible rin siguro na meroon ilan na may pocket flaps pero mas common lang yung wala.

4. Can you show how the white hat is worn, sorry, pasensya na I cannot imagine your description he-he-he.

Imagine mo na lang yung sumbrero ni Napoleon...pisa yung brim sa front and back, sa left and right sides naman medyo naka-angat.

5. We can make an Apron - problem is the regulation tea pot. he-he.

Relic from wardroom mess of USS Arizona



One more thing, masiyadong lagare yata tayo sir, ah? Wala ba talagang makitang iba namang model for the uniforms? ha, ha, ha. Biro lang somewhat ;D

[pedroscollection]

Hi Ray;

> Your right, dapat tanggal ko chevron patch na nag ma-mop ng deck he-he. Pabura ko rank kay Philip

> Naku - I'll need to buy black shoes for the all white uniform.

> There are variation like the Sun & Pebble na film ata yun na naka all white pero Khaki leggings. Pagkhaki leggings - brown shoes ba or black or either?

> Sa all white Navy, si Ralph ang ilalagay kong model. Yes - its very hard to find models, especially for free he-he. As much as I likke to invite the others, they commit to attend, then on actual date they have conflicts or they atend for a very short time, so they got few photos.

> One of worst problem is, the models that can be available like mga tao sa bahay ni Jojo for example, di naman kasya yung damit namin. If the uniform fits, the shoes does not or vice versa - its very hard as much we want to have other models / new faces. ano kaya we cut heads in the acrobat? hea-ha-ha.

> Looking forward meeting you this October shooting the different PMA uniforms ha.... : )

Mabuhay & Many thanks;
Perry

[26th]

Hi All:

I love that this is a Filipino forum but I for one can not read some comments. Can anyone help interpret.

Rudy dumb nuts>>

[insurrectomad]

I can't follow Tagalog either, as I'm a Brit. U.S. Navy, as pot shows drank/drink coffee, not tea! Segradation in the U.S. Navy did not mean all non whites were cooks & cleaners; some Filipinos may have served as stokers and engineers in the engine compartments. Others may have been medics, or aircraft fitters etc on aircraft carriers as well as carpenters, painters and electricians remember. There was as much as 30 men supporting each combat soldier in WW2. Salute David

[W. Magno]

our grandfather serve in the U.S. navy during WW2 atlantic & pacific, especially the battle of Guadal Canal, they serve as cooks, but when the bell rings, they serve as reload & ammunition personel for the anti aircraft guns and sometimes for the big guns, they have the same uniform as the americans, the white sailor uniform, and others.