Aloha,
In 1951, while stationed at the Marine Corps Clothing Factory, 100 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, the clothing board was experimenting with the possible use of berets for the Marine Corps. They had tan, green, white and blue berets. Some senior officer had come up with this Army idea for Marines to start wearing berets. Below is a photograph of my SSGT self and four other Marines. I've long since forgotten the names of most, but the lieutenant on the left, next to me, I believe, is now Colonel (Ret.) Robert Parrot. He had also been at the Chosin Reservoir. I believe he was the adjutant here. Few Marines today know that the Corps once had its own clothing factory. Six floors. with all the sewing machines, cutting machines, shrinking machines, etc, needed to make the uniforms. They were manned by civilian workers. My job was to process for payment, invoices for a million or a million and a half yards of kersey green cloth, herring bone twill (utilities) and blue cloth. etc. The Marine on the right is wearing the herring bone twill utility uniform. After the Korean War, the Corps had grown so in numbers, that the clothing factory could not keep up with the demand, and it went out of business, I believe, sometime in the 1960s. Delighted to say that the bombshell beret idea died in its infancy.
Aloha and Semper Fidelis…Bob Talmadge
Did not completely die Bob, while I was in during the late 70s HQMC sent out a survey about adopting a beret again. We were still in Vietnam camo utes then and were asked about color etc. The overwhelming response was, make us utility covers in the camo we were wearing instead of the green sateen covers we had. We got camo utility covers and the beret idea was dropped again. Joe Pondrom, USMCR 1966-82
The beret was an idea of PX Kelly after serving with NATO. When he came back to the real military he was over ruled. I thought when he was promoted to Commandant I thought sure he would try to revive it, but no he let it die where it belonged.
100 south broad st. is were I swore in Sept 1974, awesome picture….
Sgt. Talmadge, In 1969, I was also stationed at what was then called the Marine Corps Supply Activity at 1100 South Broad Street in Philadelphia. By then it was the location where uniforms were designed and various materials were tried out. The primary role at that time was the location where all supplies were ordered. It had about 115 Marine officers an enlisted and over 800 civilians. I was there as the aide-de-camp to the commanding general, after my first tour in Vietnam.
Berets are find for the army but not The Corps.
Huh? Berets? For The Corps? They look funny and they don’t belong on Marines! The army, yeah, they are ok for them. Some of the army guys look ok in them. Still, I can think of better covers. Marines rock!
I saw several berets on a shelf at Southeastern Uniform late 70’s (best place for alterations in DC). Was told they had made it to “wear test” but failed for reasons UNK. They unlike the Army’s or our Brit Royal Marines were stiff camo pattern – couldn’t form it to look like a fighting man’s head piece, looked more like an artists palette balanced on someone’s head. Failed because nothing the Corps has can be anything but sharp corners – even our old Utility Cover. I did admire the quality of being foldable for cargo pocket storage.
I’ve always disdained the idea of Marines in berets, except Women Marines. They could make s beret look good. Furthermore, I advocate completely getting rid of the Garrison cover for enlisted personnel below staff rank except where MOS calls for it, as in Recruiter and Embassy Duty, and such, in favor of the ‘overseas’ cap. Semper Fi..!!
Speaking of berets, glad my Corps kept it’s head out of its arse. But I was told by a retired Corps general that 4 Marines were actually authorized to wear the green beret with him being one of them. He stated though that he never would. Semper Fi !
MCSA Phila.- my final duty station after Danang (abt. 7 mos.): 29May67 to 04Jan68. While there, pulled body escort one time, to Fredericktown, Ohio. Kid was not yet twenty-one, had a month-old son he never saw… RIP, Marine!
Berets for Marines? Oh hell no. That worthless pos headgear is about as un-American as you can get. I think even the Army looks stupid in them. Hope my former snake eatin’ Green Beret cousin doesn’t find out I said that. One of the biggest reasons for wearing a cover on your noggin is to shade your eyes from the sun. Berets = Fail.
I was in during the mid-late ’70’s. I went from green cotton sateen utilities to the woodland cammies. We were still wearing the OD green cover with the cammy utilities. They tried to push the beret on us, again. I think that someone has too much Fashion Sense, and not enough COMMON SENSE !!! Our Uniform is only a visual indication of the Drive, Determination and Will to Win, that we are known for. Why in the HELL would we want to look like some pansy ass soldier boys from a foreign country ???????????
Berets worn by our Marine counterparts in foreign countries where this type of coverage is common, accepted and normal there can be no argument. For the U.S.M.C. In our country where a beret has been viewed as an artist attire, Hollywood type or some kind of fancy dressed show person ……… let the Army have their fun. The Marine Corps is a “Get the job done” military organization we don’t need foreign garb. Our squared away uniforms and dress blues set us apart from all others (period). Berets just do not look good on a Marine, Male or Female (both are Marines). I hope the idea has been s–t caned and never considered again. Dumb really Dumb.
Stick with the piss cutter, only a Marine makes it look good, berets are for pussies.’51-’55
Berets? What’s next? Stress cards, a failed Clinton idea.
Our uniforms already have the sharpest look around so don’t mess with what ain’t broken. We are not the Army and we certainly don’t wish to look like them. Good night Chesty, wherever you are.
had a green hat. had a blacj eagle. was shaped like a v upside down. didnt think it was a green bereta. some one tell me.
Berets belong in FRANCE ! NOT ON MARINES !
Berets for Marines it like drinking warm beer
The “Upside Down V” you speak of is a “Garrison” cover, commonly refered to as a “Piss Cutter.”
We had a Marine in the mid 50’s that tried to fashion his utility cap into a beret looking cover. He made it part of the day!
As UN PEACEKEEPER in Haiti (2004), I was forced to wear the blue beret of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force with EGA. The powder blue beret looked silly with Marine digital camp, but, local Haitian women loved it. I tried to look like Jean Claude Van Dam(Col Guile) in the movie Street Fighter with a blue beret. S/F
I swear that I once heard of one of our Commandant, Gen. Shoup (a Medal of Honor recipient) stated “Why would anyone want to look like a f@ggot or Frenchman?” in response to someone asking him what he thought of Marines wearing berets. My apologies for the language. The words I recall reading and they have stuck with me. Who am I, a lowly Corporal to argue with a MOH recipient with 4 stars on their collar?
keep the covers,shitcan the berets
Marines don’t need to look like anyone else but themselves. The Few, The Proud. Semper Fi ’81 – ’87