Question for Vets, how do y'all feel about civilians wearing military stuff?

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the ringo kid

the ringo kid

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What I couldnt say in title is--what I mean is--ive got a few pieces of headgear(ball caps) with Navy and other stuff on it--which were given to me by vets. I dont go around faking service to others and when they start to thank me--I tell them I never served BUT, a veteran did give me this item.

The other two caps I were on occasion--is a U.S.S. George Washington blue ball cap-which from what ive been told--ONLY this type can be purchased on the ship itself. It has the name of the ship and a cameo-like circular patch on it with Washington's image. The other one I have is the U.S.S. Abe Lincoln ball cap--same set up as the George Washington cap.

I do not accept them buying anything for me--unless they know my truth and if they still wish to buy me something.

A recent incident. I went into a local diner called: Prices Chef-located at 6 Points here in town. I went in to buy a breakfast roll-for a bus driver I kinda take care of. The rolls werent exactly finished and I was told it would be a few minutes-so I went to the lavatory. When I came out-someone had paid it for me-but I had no clue who they were? I felt as low as a shoes heel-because I couldnt explain to those who paid. It was roughly $4.00 for the roll as its a huge roll. Anyway, I told the owner to please put a $5 that id just given to her--to put it on some persons tab.

The blue ball cap I was wearing is one a WWII German vet ga to me when I was touring his "old boat" which was originally known as U - 2540--but changed years later to the Wilhelm Bauer for service in the Bundesmarine.
 
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I thought your question was going to be more along the lines of how do I feel when civilians wear military garb, bits of uniforms, shirts, jackets, and the like, with insignia on it.

In that case...well, it would depend. If it were a son wearing his Father's field jacket or shirt/blouse, that is fine. If it's just some guy wearing a random piece of uniform, with rank and other insignia on it...I'm not so keen on it. Civilians wearing field jackets and such surplus clothing, without any insignia, that seems fine also.

I suppose the biggest thing for me would be, if the civilian in question is either, A) wearing the piece of uniform in some less-than-respectful manner (again, I wouldn't feel so bad if it was unadorned with any real military insignia...as say, just a surplus field jacket), or B) trying to use the uniform to suggest or imply that they had served...then yeah, I would likely have a problem with that!

However, what you described, simply wearing a hat that displays a particular branch of service, or a certain naval vessel...you can't be held responsible for what other people assume. You sound as though you're going out of your way to inform them of the truth of the situation. I don't think you should feel at all badly because you're wearing a hat that some vet friend gave to you, and others are making assumptions.

So, personally...I see nothing at all wrong with anything you are doing or have done. Wear your caps, and enjoy them! Tell your veteran friend(s) that I thank them for their service!

Tim
 
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Ringo, I see so many of these veteran's hats that people wear that I've gotten to the point of not paying attention to them. I don't own but one hat of that nature and I only wear it on special occasions. It is a ball cap type that was presented to me by Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three's CPO Association when I was the Operations Chief for the Western Pacific during 2003 War in Iraq and was on an inspection tour of all Navy/Marine construction in the Pacific AO. I've only worn that cover maybe three times. I have a cammo utility cover that I wear to the Ft. Bliss Rod & Gun Club when I go shooting just so the Doggies don't confuse me with the Army types. I have a number of friends that have combat scars that never wear a vet hat and the other day, a vet who was a Viet Nam era vet apologized for wearing a Viet Nam Veteran hat that his family had given him. None of that stuff bothers me unless some dude is running off at the mouth about his phony heroics. I have enough buddies with battle scars that the fakes can get under my skin pretty quick.
 
the ringo kid said:
What I couldnt say in title is--what I mean is--ive got a few pieces of headgear(ball caps) with Navy and other stuff on it--which were given to me by vets. I dont go around faking service to others and when they start to thank me--I tell them I never served BUT, a veteran did give me this item.

The other two caps I were on occasion--is a U.S.S. George Washington blue ball cap-which from what ive been told--ONLY this type can be purchased on the ship itself. It has the name of the ship and a cameo-like circular patch on it with Washington's image. The other one I have is the U.S.S. Abe Lincoln ball cap--same set up as the George Washington cap.

I do not accept them buying anything for me--unless they know my truth and if they still wish to buy me something.

A recent incident. I went into a local diner called: Prices Chef-located at 6 Points here in town. I went in to buy a breakfast roll-for a bus driver I kinda take care of. The rolls werent exactly finished and I was told it would be a few minutes-so I went to the lavatory. When I came out-someone had paid it for me-but I had no clue who they were? I felt as low as a shoes heel-because I couldnt explain to those who paid. It was roughly $4.00 for the roll as its a huge roll. Anyway, I told the owner to please put a $5 that id just given to her--to put it on some persons tab.

The blue ball cap I was wearing is one a WWII German vet ga to me when I was touring his "old boat" which was originally known as U - 2540--but changed years later to the Wilhelm Bauer for service in the Bundesmarine.
Click to expand...


As long as folks aren't trying to pass themselves off as vets I don't have a problem with it.
 
I wear many base ball caps of ships I've served on.
Plus a cap that has US Navy Retired MCPO with a small CMC badge and
small Surface Warfare breast Insignia pin on.
When someone wants to give me thanks or a discount I just say anyone can buy a hat.... :)
Wanted the grandson to wear one of my hats, but he would't do it.
He was a SN in the Navy for only a a year and a half.
As he said once, he didn't know what a big deal a Master Chief was till he joined..... LOL!
Tried to tell him that before he joined. :)
 
Couldn't care less what other people wear. I've got an old Cleveland Indians sweat shirt somewhere, doesn't make me a ball player. ;)

When I was a boy I loved and wore military stuff, long before I was old enough to serve.

Sure miss the old army navy stores, they sure had lots of neat stuff in the 60's/70's.
 
Posted this before..................

about a year and a half ago I needed a new ball cap.....I'm not into local sports team logo stuff ..... looked on Amazon and found a ball cap with Velcro patches front and back....... found/directed to "patches"....found one with the Pa.state seal, the American flag and another where you could do "your name".....

made up two hats..... US flag and name on one; and Pa state seal and name on another...........

no unit, branch or other "military" designation.......over the past year ...I've gotten all sorts of "weird" responses...... thanked for my service, asked if I was National Guard......one guy asked me if I was ; State Police? FBI? Homeland Security?........ just kept saying "NO", just here to buy a 6-pack to go (was on my way to the cabin)


...............bothered me at first ..... later decided I liked the hats... and the folks with questions were idiots !!!...... OK just badly uninformed.
 
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I would only have a problem with it if someone mistook it for your actual service and you didn't correct them on it. Then it becomes misrepresentation. Other than that, I have no problem with the way you handle it.
When I wear my plain Navy or my Korean ball cap and someone says "Thank you for your service" or "let me pay for your whatever", my reply usually is "If you want to thank me, vote, that's the freedom we fought for". Just me.
 
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If you aren’t military or a veteran then wearing an article of military clothing will not make you one. It’s like wearing a Stetson or a pair of western boots will not make you a cowboy if you’re not one. People can wear whatever they want so long as they don’t lie to me about who they are.
 
Someone wearing a ball cap does not bother me. I wear one of my Coast Guard ball caps all the time. Since very few people have any idea who and what the Coast Guard is, I have no problems with people wanting to pay for something for me. It is just a sign to other kneedeeps.
What bothers me is the folks I see running around the gun shows with their vet hats and parts of their old fatigues and a national defense medal on their jacket. The hat is enough.
My $.02 Larry
 
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