We were watching Magnum P.I. when I commented that it was interesting Thomas Magnum and Steve McGarrett of Hawaii 5-0 are supposed to have been in the Navy. Their uniforms looked familiar to me.
Art was in the Air Force, but he says he always thought the white uniform of the Navy was nicer.
Well...
Here's an old 1967 photo of Art in dress blues when he was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force base.
And here he is in Boston in 1969 in casual khakis?
In 1987 we were married and living in Illinois where he was working for the Public Health Service. The Public Health Service (like N.O.A. and the Coast Guard) is a commissioned corps that is not part of the Defense Department.
The Public Health Service uses the same uniform as the Navy. They also have dress blues which I think I liked better. I wish I had a photo of him in the blues.
The problem with this Navy/Public Health Service uniform is that it's hard to keep clean. It wasn't fun keeping it ironed either.
Still, he did look quite nice in it.
When he retired, he was able to donate all his uniforms back to the military.
Nowadays, it's all t-shirt and shorts.
POSTSCRIPT:
And while I'm on the topic of uniforms, WHY does the Honolulu police personnel wear dark blue uniforms? I feel so sorry for them when they're out there directing traffic or whatever. Wouldn't light colored clothing like what the police wear in Chicago be so much more comfortable?
Art was in the Air Force, but he says he always thought the white uniform of the Navy was nicer.
Here's an old 1967 photo of Art in dress blues when he was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force base.
And here he is in Boston in 1969 in casual khakis?
In 1987 we were married and living in Illinois where he was working for the Public Health Service. The Public Health Service (like N.O.A. and the Coast Guard) is a commissioned corps that is not part of the Defense Department.
The Public Health Service uses the same uniform as the Navy. They also have dress blues which I think I liked better. I wish I had a photo of him in the blues.
The problem with this Navy/Public Health Service uniform is that it's hard to keep clean. It wasn't fun keeping it ironed either.
Still, he did look quite nice in it.
When he retired, he was able to donate all his uniforms back to the military.
Nowadays, it's all t-shirt and shorts.
POSTSCRIPT:
And while I'm on the topic of uniforms, WHY does the Honolulu police personnel wear dark blue uniforms? I feel so sorry for them when they're out there directing traffic or whatever. Wouldn't light colored clothing like what the police wear in Chicago be so much more comfortable?
I have never thought about police uniforms, but I think all I have seen here in Canada are the traditional blues.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun seeing him over the years. I cannot imagine all the ironing!
ReplyDeleteMy SIL was in cadets, and he's really good at ironing.
When Dan was in the Baltimore Symphony he had a uniform of sorts: tails or a tuxedo. The only part of that I had to launder was the white shirt. Everything else went to the cleaners.
ReplyDeleteWas Art a doctor in the Public Health Service?
Art looks cool in his uniforms; he looks great in T-shirt and short. I saw police officers in Baton Rouge also wear solid dark blue.
ReplyDeleteRetired from the Coast Guard, luckily never had to wear Whites the whole time I was in, I had them stowed away in my foot locker after I made CWO just in case. The best thing about uniforms is that you knew what you were wearing most days and didn't have to have a wardrobe full of match this, match that. Now like Art - I am found mostly in t-shirts (s/s & l/s) and jeans/shorts (depending on the time of year).
ReplyDeleteHe was very handsome and clearly one of the reasons you two fell in love! I also think more uniforms should be practical. Of course, the Space Force certainly got their ridicule for the camoflauge...even though they said it saved money.
ReplyDeleteVery nice looking uniforms. My dad was in the Air Force, so those blues look normal to me. The hot sun and dark uniforms makes no sense to me!
ReplyDeleteInteresting observation on Hawaii 5 O costumes they missed that detail.
ReplyDeleteWhat a dapper guy! Maybe Public Health Service attire was white to look more medical, in their attempt to keep the population healthy!
ReplyDeleteyes, I've noticed police officers wearing dark uniforms in hot climates. Even a light tan would help them in the hot sun.
Light snow and cold in Kansas this morning, Linda
Something about a guy in uniform. But those whites look so sharp but I'd hate to have been responsible for keeping them white.
ReplyDeleteFun to see Art in his uniforms over the years. I'm glad I didn't have to keep those whites clean and ironed.
ReplyDeleteSo true about the dark blue for our Honolulu police people. It does look nice, though. Art looks great!
ReplyDeleteHe does look sharp, but I would not have wanted to do that ironing.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to join, I would have gone for the Air Force. But military life isn't for me.
ReplyDeleteArt looks handsome in each of his uniforms through the years. Was he stationed mostly in the States,or was he in a lot of other countries,too?
ReplyDeleteMy son is in the Air Force. He looks handsome in his dress blues. He has been stationed in several different countries through the years. A while back he sent a photo in which he was wearing a jungle combat uniform during some short term training he was taking. Seeing that uniform was scary for this old Mom. I am hoping he won't have to put on that uniform anymore. Unless he has signed up for something more, I believe he will be retiring in about 3 years. He's done well in the Air Force. He has managed to get a Bachelor of Arts degree, and two Masters Degrees while serving.
Art was stationed mostly on the mainland and then he was sent back to Hawaii where I met him. His next tour of duty was going to be Greenland. That’s when he retired, got his Masters and joined the Public Health Service.
DeleteExhibiting at art shows, I saw hundreds of police officers from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, and told them as often as I could how much better off they would be in lighter uniforms. So, Chicago did it, eh? Good for them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post, Kay. I sure did enjoy reading the history and checking out the great photos. Art looks so handsome in his uniforms, all through the years.
ReplyDelete