Insignia
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Corps Device
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The Corps Device was developed by Supervising
Surgeon John Maynard Woodworth of the Marine Hospital Service, the forerunner
of the PHS. The Marine Hospital Service was primarily concerned with merchant
seamen and the maritime industry.
| The Corps Device consisted of a fouled anchor
and caduceus crossed. It was worn on the lower sleeves of the Service Dress
Blue embroidered in gold-colored metal on a black felt cloth background. |
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Right Sleeve
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Left Sleeve
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The fouled anchor signified a seaman in distress
or a sick seamen. The caduceus is a winged wand with two serpents intertwined,
and symbolizes the god Mercury and his connection to commerce, because
of the relationship between the Service and merchant shipping.
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| The Corps Devices worn on the
Service Dress White were yellow-gold embroidered on a white cotton cloth
background. |
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The Corps Devices worn on the
gray seersucker working uniform were navy blue embroidered on a white felt
cloth background. |
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Today the use of the caduceus associated with
medicine, but in Woodworth's time a more correct symbol of medicine would
have been the staff of Asklepios (Aesculapius), consisting of a wand or
staff with one serpent coiled around it and ssociated with the Greek god
of healing, Asklepios.
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Collar Insignia
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The gold metal collar insignia for jackets and
coats were 1 inch in height and were worn on both lapels. Like the sleeve
device, they were oriented such that the staff of the caduceus was vertical;
the wings were at the top and the anchor pointed inward. The fouled anchor
had to be horizontal to the ground.
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On shirts and indoor uniforms, a smaller metal
collar insignia (5/8 inch height) was pinned on the left collar point,
while a miniature rank pin was fastened on the right collar point.
Top row:
Collar insignia for jacket and
coat lapels
Bottom row:
Miniature pin-on rank and miniature
collar insignia |
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Cap Device
The cap device is an ornament of gold-colored
metal, lace or thread consisting of a shield with a chief having 13 stars,
surmounted with a spread eagle with head pointing to the right. The whole
is placed over a variation of the PHS Corps Device that consists of a fouled
anchor and caduceus crossed.
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The garrison cap was worn with a metal grade
insignia of the type used on shirt collars on the right and a miniature
PHS cap device on the left.
The devices were centered one and a half inches
from the lower edge and 2 inches from the center line.
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Left side: Cap Device
R ight side: Miniature Cap Device
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PHS Buttons
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The PHS metal buttons worn with the Service Dress
Blue and Service Dress White were gold-colored and carried an embossed
design consisting of a foul anchor and caduceus crossed as in the Seal
of the Public Health Service. The gray seersucker working uniform was worn
with black embossed plastic buttons. The buttons were placed on the uniform
such that the staff of the caduceus was vertical.
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PHS Ranks and Sleeve Insignia
Stripes
Sleeve insignia stripes were gold lace in ¼
inch, ½ inch or 2-inch widths. The stripes worn on the gray seersucker
working uniform were navy blue. The stripes were sewn onto each sleeve
as to be parallel with the cuff and completely encircle the sleeve. The
lower edge of the bottom stripe was 2 inches from the edge of the cuff
and there were ¼ inch intervals between stripes.
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PHS Rank
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Corresponding
Navy Rank
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Corresponding
Army Rank
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Navy Rear Admiral
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Army Major Gen. (two-star)
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no Navy equivalent
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Army Brig. Gen. (one-star)
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Deputy Grade
(-Surgeon, -Nurse, etc.)
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Navy Captain
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Army Colonel
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Senior Grade
(-Surgeon, -Nurse, etc.)
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Navy Commander
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Army Lt. Col.
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Full Grade
(-Surgeon, -Nurse, etc.)
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Navy Lt. Commander
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Army Major
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Senior Assistant Grade
(-Surgeon, -Nurse, etc.)
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Navy Lieutenant
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Army Captain
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Assistant Grade
(-Surgeon, -Nurse, etc.)
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Navy Lt. (j.g.)
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Army 1st Lt.
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Junior Assistant Grade
(-Surgeon, -Nurse, etc.)
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Navy Ensign
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Army 2nd Lt.
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PHS Sword
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The PHS Commissioned Corps Sword was a sword
in the general style of the US Army Model 1860 Staff and Field Officers'
sword with yellow metal hilt, white grip, a straight double-edged blade
and black leather scabbard.
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PHS Commissioned Corps Sword,
overall view
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PHS Commissioned Corps Sword,
Counter Guards
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PHS Commissioned Corps Sword,
Pommel and Knuckle Bow
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[ I. Development ]..[
II. Facts about the PHS ]..[
III. PHS Uniforms ]..[
IV. Sources ]
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