Insignia
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Navy Nurse Corps Insignia
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When America entered the war on 8 December 1941,
the Navy Nurse Corps had the following device. It consisted of an
oak leaf and acorn superimposed on an anchor. The letters “NNC” in silver
were raised above the surface of the leaf.
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Left side: The miniature
pin-on NNC device (7/8 inch) was worn on the left collar tip of the white
shirt, while a miniature pin-on rank was worn on the right collar tip when
the white service uniform was worn.
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Right side: A complementary
pair of the large NNC insignia (1 1/8 inch) was worn on the collar of the
blue service uniform and also on the collar on the white hospital dress.
Additionally, the large NNC device was used as cap insignia. |
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| Most of the WWII NNC pins are marked
"Vanguard, N.Y. (Sterling)". Additionally, there exist NNC metal pins that
are not marked at all, but have the rope attached as a separate piece (like
shown in the picture on the right). |
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The receipt of full naval commissioned ranks
for the Navy Nurse Corps in 1944 caused changes in the uniform regulations.
A new NNC device was introduced in August 1944. Like before, it consisted
of an oak leaf and acorn superimposed on an anchor, but it lacked the NNC
letters. Additionally, the acorn was colored in silver.
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Like placement on the uniforms of male Navy
officers, this new corps insignia made of gold embroidery was worn above
the sleeve stripes of the blue service uniform. It replaced the former
large NNC insignia worn on the collar.
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Right Side: Sleeve stripes
of a Lieutenant Navy Nurse |
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On the white service uniform and the overcoat,
the new NNC insignia made of gold embroidery was worn above the rank stripes
on the shoulder boards.
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Left Side: Shoulder boards of
an Ensign Navy Nurse. |
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Like before, the new miniature pin-on NNC
device without the "NNC" letters was worn on the left collar tip of the
white shirt when it was worn with the white service uniform. A miniature
pin-on rank was worn on the right collar tip.
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Additionally, this combination of rank and
corps collar insignia was worn on the collar of the white hospital dress
(replacing the previous bigger NNC device) and the newly introduced slate
gray dress. |
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.Left
Side: golden Ensign miniature pin-on rank
Right Side: the new design
miniature NNC device |
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Cap Device
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The commissioned officer's Navy
cap device replaced the older NNC insignia as cap devicein 1944.
The miniature Navy officer's cap
device was worn on the left side of the garrison cap. |
Buttons.
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Gilt Navy buttons were kept as
buttons for the blue outdoor uniform and the white outdoor uniform.
The Navy regulations specified that the head of the eagle face its right
side effective May 14, 1941, and thereafter (as above). The button designs
prior to this time had the eagle head facing its left side. This change
was made to conform the button's eagle to internationally recognized principles
of heraldry, which mandated that the right side (or facing right) was the
side reserved for Honor. Thus, a right-facing eagle is in agreement with
the heraldic symbol of Honor, whereas a left-facing eagle is considered
either dishonorable or less than honorable.
Blue-black Navy plastic buttons
were worn with the slate gray dress. Bronze Navy buttons were used on the
flight nurse's green battle jacket. |
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Rank Insignia of the Navy
Nurse Corps
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The Navy Nurses received the relative
rank of commissioned Navy officers in
July 1942.
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Full commissioned naval ranks
were authorized in February 1944.
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| Relative Ranks of
the NNC |
Ranks of Navy Officers |
| Superintendent |
Lieutenant Commander |
| Assistant Superintendent |
Lieutenant |
| Chief Nurse |
Lieutenant.(Junior Grade) |
| Assistant Chief Nurse |
Ensign |
| ln December 1942, the relative ranks for Navy
Nurses were changed into: |
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| Superintendent |
Captain |
| Assistant Superintendent |
Commander |
| Assistant Superintendent |
Lieutenant Commander |
| Assistant Superintendent |
Lieutenant |
| Chief Nurse |
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) |
| (Assistant Chief) Nurse |
Ensign |
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Navy Nurse's Sleeve Stripes
of Rank
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The rank was indicated by golden sleeve stripes
on the lower sleeve of the uniform jacket when the blue service uniform
was worn. On the blue overcoat, the rank was indicated by black stripes.
The stripes were 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch wide. The plate presents the ranks
held by Navy Nurses prior to December 1942.
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Navy Ranks on Shoulder Straps
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The rank was indicated by the stripes on the
shoulder boards when the white service uniform or the overcoat was worn.
The stripes on the shoulder boards corresponded
to the sleeve stripes on the blue uniform.
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Note: After February 1942, the
embroidered NNC insignia was worn above the stripes) |
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Pin-On Rank Devices
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The miniature pin-on rank device was worn
on the right collar tip of the white shirt when the shirt was worn with
the white service uniform.
Additionally, later in 1944, it was worn on
the right collar of the hospital dress, the slate gray dress and on the
right side of garrison caps. |
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Ranks on Navy Nurse's Hospital
Caps
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Navy Nurses wore a white cap with a black
velvet band across the front. Gold stripes on the black band indicated
the rank held by the wearer. The gold stripes were 1/4 inch or 1/8 inch
wide (unlike the sleeve stripes who were 1/2 or 1/4 inch wide).
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The plate presents the ranks held
by Navy Nurses after December 1942. Navy nurses in the relative rank of
captain and commander did not wear the white indoor cap.
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Naval Flight Nurse Insignia
The aviation wings were authorized to wear
for Naval Flight Nurses on 30 March 1945. The wings were worn over the
left breast pocket on the service and dress uniform and on the aviation
work uniform.
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[ I. Development ]..[
II. Facts about the NNC ]..[
III. Uniforms ]..[
IV. Sources
]
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