When the USN allowed beards...

[Navy Chief]

This is from the 1983-84 cruise onboard the USS Independence (CV-62), when I was with VA-15. Second row, AME1 Ward. Main benefit of the beard, other than not having to shave as much, was added protection from nonskid particles and other such stuff blowing around the flight deck during ops! Helped protect against windburn and jet exhaust as well. It wasn't long after this cruise that beards were banned. Word was too many sailors were not keeping them trimmed, and looked bad. I didn't mind losing the beard though. Darn thing itched! NC

 

[gray eagle]

This is from the 1983-84 cruise onboard the USS Independence (CV-62), when I was with VA-15. Second row, AME1 Ward. Main benefit of the beard, other than not having to shave as much, was added protection from nonskid particles and other such stuff blowing around the flight deck during ops! Helped protect against windburn and jet exhaust as well. It wasn't long after this cruise that beards were banned. Word was too many sailors were not keeping them trimmed, and looked bad. I didn't mind losing the beard though. Darn thing itched! NC

I remember those days too. The beards looked bad on those older CPO's (Goats) when they had gray hair, their beards would look a variegated brown with gray or black with
gray or blond with gray.

Remember the beer machines that Admiral "Z" allowed in the barracks. Put a quarter in and get a ice cold Bud.
Also remember when you could smoke just about anywhere on the ship except for the Flight Deck. My cruise books show pictures of
people sitting at their desk with ash trays full of old butts in them. Reville, Reville, All hand heave out and trice up....the smoking lamp is light
in all authorized spaces (That included berthing spaces)

Those were the days.

 

[Navy Chief]

I remember the Zumwalt era, and the beer machines at the barracks. Don't recall beer being that cheap though! I do recall things being so lax that even room inspections were stopped. It was crazy. Discipline was almost non existent. Sorta like now, I hear. NC

 

[Crusader]

NC , if memory serves me right (probably not) , I was stationed in 1966 at El Toro MCAS , Santa Ana , Calif and I think at one time even the Marine Corps might have tried having the beer . As I recall I don't think it lasted too long . No beards though but if they had I would have given it a shot (peach fuss at a tender age of 18 and broke )

Rich

 

[Willy]

My first shore duty was in New Orleans 78-80. I had one of the beer machines figured out on how to get two beers at the same time for the price of one.

My beard was always a scraggly thing so I never kept one. I remember the morning that the no beards rule took effect. A bunch of "new guys" at Quarters that morning.. LOL

I'm probably one of the few male enlisted who actually liked the old Zumwalt era coat & tie uniform over the traditional crackerjacks. I hated to see it go, although it provide some more motivation to make Chief and get out of that "kiddie" suit.

 

[n4gix]

My Dad circa 1940

The topic title reminded me of this picture I have of my dad from around 1940. He had enlisted in 1935, and was in line awaiting his discharge papers when it was announced that "everyone is in the Navy for the duration..." I have no idea what his rating was when this picture was taken, but I do know that by the time of his discharge he was a Master Chief in charge of the radio shack on the USS Jenks. He was onboard during the capture of the U-505 on June 4, 1944.

As a funny anecdote, his discharge papers listed his ship as the "USS Jerks." Somewhere around the house I have a picture of he and my mother on their wedding day, with him wearing his CPO Dress Blues instead of the crackerjacks.

 

[PRB]

Joined in 1980, which must have been right after they went back to "crackerjack" for E6 and below. Still had beards, though, but that went away soon thereafter. You could only have a beard if you had a "no shaving chit", usually for medical reasons. I write my own no shaving chit now whenever I feel like it! When I got to Lemoore in 1981, there were still beer machines outside the barracks, but there were not there for very long.