USN Hospital Corpsmen . . . report!

[Regnifne]

Rabble!

It has been far too long since I have been an active member here . . . a combination of moving to Alaska (where a kilt goes over EXTREMELY well, if anyone has wondered, especially during the Running of the Reindeer) and then to Iowa and dealing with an expanding-and-shrinking-and-expanding waistline that prevented me from wearing any of my kilts, to a temp move to Florida, back to Iowa, etc, etc, and etc.

But I'm back!! Married in Nov and my beautiful bride regrets not "letting me" wear the kilt for the entire day (she originally agreed and was onboard, until TWO WEEKS prior to the wedding when her mother sewed seeds of doubt [they are Armenian and why is he wearing a dress?!] so I was suited for the ceremony, but when she saw me come out for the photos and was just googly eyed, and, well . . . there's that!).

I think it was the best investment I've made

BUT ON TO MY REASON FOR POSTING!

I'm looking for any Corpsmen on here to gather intel/input regarding a tartan for the HM community. I've posted in FB groups to about 18,000 people --but that usually means 180 see it and do anything with it. As an aside, MAN are people confused about things they know nothing about...

Figured I should have started here with The Learn-ed I recall there being a few of us here but wanted to double-check.

I'll post photos of some designs I've come up with, and all input is welcome!

Thanks, and good to be back!

Will

[ibrew4u]

Great photos, Devil Doc. She's lovely and you look dashing in either way.

[Tarheel]

Glad to have you back with us. I'm glad you got to kilt up for the photos. That is one way to secure the "yes dear, you may wear your kilt". Congratulations and good luck with the tartan quest.

Ps. We were called medic (as a Huey door gunner and flight First Aid standby, neither my MOS but did both jobs anyway) in the Army, wish I could help further.

[ItchyTick]

I'm an old fmf corpsman. I wear the navy kilt.

Got mine from usakilts.

PS: The scottish american military society (sams) is a good organization to check out.

[Regnifne]

Thanks, Doc Itchy! I had an application ready for SAMS a few years back and then lost it while waiting for paperwork to come through and just never followed-up. I may actually contact the Association of Hospital Corpsmen (there's such a thing!) and see if they would be interested in backing the idea. . .

Tarheel, we all have different names but care the same way!

[Rick Y]

My son was a corpsman on the green side and his wife a corpsman on the blue side. Be happy to get their comments on any suggestions.

[CypherMagnum]

Hey there Doc! Fellow FMF Corpsman Veteran here. Would LOVE to see the results of your designs - I'd buy & wear a HM tartan kilt with no hesitation. Consider me on board!

[Regnifne]

Hi crew,

Had a bit of work get in the way of fun (hate when that happens) and waiting for a mill to respond to me with answers . . . but here are the two finalists (to me, at least, because I like them, and they garnished the most "likes" on the FB group):

*Names are tentative, so feel free

Call Me Doc:

• Azure Blue: Rare, and stands out in a sea of blue tartan (pun intended), but also, THE SEA! Threadcount of 98 for 1898, birth year of the Hospital Corps
• Red, White, Blue: America's Navy, but also represents the Hotel and Mike flags (HM is the rate designation for Corpsman)
• Blue, Grey, Red: Shore, Sea, and Fleet Marine duty
• Light Blue: 24 total threads to represent the 23 MOH recipients from our honored Corps, with room for one more
• Navy/Gold: official colors

HM Tartan 4 (great design name, Will!)

• Navy Blue: self explanatory, 120 threadcount for the 120th anniversary (1898-2018)
• Gold: Two lines for Sea and Shore duty, but also playing into the official colors
• Light Blue: Again, the MOH, this time with . . .
• White: for the five stars in the Medal of Honor

And here's what they look like from Marton Mills . . . a little larger than I anticipated, so I'm trying to get that changed, but my kiltmaker friend says they are good for kilts. I prefer something a little tiny wee bit smaller.



All-in-all, I'm pretty pleased with the way they BOTH look and would love to register them both. So maybe I will

Thanks for tolerating me, and I'm open to discussion on this! It got to be a little late for me to register it and get a kilt made in time for the 120th Anniversary, but there's always next year, and a four year push to get people geared up for 125

[CypherMagnum]

Will, these both look fantastic - I have to say, I'd wear either. Call Me Doc has more of a "Ancient" look to me (as in the practice of mills using lighter colors, not that it looks older), while the HM 4 looks a little more Victorian Formal (darker, less busy). Given the choice ... I think I'd go with the HM 4, since I tend to like a darker tartan. But yes, I'd wear either with pride.

Are you planning a run on either of these? If so, please let me know - I'd love to reserve some fabric and have a kilt made (I promised no more new kilts, but I think I can sell the wife on this one )

Best,

Caleb

[Terry Searl]

Hi crew,

Had a bit of work get in the way of fun (hate when that happens) and waiting for a mill to respond to me with answers . . . but here are the two finalists (to me, at least, because I like them, and they garnished the most "likes" on the FB group):

*Names are tentative, so feel free

Call Me Doc:

• Azure Blue: Rare, and stands out in a sea of blue tartan (pun intended), but also, THE SEA! Threadcount of 98 for 1898, birth year of the Hospital Corps
• Red, White, Blue: America's Navy, but also represents the Hotel and Mike flags (HM is the rate designation for Corpsman)
• Blue, Grey, Red: Shore, Sea, and Fleet Marine duty
• Light Blue: 24 total threads to represent the 23 MOH recipients from our honored Corps, with room for one more
• Navy/Gold: official colors

HM Tartan 4 (great design name, Will!)

• Navy Blue: self explanatory, 120 threadcount for the 120th anniversary (1898-2018)
• Gold: Two lines for Sea and Shore duty, but also playing into the official colors
• Light Blue: Again, the MOH, this time with . . .
• White: for the five stars in the Medal of Honor

And here's what they look like from Marton Mills . . . a little larger than I anticipated, so I'm trying to get that changed, but my kiltmaker friend says they are good for kilts. I prefer something a little tiny wee bit smaller.



All-in-all, I'm pretty pleased with the way they BOTH look and would love to register them both. So maybe I will

Thanks for tolerating me, and I'm open to discussion on this! It got to be a little late for me to register it and get a kilt made in time for the 120th Anniversary, but there's always next year, and a four year push to get people geared up for 125

First I would like to say I'm a west coast Canadian and have no affiliation with any branch of any military service. I grew up in a "navy" town (Victoria, BC) and live in an airforce town (Courtenay BC). I think the colours of both tartans are excellent and how they have been put together shows a great deal of thought and respect.
My preference though is for the lighter one ( Call Me Doc). In My Opinion, some times dark tartans SEEM a bit more formal. Lighter ones to me are more easily worn in daywear or more casual times but still do well for formal events....again just my opinion....... I look forward to seeing photos when either tartan has been woven and made into kilts.......well done !