Posted on May 28, 2019
I will be wearing a WW2 USO uniform. Is it proper to wear my rank and ribbons since some female performers were soldiers too?
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Etiquette
Honorable Discharge
Etiquette Honorable Discharge
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PFC Foster-For what purpose will you be wearing the USO uniform? I'm a (recovering-LOL) historical re-enactor, and have portrayed everything from 12th century knights, a pirate, a French and Indian War militiaman...to a WWI naval officer...I'll even be portraying "King Richard the Lionheart" this coming weekend at an area event. My general rule of thumb is that I wear what's appropriate to the persona I'm being asked to represent. The way I see it, re-enacting is acting, so you do credit to the historical "role" you're "playing". More to the point, if there's even the slightest chance someone will interpret what I'm doing as disrespectful, degrading, or misrepresentation/over-expression of my own achievements... I won't go there. To stay on the "safe side", there are military "roles" I won't touch... modern services other than the U.S. Navy, and Special Operations /Elite units from recent history (I've often wanted to do the 95th Rifles from the Napoleonic Wars...but just can't convince myself it's 'skosh). Many of the re-enactors I know are in fact, veterans, and I've seen the crestfallen faces of some well-intended folks when a REAL veteran asks them if they actually belonged to a particular unit/service/etc. In your case, I'd humbly suggest that what you're trying to call attention to is the service of the USO entertainers during WWII...and adding your own rank/ribbons may take a way from that. It's the old re-enactors' debate of, "well, it could've happened...vs. it probably didn't happen often". I will say that it hasn't taken long for those "in the know" to pick out who's served and who hasn't... we just "look right" I suppose.
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PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster
I was Army and the uniform is a WW2 Army uniform for someone in the Admin MOS of the Performing troop that the Army had who made training movies and the band has her come up to sing with them
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LCDR Joshua Gillespie
In that case, I'd consider (a), whether or not your actual awards existed at the time, ...and (b), whether or not the persona you're representing could've earned those awards. As a final "check", I routinely reference uniform regulations of the periods I'm representing-there are subtleties that can easily be picked apart by a historical expert, and therefore take away from what you're trying to do. For example: my WWI naval uniform carries two reverse chevrons for two separate periods of overseas service...an element not currently used, that relative to an officer serving in 1917, fits both my "period" and my actual accomplishments. Wearing my equivalent ribbons however, would not. Naturally, there are exceptions, and much depends on the event. Ultimately, I would suggest, "when in Rome...", and follow the prevailing guidance/requests of the hosts of the event and your fellow re-enactors :)
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Could we get some more info to accurately answer your question? Are you wearing a WW2 uniform as part of a costume for something? Or is a "WW2 USO" uniform something I have never heard of?
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SGT Nicholas M.
PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster - Correct me if I am wrong... You are in a play of some sort and your character is wearing an old WW2 uniform as part of the performance, and you are asking if it would be appropriate for you to wear YOUR REAL RANK AND RIBBONS from when you served in real life to add some decoration to the uniform in the play? If that is all correct, I would say that you shouldn't add anything to the uniform that the Director hasn't asked or instructed you to add to it. It may end up looking a bit tacky, and it would probably suck to get called out by someone who actually knows their history if you have something jacked up on the uniform (such as an old regulation that you weren't aware of regarding the wear and appearance of that era of uniform).
But that's just my two cents. If you are no longer serving, and this is part of a "costume", then I am quite certain there is no legal bearing as to what you can and cannot do to the uniform.
But that's just my two cents. If you are no longer serving, and this is part of a "costume", then I am quite certain there is no legal bearing as to what you can and cannot do to the uniform.
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PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster
Ok thanks. I didn't think of it that way. If I keep it stripped than I am fine and if they can not get the uniform, they are wanting me to wear the colors and go look a like...like Olivia Newton John did in Xanadu
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SGT Nicholas M.
PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster - Rock on! In that case, try to stay as true to the source material as you can!
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