I look to this group as the voice of reason: is this wrong? I didn't serve and the last thing I want to do is offend.

Thank you and I fully understand and respect the uniform and rules. So, when the army discharges you with wool coats--they would prefer that they are not used even by someone in need? I would like to donate a very warm, thick large coat that was also issued--my church is in need of winter coats. Having them sitting in a closet doesn't feel right either.mxs wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 9:25 amI am currently serving. I would not wear this in public with patches and insignia on, or even taken off. I would keep it intact, and only wear it in your private home if you wanted.
Quick google search brought this up, I am sure there are many more like it with laws and regulations...
https://www.thebalance.com/military-uni ... ns-3356978
You may be doing something illegal if you were to wear the uniform in public. I am not an expert on this, but it doesn't feel right to me. I would not do it.
In that case, I would remove the patches and donate the coat. You can make a nice display from the patches.dia wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 9:38 amThank you and I fully understand and respect the uniform and rules. So, when the army discharges you with wool coats--they would prefer that they are not used even by someone in need? I would like to donate a very warm, thick large coat that was also issued--my church is in need of winter coats. Having them sitting in a closet doesn't feel right either.
There is a pic on my original post--is it not appearing? Thank you for your service and I appreciate your thoughts. I didn't want anyone to think I was wearing it as a fashion statement or to take credit for serving, so I thought it best to remove the patches and pins (But would like to keep them with the jacket in the pockets). There are no special awards or anything just the basic two pins and I think 3 patches. I feel its a nice tribute to my dad--I only wish I would have asked his opinion on this subject while I could of. I do know he treasured his army things.djpeteski wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 9:30 amI am a vet 4 years USMC, 6 years Army, but have not heard a shot fired in anger.
I would support you wearing the jacket, and would strongly recommend you do not remove the patches. The pins are one thing, the patches a whole different story.
Stolen Valor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_2013 comes into play if you claim that you earned his awards. It seems to me that such is the furthest thing from your mind. If someone said to you: "thank you for your service" while wearing the jacket, I bet you would have said "it was my dad's who I lost recently, I wear it to honor him".
There are probably some exceptions to this like wearing his medal of honor, distinguished service cross, or any award with a V device (for valor). I would also tend not to wear an CIB (combat infantryman's badge) or combat jump devices. However we are talking about a field jacket here and many of those awards would not be authorized in a field uniform (exception would be the CIB and combat jump devices).
I would love to see a pic!
Thank you for your dad's service and I am sorry for your loss.
I occasionally wear my nomex jacket. It has my rank, name, unit patch, and US Army on it. Kind of like this:![]()
I looked at your original post from the angle of wearing something from a family member that you cherish. From that approach, I would keep the item in original condition and hold onto it and the memory of them.dia wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 9:38 amThank you and I fully understand and respect the uniform and rules. So, when the army discharges you with wool coats--they would prefer that they are not used even by someone in need? I would like to donate a very warm, thick large coat that was also issued--my church is in need of winter coats. Having them sitting in a closet doesn't feel right either.mxs wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 9:25 amI am currently serving. I would not wear this in public with patches and insignia on, or even taken off. I would keep it intact, and only wear it in your private home if you wanted.
Quick google search brought this up, I am sure there are many more like it with laws and regulations...
https://www.thebalance.com/military-uni ... ns-3356978
You may be doing something illegal if you were to wear the uniform in public. I am not an expert on this, but it doesn't feel right to me. I would not do it.
I was recently in a military surplus-type store while visiting Gettysburg--this store had all kinds of old uniform coats, caps, etc available to purchase. That's why I am confused about this. It's almost as if it's ok to have/wear as long as it was never issued to anybody, perhaps.rooms222 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:10 amI was able to wear my Father's late 1950's jacket with Second Army patch and his nametag in the 80's while he was alive. He gave it to me and was happy that I wore it. Wearing one piece of a uniform is not trying to pass yourself off as a member of the military, unless you make statements to the contrary. In the 80''s, these jackets were commonplace at surplus stores. When Banana Republic first started, they were selling jackets with patches from a variety of militaries. I would never wear the pins outside of your home. I wish I had that jacket now.
I won't look weird. Promise.
Vet/currently serving here. +1 on the above.mhc wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:09 amI am a vet. I would say it is fine to wear the jacket as long as there are no unit patches, rank, medals, or such on it. When I first got out, I remember seeing people wearing things like that, and it bothered me.
With that said, I would rather see a homeless person wearing a jacket with everything on it instead of shivering in the cold with no jacket.
This was my thought. I'm not a vet and I'm not here to pass judgement about "disrespect" but I think it would be a lot more interesting to have it in your home somehow as a conversation piece with all the insignias and patches intact the way your Father left them. I think its a little odd to manipulate the jacket and change the look for your own sake. Leaving it the way your father left it would be a nice heirloom to pass down as well.JMacDonald wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:02 amOne possibly is to have it framed and hung in your home with all the insignia and patches.
Well, we can all have opinions about what others have to preserve for the ages, but I'm in the camp that says that if something isn't useful to you it's ok to get rid of it. Take pictures for the memory if that helps, but there is no particular virtue in preserving someone else's old stuff for sentimental value.Edward Joseph wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 11:27 amThis was my thought. I'm not a vet and I'm not here to pass judgement about "disrespect" but I think it would be a lot more interesting to have it in your home somehow as a conversation piece with all the pins and ribbons intact the way your Father left them. I think its a little odd to manipulate the jacket and change the look for your own sake. Leaving it the way your father left it would be a nice heirloom to pass down as well.JMacDonald wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:02 amOne possibly is to have it framed and hung in your home with all the insignia and patches.
Just a thought...but another option may be to frame it and put it on display in your home. I would think with a nice accent light on it, that would be something that would bring you pleasant memories and comfort every time you look at it.dia wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 9:11 amMy father passed away and he treasured his Army belongings. He served in the early 1950s. I have his short wool green military jacket. I had it cleaned, the sleeves shortened and would like to wear it occasionally. I am wearing it for no other reason than it was his, held importance for him and it's a beautiful garment that has been hanging in a closet since he returned from service. I am getting mixed reactions from people that feel it would be disrespectful to wear it. I do not want to offend anyone--I have taken off the pins (keeping them in the pocket) and will be removing the patches.
I look to this group as the voice of reason: is this wrong? I didn't serve and the last thing I want to do is offend.
![]()
This isn't illegal. It's your jacket, wear it if you like.
+1. This would also be an excellent way to keep the jacket in mint condition.JMacDonald wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:02 amOne possibly is to have it framed and hung in your home with all the insignia and patches.
What is the point of keeping something in mint condition but never using it? It is like leaving the tags on the Beanie Babies. Or having living room furniture no one is allowed to sit on. I hope no one feels obliged to maintain a NotWhoYouThink museum display of my stuff after I am gone.flamesabers wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 2:52 pmAs a service member I find it distasteful to wear someone else's unit patches/awards, even if they belonged to an immediate family member. My late father also served in the army during the cold war. Even though I also have served in the army, I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing any of his patches/awards. He earned the right to wear those particular items, not me.
+1. This would also be an excellent way to keep the jacket in mint condition.JMacDonald wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:02 amOne possibly is to have it framed and hung in your home with all the insignia and patches.
Means something. Absolutely. Thank you.
My answer to this statement is I consider a veteran's patches/awards to be different from other family heirlooms such as a grandmother's wedding ring, a father's prized watch, unique handcrafted items, etc. The former is something that is earned, the latter is something that is given away freely to anyone else.
The point of keeping the jacket in mint condition is to preserve a symbol of a veteran's military service. You can't buy a symbol of a veteran's military service like you can a beanie baby or a piece of furniture.NotWhoYouThink wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 3:27 pmWhat is the point of keeping something in mint condition but never using it? It is like leaving the tags on the Beanie Babies. Or having living room furniture no one is allowed to sit on.
(bolding added)
I hadn't looked at the specific laws about this until now. As long as you don't try to gain a benefit or something of value by claiming one of the specific medals you are legally okay. I never thought you were trying to do that, I just didn't know the specific law.
If I remember correctly, from seeing my uncle's peacoat years ago, they have no insignia. So no one would think you were claiming to be a veteran. It's also not as recognizable as a uniform. (I actually tried it on, but you have to have thin hipsSkierMom wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 2:12 pmI wear my father-in-law's (who passed away in 2010) original wool navy ensign peacoat from the mid 1950's Korean War era.
It literally weighs a ton, but I absolutely love it with a pretty scarf. FIL had three sons, all of whom out-grew him by a foot in height and several pounds, so it never fit any of them. I saw it hanging in a closet in their home and asked about it. He gave it to me on the spot and was very proud when he saw me with it on.
I feel proud when I wear it, and I remember FIL fondly.
What would be possibly wrong about wearing your father's jacket?
As one ex-Navy guy to another, you asked and I did say they are not enforced, but...SueG5123 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 11:46 amRetired Navy officer here, and I'm unaware of anything explicitly forbidding the wear of a former uniform article (unless you are the recipient of a bad paper discharge, in which case your uniforms were probably collected before you were shown to the gate).
I did find some text in a government publication (wish I would have bookmarked it because I can't find it now) that mentioned "obsolete" articles/uniforms could be worn with civilian clothes, provided the metals, etc were removed.whomever wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 7:43 pmSpirit Rider: thanks for posting 10 USC 771. I confess I'm flabbergasted. The DoD itself sells surplus, new in the wrapper, clothing; I know because I've bought a lot of it over the years! I wonder what they think is going to happen to all that?
I took a short look through that section of the USC looking for a definition of 'uniform' without finding one. I was wondering if the definition would be limited to current issue or something, thus making surplus 'not a uniform'. It is certainly widely ignored. Heck, I've had (civilian) US government agencies issue me military surplus clothing, that they got for cheap/free when DoD tossed it.
The 2005 law was replaced with the revised Stolen Valor Act of 2013, signed into law by President Obama.
I agree.oncorhynchus wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 5:29 pm...My vote is that if you desire to wear the jacket, do so without any of the insignia (pins, badges, patches, etc.)