Help with my great-grandfather's uniform

[ObKrieger]

Hi guys,

My great grandfather, Kermit Dotson, was a Merchant Mariner during WWII. A distant relative recently sent me this exciting photo, which is of Kermit at 18. He was born in 1909, so that would date this photo to 1927. What uniform is he wearing, exactly? Can anyone identify the insignia? I have never seen one like it.

Thanks,
Mo

[GIZMO8Z]

It looks like he's wearing a Navy/ USMC shooting badge:

[ObKrieger]

It looks like he's wearing a Navy/ USMC shooting badge:

That certainly looks like it, but isn't he in a transitional Army uniform? Do you think he would have been eligible for that award?

[GIZMO8Z]

No clue, Mo! Other than what could be the shooting badge, I don't recognize anything else.

[SteveR]

The lapel DUI indicates that he was an aid to a 3 star Army General. I believe he is wearing a 4 pocket Army blouse.

[ObKrieger]

Hi Steve, thanks! Do you have any links to images of these so I can take a closer look? I can't seem to find any.

[ObKrieger]

A friend of mine pointed out that the DUI could be for the 35th Infantry Regiment.

Army 35th Infantry Regiment Crest

[Stinkpotpete]

Yup, when you enlarge the picture it does look like that crest. Can't make out his military specialty though, it was worn on the left side and that's facing too far from the camera.

If this link works, it has some good pictures and info on the pre-war uniforms

Us Army Uniforms of Wwii - Shelby L. Stanton - Google Books

[gel65]

The shooting badge is US army from the 1920s they appear to be like the 40s period marine badges