USMC WWII Marine Alpha uniform with black star on sleeve

[Philo]

Willmore, that is certainly him. He was a football player, and was inducted into his college Hall of Fame.

Eldon Werkheiser

RLeonard, Yes, Eldon Werkheiser was Infantry, what would be 03 now, although I'm not sure they used that MOS designation then. If I find out his brother's name, I'll post it. I didn't know that about the Navy and Special CPO's. I know the USMC band brings in trained musicians and starts them out as SSgts, I think. I've heard of them bringing specialists in as WO, but I don't know much about that.

RH1941, That uniform looks quite different from the one I posted, and it seems to have a patch on the right sleeve, instead of the left? I see what you mean by the "X".

[RH1941]

That is a discharge white diamond

[Willmore]

Here he is in the 1940 census.

Eldon Werkheiser from Stockton in 1940 Census District 43-28

[08SMLE48]

The belt and shoulder strap is a Sam Browne. The Marine Corps wears black leather while the Army wears brown. The piece you call a frog is a sword hanger for the officers Mameluke sword. These are usually worn with dress blues. The coats in post #23 and #25 look like newer material than WWII, almost exactly like our current issue ones. Current issue ones don’t have the “X” stitched on the shoulder straps either ( at least not on my enlisted ones).

I think the change to the new cut and material happened some time in the late 50s. The buttons look to be older. Perhaps they were acquired by him after his service.