Chevrons and Diamonds

1944 117th Naval Construction Battalion “Bulldogs”

VetCollector
2–3 minutes
Creamy white wool flannel, adorned entirely with chain stitched lettering, numeral and soutache, this uniform was perhaps the most expensive wartime set from the 1940s (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).
All of the green accents are directly chain stitched onto the jersey (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

This “Bulldogs” uniform set was worn by a player from the 117th Naval Construction Battalion (NCB) on Oahu in 1944. What is fascinating about this uniform over any other World War II era service set is the green adornments. The soutache on the sleeves, collar, button placket and trousers outseam is entirely chainstitched directly onto the garments. As expensive as these elements were to apply onto the uniform, the chain stitched chest lettering and back numerals made this uniform quite costly to manufacture.

The Bulldogs played in the 24-team Sea Bee League. The 1944 season was played in two halves with the teams evenly distributed between the “American” and “National” leagues. The Bulldogs finished in a four-team tie in the first-half losing to the 16h NCB “Shellbacks” in the first-half playoffs. In the second half, the Bulldogs stood atop the American league standings. To decide the American league representative in the championship, the Bulldogs faced the Shellbacks in a three-game series, losing two games to one.

Note the direct embroidered chain stitched soutache around the collar and that of the lettering (shown from the inside). The size “36” is the only tag present in the jersey (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

Uniform Features:

Jersey:

  • Buttons: The buttons are white-colored plastic, convex, two-hole.
  • Material: The base material is creamy white wool-flannel.
  • Soutache: A double line of green chain stitching that encircles the collar and down the placket. A pair of spaced single-line soutache is on the sleeve cuffs.
  • Lettering: Green chain stitched, direct-embroidered to the base material.
  • Numerals: Green chain stitched “3”, direct-embroidered to the base material, is centered on the back.
  • Sleeves: Ten-twelve inches, non-gusseted, non-vented.
  • Tag: Lacking manufacturer’s tags, the jersey has a small “36” size tag in the center of the collar.
Beautiful chain stitched embroidery adorns the front and back of this jersey rather than applied athletic felt letters (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

Trousers:

  • Buttons: white plastic, concave, four-hole buttons
  • Material: The base material is creamy white wool-flannel.
  • Soutache: A quadruple line of green chain stitching extending from the waistband down the outer seam of the trousers.
  • Tags: Small “36” size tag in the waistband.
  • Other Features: The waistband also bears a faded “U.S.” stamp.
The quadruple chainstitched soutache extends from the waistband down the outseam of each trouser leg. Inside the waistband, the trousers are stamped with “U.S.” and include a “36” size tag (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

*This uniform group is presently a part of the Chevrons and Diamonds Collection.

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