Congress fights Navy decision to discontinue sailors' iconic peacoat

[TexasTowelie]

WASHINGTON -- When the late sculptor Stanley Bleifeld designed a bronze statue for the U.S. Naval Memorial in Washington, he depicted a lone sailor warning his hands in the pockets of his peacoat.

Both the statue and the double-breasted coat, with its classic turned up high collar, stand as symbols of the dedication and sacrifice of military service by Navy personnel throughout the nation’s history.

But come October, the peacoat will no longer be considered standard naval uniform issue, a bygone victim of government cost-cutting that has aroused objection from the U.S. companies that make the coat. Taking its place will be an all-weather raincoat with parka.

G. J. Littlewood and Sons Inc. of Philadelphia dies the wool for Navy peacoats, and Sterlingwear, an East Boston company, sews 40,000 of them annually for the Navy. They want Congress to reverse the Navy’s decision and save scores of manufacturing jobs.

Read more: http://www.meridianstar.com/cnhi_network/congress-fights-navy-decision-to-discontinue-sailors-iconic-peacoat/article_6f3426b1-3126-5910-90b6-90d974d73a09.html

[Docreed2003]

1. The Navy's recent fascination with uniform changes is infuriating

At least to me, as a navy Vet.

The peacoat is a freaking icon of the US Navy's uniforms. There's a reason that stores like J Crew and Gap and Banana Republic sell their versions of the coat every few years!! It's fashionable and it looks sharp, especially when matched with most US Navy uniforms. Now, go take a look at that parka they're pushing as a replacement....looks like shit and looks cheap. In no way does it compliment any of the winter uniforms!

The article doesn't spell this out, but I understand that the peacoat won't go away completely, it will just be optional. I also read that they're making the move to cut down on costs for new sailors seabags, fair enough. Well then why give a massive contract to Sterlingware in 2015 only to renege on that commitment two years later??? SMH, this move is either politically motivated or it's a decision being handed down from on high from some flag officer hoping to make a name for themselves. Ill be surprised if this change lasts forever.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I agree! I love peacoats!

My Dad was in the Navy and he looked great in his uniform! Even I had a peacoat and loved it. This makes no sense, it's a Navy icon.

[Gabi Hayes]

3. So does trump, except

he spells it with 2 ees

[TexasTowelie]

8. !

[Gabi Hayes]

11. I love myself!

[Docreed2003]

4. I still wear mine in the winter

Seriously the best winter coat I've ever owned! It's astounding to me that they would move from such an iconic, functional, stylish coat to something that looks like a garbage bag, seriously google the new cold weather parka!

[Rhiannon12866]

5. I did look - and was not impressed! And the cost? Yikes!

Cold weather parka

For those in seriously cold weather, the Navy is offering a new optional jacket to be worn with service uniforms. The 3-in-1 jacket has a waterproof outer shell that sports a center rank tab, like the NWU parka. This heavy-duty coat comes in at a That will be the better choice for thrifty sailors, as the forthcoming cold weather parka comes in at a chilly $330 and so officials are expecting low sales. Bristol said large sales are not expected, so Fewer than 100 have been ordered in the initial offering. The parka will be available at Naval Stations Newport, Rhode Island R.I. and Norfolk, Virginia Va.; at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia Va.; and through the uniform call center.

[Docreed2003]

6. And yet, in their rational for the change, they say the parka is a cheaper option!!

BS....certainly didn't pay that much for my peacoat!

[Rhiannon12866]

10. I wore one in my teens and it's still my favorite coat!

Once, my mother sent it to the wrong dry cleaners - and they melted the buttons! It came back with these gray, completely wrong buttons on it - at first I was sure it wasn't my coat! I wouldn't wear it again until we managed to find the proper Navy buttons as replacements! Peacoats do last forever.

[linuxman]

7. Leave it be for God's sake.

On a related note, uniform boards shouldn't be allowed to reconvene at less than 20 year intervals.

[Solly Mack]

9. I love peacoats.

And thanks to relatives in the Navy, I have 2 of the "real" thing. Old, but still great coats. They are my go-to coats.

[denbot]

12. I'm not a vain man, but I looked damn fine in my cracker jacks, and peacoat..

This shall not stand!

[Judi Lynn]

13. They are extraordinarily cool coats, extremely warm for people guarding the ship at night,

winter for how many long, long years?

It seems so easily identifiable, more so than any other military uniforn.

Loved ones and family members also remember their whole lives hugging their sailor coming home in his pea coat.

Distinctive in so many pictures, movies, they have been totally a part of the traditional image, along with the hats, caps, flared tremendous looking pants, they should never, ever be discarded. Tradition, for chrissakes.

Just to save a little money, to allow more money to be handed off to people like Trump, and the Koch Brothers, etc., they are willing to make their Navy members drag around in nondescript, shapeless bags with hoods.

Boooooooooooo! Hissssss.

Republicans intend to ruin absolutely everything make everything worse, cheaper, more pathetic in order to pocket the savings for their own donors, so they can keep their porky butts in Congress forever.

[Kaleva]

18. The old ones were heavy and warm.

The peacoats I wore while I was in the Navy were lighter and not so warm.

[jberryhill]

14. "a lone sailor warning his hands"

Warning his hands against what?

[TexasTowelie]

15. Their typo, not mine.

However, my vision does get bleary.

[jberryhill]

16. Oh, I realize that

But perhaps having been alone at sea for a while, he is warning his hands not to engage in any funny business in those pockets.

[Skittles]

17. absolutely not!

oh my gosh, the memories from being a USAF dependent teenager within driving distance of a US Naval Training Center

[GulfCoast66]

19. Sorry to be the odd man out here

But should we bring back sail powered schooners or the cool looking tricornerd hat? How about outfitting our officers with cutlasses rather than 9mm?

I hunt and fish and grew up loving my wool socks, sweaters, shirts and hats. Still love them and get please out of pulling on a wool sweater in cold weather but I seldom use them in outdoor situations anymore as technology has passed them by. Jackets and coats half the weight of wool keep me warmer and are also waterproof. And cut the wind. And breath better so I do not get all sweaty when exerting myself outdoors.

Wool clothing started slowly disappearing from deer camp over a decade ago and in the last few years synthetics have overtaken wool.

I do not miss having to pull on a slicker suit over bulky clothing when it starts raining.

Just my opinion. Have a nice day.

[obamanut2012]

21. i agree with you

Should the Army still use the old helmets and horrible boots, too?

No!

[Lurks Often]

22. You're not the only one, the military Gore-Tex jacket is very good

water proof, more wind proof then leather or wool and light for the protection it provides.

[Achilleaze]

20. Blame the republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief

freaking chickenhawk republicans are pissing on Navy tradition.

Disgusting.