Women also served in the US Navy during WW2, in the female naval organization created in July 1942 known as the “WAVES”, as nurses, pharmacist mates, clerical staff, and in other capacities to free men for combat. Navy Chief Pharmacist Mates of WW2, whether male or female, provided vital medical care to wounded US Navy sailors and US Marines aboard hospital ships, but, since they were enlisted sailors rather than officers, that was done at the direction of the medical officer. The first WAVE to become a Chief Pharmacist Mate earned that rank in February 1945; they came a long way baby. The WAVES were disbanded in June 1948, providing only a brief 3 1/3 year window where a female could attain that rank as part of the WAVES, making this uniform a special and rare piece, and a testament to the contribution to the war effort of American women during the 1940s; they certainly comprised their own half of the “greatest generation”. This US Navy Post-WW2 WAVES Chief Pharmacist Mate CPO Badged Blue Wool Service Dress Uniform is in Very Good condition, with some scattered spot mothing to the skirt, some scattered soiling to the lining of the overseas cap, and with some scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it consists of the original navy blue wool service dress tunic, the original navy blue wool skirt with a brass side zipper, and the orignal navy blue wool overseas cap (specially designed to compliment a woman’s coiffure) in Size 21 1/2. The tunic features gilt brass “Navy eagle” front buttons, a red embroidered on navy blue wool Chief Pharmacist Mate rate at the left sleeve (the caduceus rather than red cross on the rate was adopted in 1948), a block of 4 red embroidered on navy blue wool “service stripes” at the left cuff, and “anchor and propeller” embroidered on dark navy felt WAVES insignia at the collar. The female Chief Pharmacist Mate who wore this uniform was almost certainly a WW2 veteran. The overseas cap carries both of the original “W.A.V.E.S.” contract tags inside, and the set is a fine example of a rare, original US Navy Post-WW2 WAVES Chief Pharmacist Mate CPO Badged Blue Wool Service Dress Uniform.
Uniforms