THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 27, 1996 TAG: 9606270370
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 83 lines
Sailors from other ships eye the officers and chiefs of the guided missile destroyer Mitscher with curiosity. The brass grumbles that they're out of uniform.
Attracting the fuss are their long-billed khaki ballcaps, fashioned from the one the ship's namesake, Vice Adm. Marc Andrew ``Pete'' Mitscher, wore during some of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific during World War II.
It was simple, containing none of the embroidered ``scrambled eggs'' on its bill that would have designated Mitscher as an admiral then.
He didn't like ``scrambled eggs.''
Though many tried to persuade him otherwise, Mitscher never traded his ballcap for something more traditional, not even for a battle helmet when the shells were flying.
That's pretty much the way the crew of the Mitscher feels today: Nobody's going to mess with their hats.
``We really aren't supposed to wear these off base,'' said Cmdr. Ray Spicer, the Mitscher's commanding officer since May. ``But on occasions we have done that, and we catch a little flak. But we're so proud of them it's worth it.''
The Mitscher has found itself the center of a public clamor for the hats since its officers and chiefs substituted them for the traditional blue ballcaps they're authorized to wear.
Keeping them in stock is next to impossible, said Lt. James T. Irwin III, the ship's supply officer. ``I've sold about 600 so far,'' he said, and another 432 are on order. ``But we're sold out right now.''
Its long, broad bill and khaki color made it a trademark of Marc Mitscher, a naval aviator revered as a pioneer of fast carrier strikes during his command of Task Force 58, a powerful combination of flattops and other warships that wreaked havoc on the Japanese.
Mitscher led the carrier Hornet to the war in the Pacific, using it as a platform for Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle's B-25 raid on Tokyo in April 1942. His daring leadership also proved vital to the American victory in the battle of the Philippine Sea.
Spicer sees the admiral's spirit in his crew of 320 as they prepare for the ship's maiden voyage to the Mediterranean Sea with the carrier Enterprise battle group. They leave Friday with a dozen other ships to begin their six-month cruise.
``It's a badge of honor to get it and to wear it,'' said Lt. Cmdr. Brian Daugherty, the Mitscher's executive officer. ``Every time one of our first class (petty officers) makes chief, the first thing he does is to go out and get one.''
Chief Herman Murphy, the ship's boatswain, was made a gift of the hat from his division when he made chief. ``That's the first thing I put on,'' he said.
``I go to several ships, and they always want to know what's the purpose of the ballcap,'' he said. ``I let them know it's Admiral Mitscher's namesake and he used to wear this.
``People find it extraordinary. A lot like wearing khaki ballcaps. They think it's good for other ships, too.''
The officers and chiefs were at Waterside last weekend for a Surface Forces conference. Other ships' crews brought trinkets and memorabilia denoting their ship's pride. One brought a totem pole.
The Mitscher officers and chiefs brought their hats, even wore them with their summer white uniforms. That's a no-no.
Spicer just smiles. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Vice Adm. Marc Andrew Mitscher wouldn't part with his cap, even
during battle.
Color photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot
Herman Murphy adjusts the hat given to him by his division when he
made chief.
Photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot
Keeping the WWII-era ballcaps in stock is next to impossible, says
Lt. James T. Irwin III, the ship's supply officer. ``I've sold about
600 so far,'' and another 432 are on order. ``But we're sold out
right now.''
KEYWORDS: U.S. NAVY GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYER MITSCHER by CNB