Dungaree Do No Longer

 Dungaree Do No Longer

With Veteran’s Day so recently passed, my thoughts have been channeled along a military path. For me that opens an entire rabbit warren and not just down a single rabbit hole. I first recalled those in my family who served in the military: several of my uncles, my brother-in-laws, my father-in-law, and my dad E. Carl Beck as well as myself. Even though not actually military I thought of my mother-in-law Retha Johnson Morrison who worked in Washington D.C. as a secretary for the FBI during WWII.

My thoughts wandered into all parts of the world where they have served Canada, Europe, Asia, the United States, and Iceland. Once my mind completed the world tour I began to think about the uniforms that the military has worn: the dress blues, the dress whites, the fatigues, the khaki browns, and the olive drabs in plain colored cloth and in camouflage patterns. The designs were created to blend in with the area that the soldier or sailor was deployed. I guess that is no surprise that the military should be less of a target in hostile territories. They would be less noticeable.

In my intellectual wanderings I found out a fact that had escaped me until now…The United States Navy’s dungarees were retired. Because I am no longer active duty nor do I have any recent interactions or knowledge of any active duty Navy personnel, I just found out that the Navy no longer uses the work clothing called dungarees. The pale washed out looking button down shirt and the bell-bottom denim pants have been retired since 1999, which is just over 25 years. I’d been oblivious to that fact. Wow, time certainly flies and I found that I’m really behind in what’s happening, at least the small details.

Because the dungarees were the naval work uniforms, I would have not been aware of their retirement, because I wouldn’t have been in areas where the dungarees would have been worn. The Navy stopped issuing the dungarees in favor of fatigues. I guess it does make sense. If the military can purchase items in larger quantities, the price per unit should drop although it does sadden me to think a little more of me have become antiquated and my memories have been retired. They are kept alive on the pages of history books where they collect dust and cobwebs..