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Perch Base
Dolphin
Anniversary
The U.S. Navy Submarine Warfare Insignia ("Dolphins") was officially approved for wear on March 24, 1924, by Acting Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt Jr. after being proposed by Captain Ernest J. King in the summer of 1923, while serving as Commander, Submarine Division Three, the design features a bow view of an O-class submarine flanked by dolphins (mahi-mahi).
From 1924 to 1947, "Qualified" enlisted personnel wore an embroidered cloth version of this design on their right sleeve,
midway between the wrist and elbow. Officers wore a gold-plated metal pin on their left breast above their
ribbons and medals. In 1947, new regulations dictated that enlisted personnel wear the embroidered insignia
on their left breast—in the same position as officers. When the Navy began allowing officers to embroider
a gold insignia on their uniforms in 1950, enlisted personnel were allowed to wear a silver-plated metal
version of the pin.
This article was submitted by our shipmate Bob Saenz (Bob da COB.)
Tang crewmember Rubin MacNeil Raiford, CS2(SS), of Georgetown SC is purported to be the youngest US serviceman to pay the ultimate sacrifice during World War II. Rubin enlisted on October 13, 1942 at the age of thirteen and was subsequently assigned to the submarine USS TANG (SS-306). Rubin was age 15 years, 5 months and 11 days when he went down with the Tang. (Note Dolphins on left sleeve in photo.)
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