Images(5)

Uniform, Military Dress

Object number2016.100.4 a-g

Manufacturer Crown Clothing Company

Manufacturer Kingform Cap Company, Inc.

Manufacturer Bremen-Bowdon

Date1937-1968

MediumPolyester/Wool/Fabric/Metal/Plastic/Paper/Ink/Leather/Vinyl

Credit LineGift of Frederick W. Lenn, Jr.

DescriptionUnited States Marine Corps (USMC) Blue Dress "A" enlisted uniform consisting of coat, pants, belt, and cover (hat). Military uniform dress coat. Dark blue (or black) polyester and wool blend with red piping trim. Long sleeve. Standing collar. One breast pocket and one hip pocket on each side. One belt loop on each side. Seven buttons down front opening: top six are brass with USMC emblem (Eagle, globe, and anchor-EGA) on front, bottom button is black plastic. Brass buttons with USMC EGA emblem on front include one on each shoulder loop, one on each pocket, and three on each sleeve cuff. Red and gold embroidered Master Gunnery Sergeant rank insignia patch on top of both sleeves. Red and gold embroidered patch with eight service stripes at bottom of each sleeve. Gold metal EGA emblem lapel pin on each lapel. Decorations over proper left breast include ten commemorative medals (two rows of five medals) and two qualification badges: top row of medals, from left to right: Good Conduct Medal with three service stars, Expeditionary Medal-Marine Corps, China Service Medal, American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal; second row of medals, from left to right: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal (Korea); bottom left decoration is a Rifle Expert Qualification Badge and bottom right decoration is a Pistol Expert Qualification Badge for the years 1961, 1963, and 1964. Military uniform dress pants. Sky blue (royal blue) pants with red stripe down sides of legs. Two hip pockets and two back pockets; back pockets have one blue plastic button each. Seven belt loops around waist. Zipper front with metal latch at top center. White web belt. Rectangular gold-tone metal buckle. Front of buckle has relief of USMC EGA emblem flanked by two laurel branches. Gold latch closure device on opposite end of belt. Cover (aka barracks cover or peaked hat or enlisted service cap). White fabric hat with black patent leather visor and chinstrap. Chinstrap is secured to hat with brass button on each end; button has USMC Eagle, Globe, and Anchor (EGA) emblem on front. Gold-tone metal USMC EGA device pinned to front of hat. Clear vinyl strap across underside of hat that connects to both EGA buttons via keyholes in strap. Black leather sweatband.Dimensions(a) Width between shoulder seams 17, Length 32.5;
(b) Width at waist 16, Length 44;
(c) Height 2.125, Width when buckled 14.75, Width when unbuckled 32, Depth 0.75;
(d) Height 5.75, Width 11.125, Depth 11.75;
(e) Height 1, Width 2;
(f) Height 1, Width 0.875;
(g) Height 1, Width 0.875.
Inscriptions(a)
Decorations over proper left breast include ten commemorative medals and two qualification badges with identifying text:

Top row of medals, from left to right:
Good Conduct Medal has text on front "UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS / SEMPER FIDELIS" and reverse "FIDELITY ZEAL OBEDIENCE" around the perimeter and at center "No 99175 / WALTER F. LENKOSKI / 1ST ENLISTMENT / 1933-1937",
Expeditionary Medal-Marine Corps has text on front "EXPEDITIONS" and reverse "UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS / FOR SERVICE",
China Service Medal has text on front "CHINA / SERVICE" and reverse "UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS / FOR SERVICE",
American Defense Medal has text on front "AMERICAN DEFENSE" and reverse "FOR / SERVICE / DURING THE / LIMITED EMERGENCY / PROCLAIMED BY / THE PRESIDENT / ON SEPTEMBER 8 1939 / OR DURING THE / UNLIMITED EMERGENCY / PROCLAIMED BY / THE PRESIDENT / MAY 27 1941",
American Campaign Medal has text on front "AMERICAN CAMPAIGN" and reverse "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / 1941 / 1945";

Second row of medals, from left to right:
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal has text on front "ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN" and reverse "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / 1941 / 1945",
WWII Victory Medal has text on front "WORLD WAR II" and reverse "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1941-1945" around the perimeter and at center "FREEDOM / FROM FEAR AND WANT / FREEDOM OF SPEECH / AND RELIGION",
National Defense Medal has text on front "NATIONAL DEFENSE",
Korean Service Medal has text on front "KOREAN SERVICE" and reverse "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA",
United Nations Service Medal (Korea) has text on metal band across the front of the ribbon "KOREA" and reverse "FOR SERVICE IN / DEFENSE OF THE / PRINCIPLES OF THE / CHARTER OF THE / UNITED NATIONS";

Bottom left Rifle Expert Qualification Badge has text on front at top "RIFLE EXPERT" ,

Bottom right Pistol Expert Qualification Badge has text on front on upper band "PISTOL EXPERT" and on lower band "1961-63-64".
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(b)
Paper sales tag attached with plastic barb to proper left side near waist: one side has printed text including barcodes, product numbers, and size text "34R"; other side has orange adhesive label with printed text "MCX MCSS / DPSC / [product numbers] / FOR $47.00" and "Jeff" handwritten in black ink along side.

(d)
Inside has at the center is a white label with black text "IDENTIFICATION" with lines underneath for writing.

(f-g)
Typed/stamped purple numerals "849 / 408 4 30 / 149 390". (a) "SEMPER FIDELIS" means "always faithful" or "always loyal"; this is the motto of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). Latin
Marks(a)
White tag inside collar has black printed text "39L / 8405-01-512-3170".
Two labels inside coat proper right front panel:
top label is embroidered with American flag and text "MADE FOR / DSCP / BY / CROWN CLOTHING COMPANY / USA";
bottom label is white with black text "COAT, MAN'S, POLY/WOOL / GABARDINE MC SH 2312 / SP0100-05-D-0504/0408 / CROWN CLOTHING COMPANY / 58% POLYESTER/42% WOOL / TO KEEP YOUR COAT LOOKING SMART INSIST / ON IT BEING PROPERLY PRESSED / PRESSING INSTRUCTIONS...", "05" stamped in black ink in top left corner of bottom label.

(b)
White fabric tag with black embroidered text inside pants on proper left back pocket lining "MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR / DEFENSE / LOGISTICS / AGENCY / by Bremen-Bowdon".
White label with black printed text inside pants on proper right back pocket lining "Size: 34R / Trousers, Men's, Poly/Wool Sky Blue / FiberContent:55/45 Poly/Wool Gabardine / NSN:8405-01-280-0132 / Name of Contractor: Bremen Bowden / Contract NO: SPM1C1-12-D-1034 / DRY CLEAN ONLY".

(d)
Inside hat near the front is a white label with black printed text and barcode "DEPT RICHTER# 862302 / ITEM# 60035 / SIZE 7-1/8 / ENLISTED SERVICE CAP..."
Inside hat, near the back is a white label with blue maker's mark "Kingform Cap / [logo]".
Inside hat on sweatband is size in gold text "7 / 1/8".

(e)
Printed black text "FORM XX / INSPECTED BY / NO. 5 / If any defect should be discovered / Return this ticket with garment".
Historical NotesPart of a collection that documents the military boxing career of donor Frederick W. Lenn, Jr.'s father, Freddie Lenn. Lenn was born Frederick Walter Lenkoski on December 29th, 1914, in Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood. He learned to box at the boxing program set-up by Father Cox, the famous social activist priest from Pittsburgh. He began to amateur box in 1930, at the Frawley Athletic Club. At age 17, he won the lightweight championship in the Golden Gloves. A year later he enlisted in the Marines. He spent 1934 to 1936 in Shanghai where he continued to box for the military. He won the "Light Heavyweight Champion of the Orient" at the All Asiatic match. He returned to Pittsburgh and went pro after signing with promoter Art Rooney. His last pro fight was in 1940. After Pearl Harbor he was called from the reserves and went on active duty in the South Pacific where he began his coaching career in the Marine Corps. He was a boxing trainer for the 1959-1960 Pan Am games where Cassius Clay participated. He was the first military trainer to become a head Olympic boxing coach for the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. He retired from the Marines in 1968.

Previous owner Fredrick Walter Lenn Sr. (born 1914)

Related institution United States Marine Corps

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