US Navy, Marines & Army.

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Rear Admiral Jack Jestin Appleby, USN.
 
Rear Admiral Jack J. Appleby served in the Second World War and held key state side Supply Corps. commands during the Cold War. He was Deputy Commandant of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and was the CO of the Naval Supply Center, playing a vital role in the postwar period.
 
Jack Jestin Appleby was born in Missouri on the 22nd of August 1915. He was educated at Santa Ana High School in California, before attending Berkeley University, which is where his naval career began. On the 21st of May 1938 he was commissioned an Ensign in the Reserves, transferring to the Supply Corps. in August, where he trained as a Supply Officer at the Naval Supply and Finance School. It would appear that Appleby specialised in aviation as he was then posted to the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga in May 1939 where he remained for two years before joining the Fleet Air Wing Four. In September 1942 he was posted to the Naval Air Station, Seattle, as Assistant Supply Officer as well as Naval Air Center Supply Officer. A year later he was on the Commander’s staff of Fleet Air Wing Sixteen, serving in the South Atlantic, for which he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal. In January 1945 he transferred onto the Staff of the Commander Air Force, US Atlantic Fleet, however in July of that year he transferred again to the carrier USS Tarawa. During the war he saw action in the Atlantic, South Pacific and Aleution Islands Campaign. Post WWII Appleby was promoted and sent to Washington as Director of the Personnel Division, Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Navy Department, before assuming the role of Supply and Fiscal Officer, Naval Air Station, Alameda, in October 1950. After four years he then attended the Naval War College before being posted to the Naval Air Force Commander‘s staff, Pacific Fleet, in mid 1956. In September 1958 he accepted a two year posting as Executive Officer, Aviation Supply Office, in Philadelphia. Now a Captain, his next assignment took him to New York in 1960, as CO of Naval Ships Store Office, Brooklyn, and at the start of 1963 he was also given the post of Assistant Chief for Resale Programs. By November 1964 Appleby had reached Flag Rank and was a two-star Rear Admiral, where he was serving as CO of the Navy Ship's Store Office (NSSO), until April 1965. On the 1st of May 1965 he assumed the role of Deputy Chief of Naval Material (Material and Facilities) at the Navy Department. RADM Appleby then become Deputy Commandant of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, based in Washington DC, in April 1966, for which he was given a Legion of Merit. After just over two years he became the Commanding Officer of the Naval Supply Center in Oakland, California, and by the 1st of February 1970 was Rear Admiral commanding the Naval Supply Office in Philadelphia. (A second Legion of Merit came in 1968). This was his last posting before retiring on the 1st of July 1971, just short of 33 years dedicated service. Admiral Jack Jestin Appleby passed away on the 24th of April 1986, aged 70 years old. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
 
More about Rear-Admiral Appleby can be found in www.history.navy.mil, www.idnc.library.illinois.edu, www.ancestors.familysearch.org, www.usni.org, National Security Seminar: Prospectus, 1968-69, and www.findagrave.com


Maker: Art Caps.
Tag: US Navy Admiral's visor cap (Appleby).

Rear Admiral Jack Jestin Appleby, USN. Supply Corps. visor cap

Rear-Admiral Jack Jestin Appleby, USN. Copyright 2025.

Rear-Admiral Jack Jestin Appleby USN.
by Olivier Dorrell
Digital Media, 2025
Unofficial contemporary portrait.
11.7 in. x 8.3 in. (297 mm x 210 mm).
Copyright, the artist 2025.
Contact the museum to use this image.

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Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely USN.
 
Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely was an influential naval officer whose impressive career paved the way for a more progressive and equal service, regardless of race, inspiring future generations. He held various sea commands during the Vietnam War before commanding the US 3rd Fleet and becoming the Director of the Defense Communication Agency.

Gravely enlisted into the Navy in 1942 and was commissioned in 1944. He was the first African American navy officer to serve aboard a fighting ship, and would go on to serve during the Korean War and Vietnam War. In the 1960s he made another first by becoming the Captain of the USS Falgout, an Edsall Class Destroyer, as well as the USS Taussig. During the Vietnam War he took command of  the USS Jouett before promotion to Flag Rank and Rear Admiral in 1971, yet another first and a victory over discrimination and prejudice. As Commander of the 11th Naval District he inspected the USS Anchorage  on the 2nd of June 1976. In 1978 he took command of the US 3rd Fleet with promotion to Vice Admiral, and in 1980 became the Director of the Defense Communications Agency. On the 1st of August 1980 VADM Gravely retired. He passed away on the 22nd of October 2004, aged 82 years old. The destroyer USS Gravely was named in his honour.

Full biography coming soon.

More about Vice Admiral Gravely can be found in www.aaregistry.org, www.vawarmemorial.org, www.usni.org, www.blackhistorymuseum.org

Maker: Kyoto.  A Binky Cap. New Era.
Tag: US Navy Admiral's Command Ball caps (Gravely).

USN Command Ball caps from Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely USN.

Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely USN biography "Trailblazer" and 1974 autograph.

USS Falgout Command Ball cap with "scrambled eggs" named to Adm. S. Gravely.

Command Ball cap belonging to Captain Samuel L Gravely Jnr., the Commanding officer of the destroyer USS Jouett.

US Navy Admiral's Command Ball cap belonging to Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely, from the USS Anchorage, 1976.

Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely cap detail and medal ribbons, L to R: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Action.

Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely. USN. Copyright 2025.

Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely USN (circa 1970).
by Olivier Dorrell
Digital Media, 2025
Unofficial contemporary portrait.
11.7 in. x 8.3 in. (297 mm x 210 mm).
Copyright, the artist 2025.
Contact the museum to use this image.

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Admiral James Robert Hogg, USN.

Admiral James Robert Hogg served during the Vietnam War and held numerous sea commands, both as Captain and later Squadron and Flotilla commander. He commanded
the U.S. Seventh Fleet prior to becoming the Director of Naval Warfare. Upon promotion to Four-star Flag rank he became the U.S. Military Representative of the NATO Military Committee.

Full biography coming soon.

Maker: Decton. Art Caps.
Tag: Coldwar era US Navy Admiral's shirt and Garrison cap (Hogg).

Admiral James Robert Hogg, USN., uniform, worn when Vice Admiral of the 7th Fleet.

Vice Admiral Garrison cap. US Navy.

Surface Warfare Officer badge and medal ribbons of US Navy Admiral James Robert Hogg, showing (Top downwards, L to R): Legion of Merit with two gold stars (awarded 3 times), Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star (awarded twice), Navy / Marine Corps. Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, Navy Efficiency Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star (awarded twice), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960's device, and Pistol Marksmanship Medal with E device.

Admiral James Robert Hogg, USN. Copyright 2025.

Admiral James Robert Hogg USN (circa 1983).
by Olivier Dorrell
Digital Media, 2025
Unofficial contemporary portrait.
11.7 in. x 8.3 in. (297 mm x 210 mm).
Copyright, the artist 2025.
Contact the museum to use this image.

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Vice Admiral Jerry Owen Tuttle, USN.

Vice Admiral Jerry Owen Tuttle was an innovative and highly decorated senior US Navy  officer, who distinguished himself flying combat missions during the Vietnam War. He is recognized for bringing the Navy firmly into the digital age and pioneering command and control. He was the Flag officer commanding of the Task Force CTF-60 in 1983, and previosuly took the helm of the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier.

Full biography coming soon.

More about Vice-Admiral Tuttle can be found in www.epnaao.com, www.navintpro.org and www.moneyandking.com.

Maker: New Era.
Tag: 1983 US Navy Admiral's Command Ball cap, CTF-60 (Tuttle).

Vice Admiral Jerry Owen Tuttle, USN, Command Ball cap.

Vice Admiral Jerry Owen Tuttle, USN. Copyright 2025.

Vice Admiral Jerry Owen Tuttle USN (circa 1983).
by Olivier Dorrell
Digital Media, 2025
Unofficial contemporary portrait.
11.7 in. x 8.3 in. (297 mm x 210 mm).
Copyright, the artist 2025.
Contact the museum to use this image.

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Vice Admiral Diego E. Hernández, USN.

Vice Admiral "Duke" Diego Hernández was a decorated Vietnam War pilot with over 140 combat missions, postwar he held key commands, including Admiral of the U.S. Third Fleet and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Space Command, as well as NORAD. During that time he was the highest ranking Hispanic American naval officer.

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on the 25th of March 1934, Diego Hernández was awarded a navy scholarship in the reserves from Illonois Insitute of Technology before comissioned Ensign. After training and active service as a fighter pilot, including two tours in Vietnam.  he assumed command roles, most notably the carrier USS John F. Kennedy CV 67. Hernández was promoted to Flag rank and Rear Admiral upon appointment to Chief of Staff of  the Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic (COMNAVAIRLANT) in September 1981 and became CO of the U.S. Third Fleet in August 1986, assuming the Flagship USS Coronado AGF-11 (Auxiliary Command Ship). After 36 years of dedicated service he retired on the 1st of  February 1991. His awards include the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Distinguished Service Medal (Navy). Rear-Admiral Hernández passed away on the 7th of July, 2017, aged 83 years old. He did much to improve relations between the USA and Latin America and following his death was inducted into the Puerto Rican Hall of Fame.

More about Rear-Admiral Hernández can be found in www.iit.edu, www.epnaao.com, www.seattletimes.com, miamilaker.com, www.legacy.com, www.wearethemighty.com, www.opv.pr.gov, and valor.militarytimes.com.

From this Flag Officer’s distinct Command Ball cap style and 1988 period photos showing such caps in wear aboard USS Coronado, it points to having belonged to Admiral  Hernández, whose Flagship it was from 1986 until 1989. Incidentally the Coronado briefly became the Flagship of the US Middle East Force, from January 1988 until November 1988, for Operation Praying Mantis, under the flag of RADM Less.

Maker: California Headgear. Vanguard. Various.
Tag: 1980s US Navy Admiral's Command Ball cap, insignia and medal ribbons (Hernández).

Vice Admiral Diego E. Hernández, USN Command Ball cap.

Matching Admiral's visor peaked cap, similar to what Vice Admiral Diego E. Hernández would have worn.

Vice Admiral Diego E. Hernández, USN insignia and medal ribbons, reading L to R: Meritorious Service Medal with gold star (awarded twice), Legion of Merit with gold star (awarded twice), Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal (awarded three times), Vietnam Service Medal (with four bronze stars, denoting 5 campaigns), Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Medal (awarded three times), and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.

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Rear Admiral Ray R. Sareeram, Supply Corps., USN.
 
Rear Admiral R. R. Sareeram was an inspirational and talented Supply Corps. officer who had a distinguished career, holding key state side commands which allowed the USN to maintain a high level of readiness during a period of reform, earning the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) and the Defence Superior Service Medal (DSSM), as well as a Bronze Star during the Vietnam War. He is also noted as being the first American of Indian descent to reach Flag rank Rear Admiral (UH).
 
Ray Rupchand Sareeram was born on the 16th of February 1938 in California. He attended Sacramento Junior College before studying at Sacramento State College. In 1961 he was drafted into the US Navy and attended Officer Candidate School, commissioned Ensign in 1962, when he was sent to sea, earning the Surface Warfare Supply Officer badge, serving aboard the WW2 vintage Gearing Class destroyer USS Kenneth D. Bailey. By 1966 he was had been posted to Naples in Italy, aboard the Mars Class Combat Stores ship USS Sylvania, part of the United States 6th Fleet, Strike Force South, based in the Mediterranean Sea. During the Vietnam War he was in Saigon, responsible for Construction Contracts, where he earned four campaign stars and was awarded the Bronze Star. A specialist in logistics we was then posted to the 7th Fleet and Commander Task Force 75 (73/CTF) as Deputy Chief of Staff Supply, before assuming the role of Fleet Supply Officer at the HQ US Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbour. During the 1970s he also served at the HQ of Naval Supply Systems Command and at the Naval Ships Parts Control Center. In 1979 he became Supply Officer on the newly commissioned Submarine Tender USS Emory S Land. During the 1980s, now a Captain, he assumed command of the Defense Depot Ogden, an inter-branch support and logistics installation in Utah before becoming CO of the Naval Supply Centrer Oakland, California, wearing the Navy Command Ashore pin. Prior to promotion to Flag rank Sareeram became Fleet Supply Officer for Operation Desert Storm from August 1990 to February 1991. On the 14th of May 1991 he reached Flag rank with promotion to Rear Admiral (Lower Half). By July 1993 he had been promoted to Rear Admiral (Upper Half) and was Director of Supply Programs and Policy Division for the Chief of Naval Operations. In the course of his career his unit /ship was awarded the Navy Meritous Unit Commendation medal on no less than three occasions and his valuable service to the United Staes Navy was recognised with the prestigious Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Defence Superior Service Medal, and two Legion of Merit awards. After thirty three years of decicated service, Admiral Sareeram retired on the 1st of October 1995 to take up senior logistical posts in B & J Wholesale Club. Following a long illness RADM Ray R. Sareeram USN SC (Retired) tragically passed away at the relatively young age of 69 years old, on the 29th of August 2007, and was buried at Arlington Military Cemetery. A memorial scholarshop from the Navy Supply Corps. Foundation is in his name.
 
More about Rear Admiral Sareeram can be found at www.legacy.com, nara.getarchive.net, www.usni.org, www.vlm.cem.va.gov, www.congres.com, and www.prabook.com.

Maker: Bancroft. Various makers.
Tag: US Navy Admiral's visor cap, insignia and medals (Sareeram).

Rear Admiral Ray R. Sareeram, Supply Corps. , USN. visor cap

Rear Admiral Sareeram's medals (not in order of precedence). L to R: Distinguished Service Medal (Navy), Legion of Merit (awarded twice), Defense Superior Service Medal (Named), Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (awarded four times), Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal (awarded twice), Vietnam Service Medal (four campaigns), and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Rear Admiral Sareeram's Surface Warfare Insignia (Supply Corps.), Command Ashore Insignia and visor cap USN device (worn when ranked to Captain).

Rear Admiral Sareeram's incomplete medal ribbons and commemorative coins, L to R: Vietnam War veteran, Navy Supply Corps., Bicentennial 1795-1995 and United Sates Sixth Fleet, Strike Force South, 20th anniversary 1948-1968.

Rear Admiral Ray R. Sareeram, Supply Corps., USN. Copyright 2025.

Rear Admiral Ray R. Sareeram, Supply Corps., USN.
by Olivier Dorrell
Digital Media, 2025
Unofficial contemporary portrait.
11.7 in. x 8.3 in. (297 mm x 210 mm).
Copyright, the artist 2025.
Contact the museum to use this image.

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General Alfred Mason Gray Jnr. USMC.

General "Al" Gray Jnr. was a highly respected and beloved officer who served with distinction during the Korean War and Vietnam war, becoming the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, from 1987 till 1991.

Full biography coming soon.

The Commandant of the US Marine Corps. is a four star General and a member of the US Military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff; the board of senior officers who advise the President and Secretary of Defense on military matters. The Commandant is also responsible for the overall command of the Corps. and holds this position for around four years. He wears a distinctive cap with goldwire bullion peak and woven band.

This Dress cap dates to 1981 and most probably belonged to General Al Gray Jnr when he became the CO of the 2nd Marine Division in mid 1981. The distinctive high top and short profile, showing a bulge under the anchor certainly match to the cap he wore in May 1989 whilst Commandant.

Maker: Kingform Cap Company.
Tag: Coldwar USMC Commandant's Combinaton visor cap (Gray Jnr.).

General Alfred Mason Gray Jnr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, visor cap.

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First Lieutenant R. D. Manwell, US Army Medical Department.

Dr R. D. Manwell was a noted Professor from the University of Syracuse, New York. He authored various medical and research journals on topics such as Malariology and Toxoplasmosis. During the Second World War he was in Washington D.C. on vital assignment researching tropical diseases. We are honoured to display this US Army Medical Department officer’s cap to an individual who made an important contribution, not only to the war in the Pacific and later conflicts in Southeast Asia, but medicine as a whole.

This chocolate-coloured World War Two officer’s service cap has the typical russet brown leather peak and chinstrap. It even displays its original price tag of $7.50!

More about R. D. Manwell can be found here

Maker: Bancroft.
Tag: WWII US Army Medical  Department visor cap (Manwell).

Second World War US Army Medical Department officer's visor cap.

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