---
title: 'Insignia, medals and decorations: U.S. Navy, Marines and Coast Guard'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/insignia-medals-decorations-navy-marines-coast-guard-1942/
description: 'Sponsor-printed reference chart on a navy-blue ground: rows of Navy, Marine and Coast Guard shoulder devices, rating badges, specialty marks.'
section: Collection
---

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3. Insignia, medals and decorations: U.S. Navy, Marines and Coast Guard

[![Insignia, medals and decorations: U.S. Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, 1942 US advertisement: Sponsor-printed reference chart](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/insignia-medals-decorations-navy-marines-coast-guard-1942.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/insignia-medals-decorations-navy-marines-coast-guard-1942.jpg)

# Insignia, medals and decorations: U.S. Navy, Marines and Coast Guard

Sponsor-printed reference chart on a navy-blue ground: rows of Navy, Marine and Coast Guard shoulder devices, rating badges, specialty marks, service medals and decorations, with the Medal of Honor at the centre. A grey panel at the foot names the Commercial Credit Company and its employees in service. The technique is faint: the company's name sits beside the services' insignia, a transfer of their standing.

## Propaganda techniques used in this advertisement

[Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
INSIGNIA, MEDALS AND DECORATIONS
U. S. NAVY, MARINES AND COAST GUARD
SEMPER FIDELIS
CAP DEVICES
OFFICER (Navy)
OFFICER (Coast Guard)
OFFICER (Marines)
WARRANT OFFICER (Coast Guard)
WARRANT OFFICER (Navy)
AVIATOR Breast Emblem
SUBMARINE Breast Emblem
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER (Navy)
MARINES (Enlisted)
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER (Coast Guard)
AVIATION OBSERVER Breast Emblem
MIDSHIPMAN (Navy)
CADET (Coast Guard)
PARACHUTIST Breast Emblem
OFFICERS SHOULDER AND CUFF DEVICES - NAVY
ADMIRAL
VICE ADMIRAL
REAR ADMIRAL
CAPTAIN
COMMANDER
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
LIEUTENANT (Senior Grade)
LIEUTENANT (Junior Grade)
ENSIGN
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER
WARRANT OFFICER
OFFICERS CORPS DEVICES - NAVY
LINE
COAST GUARD
MEDICAL
DENTAL
CIVIL ENGINEERING
SUPPLY
CHAPLAIN (Christian)
CHAPLAIN (Jewish)
NAVY NURSE CORPS
PETTY OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN RATINGS AND INSIGNIA
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER (Outstanding Record)
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
1st CLASS PETTY OFFICER
2nd CLASS PETTY OFFICER
3rd CLASS PETTY OFFICER
OFFICER'S STEWARD, 1st CLASS
AVIATION MACHINIST'S MATE
AVIATION CARPENTER'S MATE
AVIATION AEROGRAPHER
AVIATION METALSMITH
AVIATION ORDNANCEMAN
AVIATION GENERAL UTILITY
SIGNALMAN
CARPENTER'S MATE
BOATSWAIN'S MATE
QUARTERMASTER
BUGLER
MUSICIAN
FIRE CONTROLMAN
GUNNER'S MATE
MACHINIST'S MATE
RADIOMAN
COMMISSARY STEWARD
STOREKEEPER
ELECTRICIAN'S MATE
METALSMITH
PHARMACIST'S MATE
PHOTOGRAPHER
YEOMAN
COOK
SERVICE MEDALS
CIVIL WAR
SPANISH WAR
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
CHINA
CUBA
MEXICO
GOLD LIFE SAVING
NICARAGUA
HAITI
SANTO DOMINGO
VICTORY MEDAL- WORLD WAR
2ND NICARAGUA
YANGTSE
OFFICERS' SHOULDER DEVICES AND DEPARTMENTAL INSIGNIA - MARINES
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
MAJOR GENERAL
BRIGADIER GENERAL
COLONEL
LIEUTENANT COLONEL
MAJOR
CAPTAIN
1st LIEUTENANT
2nd LIEUTENANT
WARRANT OFFICER
ADJUTANT & INSPECTOR'S DEPT.
QUARTERMASTER'S DEPT.
PAYMASTER'S DEPT.
BRIG. GENERAL'S AIDE
AVIATION CADET
CHIEF GUNNER
BAND LEADER
WARRANT OFFICERS DEVICES
ELECTRICIAN (Chief and Warrant)
CARPENTER (Chief and Warrant)
RADIO ELECTRICIAN (Chief and Warrant)
MACHINIST (Chief and Warrant)
PAY CLERK (Chief and Warrant)
PHARMACIST (Chief and Warrant)
GUNNER (Chief and Warrant)
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS - MARINES
1st GRADE LINE
2nd GRADE LINE
3rd GRADE LINE
1st GRADE STAFF
2nd GRADE STAFF
3rd GRADE STAFF
4th GRADE
5th GRADE
6th GRADE
ENLISTED MEN'S SPECIALTY INSIGNIA - NAVY
SUBMARINE
RIGID AIRSHIP
GUN POINTER
MASTER DIVER
EX-APPRENTICE
TURRET CAPTAIN
BOMB SIGHT MECHANIC
NAVY E
MASTER HORIZONTAL BOMBER
TORPEDOMAN
GUN CAPTAIN
PARACHUTE MAN
DIVER, FIRST CLASS
SEAMAN GUNNER
PRINTER
EXPERT RIFLEMAN
SHARPSHOOTER-RIFLE
GUN POINTER, 1st CLASS
DECORATIONS
VALOUR
MEDAL OF HONOR (New)
MEDAL OF HONOR (Old)
BREVET MEDAL (Marines)
DIST. SERV. MEDAL
NAVY CROSS
DIST. FLYING CROSS
SPEC. MERITORIOUS
SERVICE AND COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS
SILVER LIFE SAVING
EXPEDITIONARY (Navy)
[remaining small chart labels (insignia, rating, medal and decoration names) cut at the 4000-character cap; the list above runs in reading order from the top of the sheet]
Compliments of COMMERCIAL CREDIT COMPANY - Baltimore
More than 600 men, 25% of the male employes of the Company and subsidiaries, are serving in the American Armed Forces. This Company has geared its operation to make available to American Industry its resources and its many years of experience in financing to speed war production. Facilities are also available for Non-Notification Open Account Financing, Factoring and Credit Insurance for manufacturers and wholesalers. This Company for thirty years directly, and through its subsidiaries, has been financing the purchase of automobiles, refrigerators, heating equipment, ranges, radios and other time and labor saving equipment for both industries and individuals. In many states the Company makes available a cash loan plan for automobile owners and under the terms of FHA property owners may borrow to make additions and improvements to their properties.
CREDIT FACILITIES FOR AMERICAN INDUSTRIES AND FAMILIES
AS OF MARCH 1942
PRINTED IN U.S.A. (c) 1942
```

Text exceeds the 4000-character cap; the sponsor panel and imprint are given in full, and the chart labels are cut part-way (marked in the text).

[← Neen, Coen, ook wij burgers zullen niet dispereeren! (No, Coen, we citizens too shall not despair!)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/indie-weerbaar-neen-coen-1942/) [Is your farming on the level? →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/is-your-farming-on-the-level-1942/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Fragments of the Abydos king list from Ramesses II's temple, in the British Museum: rows of royal cartouches](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/abydos-king-list-ramesses-ii-temple-british-museum/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Card stacking, Transfer)
- [Clay cylinder with the Ehulhul inscription of Nabonidus, king of Babylon, describing work on three temples](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/cylinder-nabonidus-ehulhul-inscription-555bce/) (Neo Babylonian Empire · 0000 · Transfer)
- [Seated limestone statue of Hatshepsut as king, with feminine royal titles on the throne, reassembled from fragments broken up at Deir el-Bahri](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hatshepsut-seated-statue-limestone-met-1458bce/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Transfer, Testimonial)
- [Glazed-brick panel with a striding lion, from Babylon (reign of Nebuchadnezzar II)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ishtar-gate-panel-striding-lion-nebuchadnezzar-ii-604bce/) (Neo Babylonian Empire · 0000 · Transfer)
- [Limestone relief block of Ramesses II wearing the White Crown, a jubilee relief from his temple at Herakleopolis](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/jubilee-relief-ramesses-ii-herakleopolis-met-05-4-256/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Transfer)
- [Line drawing of the Great Kadesh battle relief on the walls of the Ramesseum, from Breasted's History of Egypt](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/kadesh-relief-ramesseum-breasted-drawing-1275bce/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Card stacking, Transfer). Content note: A drawing of an Egyptian royal battle relief showing Hittite soldiers and horses killed and drowned, as the king's monument presented the battle; it is a one-sided image made by the winning side's own account.
- [Gypsum alabaster slab inscribed in cuneiform, from Nimrud (Kalhu), reign of Ashurnasirpal II](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/nimrud-slab-ashurnasirpal-ii-inscription-883bce/) (Neo Assyrian Empire · 0000 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Egyptian alabaster jar inscribed with the name of Xerxes the Great in four languages (Old Persian, Elamite, Babylonian, Egyptian), 486 to 466 BCE](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/xerxes-jar-four-languages-486bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Transfer)
