Building a Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer’s Hat Box

Описание: Recently, I was commissioned by a dear friend to build them a Hat box for their Combination Cover.

On September 11, 2001, our Nation was attacked, and on that fateful day, I was a Boatswain’s Mate 2n​d​ Class in the U.S. Coast Guard. Although I was on leave at my parent’s home, I was immediately recalled to my duty station in Bellingham, Washington.

Upon arrival at my station, I was tasked with training a group of freshly minted Coasties direct to us from Basic Training in Cape May, New Jersey. These Coast Guard men and women I served with would become the line in the sand here and overseas. They would become the face and frontline of maritime homeland security around the globe.

One of these new Coast Guard members was a young lady from Southern California. She was an absolute ball of fire and she would eventually deploy to the Middle East sometime after departing our unit as the combat medic for her maritime combat unit.

Fast forward 19 years, and we are here now, and I’m proud to say that young lady is still without a doubt, an absolute ball of fire, and now a Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.

To say that I am proud of her perseverance, her service, and her family would be an understatement. Several weeks ago, this Chief asked me to make a hat box for her. She asked ME, a mentor from nearly two decades earlier. As a retired Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer, I was absolutely honored to build such a thing for such an amazing servicemember and friend especially when a Chief’s hat box is to protect and display the Chief’s hat and what it stands for.

Sylvia, thank you for the honor of continuing to be part of your Coast Guard story.

Terry Stinson

Terry owns Puddle Pirate Projects, which specializes in handmade wood creations including American flags, cutting and charcuterie boards, decorative signs, and other specialty made-to-order items. At Puddle Pirate Projects, patriotism and craftsmanship collide to bring a unique array of designs, each handmade in the Pacific Northwest by founder, artisan woodworker, and proud Veteran: Terry Stinson.

Check out the amazing hat box created by Terry below and feel free to follow along with his journey at ​@PuddlePirateProjects.

The Chief Petty Officer’s Hat Box: “The trade mark of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer, “The Anchor,” was inherited from the Revenue Cutter Service. The fouled anchor with a shield superimposed to its shank (the emblem of the Officers of the Revenue Cutter Service) is still worn on the shoulder boards of Coast Guard Flag Officers.

The anchor is the identifying authority of the Chief Petty Officer and is emblematic of a Chief. It represents stability and security. It reminds Chiefs of their responsibility to keep those they serve safe from harm’s way.
The historical significance of the shield dates back to the Revenue Cutter Service, when the U. S. Congress added the shield to the ensign in 1799 to distinguish cutters from other naval vessels. The 13 stars and 13 stripes on the shield represent the 13 original colonies.

The chain, symbolic of flexibility and strength, reminds Chiefs that the chain of life is forged day-by-day, link-by-link. The chain also represents the reliance of one CPO on another to get a job completed, and stresses that every Chief should endeavor not to be the weak link in the chain.
The chain fouled around the anchor represents the “Sailor’s disgrace,” and reminds Chiefs there may be times when circumstances are beyond their control in the performance of duty, yet a Chief must complete the task.

A white combination hat, known as “The Hat,” with an anchor above the brim became the rite of passage for all First Class Petty Officers promoted to Chief. When they left behind their “Cracker Jacks” and “Dixie Cups” and donned a new uniform, “The Hat” became the trademark of the Coast Guard Chief.” This was taken from the Chief Petty Officers Association website at https://www.uscgcpoa.org/about/histor...

The Chief’s hatbox is to protect and display the Chief’s hat and what it stands for.

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