CHAPTER XIII

UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF THE WAR WORKERS OF THE YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

The War Work department of the Young Men’s Christian Association has established branches at the principal U. S. Army and Navy camps and stations at home and abroad for the benefit of the enlisted men. At these stations everything practicable is done for the comfort and entertainment of the soldiers, sailors and marines who may be in the vicinity; lectures, music and moving pictures are provided, books, magazines and papers are furnished and facilities for writing letters are supplied.

These Y. M. C. A. stations, or “huts” as they are frequently styled, are conducted by war workers detailed by the Association. In order that these war workers may be readily recognized at all times by officers and enlisted men a distinctive uniform has been authorized for them.

This uniform is made of forestry-green cloth and consists of a sack coat, breeches, tan leather shoes, tan leather leggings, cap or field hat, flannel shirt, four-in-hand tie, and an overcoat.

_The coat_ is single-breasted, with a rolling collar and notched lapels, closed down the front by a single row of bronze buttons, shaped to the figure, the skirt extending to about ten inches below the waist. On each shoulder there is a shoulder strap sewn into the sleeve shoulder seam and attached at the collar end by a small bronze button. On each breast there is a patch pocket and on each side below the waist a patch pocket of the bellows type, each pocket being closed at the top by a shield shaped flap secured by a small bronze button. Around the waist is sewn a belt of the same material as the coat. The insignia of the Y. M. C. A. are worn upon the cuffs.

_The breeches_ are of the same material as the coat and of the same style as those prescribed for officers of the U. S. Army.

_The cap_ is of the same style and dimensions as that prescribed for officers of the U. S. Army, and is made of forestry-green cloth with a black mohair band, and visor and chin strap of black patent leather. The insignia of the Y. M. C. A. are worn at the center of the front of the cap.

_The field hat_ is of the U. S. Army regulation pattern and color with hat cord of red and blue braided strands.

_The overcoat_ is a double-breasted ulster of forestry-green cloth, with two rows of bronze buttons down the front, buttons to the throat and has a stand and fall collar of the same style as the U. S. Army regulation overcoat. On the back at the waist line there are two straps of the same material as the coat let into the side seams and secured together by two bronze buttons. On each side below the waist there is a pocket with a horizontal opening covered by a rectangular flap. The skirts of the overcoat extend to about ten inches below the knee when the wearer is standing. The Y. M. C. A. insignia are worn upon the cuffs.

_The insignia of the Y. M. C. A. war workers_ consist of a red equilateral triangle, worn with one of the angles pointing down, and having horizontally across the center of the triangle a rectangular strip of blue upon which are the letters “Y. M. C. A.” in red. These insignia are worn upon the fronts of the caps and upon the outer side of the cuffs of the coat and overcoat sleeves.

_The buttons_ are of dark bronze and bear the insignia of the Y. M. C. A.