I wanted to get a new hat for a while now that isn’t sports related (only one I can stand to wear is a Cubs hat since I’ve written off the NFL) and came up with a great idea....see if I could find an Enterprise hat since I served on the Big E for 5 years. I still have my Plankowner’s hat for the Reagan but I can’t wear it because I don’t want to ruin it. The Enterprise had a special place in my heart, much more so than the Reagan did anyway.

I found a place that makes the majority of their own stuff right here in the US. There is some stuff that’s imported, but I didn’t even consider any of the imported items. They also do stuff for the other branches as well...check them out if this is your sort of thing.

My hat is pretty damn close to the real deal. I have some of my old hats from when I was in and the only real difference between this one and my old Enterprise hats would have to be the ship silhouette. Materials and overall feel of the hat are pretty similar. I got the lower profile version (6 panel) of the hat.

https://militarybest.com/index.html

I was on the Big E myself, machinist mate, engine room 4 I think.

Nice! I stood many many hours (all of the ‘96 deployment) as the 4 SWGR operator while underway. When were you there? 1995-2000 myself. I was in EE03/EE04.

My only involvement with the Big E was at Mare Island when we worked on her 8 reactors.

Did that carrier have wooden decking ? ?

Isn’t the hull number NCC-1701?

Military Best is where I get all my ship hats. Great quality and great to deal with.

quote:

Originally posted by Largefarva:
Nice! I stood many many hours (all of the ‘96 deployment) as the 4 SWGR operator while underway. When were you there? 1995-2000 myself. I was in EE03/EE04.

Close to 20 years before you. 77-79 I think.

Then I became a yardbird at Mare Island working on submarines and became glad I was never on one.

Thanks for the heads up. I would love to get a USS Midway and a USS Eisenhower. I did time on both of them in VAW squadrons in the 80’s.

The Midway museum giftshop has hats you can buy online.

quote:

Originally posted by Karpteach:
Thanks for the heads up. I would love to get a USS Midway and a USS Eisenhower. I did time on both of them in VAW squadrons in the 80’s.

Good to see the site advertises the hats are made in the USA. I hope they sell lots of them!

Thanks for the links. Will see if they have hats for ships I was on.

I wasn't on the Enterprise, but I was an instructor at the A1W prototype in Idaho. Ed

A Cubs hat?
The Cubs?
Really?
[shakes head]

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:
A Cubs hat?
The Cubs?
Really?
[shakes head]

Yeah and I work in Brewers country and I just got tired of taking crap for wearing it. lol

Any idea where I might be able to order a Navy hat embroidered with a Regulus missile instead of a ship?

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
Any idea where I might be able to order a Navy hat embroidered with a Regulus missile instead of a ship?

Sorry, I do not.

I see Enterprise everyday coming home from work backed into a slip at Newport News Shipbuilding with its tower being slowly deconstructed. It sits right next to Gerald R Ford. That ship is still impressive and even without all the stuff on its tower, it sits as tall as Gerald R Ford.

quote:

Originally posted by Micropterus:
I see Enterprise everyday coming home from work backed into a slip at Newport News Shipbuilding with its tower being slowly deconstructed. It sits right next to Gerald R Ford. That ship is still impressive and even without all the stuff on its tower, it sits as tall as Gerald R Ford.

Yeah I’ve seen some recent drone pics and it actually saddens me to see how rusted it is now. I really wish I had gone to the decommissioning a few years ago to just take one last walk around to see everything one last time. Never thought I would actually get sentimental about that ship.