I used to have a ships hat that said "USS Enterprise NCC-1701" with no image. If asked or thanked, I would reply that I hadn't served yet. I did get some strange looks.

I have no idea where it is today.

I have a Donald Trump hat. I wear it even though I'm not Donald Trump.

I wouldn't bother.It's probably one of those high crowned hats that are ugly as sin.

Bob

I wear a USMC t-shirt even though it's my son that's a Marine. I've had a couple of people ask me if I am/was a Marine and I always tell them my son is.

It's just a damn ball cap. Wear it if you like it. Years back a BIL gave me a couple of old Air Force shirts for working around the farm. They held up very well. I was in the Army, not Air Force. I had no problem wearing them.

Wear it

As a retired Navy Chief, I have no problem with people wearing command ball caps. I did however speak to a man at work wearing a Navy Seal cap and I believe all I said to him was that a real Seal might object to someone wearing one that didn't earn the right.

quote:

Originally posted by Micropterus:
I wear a USMC t-shirt even though it's my son that's a Marine. I've had a couple of people ask me if I am/was a Marine and I always tell them my son is.

Yeah... I wear a Navy cap and I always tell them it's my daughter who's serving.
I also wear a St. Louis Cardinals cap. It shows support for the team but doesn't mean I'm on the team.
Wear it!

Seems like there's a heck of a difference between wearing a cap or t-shirt (like those sold at every military museum and airshow I've ever been to) and putting on an actual uniform and passing yourself off as a vet.

No issue there. My rule of thumb is if you can buy it at a gift shop, it's good to go. I had a pretty cool USS Midway hat that my wife promptly stole from me.

I have a USS Alabama hat that was given to me by a friend. I was not in the Navy(was in USAF), but I have no problem wearing it, especially when I lived in Mobile, Alabama.

Another retired Chief here, I often wear ball caps from other commands that I did not serve on. We often traded (new) hats among friends from other commands. Wear it, I gave enough away to civilians to wear!

I used to wear a Air Force t shirt and my friends would say I thought you were in the Army. I told them I was Army but the shirt was free.

I was Army. I had an “IOWA” cap. I wore it out of respect. When asked about that’s what I said. It lead to quite a few good conversations about the military.
I would say to wear it. When asked tell the truth and wear it with pride for your military and your city.

I know how ya feel though. Two of my best friends and also my brother in law are Marines. I bought them all K-Bars and coloring books with crayons one year. I also sent the crayons and penis coloring book to my friend while he was in OCS and had to open mail with their drill instructor and group, but that’s a different story.

They probably gift me a USMC something or other a few times a year. Apparel and otherwise. I do appreciate it, it’s good stuff, but I don’t wear the stuff outside of my house. I pretty much give all the shirts to my wife or wear it to workout in my garage.

My reasons are that I’m not a Marine. But I’d have to say the biggest one is that people often ask me if I’m a Marine or served, mostly because of the way I carry myself and look I suppose. I’m not trying to play pretend and I don’t want people to get the wrong impression. I could just imagine wearing a USMC sweatshirt out and then explaining to some actual Marine who asks me when I served, because I look the part and have a USMC sweatshirt on, then I’d have to explain that it’s my “buddy’s” sweatshirt and that I’m not a Marine. It’d be freakin awkward as fuck.

I think the hat would be ok

I have several that were gifted me. My rule of thumb, outside of my USS Arizona and B17 Sentimental Journey hats, is that I never wear them on a patriotic holiday or to the gun range. But that's me.
A few years ago, a plank owner asked me about one of my hats in Wally World which lead to a fascinating conversation with him about his service in a SSN.

I am not a Vet, but I wear an Air Force hat a great friend gave me. He was a retired officer. He recently passed away. I think of the good times we had shooting and hanging out each time I happen to wear that hat. I certainly don't claim to be a Veteran just because I wear it.

Wear the hat, and be proud that you were provided it.

There are a lot of folks that "wear" a lot of pain inside and cannot bring themselves to "show their colors", those folks take solace in seeing that others think enough to remember.

That's all.

I sometimes wear a NASA ball cap, but I was never in Space.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Wear the hat, and be proud that you were provided it.

There are a lot of folks that "wear" a lot of pain inside and cannot bring themselves to "show their colors", those folks take solace in seeing that others think enough to remember.

That's all.

True that.