@Charlie Flick I check Rankin every once in a while. Gives a nice overview on Naval items. Thanks for responding!   @thorin6 I found a online version of that https://archive.org/details/flaydermansguide0000flay/page/n3/mode/2up but those coming to this post later may no longer have Internet Archive books available depending on current lawsuits.

I took some close ups of the members in the photo and I see all their name tapes say US Navy so you'd be correct.        

The black is the color of the sterling silver when it oxidizes after the engraver cuts through the gold.....Bodes

The oak leaf emblem on the wing is a navy supply corps, i think.   https://navysupplycorpsfoundation.org/the-embroidered-supply-oak-leaf-uniform-insignia/

Picked up some great M8 and Mark II sheaths today in Huntsville. All are in great shape. Now the search for hardware to put em.

Love this piece, great history behind it too!

The terms are(were), used interchangeably 

When I pushed boots, (‘86-90), we had plenty of guys that didn’t have follow on “A” schools. Most, didn’t want to obligate gore something they weren’t sure they would like. Most, just didn’t score high enough on the ASVAB, to qualify for anything other than Rust Buster. Remember, at that time, we were trying to build a 600 ship Navy. Needed enough Sailors for that. The Navy dropped the reading level to 4 th grade and waved just about everything. I got a few, who did not speak English. 

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