Explore Black History

1997-2004

A black fulled wool US Marine Corps mess jacket (a) worn by Jesse E. Wrice Jr. as lieutenant colonel with service medals (b) and US Marine Corps pins (c-e). The jacket opens at the center front with the proper right side opening trimmed in thirteen (13) gold metal buttons featuring a raised design of the US Marine Corps emblem depicting an eagle holding an anchor beneath thirteen (13) stars. Each button is secured to the jacket with a metal jump ring running through the button loop, with the rings hidden by an additional interior placket made of red satin lining. Corresponding decorative buttonholes trimmed in black thread are sewn to the proper left front side, but the holes are not cut and the buttons are not functional. The jacket closes at the center front of the standing collar with one (1) large metal hook-and-eye. The collar has squared edges with an embroidered border of a red line edged in a thin gold line. There is one (1) black wool shoulder strap on each shoulder that has an embroidered border of a red line edged with a thin gold line. The shoulder straps are secured to the jacket with one (1) gold button of the same design as those on the front opening, attached to the strap at the end nearest the collar. The buttons are secured to the fabric with a metal jump ring running through the button loop. One (1) patch with the Marine Corps designation of lieutenant colonel, one (1) embroidered silver leaf, is sewn to each shoulder strap at the end nearest the sleeve seam. The straight cut full-length sleeves have a decorative panel sewn on the outer side of the cuff featuring an embroidered design of a gold oak leaf and acorn design bordered with a red line edged in a thin line of gold. There are three (3) gold buttons on each cuff of the same design as those on the front opening. Each buttons is secured to the sleeve with a metal jump ring running through the button loop. One (1) black snap closure is sewn at the cuff opening near the center button on each cuff. The jacket is fully lined in red satin. Five (5) silver metal collar pins are attached at even intervals around the interior of the standing collar. There is one (1) vertically oriented inset pocket at the interior proper left below the breast. A black fabric manufacturer's tag is sewn on the outside of the pocket opening with embroidered text reading "the / MARINE / Shop / QUANTICO, VIRGINIA" in gold thread, with a depiction of the US Marine Corps pin logo in red thread behind the lettering. A white tag with printed text is sewn inside the pocket lining that reads "29320-1 003-1/1306-J2 39S / NAME:_______ / Dry Clean Only / Made in USA / 100% Wool / MADE IN U.S.A. 05/30/97 WPL 4818". A yellow dry cleaner’s tag is safety pinned near the manufacturer's tag.
A metal bar (b) with two (2) pinback fasteners is attached to the proper left breast of the jacket that features three (3) service ribbons. The ribbons from facing left to right are: green and white stripe ribbon Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two (2) gold star devices attached to the ribbon and a hexagonal medallion featuring an eagle and shield on the front and the text "FOR / MILITARY / MERIT" on the reverse; green and orange stripe ribbon Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a square medallion featuring a central anchor and a five-pointed star in each corner; red, yellow, white, and blue strip ribbon National Defense Service Medal with a round medallion featuring a standing eagle beneath the text "NATIONAL DEFENSE" on the front and a shield above a branch on the reverse
A gold metal insignia pin (c) with two (2) pinback fasteners is attached to the proper left breast of the jacket just above the service medals (b). The pin depicts the naval aviator insignia of a shield in front of an anchor between two spread eagle wings.
Two (2) gold and silver metal insignia pins (d,e), one at each side front of the standing collar, attach to the jacket with screw back fasteners. Each pin depicts the US Marine Corps insignia of an eagle above a globe with an anchor passing behind the globe. The bottom of the anchor is pointing to the proper left on the pin attached to the proper left collar (d), while the bottom of the anchor is pointing to the proper right on the pin attached to the proper right collar (e).

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Awards, Medals, and Insignia
Clothing - Military Uniforms

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Lt. Col. Jesse E. Wrice, Jr. USMC (ret.)

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2015.201.2.1a-e

mess jackets
dress uniforms
medals
insignias

No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

a: wool, satin, thread, metal thread, metal fasteners;
b: metal and ribbon;
c: metal;
d: metal;
e: metal

H x W x D ((a) on form): 26 × 24 × 12 1/2 in. (66 × 61 × 31.8 cm)
H x W ((a) flat): 25 1/2 × 17 3/4 in. (64.8 × 45.1 cm)
H x W x D (b): 2 3/8 × 2 1/8 × 5/8 in. (6 × 5.4 × 1.6 cm)
H x W x D (c): 1 3/8 × 1/2 × 5/8 in. (3.5 × 1.3 × 1.6 cm)
H x W x D (d): 1 1/2 × 1 1/2 × 3/4 in. (3.8 × 3.8 × 1.9 cm)
H x W x D (e): 1 1/2 × 1 1/2 × 3/4 in. (3.8 × 3.8 × 1.9 cm)

Object Name • US Marine Corps officer's mess dress jacket worn by Jesse E. Wrice Jr.

nmaahc_2015.201.2.1a-e

NMAAHC

US MARINE CORPS OFFICER'S MESS DRESS JACKET WORN BY JESSE E. WRICE JR.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

2000s • 1990s

The Marine Shop • Wrice, Jesse E. • United States Marine Corps

Clothing and dress • Military

mess jackets • Insignias • dress uniforms • Medals

Images

No Known Copyright Restrictions