Forest Sterling Watch Cap

Gift in Memory of Forest J. Sterling & USS Wahoo, 2010.256.001

This is a US Navy knit watch cap issued to Forest J. Sterling. There are two types of US Navy uniforms, dress and working. The knit watch cap is part of the cold weather working uniform. Worn instead of the traditional white "dixie-cup" hat, it is intended for cold weather climates where sailors are stationed on the deck of a ship or in a cold compartment. This cap cannot be worn with the dress uniform. The knit watch cap was one of many items that women on the home front were encouraged to knit for servicemen. US Navy approved patterns were provided by home front organizations and the American Red Cross to women all over the United States. Once a watch cap was completed it was sent to the US Navy for distribution to a serviceman.