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The Cavalry Stetson Hat
Nearly every Cav trooper remembers the scene in
"Apocalypse Now"
when Robert Duvall prepared for his assault in his
Stetson.
The fearless American badass. Cav, Hooah.
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NOW AVAILABLE!
Stetsons | Hat Racks
| Hat Cords |
Chin Straps |
Crossed Sabers | Ornaments
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CavHooah.com has partnered with the fine folks from
Renton Western Wear
to offer you an AWESOME DEAL!
The Cavhooah Stetson
Cav Hat Package
Package includes one Official Stetson U.S. Cavalry
Hat (#52679)
with chin strap, one acorn hat band and one regimental cross sabers.
With nearly 50 Cav products to choose from, when you
purchase the CavHooah Stetson Cav Hat Package,
the discount ALSO applies to ANY and ALL other Cavalry products you buy!
Items like these:
Just enter discount/coupon code
CAVHOOAH at the time of checkout to
receive your Cavhooah Savings!
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In 1865, with $100 in his pocket, John B. Stetson rented a
small room, bought the tools he needed and $10 worth of fur; and the John B.
Stetson Hat Company was born. more
The most distinctive uniform item worn by air cavalrymen in Vietnam
was the Cav hat. This tradition is believed to have been originated in early
1964 by LTC John B. Stockton (Commander of 3/17 Cavalry) at Fort Benning,Georgia. The hat was adopted in an effort to increase esprit de corps in the new air
cavalry squadron and was meant to emulate the look of the 1876 pattern campaign
hat worn by cavalry troopers long ago. Once units deployed to Vietnam
, the custom slowly spread to other air cavalry units, and by the cessation of
hostilities, virtually all air cav (and some ground cav) units had adopted the
Cav hat.

The Cav Hat was a private purchase item that cost a wallet-stretching $29 in
1972. It was most often supplied by the Stetson Hat Company. Because Stetson supplied most of the hats, the name "Stetson" became interchangeable
with Cav hat. Several Asian suppliers provided "knock off" copies, but
the quality of workmanship was greatly inferior to that of the Stetson.
While unit commanders did not mandate the wearing of the hats, there was
considerable peer pressure to conform, and most troopers quickly added the Cav
hat to their wardrobes. Just as World War 11 paratroopers were fond of their
jump suits, wearing them long after issue had ceased, so too did the Cav hat
instill fierce pride and loyalty in the units where it was worn. Most air
cavalry veterans interviewed by the author proudly cherish their Cav hats today.
Because the hats were delivered from the manufacturer in the
U.S.
there was an understandably long turnaround time between ordering and delivery.
In some units, members were killed in action or MEDEVACed to the
United States
before the arrival of their hats. Thus, current unit members sometimes accepted
hats meant for departed comrades.
Stetsons were constructed of a high grade fur felt with an interior leather
sweatband and a silk hat ribbon around the base of the crown. The manufacturer
provided a black leather chin strap, which also held the hat cord in place. The
type of hat cord worn varied according to rank, as follows: general officers,
all gold braid; officers, gold and black intertwined braid; warrant officers,
silver and black intertwined braid; enlisted men, yellow wool or nylon.
The cord was a copy of the acorn-ended 1899 pattern, worn on the 1885 pattern
campaign hat. Members of B-2/17 Cav further garnished their Cav hats with the
addition of a beaded "Indian" hat band and feather, D-3/5 Cav appears
to be the only unit that wore gray Cav hats. When D-3/5 Cav exchanged
designations with C-3/17 Cav in 1971, C-3/17 carried on the Light Horse
tradition of gray Cav hats.
On the Cav hat, most officers and warrant officers wore some combination of
officer rank insignia and crossed cavalry sabers. There were instances in which
several troops of different squadrons wore the distinctive red and white
background trimming-commonly referred to as a jump wing oval-on the front of the
cav hat. This oval was authorized for 1/17 Cav, a non-air cavalry squadron of
the 82nd Airborne Division, located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The Cav hat was remarkably durable and was easily cleaned of dirt and lint by
buffing with a shoe brush. In several units, a "wetting down" ceremony
was conducted, during which the newbies were accepted as members of the troop.
Before they could wear their hats, however, they were required to
"chug-a-lug" a hatful of cold beer. There are several instances in
which air cavalrymen, after being shot down, raced back into their burning
aircraft to save their precious Cav hats.
©Winged Sabers
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Photos courtesy of 2-17
Cavalry and VHPAThe tradition of "Breaking in a Stetson" has many various forms -
most consist of pouring some form (or forms) of alcohol in it and having the new
wearer drink from it. This is actually an old tradition which began when riders,
upon reaching a steep river bank, would dismount and fill their hats with water
for their horses to drink!
While not a Cavalry history, here is
the history of the STETSON HAT itself from the Stetson website!
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CIVIL WAR ERA OFFICER'S SLOUCH HAT
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US Officers Slouch Hat, Cavalry Trim |
CS Officers Slouch Hat, Untrimmed |
The U.S. Officer's Slouch Hat was authorized for all
officers by regulation. This same hat was used by Confederate officers in both
Black and Grey.
Many units have specific requirements regarding the wear of the Stetson
(Spurs also!).
Some are memorandums and some are created as an addition to the Army Regulation
670-1 - Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia.
Here is an example:
1. Stetson: The Stetson will be black in color. Only rank and regimental or
ordinary cavalry brass will adorn the Stetson. The braid will be worn around
the base of the Stetson. Troopers will wear the appropriate braid color. Braid
ends or acorns will be to the front of the Stetson and no more than an acorn
length over the brim.
a. Field Grade Officer: Solid Gold
- b. Company Grade Officer: Gold and Black
- c. Warrant Officer:
(1) CW4,CW5 - Solid Silver
(2) WO1,CW2,CW3 - Silver and Black
- d. Non-Commissioned Officer: Yellow
(1) The nape strap will be threaded through the
appropriate eyelets in the brim of the
Stetson so that strap
goes around the back and the buckle is fastened and centered on
the wearers head.
(2) The sides of the crown shall not be pushed in
or otherwise modified. The brim will
be flat with a
slight droop at the front.
(3)The Stetson will be worn on the head with the
brim parallel to the ground.
(4) Occasions for wearing the Stetson: Squadron
dining-ins/outs, formal events in dress
blues, gatherings
of spur holders, professional gatherings such as AAAA and any
other event or
function as designated by Squadron/Battalion CDR.
HAT CORDS
The Stetsons worn by many Cavalry soldiers all include a
colored band just above the brim referred to as a cord, braid, or acorn.
"Legend has it" that the acorns at the end of the cords were designed to
bounce off the brim of the hat to keep riders awake.
"Legend also says" that in the olden days, there were no such
thing as combat patches, so the units had soldiers tie their acorns in a knot
to show they were combat experienced. This is done by tying the two acorns
around the hat cord. The knots are referred to as "Combat Knots."
I claim all this to be legend because there is nothing in writing about it.
It is all Cavalry Stetson tradition. Some of this dates back to the first
world war, some much farther back than that. Read on...
"Dan,
I saw your post concerning combat knots on a couple of different forums
and thought I'd offer you what little info I know. I'm one of those dreaded non-19D Stetson wearers. I served in the 1st
Cavalry Division as an 11M for a number of years, including Desert Storm.
Although we were Infantry, our Commissioned Officers often wore
unit-specific Cavalry brass (or sew on) on their collars, and our unit
guidons were red and white Cavalry guidons rather than blue Infantry
guidons.
Researching Cavalry Stetsons a little less than a year ago and using
“combat knots” as a search term, I found an online auction selling what was
described as a WWI peaked campaign hat. It was brownish in color and
resembled a modern day Drill Sergeant's hat. The auctioneer claimed it had
been worn overseas by the auctioneer's ancestor, and had been recently found
in an attic. By way of establishing the authenticity of the hat, the
auctioneer specifically mentioned the knots and said that the ancestor had
explained when the auctioneer was a child that the knots signified combat
service.
The hat itself was out of shape and looked moth-eaten, but I saw the
knots that had been tied in the cord very clearly. Each cord end had been
tied into a half hitch by running them under and back up behind both cords,
then back forward and through the loop it had created. The half hitches were
snugged together toward the little sleeve that retains the cords in the
front.
As I was only looking for an example of how to tie the same knots into
mine, I didn't bother to save a copy of the images. It didn't occur to me
that I'd ever need or want to provide any verification on the subject. Unfortunately, I'm unable to find those pictures again and I haven't
found any others like them. Hope this helps you. First Team!”
Submitted from the site visitor above. Thanks for the email!
The 1st Cav Division authorizes knots in their hat cords also, but
they do not call them Combat Knots. Here is a link to their MOI:
http://www.1cda.org/cav_hat_moi.htm |
Renton
Western Wear's
Cavalry Stetson shown with
"combat knots". Our new Combat Cords are longer
than standard cords, which allow room for the knots and still let the
acorns rest at the edge of the brim!
You can check them out
here. |
| Table Courtesy of
Dr. Howard G. Lanham -
http://www.angelfire.com/md2/patches/other/abranchcolors.html
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| BRANCH
| PRIMARY COLOR
| SECONDARY COLOR
| COLOR EST.
| CORD FROM CAP
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| Adjutant General's Corps
| Dark Blue
| Scarlet
| 1936
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| Air Corps
| Ultramarine
| Golden Orange
| 1920
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| Armored Center & Units
| Green
| White
| 1942
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| Cavalry
| Yellow
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| 1855
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| Chaplains
| Black
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| no enlisted men
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| Chemical Warfare
| Cobalt Blue
| Golden Yellow
| 1918
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| Coast Artillery
| Scarlet
|
| 1902
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| Corps of Engineers
| Scarlet
| White
| 1902
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| Detached Enlisted Men
| Green
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| Field Artillery
| Scarlet
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| 1851
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| Finance Dept.
| Silver Gray
| Golden Yellow
| 1921
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| Infantry
| Light Blue
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| 1851
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| Inspector General's Dept.
| Dark Blue
| Light Blue
| 1936
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| Judge Advocate General's Dept.
| Dark Blue
| White
| 1936
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| Medical Dept.
| Maroon
| White
| 1916
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| Military Intelligence
| Golden Yellow
| Purple
| 1936
| no enlisted men
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| Military Police
| Yellow
| Green
| 1922
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| National Guard Bureau
| Dark Blue
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| 1921
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| Ordnance Dept.
| Crimson
| Yellow
| 1921
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| Permanent Professors USMA
| Scarlet
| Silver Gray
| 1936
| no enlisted men
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| Quartermaster Corps
| Buff
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| 1902
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| Signal Corps
| Orange
| White
| 1902
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| Specialists' Reserve
| Brown
| Golden Yellow
| 1936
| no enlisted men
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| Tank Destroyer
| Golden Orange
| Black
| 1943
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| Transportation Corps
| Brick Red
| Golden Yellow
| 1942
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| Warrant Officers
| Brown
|
| 1936
| no enlisted men (1)
|
| Women's Army Corps
| Old Gold
| Moss Green
| 1942
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Need a Cord? Buy them
HERE!
 __________________________________________________________________________________
Leann Tweeden in Baghdad
Kooooooorea! These Stetson photos courtesy of Jay Brown, an HHT 3-17 Cav trooper in
Vietnam

Air Cavalry KiowaPilots breaking in the
Stetson- "When they grabbed the Stetson, the wife immediately
jumped up and followed them around to make sure that there wasn't TOO much crap
dumped into it...
I can specifically remember... Tequila, Rum, Beer, Soda, Vodka, Gin and Tonic,
Salad, Sour Cream, Cigar butts, and I think there was even a dinner roll or
two...Anyway...
I think there were 6 or 7 of us... we all had to drink that shit out of our
Stetsons... it was leaking through the felt and was the nastiest shit I've ever
tasted...But it was broken in correctly!!"
___________________________________________________________________________________ Here is a link to a great Cavalry forum page with a ton of photos of Cav
headgear! www.militaryhorse.org
- the link will take you directly to the photos. ___________________________________________________________________________________

Renton Western Wear has been in
business since 1950. They stock the Stetson Cavalry Hat and ship it to
Troopers all over the world. Cavalry products are located in the Cavalry Sub-Department within the Hat
Department at:
http://www.rentonww.com/Hats_C244.cfm?AFID=2
Now adorn your Stetson with pins!
Rank and Insignia

Some old fashioned Hat etiquette tips from
Stetson
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("Etiquette,"
Emily Post, Funk & Wagnall's Company, 1922 and 1927)
Some of these tips are a bit outdated, but
there is great history here for the "formal" Stetson wearer.
Here are some guidelines from the mistress of etiquette, Emily Post.
WHEN
A GENTLEMAN TAKES OFF HIS HAT
A gentleman takes off his Hat
and holds it in his hand when a lady enters the elevator in which he
is a passenger, but he puts it back on again in the corridor. A public
corridor is like the street, but an elevator is suggestive of a room,
and a gentleman does not keep his Hat on in the presence of ladies in
a house.
This is the rule in elevators
in hotels, clubs and apartments. In office buildings and stores the
elevator is considered as public a place as the corridor. What is
more, the elevators in such business structures are usually so crowded
that the only room for a man's Hat is on his head.
When a gentleman stops to
speak to a lady of his acquaintance in the street, he takes his Hat
off with his left hand, leaving his right free to shake hands, or he
takes it off with his right and transfers it to his left. If he has a
stick, he puts his stick in his left hand, and gives her his right. If
they walk ahead together, he puts his Hat on; but while he is standing
in the street talking to her, he should remain Hatless. There is no
rudeness greater than for him to stand talking to a lady with his Hat
on, and a cigar or cigarette in his mouth.
WHEN A
GENTLEMAN LIFTS HIS HAT
Lifting the Hat is a
conventional gesture of politeness shown to strangers only, not to be
confused with bowing, which is a gesture used to acquaintances and
friends. In lifting his Hat, a gentleman merely lifts it slightly off
his forehead and replaces it; he does not smile or bow, nor does he
even look at the object of his courtesy. No gentleman ever subjects a
lady to his scrutiny or his apparent observation.
If a lady drops her glove, a
gentleman should pick it up, hurry ahead of her — on no account nudge
her — offer the glove to her and say: “I think you dropped this!.” The
lady replies: “Thank you.” The gentleman should then lift his Hat and
turn away.
If he passes a lady in a
narrow space, so that he blocks her way or in any manner obtrudes upon
her, he lifts his Hat as he passes.
If he is on a street car
which is very crowded, when he wishes to leave it and a lady is
directly in his way, he asks: “May I get through, please?” As she
makes room for him to pass, he lifts his Hat and says: “Thank you!”
If he is in the company of a
lady anywhere in public, he lifts his Hat to a man who offers her a
seat, or who picks up something she has dropped or shows her any other
civility.
He lifts his Hat if he asks a
woman or an old gentleman a question, and always, if, when walking on
the street with either a lady or another man, his companion bows to
another person.
In other words, a gentleman
lifts his Hat whenever he says “Excuse me, Thank you,” or speaks to or
is spoken to by a lady, or by an older gentleman. And no gentleman
ever keeps a pipe, cigar or cigarette in his mouth when he lifts his
Hat, takes it off, or bows.
THE
INFORMAL BOW
In bowing on the street, a
gentleman should never takes his Hat off with a flourish, nor should
he sweep it down to his knee; nor is it graceful to bow by pulling the
Hat over the face as though examining the lining. The correct bow,
when wearing a high Hat, or derby, is to lift it by holding the brim
directly in front, take it off merely high enough to escape the head
easily, bring it a few inches forward, the back somewhat up, the front
down, and put in on again. To a very old lady or gentleman, to show
adequate respect, a sweeping bow is sometimes made by a somewhat
exaggerated circular motion downward to perhaps the level of the
waist, so that the Hat's position is upside down. If a man is wearing
a soft Hat he takes it by the crown instead of the brim, lifts it
slightly off his head and puts in on again.
AT THE OPERA, THE THEATER AND OTHER PUBLIC GATHERINGS
In walking about in the foyer
of the opera house, a gentleman leaves his coat in the box — or in his
orchestra chair — but he always wears his high Hat. The “collapsible”
Hat is for use in the seats rather than in the boxes, but it can be
worn perfectly well by a guest in the latter if he hasn’t a “silk”
one.
The broad-brimmed hat [worn here by George Custer] was very popular
with troops in the western theater.
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Shaping, cleaning, and
maintaining your Stetson. Here is a GREAT blog article! -
A STETSON - Not Just a Hat!

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