The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-23
THE SHOULDER STRAP
A GENESIS.

You may have wondered why a first
lieutenant wears single bar on his
shoulder strap and why a lieutenat-
colonel wears a silver leaf to denote
his rank There's a very pretty story
connected Herewith and we will tell 1t.
The shoulder strap rank device of
the soldier officer of the navy u. s.
soldier officer of the army and the
sailor officer of the navy differ little.
The distinctive mark of a U. S. marine
is the globe, anchor and eagle he wears
on his hat.
A second lieutenant OF the United
States marine corps and q second lieu
teant of the United States army wear
nothing on their shoulder straps.
That Is because they are at the very
foot of the ladder and have not yet
begun to rise. The rank in the u. s.
navy that corresponds to second lieu
tenant of the army or marines Is
called ensign" Lieutenants are fire.
quentiy referred to as "subalterns'
with the accent on the second syllable.
A first lieutenant of the y. S. ma
rine corps and u. 8. army wear one
bar on their shoulder straps. The
corresponding grade in the U. s. navy
is lieutenant (junior grade). who
wears one bar on his collar and a
stripe and a half on his sleeve. The
one bar indicates that these officers
have begun to climb and have mount
cd the first rung of the ladder.
A captain of the L. 8. marines and
of the y. s. army wear two bars on
their shoulder straps. The CORES
ponding rank in the u. S. navy is
lieutenant The navy nentanant
wears two bars on his collar ana two
full stripes on his sleeve. These Of
ffcers wear two bars because thes have
reached the top of this pa<sioaiRr
ladder which has only two rungs.
Officers up to and including captain
In the army or marines are known as
company officers: in the navy un-
der the rank of lieutenant command
err are watch officers"
The major of u s. marines and OF
the L. 8. army wear gold leaves on
their shoulder straps. The CORES
ponding rank in the u. s. navy Is lieu
tenant commander. who wears two
and one-half stripes on his sleeve and
gold leaf on his collar. These or"
ficers wear gold leaves because they
have left the ladder and have gone
into the tree of promotion. The
tree are obscured from the sun and
are sere and yellow as consequences
] . Working through the dense foliage
of the tree OF promotion, the lisuten'
snt-colonel of the army and marines
4 get near tbs top where the Hgh'
+ breaks through and gives to the leaves
silvery appearance. The cores
/ ponding rank in the U. S.-nnvy Is
7 commander. who wears three stripes
on his sleeve and a silver leaf on his
4 collar. These officers wear silver
leaves on their shoulder straps be-
cause th~v are at the top of the tree
: where tht. leaves are silvery.
Allow the tree of promotion ar
eagle circles 1t Ia to capture thii
eagle that the second lieutenant ha'
mounted the ladder and worked hi
way through the foliage. The colons
! of the army and of the marines veal
silver eagles On their shoulder straps
The corresponding grade in the e. 3
navy is captain" who wears foul
stripes on his sleeve and silver
eagle on his collar. Officers in thu
army and marines from major q
, colonel, inclusive. are known as ''nel<
officers" In the navy. from lieuten
SAINT corsmander to captain. inosuBiye
: are said to have command rank.
, In the blue empyrean. above Tn
! king OF birds. a star shines in singh
, splendor 1t IL the star of the briga
= dier general of the army and marines
The corresponding rank in the y.
navy is commodore (no longer exist
r ent). who wears single star on hi
/ collar and one broad stripe on hi
t sleeve When an officer has reache'
the grade of general he Is known a
, a general officer: in the navy, abov
Z the rank OF captain. flag officer"
g The major general Ia two stars 4
0 the constellation OF rank and promo
D ton. The highest ranking officer 4
e the Z. s. marine corps is major-gsn
l. eraf The corresponding rank in tn
e U. S. navy is rear admiral, who wear
z two stars on his collar and one hroa
;. stripe and a narrower one above
n on his sleeve. There are but fou
q stars in the military and navt
= heavens.
: CITY TO DEMONSTRATE