Question about usage of insignias for non-enlisted...

Hey all. Just noticed there was a sub forum for this, figured I might drop in and ask for the consensus among those who serve.

I'm not enlisted, mainly because of some pretty serious health issues. Semi-crippling lupus kinda puts a halt on any armed forces career.
My grandpas were both in the armed forces- one in the Army, one in the Navy. Really admired them both, neither of them are with us anymore.

I've been thinking about getting a tattoo in honor of both of them but I don't want to come off like some shitbird wannabe or step on anyone's toes by using something that's sacred.

Would it be disrespectful to use the 11th AD "thunderbolt" along with my Army grandpas name? The division was only ever active in WWII...

Also what about mentioning the rank- not the chevrons, but in the text like "Cpl. Nitori Papa 19xx"

Same with my Navy grandpa- one of the things I always thought was cool as hell about him was he had barn swallows and some other navy ink. It was drunken sailor quality from some back alley dude in Italy or something, but I still thought it was awesome.

I know there's a lot of symbol and superstition behind that, especially the swallows.


Just looking for some guidance here guys.

 

Id make a shadow box...no matter how good of ink you get now...when you are old its going to look like hell

 

Do what you want in life. Who cares what others think? Tribute/memorial tattoos are great. Just do your research.

I have swallows. With some Latin. I like it. If someone else doesn't, they can lick my rectum.

 

IMHO

only if you served and got an honorable DD-214 can you fly the patch

living in the shadow of someone else, relative or not,
you can show some respect but should elaborate as to whom it is about, specifically, if not yourself

 

I'd say as long as it's semi obvious it's a memorial it's cool.
And as far as it looking bad when ur old who the fuck cares ur gonna look bad anyways.
Tattoos are cool.

 

I did make a shadow box, and I have both of their folded flags. All of me is gonna look like hell when I'm old so I dunno if that should really stop me.

I figured the 11th AD insignia might have been questionable. It was deactivated 40 years before I was born so someone who knew what they were looking at would figure it out, but still... not everyone knows a lot of unit history. Probably best to scratch that idea.

On the navy side I was thinking about skipping the predictable anchor stuff, and maybe doing 2 barn swallows on either side of the Engineman rating badge "gear" insignia- my pop was an EN1 and an avid mechanic/tinkerer just like me. I've got plenty of hand me down tools and hand me down attitudes in the garage from him.

 

Awesome, I was an engineman!

If it was decommissioned 40 years ago, I doubt anyone will think you are trying to claim membership...again, it's a memorial tattoo, not a visit to the damn VA. Not like you can claim anything from a tattoo. Speak with a good artist, have something drafted up and continue on with life.

Making a shadow box that people see on a wall, or desk, or whatever isn't any different than art on a canvas of skin.

 

Sure if all u got was the unit insignia on the middle of ur arm or something that I would find a little like ur making a claim.
But if u put in memory of or his name and birth & death dates. That's legit in my book.

 

hey do what you want. I happily served during wartime. Lots of us did. Your mileage will vary.


I don't care if someone served 4 years stateside in the motorpool changing tires and that is all they did. joining up and paying dues is where the rubber hits the road. do whatcha want.

It's fine to honor someone elses service. just don't act like you did, if you didn't

 

If he was an EN, and just going off Coast Guard rank and file, do him a favor and replace the anchors with cogs. I got crossed wrenches as opposed to a cog but tomato/potato. You're not trying to walk into a military funeral with a chest full of medals, I think the unit insignia is fine so long as it's without a doubt a memorial.

 

Friend of mine had a grandfather that flew a P-51 Mustang during the war. He got a tattoo of the plane to commemorate his grandfather. I don't see anything wrong with something like that.

 

Just get it, you are honoring your grandfather as well as his whole unit.

 

Yep, just go for it. The only issue I would see is if you acted as if you served to pick up chicks, or used it to benefit you in any way as if you had served. If you don't act like a poser, then go for it!