No offense against the man or his service but we in my time (1968-1976) especially early on called the Navy guys “Elmo’s Hippies.”
They got to have the sideburns, ‘stashes, pea jackets and bell bottoms them hippy chicks liked.
I remember that well as we were not allowed to wear Seafarer Jeans(bell bottoms) off the CG base for liberty as it was part of the uniform. All the hippies were wearing them at the time.
We did it any way
They had pea jackets and bell bottoms long before Zumwalt was CNO. In fact, didn't he initiate a short-lived uniform redesign away from jumpers and bell bottoms and to coats and ties?
..They got to have the sideburns, stashes, pea jackets and bell bottoms them hippy chicks liked....
Many old timer Senior and Chief Petty Officers weren’t real happy with the Zumwalt changes. The bell bottoms were really in style with the kids then.
The worst Navy issue at the time was the itchy wool swimming trunks. I still have my pea coat and deck shoes. They seem to be indestructible.