Oh you mean the old OBA chest grenades? LOL. Yea same here. I had mine all but a total of nine months while on the ship. Those nine months I didn't was when I was on the Fire Department. First time I was sent there. Second time I asked to be sent while we were in overhaul. It was made a permanent division that departments sent persons T.A.D. too. The rest of the time I had one and so did about 50% of ships company officers. Also a beardless Chief was rare indeed LOL.
Beards had practical advantages on ship especially with the long at sea work hours and watches which on some days were 20 hours. It gave you an extra few minutes sleep in the morning you weren't spending shaving.
“a beardless Chief was rare indeed”
Quite right.