Vintage WWII US Marine Corps Women's Reserve (USMCWR) summer hat. Made by Knox. It is marked a size 23. Named to Vera I. Ottosen. Decent condition with some wear. There are a few light general stains around the outside. The inside sweatband has some a lot of staining - the lining above the sweatband in the front is stained and has small holes. It is slightly misshapen from improper storage.
Vera Irene Ottosen (Riseling) was born on Dec 27 1918 in Anniston, AL but grew up in Houston, TX. She was stationed at Henderson Hall, the Marine Corps headquarters in Arlington. She was an accountant after the war. Source
The hat actually measures closer to 22" around the sweatband. However the Marines were taught to store their hats has often led to them shrinking. They can be stretched back out with a hat stretcher. Almost every USMCWR hat I have come across measures smaller than the listed size. I have not noticed this frequency with hats for any other branch.
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