Couldn't find a particular thread dedicated to showing pics of TC members Fezs. I've seen many pics here and there on other discussion threads but this one will be for anyone to share their fezs and have them together in one area. I have just acquired my first one. I've looked at them for many years but have always passed on them when I ran across them because of condition and or price. This one was just right. I love the color as well as the history behind it.
My Father was a Navy Veteran and a member of the Disabled Veterans of America. This was not his fez, he was not a Trench Rat but I bet he would have looked cool in the fez.
Here is a photo of my vintage Trench Rat fez and following is a history of the NOTR from their website. Looking forward to more of you adding your pictures!
National Order of Trench Rats
History
The National Order of Trench Rats was conceived by a group of disabled World War I
veterans who were patients in the United States Public Health Service Hospital No. 54 located
at Arrowhead Springs, California. Because of the shortage of beds following WWI, this
hospital, like many others, had been converted out of a building formerly used for other
purposes. This particular building in which the hospital was housed had been a well known
hotel located on the side of the mountain about seven miles from the city of San Bernardino.
The name "Trench Rats" was adopted as it is symbolic of the rats which the World War I
veterans encountered in the trenches in France.
Some of the patients were members of the Los Angeles Chapter of the DAV. The hospital was
isolated and there were no activities for the patients to pass the time, the majority of whom
were ambulatory. A few members of this DAV Chapter conceived the idea of organizing a
group of the most active members as a secret, fraternal society and devised an initiation
ceremony for fun and amusement and invited for membership only those DAV members who
were most active in the Chapter. As a result of this, most of the patients became members of
the DAV and its delegates to the National Convention in Salt Lake City in 1924 were able to
get the N.O.T.R. officially recognized as an Auxiliary of the DAV.
The N.O.T.R. is a secret, fraternal and honor organization limiting its membership by selection
only to those who show their devotion and meritorious service to the DAV and the welfare of
the disabled veterans, his widow and orphans. As result of this limitation, non-members have
been encouraged to become more active in their Chapters and sign up new members in the
DAV, this being one of the qualifications for membership.
The Trench Rats were proud of this contributions to the DAV and the fact that many projects
adopted by Dugouts in their local communities have helped publicize and enhance the name
and prestige of our organization. The National and State Rendezvous of the Trench Rats
have long been recognized as the highlight of the entertainment programs of DAV
conventions and have contributed greatly to the attendance. In the early years of the DAV,
when it was in financial trouble and having a difficult time supporting and extending its Service
Officer program, the N.O.T.R. raised and contributed funds for this purpose. In recent years
they have contributed to the Disabled American Veterans Service Foundation to assist the
Legislative Programs of the DAV and to the Memorial Honor Roll of Beneficiaries of the
Perpetual Rehabilitation Fund.
Much could be said about the difficulties the organization encountered in the early struggle to
survive. Recognition should be given not only to those who participated in its founding, but to
all of those members who worked so hard over the years helping build the N.O.T.R. to the
high position it now holds and to those who continue to sell its aims and purposes. Their
names are legion, many have passed away and even to mention a few would be unfair to all
the others, but recognition must be given to the responsible for it all and that is the founder,
Volney P. Mooney, who was the first Imperial Golden Rodent. He later became Commander
of Chapter No. 5 in Los Angeles, Department Commander of California, National Judge
Advocate for eight years and was elected National Commander of the DAV in 1934. To him
and to all of those living and dead who contributed over the sixty years of its existence, this
history is dedicated. Their names are inscribed in the archives of this Order, they were tried
and found true to their trusts, to their obligations and their own consciences.
We know that membership in this Organization inspired all of them with the incentives to
further the welfare of our disabled comrades and there will always remain in the minds of all
members those immortal words.
"Semper Idem Et Semper Fidelis
Now here's one for the "FOM" (fraternal order of the moai)
