The Messman Branch, responsible for feeding and serving officers, was a racially segregated part of the U.S. Navy. White sailors could not serve in the Messman Branch, which was composed almost exclusively of African-Americans recruited in the U.S. and Filipino, Chinese and other foreign nationals who had been recruited overseas into the U.S. Asiatic Fleet. This attracted criticism from civil rights leaders during the war, and the Roosevelt administration was under some pressure to address this inequality. Some steps were taken throughout the war, but the navy's leadership proved resistant to major change. In February 19431 the name of the branch was changed to Steward Branch, the word "officer's" was dropped from rate titles, and "mess attendant" became "steward's mate." The new rating of "cook" should not be confused with "ship's cook," which was part of the Commissary Branch. In June 1944,2 cooks and stewards were authorized to wear petty officer-style rating badges. Despite the change in insignia, however, stewards and cooks were not petty officers and ranked below the most junior petty officer grade. Petty officer status was not extended to stewards until 1950.3
1. US Navy Department, Bureau of Personnel Circular Letter 21-43, February 26, 1943.
2. US Navy Department, Bureau of Personnel Circular Letter 182-44, June 30, 1944.
3. US Department of the Navy, Bureau of Personnel Circular Letter 115-49, July 25, 1949 (chief petty officers) and 141-49, August 30, 1949 (other petty officers).
4. US Navy Department, Bureau of Personnel Circular Letter 167-42, Nov. 30, 1942.
