USS Kidd carries a unique privilege rooted in the legacy of her namesake, Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, who was killed aboard the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The destroyer adopted the nickname Pirate of the Pacific, and her crew embraced the pirate motif as a tribute to Kidd’s fierce fighting spirit. Over time, the ship became known for flying a large Jolly Roger, an unusual sight in the modern Navy, symbolizing both her heritage and her crew’s pride.
The tradition continued with later ships bearing the Kidd name, including the modern Arleigh Burke–class destroyer USS Kidd (DDG‑100), which is still officially authorized to fly the flag. While submarines sometimes raise a Jolly Roger after successful missions, Kidd remains the only surface warship granted formal permission to do so. The flag has become a living emblem of the ship’s identity, linking today’s sailors to a wartime legacy that began in 1943 and still resonates across the fleet.
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Presumably, at some point rising through the ranks, Admiral Kidd was merely Captain Kidd. That must have been awkward.
ReplyDeleteArrrrrrh!
DeleteUS Submariners are better known for flying a broom from a mast when they come to port, signifying a 'clean sweep.' Tradition started in the Pacific during WWII meaning all enemy ships sighted were sunk, or all mission parameters were achieved (like doing tide watches and surveillance of enemy islands, something that increased greatly after the almost failure of Tarawa, Bloody Tarawa, where there wasn't good surveillance and wasn't good understanding of the tides at Tarawa, Bloody Tarawa.
ReplyDeleteThings like that build camaraderie which a lot of "superiors" with sticks up their butts don't understand. Applies to private business too.
ReplyDeleteMy Father was the Damage Control Officer on the Kidd.
ReplyDeleteHis respect for the men on board, especially after the April 11, 1945 kamikaze attack, never wavered.
Brave men.