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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