Comments on: a true sailor tattoo

By: njguy

njguy — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:44:35 +0000

I work in Fire Department communications. We use ‘Stand Fast’ when we no longer want a unit to continue responding to a scene, but to remain staged where they are. We use ‘Hold Fast’ when we want a unit to remain on or near the scene. Though I don’t think anyone is tattooing either for those reasons.

By: Boats

Boats — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:35:16 +0000

Alright all you squids, I’d you have ever gone through a shellback ceremony , you never tell the tale of what you went through. If anyone asks. You tell them to join the navy and find out. Shame on you. However , being a boatswain’s mate in the USN for six years I really love the site. It makes me want to stay in for another 20+ years or so. Got many tattoos myself and plan to get more. For all of you who want these tattoos. Go ahead and get them. All I ask is that you either enlist or wear them with pride and if you see a sailor. Shake his or her hand and respect them for their sacrifice and service. Sincerely, BM2(sw) jadryev. USS Stout DDG-55

By: OGROBERTS

OGROBERTS — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:51:48 +0000

I was in the Canadian Navy 60 to 63 and was led to believe that “A PIG ON THE KNEE MEANS YOU WON”T DIE AT SEA”. I’ve got one on my right knee and I’ve known others with the same placement. ?????

By: Bowdy

Bowdy — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:18:25 +0000

Everything I have looked up about Cape Horn is a flagged ship, I wanted to get a flagged ship tattoo but haven’t made that journey yet so I refuse to get the tattoo. I have been in the Navy for 6 years got the swallow tattoos for 10,000 nm and am working on getting the nautical stars to go along with them a star for every 5,000 nm after that. Getting the Pig and Rooster tat next week.

By: Wes Cook

Wes Cook — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:37:34 +0000

First let me say thanks for maintaining this site. i enjoyed reading every post. Although they do make me feel my age. I was in the U. S. Navy from 1973 until 1977. What an education for a young high school dropout. I got my GED and inherited the most magnificent family any young impressionable lad can have. I’m a shell back and have sailed the Seven Seas or most of them. I was an Engineman 2nd class by the time I got out and the navy helped me to become a man and taught me a work ethic that has carried me through most of my adult life. Tatoos I have none but am considering a couple. I served with many a sailor who proudly wore many and each had a significance. A Chief Boatswain Mate for example had small anchors on his earlobes, hinges inside his elbows and cobwebs on the outside of the elbows fouled anchor on his arm and I believe the gentleman is correct as to the navy’s represntation of the fouled anchor being a testement to the seamanship of the Navy Chief. After all they are the ones who ran the Navy. When the officers needed something done they just ask a Chief.