More Navy fun!!!!!!

I was stationed on USS Ranger back in the 80's. I was lead petty officer of the forward Interior Communications shop. Part of our responsibility was calibrating and repair of the "wind birds". The wind birds are mounted on the flight deck and look like wingless airplanes and they detect wind speed and direction over the deck. Simple device but if down can hamper flight ops.

While on cruise in the Indian Ocean the forward wind bird mounted on a stanchion in front of the bridge went down. Probably a burned out synchro. Flight Ops stops and we get the call to come up and fix. We had one at the ready so I sent wo guys up to replace. It goes smooth (so I thought) as we were able to watch the replacement on the CCTV. Things go back to normal and my phone rings.

$PZ - Forward IC - PZ

$Bridge - Come up to the bridge. Captain wants to see you.

$PZ - On my way

I walk up to the bridge and Captain spins around in his chair. I am thinking I am getting an attaboy for getting the windbirds done quickly.

$Capt - Petty Office PZ, Why is there graffiti on my wind bird?

$PZ - Sir?

$Capt - Yes there is graffiti on my wind bird

$PZ - I dont understand.

Capt picks up his binoculars and says:

$Capt - I am looking at names of several of your shop on the windbirds. WHY?

$PZ - Oh that....that an IC tradition sir. We always write our names on the windbirds after we work on them. (I am now waiting for a major ass reaming)

$Capt - Tradition eh?

$PZ - Yes sir every ship I have been on does this.

$Capt - I am going to verify. But you cant fuck with Navy tradition so carry on.

$PZ - Yes sir.

The captain did verify later that day when we pulled up next to underway replenishment ship. Their windbirds had names on them too......