Tattoos: Keeping with Tradition

The close identification between Sailors and tattoos dates back to the first voyage of Capt. James Cook in 1769. When Cook and his crew discovered the tattooed natives of the South Pacific, the Sailors adopted the markings as souvenirs of their journeys to foreign lands.

''Twenty years ago, Sailors would get something related to their rate or their ship. They showed a sense of pride in the Navy, their country or their ship through their tattoos,'' said Ken Knight, a retired chief petty officer and owner of Ken's Tattoos in St. Marys. ''A shellback turtle showed that the Sailor had crossed the equator, whereas a pig tattooed on one foot or leg and a rooster on the other was a charm against drowning.''

Knight, who has been designing tattoos for more than 20 years, admits that the tradition of Sailors getting tattoos hasn't changed, but the choice of art design has evolved.

PCSN Zechariah Zarangue shows off his first tattoo that he go to get over his fear of needles. Photo by JO2(SW/AW) Clyde Smith

''Nobody gets the anchors or American flags or anything affiliated with the Navy,'' said Knight. ''Most Sailors are now getting crosses, black tribal designs, words with Old English lettering or the 'Honda Civic' of tattoos - the barbed wire around their arms.''

Knight said that even the areas of the body that Sailors have tattooed have changed in the past 20 years. Sailors would often have their tattoos inked on their upper arms or forearms - now they are getting them on their neck, their stomachs, backs and even ankles.

Its often been said that once a person gets a tattoo, it will be the first of many to come. One Kings Bay Sailor has caught the tattoo bug and sports many colorful tattoos.

''The first tattoo I got was to overcome a fear of needles,'' said PCSN Zechariah Zarangue. ''I wasn't in the Navy yet. I was in the National Guard, leaving the Army's military occupation school.''

Zarangue admits that he has yet to get a tattoo that reflects his service in the Navy, but he did get a tattoo while on deployment in Spain.

Ken outlines a design of a religious symbol before adding color to it. Photo by JO2(SW/AW) Clyde Smith

''I get a lot of people that look at me different because I have tattoos that are visible, but it hasn't changed how people view me as a person,'' added Zarangue.

If you go into most tattoo parlors, you'll most likely see a lot of art designs geared towards Sailors. Some Sailors even take pride that the Navy has a distinction so steeped in history that is still so popular.

''This is a tradition that has been passed down from the great Sailors of old,'' said MM3(SS) Sean Pacut, of Naval Submarine Support Center. ''I have nine tattoos and I plan on getting one more. As of yet, my chain of command hasn't given me any grief about my tattoos because they are within the Navy standards.''

Ken traces the design onto sheet paper in order to put it on the customer's body part. Photo by JO2(SW/AW) Clyde Smith

When joining in the fun of a time-honored tradition, Sailors should probably take a minute to review the Navy's expectations for their personnel who do indulge in ink.

''The Navy has certain standards for those wishing to get tattoos, which include no tattoos, body art or brands on the head, face, neck, or scalp,'' said Cmdr. Steven Cole, executive officer of NSB Kings Bay. ''Before a Sailor gets a tattoo, he needs to ask himself if what he or she is about to express as their own personal like or dislike is going to offend another person. 'If I get a tattoo in an area that is going to be exposed to the general public, is it going to be offensive to a child, another gender or a person of different background is it going to be viewed as offensive?,' is the question Sailors need to ask themselves.''

If tattoos, body art and brands located on the body are in prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the Navy, they are prohibited, added Cole.