Why does the KIDD fly the Jolly Roger and have a pirate painted on the forward smokestack?
A. While the ship was named after RADM Isaac C. Kidd, Sr., the first crew needed a mascot. They chose the pirate William Kidd from the early 18th century. Not wishing to dishonor the Admiral’s memory, however, the crew asked Mrs. Kidd for her opinion. As it turned out, the idea was very appropriate since RADM Kidd’s nickname while attending the Naval Academy had been “Cap” (as in Captain Kidd). Mrs. Kidd spoke to the Navy brass and received permission for the crew to fly the Jolly Roger from the mast, making them the only ship authorized to do so in the U.S. Navy. The crew then hired an artist to paint the image of a pirate on the forward stack.
