More from the 2023 article ...

... Although there are dozens of active Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers in the U.S. Navy's fleet, there's something special about the USS Kidd.

It doesn't have any secret technology or weapons (that we know of), and its capabilities are the same as any other of its class.

The standout feature that tends to capture the attention of even the most landlubberly civilian is the massive Jolly Roger that the Kidd is often seen flying from its mast.

The USS Kidd's pirate flag, the infamous skull and crossbones that hearkens back to the Golden Age of Piracy that spanned the 17th and 18th centuries, is the only one the U.S. Navy has ever allowed to fly on one of its ships.

And like most bizarre things that happen inside the Navy, it starts with an honored tradition, one dating back to World War II. ...