How WWII brought about the normalization of tattoos
Today, however, getting inked as a member of the U.S. military is a borderline rite of passage, so much so, writes J.D. Simkins, that the 'military culture to tattooing is so prevalent that finding an ink-free service member is infinitely more rare than the alternative.'
But that is a relatively new phenomenon.
The U.S. military — and society's — embracing and liberalization surrounding the stigma and regulations governing tattoos is thanks, in large part, to the Second World War.
The vast expansion of Naval personnel at the onset of WWII ushered in a new era of the tatted tradition, helped by figures like artist Norman Keith Collins — also known as Sailor Jerry.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, soldiers, sailors and new recruits alike lined tattoo parlors to receive their permanent symbols of pride, patriotism — and pinups.
The emergence of tattoos
While Capt. Cook's Pacific voyages exposed Royal Navy sailors to Polynesian body art, such traditions were practiced in early societies in Europe and Asia, and by indigenous cultures worldwide for thousands of years, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command.
Cook's exploration of the Pacific, however, did popularize the tradition among his fellow seamen in both Europe and the Americas. So much so that by the 18th century, a third of British and a fifth of American sailors sported at least one tattoo.
During the American Civil War, men in both the Union and Confederate navies often were tatted with military insignia motifs and names of their sweethearts back home. After the March 1862 Battle of the Ironclad — the historic clash between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia — requests for tattoos to commemorate the historic engagement were seen on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line.
By the 1898 Spanish-American War, 'Remember the Maine' was a popular choice to be emblazoned on the chests of sailors who were going off to war.
'By this time,' writes Naval Heritage and History Command, 'these tattoos had already acquired features recognized today as essential elements of military and patriotic tattoos: the curved scroll with a slogan, name, or date; the stars and stripes; or a giant eagle backdrop — many of them proliferated thanks to the newly invented electric tattoo machine.'
During World War I servicemen were getting their military ID numbers, and later social security numbers, tattooed on their bodies as a means of identification in case they were injured or killed in service. This practice was outright banned during WWII on the grounds that it might give 'aid and comfort to the enemy.'
Despite this, body art remained firmly on the fringes of society well into the 20th century.
Tattoos in World War II
After the American declaration of war on Dec. 8, 1941, Honolulu and the port of San Diego became major hubs for men, and occasionally some women, to get inked.
During the war, Honolulu alone boasted eight parlors and 33 operators gaining 'the dubious title of the world's tattoo center,' according to a June 16, 1944, Highland Recorder article.
In particular, 25-year-old Hawaiian native Eugene Miller of 'Miller's Tattooing Emporium' saw his business boom, tattooing over 300 people a day with prices ranging from 25 cents for small pieces to $30 for larger, more intricate art. A large sign above his modest parlor declared him the 'world's greatest and youngest tattoo artist.'
Bert Grimm, known as the 'godfather of modern tattoos,' spent over two decades perfecting his craft in St. Louis, Missouri. During the war, the famed tattoo artist — who is rumored to have worked on the infamous Bonnie and Clyde — painstakingly etched symbols of love and belief of God and country onto countless sailors and soldiers waiting to go to battle. But, Grimm noted, the two often sought differing inked motifs.
In 1942, Grimm told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
'The main difference between the soldiers and sailors is that when a sailor comes in to get tattooed, it's always something with an anchor or a battleship, and the soldiers go more for flags and eagles. I've been watching their tastes and drawing new designs to suit them. Oh yes, sweetheart and love designs are going good now, too. [...] And here's a Red Cross Nurse; they lost out in popularity but they are back now.
'The war,' the article continued, 'has also been responsible for shortages of tattoo equipment. All the tattoo needles are made in England... Also, although tattoo artists usually don't mention it to servicemen patrons, most of the darkest and richest tattoo dyes came from Germany.'
For servicemen willing and perhaps expecting to lose their lives, tattoos were worn as a badge of honor — giving a sense of comradery and, as Danielle Boiardi, the curator of the Lyle Tuttle Tattoo Art Collection, notes in an interview with the Smithsonian, 'a permanent mark that they could take with them.'
Since then, the acceptance and proliferation of tattoos has spiked both in America and abroad, with U.S. Navy remaining the least restrictive among U.S. branches of service in terms of body art.
Naval tattoo meanings, per the Naval History and Heritage Command:
Anchor: Originally indicated a mariner who had crossed the Atlantic. In the present day, an anchor in one form or another may be the first nautical tattoo a young sailor acquires (often during his or her first liberty from boot camp) and is essentially an initiation rite into the naval service.
Braided rope/line: Usually placed around left wrist; indicates a deck division seaman.
Chinese/Asian dragon: Symbolizes luck and strength — originated in the pre–World War II Asiatic Fleet and usually indicated service in China. Much later, dragons came to symbolize WESTPAC service in general (also worn embroidered or as patches inside jumper cuffs and on cruise jackets).
Compass rose or nautical star: Worn so that a sailor will always find his/her way back to port.
Crossed anchors: Often placed on the web between left thumb and forefinger; indicate a boatswain's mate or boatswain (U.S. Navy rating badge).
Crossed ship's cannon or guns: Signify naval vice merchant service; sometimes in combination with a U.S. Navy–specific or patriotic motif.
Crosses: In many variations — worn as a sign of faith or talisman. When placed on the soles of the feet, crosses were thought to repel sharks.
Dagger piercing a heart: Often combined with the motto 'Death Before Dishonor' — symbolizes the end of a relationship due to unfaithfulness.
Full-rigged ship: In commemoration of rounding Cape Horn (antiquated).
Golden Dragon: Indicated crossing the international dateline into the 'realm of the golden dragon' (Asia).
'Hold Fast' or 'Shipmate': Tattooed across knuckles of both hands so that the phrases can be read from left to right by someone standing opposite. Originally thought to give a seaman a firm grip on a ship's rigging.
Hula girl and/or palm tree: On occasion, hula girls would be rendered in a risqué fashion; both tattoos indicated service in Hawaii.
Pig and rooster: This combination — pig on top of the left foot, rooster on top of the right — was thought to prevent drowning. The superstition likely hearkens back to the age of sail, when livestock was carried onboard ships. If a ship was lost, pigs and roosters — in or on their crates — floated free.
Shellback turtle: Indicates that a Sailor has crossed the equator. 'Crossing the line' is also indicated by a variety of other themes, such as fancifully rendered geo-coordinates, King Neptune, mermaids, etc.
Ships' propellers (screws): A more extreme form of Sailors' body art: One large propeller is tattooed on each buttock ('twin screws') to keep the bearer afloat and propel him or her back to home and loved ones.
Sombrero: Often shown worn by a girl. May have indicated service on ships home-ported in San Pedro (Terminal Island, Los Angeles) or San Diego prior to World War II, a liberty taken in Tijuana, or participation in interwar Central and South American cruises.
Swallow: Each rendition originally symbolized 5,000 nautical miles underway; swallows were and still are displayed in various poses, often in combination with a U.S. Navy —specific motif or sweetheart's/spouse's name.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Record crowd expected at Bristol for the MLB Speedway Classic between the Braves and Reds
Workers still have some finishing touches to put on the field inside the racetrack at Bristol Motor Speedway, and officials are expecting a record crowd in a week to watch the Cincinnati Reds play the Atlanta Braves in the MLB Speedway Classic on Aug. 2. 'We can't wait for next Saturday night ... when that first pitch is thrown out and the stands are full,' Jerry Caldwell, Bristol's president and general manager, said Friday. 'We'll be setting records, we'll be having attendance records. We'll announcing all those details later on, but we'll be there, I know we will.' The largest crowd ever to see a baseball game was 115,300 for a March 2008 exhibition between the Red Sox and Dodgers at Los Angeles Coliseum. Bristol packed in 156,990 for the Battle of Bristol college football game in 2016. Officials showed off the work Friday with a baseball field now sitting on top of the infield inside the half-mile bullring where cars and a building once sat for NASCAR races. Murray Cook, an MLB field and stadium consultant with BrightView, said he's excited to be at this point in the process of building a ballpark. Final touches still remain for the clay along with all the padding and branding, which should be in place by Wednesday at the latest. Crews also held a light check Thursday night to make sure the Musco lights meet MLB standards. 'We've had a blast building this,' Cook said. Even though the Braves play the Reds in Cincinnati on Aug. 1, the day before the Bristol game, fans are being encouraged to settle in for the big party planned both outside and then inside the racetrack for game day. Caldwell said fans should show up by noon on game day to enjoy the attractions outside the track, including music, a 110-foot Ferris wheel, a food truck row, pitching tunnels and batting cages and team mascots. Once fans head inside, Tim McGraw and Pitbull are scheduled to perform. Demolition started in early June with heavy construction now in high gear to transform Bristol Motor Speedway into a ballpark for the first MLB game in Tennessee. This game features grandstand seating for fans along both baselines. Both teams will be wearing NASCAR-inspired uniforms with details like flames on the brim of the Braves' caps and a finish-line checkerboard for the Reds' caps. The MLB Speedway Classic also will be included in the 'MLB The Show 25' video game after an update scheduled for Tuesday. Caldwell said the project has been long in the works. 'We're ... thrilled to be able to welcome everyone to Bristol and partner with Major League Baseball, the state of Tennessee and so many others to be able to pull this off,' he said. ___ AP MLB: and AP auto racing:
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rick and Morty spin-off announced based on fan-favorite character
Adult Swim have announced a new spin-off show based on the adventures of the Rick and Morty character President Andre Curtis. The new adult animated comedy, named President Curtis, will see Keith David reprise his role as the title character. Co-created by Rick and Morty executive producers Dan Harmon and James Siciliano, and along with David, the series will also star Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Stephanie Beatriz and Jim Rash, who famously worked with Harmon on the much-loved sitcom Community. The show has been described as following 'the Commander-in-Chief and his eccentric staff as they tackle the kind of crises that Rick Sanchez could never be bothered with - from interdimensional diplomacy to paranormal investigations and unexplained phenomena.' In a statement, David said: 'President Curtis has always been a blast to play. Getting to explore his world more deeply in this new series is a dream. I can't wait for fans to see what kind of chaos he stirs up when Rick isn't around to steal the spotlight.' Harmon and Siciliano added: 'President Curtis has always been one of our favorite characters to write — he's the only person in the multiverse who can go toe-to-toe with Rick and still hold office. Now we finally get to go on sci-fi missions from Curtis' point of view. And with Keith David leading the charge, it's going to be a wild ride.' Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen said: 'This is a series we would have greenlit even if it didn't have anything at all to do with Rick and Morty. President Andre Curtis is just that good of a character. The rest of the world the team has fleshed out is super fun and totally stands on its own. We can't wait for you to see it.' A release date for President Curtis has not yet been announced. Rick and Morty is currently airing its eighth season. The show survived upheaval in 2023 when co-creator Justin Roiland left the production after being charged with domestic violence. Roiland's charges were dismissed on the grounds of 'insufficient evidence,' but he was later repeatedly accused of further sexual misconduct. A lawyer representing Roiland said the allegations were 'false and defamatory.' Roiland's role voicing both Rick and Morty was recast. Ian Cardoni now voices Rick Sanchez, while Harry Belden voices Morty Smith. Speaking about the multiple allegations facing Roiland, Harmon said he was 'ashamed and heartbroken' by his co-creator's alleged actions.
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Berklee College of Music Freshman Awarded $10,000 Wilshire Quinn Musical Arts Scholarship
SAN DIEGO, July 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilshire Quinn Capital, Inc. proudly announces Oliver Charles, an 18-year-old guitarist from Los Angeles, California, as the recipient of this year's $10,000 Wilshire Quinn Musical Arts Scholarship. The scholarship funds will be applied directly to Oliver's tuition at Berklee College of Music, where he is pursuing a degree in Guitar Performance beginning this fall. Wilshire Quinn received an impressive array of submissions from talented young musicians across the country. Each entry revealed the passion and individuality that define this new generation of musicians. Among them, Oliver Charles' artistry stood out for its depth, authenticity, and vision. Oliver's musical journey began at the age of two, when he first picked up a guitar. By five, he'd started formal lessons, merging natural talent with training in music theory and composition. What began as instinct has grown into a lifelong pursuit of mastery. As Oliver puts it, the guitar offers an "endless ceiling of possibility," a sentiment that continues to fuel his curiosity and joy with the instrument each day. Reflecting on its deeper impact, he shared, "It's been therapy, a source of courage, and a way to become my best self." Growing up amid LA's vibrant music scene, Oliver embraced the art early on. By nine, he was performing with School of Rock and taking the stage at legendary venues like The Troubadour, The Roxy, and Whisky a Go-Go. His journey also extends online, where he has built a YouTube community of nearly 50,000 subscribers dedicated to the guitar. In high school, he founded a schoolwide rock band, led guitar ensembles, and booked gigs — most notably performing original music at Harvelle's Blues Club in Santa Monica. His influences are vast and eclectic—spanning guitar icons like Jason Becker, John Petrucci, and Marcin, to classical composers such as Frédéric Chopin, whose music he describes as his heart and soul. Oliver is both technically skilled and thoughtfully devoted to honoring music's deeper beauty. Looking ahead, Oliver is eager to join Berklee ensembles where he can improvise, arrange, and collaborate with like-minded musicians—all while pursuing his dream of performing for diverse audiences in ways that connect and inspire. "We are truly moved by Oliver's story, talent, and the deep intentionality behind his musical journey," said Christopher M. Garcia, CEO of Wilshire Quinn Capital. "On behalf of everyone at Wilshire Quinn, we extend our sincerest congratulations to Oliver Charles and look forward to seeing the impact he will make in the world of music." About the Wilshire Quinn Scholarship The Wilshire Quinn Musical Arts Scholarship is an annual $10,000 award presented to a qualified applicant who embodies leadership in the musical arts through both talent and character. Funds are applied toward tuition and paid directly to the recipient's educational institution. The application includes a brief personal statement and a three-minute video showcasing their musical skills. Applications for the 2026 scholarship will open on March 1, 2026, with the winner announced on or around July 1, 2026. Visit to learn more about the scholarship and application process. About Wilshire Quinn Capital, Inc. Funding for the Wilshire Quinn Musical Arts Scholarship is provided by Wilshire Quinn Capital Inc. Founded in 2004 by CEO and Chief Investment Officer Christopher M. Garcia, the firm oversees the privately held Wilshire Quinn Income Fund, LLC. As one of the premier private lenders in California and across the nation, Wilshire Quinn Capital is committed to strengthening local communities by supporting the arts with awards such as the Wilshire Quinn Musical Arts Scholarship. Media Contact: Natalie Snyder, (619) 872-6000, nsnyder@ View original content: SOURCE Wilshire Quinn Capital, Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio