Posted on Feb 17, 2016
Why do we have such silly animals for our military mascots?
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And what were they thinking?
I will preface this by saying that this in no way reflects any negative feeling toward any branch of the military, or those who serve. That being said here we go.
I will preface this by saying that this in no way reflects any negative feeling toward any branch of the military, or those who serve. That being said here we go.
Posted in these groups: 
Humor
Humor
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 18
because a muscle-clad Viking with a mug of mead in one hand and a skull of his enemy in the other while praising Valhalla would be considered too politically incorrect.
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
PO2 Steven Erickson - I have a bottle of Viking Blood in the fridge at home right now (I know big surprise right). It is good stuff!
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SSG (Join to see)
Looks like the 19th century (Army mule and Navy goat date back to late 1800's) struggled as much with political correctness as we do today.
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The use of a Billy Goat for the Naval Academy comes from the following story (supposedly, since I wasn't there to confirm this)...
Entertainment on liberty took many forms, mostly depending on the coast and opportunity. One incident which became tradition was at a Navy-Army football game. In early sailing years, livestock would travel on ships, providing the crew the fresh milk, meats, and eggs. as well as serving as ships mascots. One pet, a goat named El Cid (meaning Chief) was the mascot aboard the USS New York. When its crew attended the fourth Navy-Army football game in 1893, they took El Cid to the game, which resulted in the West Pointers losing. El Cid (The Chief) was offered shore duty at Annapolis and became the Navy's mascot.
(From http://goatlocker.org/resources/nav/trivia.htm)
Entertainment on liberty took many forms, mostly depending on the coast and opportunity. One incident which became tradition was at a Navy-Army football game. In early sailing years, livestock would travel on ships, providing the crew the fresh milk, meats, and eggs. as well as serving as ships mascots. One pet, a goat named El Cid (meaning Chief) was the mascot aboard the USS New York. When its crew attended the fourth Navy-Army football game in 1893, they took El Cid to the game, which resulted in the West Pointers losing. El Cid (The Chief) was offered shore duty at Annapolis and became the Navy's mascot.
(From http://goatlocker.org/resources/nav/trivia.htm)
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
PO2 Steven Erickson wait so you are saying that sailors are superstitious? I can't believe that. I have never seen anyone in the Navy being superstitious. Oh wait, maybe there is some degree of truth to that.
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SSG Melvin Nulph
Now that's military history worth knowing, thanks for the insight PO2 Steven Erickson.
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PO2 (Join to see)
I heard years ago that the "goat locker" and the Navy fixation with goats came from some old parable of sailors being forced to sleep next to goats on old ships back 200 years ago. Well, that's what I heard at least.
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