"Buddy System"

 

A young Seaman was complaining to the Chief about the “buddy system” and how it was restricting to have to sign out with a shipmate before leaving the ship on liberty. He said he heard it was just a new way for the Navy to keep sailors on a leash and not let them enjoy the little bit of liberty they had. To which the Chief retorts…

“Well you see son, the “Buddy System” has been around since the Greek city-states where pairs of homosexual lovers were eagerly recruited into the Spartan and Athenian Navies. The city statesmen recognized that many fights broke out with Sailors on liberty and a Sailor would sooner die in a foreign port than look like a coward in the eyes of the man he loved.”