US Sailors Personalize Munitions Bound for Iran During Operation Epic Fury

Sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are engaging in a long-standing military tradition by inscribing names and messages onto bombs designated for Operation Epic Fury. Recent photos released by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) show GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, a 2,000-pound class bomb, being prepared on February 28. These images depict aviation ordnancemen staging the ordnance before loading them onto strike fighter aircraft.

The inscriptions, visible on the tails, noses, and sides of the bombs, include names such as "Jose," "Alex," "Naomi," and "Joey," along with less discernible messages. This practice of personalizing weaponry is not new, with historical examples dating back to ancient times, including sling bullets inscribed with taunts like "Catch!" and "Bite it in vain." Even the atomic bomb "Fat Man," dropped on Nagasaki in 1945, bore signatures and messages from those involved in its creation.

Modern militaries continue this tradition, as seen with Jordanian pilots writing messages on missiles aimed at the Islamic State in 2015 and Ukrainian artillerymen inscribing rockets during the current conflict. This act of personalizing weapons is believed to stem from a "primitive magical notion" that naming an object grants control over it, according to a Vietnam War pilot. The practice provides a symbolic outlet for military personnel.