My dad served in the Navy from 1962 to 1968, and he's told me a handful of stories about his time in the service. This one is my favorite. I do not remember when or why Dad told it to me, and I'll undoubtedly get it wrong in the retelling:
The rule was, sailors had to be clean-shaven -- unless you were wearing a mustache when you got the photo for your military ID taken. In that case, a [dignified, properly maintained] mustache was allowed.
Dad was clean-shaven when he joined the Navy. But somewhere along the line, he decided that he wanted to grow a mustache. He asked his Commanding Officer about it. His CO told him it wasn't allowed: Dad's photo ID featured him with a bare upper lip. If he grew a mustache, it would no longer match his ID. Chaos would ensue. You understand how it is. No mustache for Dad.
Dad accepted his CO's explanation. Meanwhile, he schemed.
Some undisclosed time later, Dad's destroyer docked along the California coast, and he got a short leave off-ship. Dad had been waiting for this moment, and he executed his plan with the seamless efficiency of Ocean's Eleven: He deliberately lost his ID, spent his leave diligently growing a mustache, and arranged to get a new photo ID -- with a fresh photo -- right before returning to his ship. He got a couple of raised eyebrows but no questions as he re-boarded. Dad felt rather proud of himself: he got what he wanted and abided by the letter of the law in the process.
The CO noticed the mustache immediately. Reminding Dad about their conversation, the CO ordered him to shave it off.
Dad triumphantly showed the CO his new photo ID.
The CO wasn't having it. Dad was obliged to shave. For some time after, his face didn't match his ID.
