Homophobia or prison panic?

Homophobia or prison panic?

This happened back in 1978-79 on board the USS Von Steuben SSBN 632B. We had just received a new MS on board. As nice a guy as you'd ever hope to meet. That has nothing to do with entertainment at sea though. He was more than a bit jittery about being on board a Submarine, too. He'd heard the stories, you know, long periods at sea... The gentleman was of the African American persuasion and a real nice guy, named Alfred. I was a MM1 Auxiliaryman and need something to do all patrol. And I knew the moment I met him what that something was. 
Once I discovered his fear of being someone’s 'boyfriend' for the duration of the patrol his fate was sealed...so to speak. 
All of the Dolphin wearers were in on it after a day or two and soon the show began. 
I could sign ships qual cards on about fifteen different ship board systems and several others without question... I got hold of his qual card and initialed more than half of it. He had to come to me to get those sub-systems signed off.
A little grab ass here and a tongue in his ear there and pretty soon his head was on a swivel. 
Of course, there is no hiding from an A-ganger on board a submarine. Every possible hiding place has at least one piece of A-gang equipment. After about 12 weeks of this he was fit to be tied! Every time he thought he was shed of me, I'd sneak up behind him and pat him on the ass or kiss him on the neck. {He even talked about a transfer}. The entire crew was in stitches and this helped relieve a lot of the drudgery of being at sea. I told him I could get us some time 'alone' in the Yeoman's shack and he got REAL scared. 
During maneuvering watch coming up river to the weapons station in Charleston S.C. I told him I was going to get liberty at the same time he did and well.., I carried on right up til we tied up and visitors were allowed to come down. 
As it turned out I was the section leader and had the first BDW after mooring. While visitors were milling around one of my friends had escorted my girlfriend down. Boy was 'ole Alfred blown away when he finally figured out the truth! He would have laughed, but he didn't have the strength. You could literally see the relief in his face.
Alfred if you read this, thanks for keeping the crew laughing. Newbies always pay a high price. You paid as high a price as anyone.