My husband does that with his coffee mug. I find it nearly unbearable to look at his mug. He swears washing it ruins the flavor. I take cream in my coffee and prefer the mugs (plural, as I like to use a clean one each time) scrubbed with hot water and lots of dish soap. Of course, I was never in the Navy.
My husband, however, was.
Now I know whom to blame.
I'm going to get SecNav on the phone right now and register a complaint.