The Twentieth Century 193 



1942 



Going out, in March, 1942, we were in convoy in the Pacific, five troop ships, 

 one httle "gun boat," small destroyer, as an escort. The gun boat stayed so 

 far ahead I think it felt that it was safer there in case of an attack. We knew 

 by observation of the sun and stars that we paralleled the equator for a long 

 time, just when we slipped over we were never told. Some time later we found 

 some old certificates of the pleasure cruise days aboard and these we had 

 certified. There were no ceremonies whatsoever. 



On my return trip in April, 1944, in an Alaskan fishing boat that we con- 

 tended had been retired from that service as unfit, we were alone. We carried, 

 I think, some 500 Australians that were to go to Canada or United States for 

 air training. All the Yank troops that were returning were shellbacks even 

 though they had not been formally initiated going out. By the time of our 

 return voyage the security regulations had been relaxed and so a ceremony 

 had been planned. 



On Aprü 7th we crossed. The Aussie neophytes, clad only in shorts, were 

 brought up from below, with the aid of paddles. They were introduced to the 

 Court consisting of King, Queen and Junior. These were garishly costumed as 

 could be expected with what was available on the ship. Junior, I remember, 

 was a small colored soldier and acted somewhat as the court jester. After 

 being introduced, the victim got a mixture of oil and graphite on his head, 

 and then had the joy of a drink concocted of atabrine, quinine, mineral oil, 

 and sea water, served from a thunder jug. A pool had been made by suspend- 

 ing a large tarpaulin or saü between some spars. This was full of sea water 

 and the pollywog was soused into this and made to say "shellback" while 

 imder water. Surprising to say, there was a bit of sputtering and choking. 

 All in all, the Aussies didn't take to the whole thing with too much enthu- 

 siasm. The Yanks may possibly have used it all as a chance to make amends 

 for some misunderstandings, surprising to say. 



( Extracts from a letter from a friend, a medical officer, sailing early and 

 in active service untu near the end of the war when he was invalided 

 home. ) 



1943 



There was no question about it: Joe was injured during the war. And another 

 fact was indisputable: the injury occurred on Jime 22, 1943. But the official 

 Navy records show that McCarÜiy was not facing Jap shrapnel or serving on 

 a Marine airfield at the time. On June 22, 1943, he was on board the Navy's 

 seaplane tender Chandeleur, steaming toward the Pacific war area. The ship 

 recorded him as an "oflBcer passenger." It sailed from Pearl Harbor on June 12, 

 but did not reach Espiritu Santo, the destination of McCarthy's squadron, 

 imtil July 3. And on June 22, the Chandeleur was crossing the equator. The 

 details of that day were reported later by one of Joe's shipmates: 



The skipper. Commander Albert K. Morehouse, gave the enlisted 

 men permission to have a mild "shellback" ceremony on June 22, 



