196 Crossing the Line 



1943, continued 



legs in such a fashion that an occupant thereof, after being treated by the 

 Royal Barber, could be tipped over backward and into tlie tank below where 

 two stalwart shellbacks could supei-vise the ducking and presumably rescue 

 the victim in his last extremity. 



Also, a canvas tunnel was constructed about 15 feet long and leading up a 

 well-greased ramp to the flight deck. Into this tunnel was led a series of high 

 pressure water hoses. 



The main cast of characters consisted of such standard personahties as 

 King Neptune, his Queen, the Royal Baby ( an obese Petty Officer ) , the Royal 

 Prosecutor, Defense Attorney, the Royal Jury, the Royal Physician and Den- 

 tist ( with squirt guns filled with a very bitter fluid ) , the Royal Barber, and 

 various others bounding and howling about. 



We were all briefed in our duties by the Shellback Committee and were 

 read instructions from the Navy Department cautioning us against com- 

 mitting any physical violence which might injure the initiates. 



On the morning of the crossing, the poUywogs were stripped to their under- 

 drawers and led aft one at a time, the higher oflBcers going first in order to 

 insure their getting well initiated while we weie stul fuU of pep and en- 

 thusiasm. Each person was first shoved into the tunnel, and as he tried to 

 crawl along it, powerful streams of water hanassed him each inch of the way. 



He was then brought before the Royal Court and after bowing to the King 

 and Queen and kissing the Royal Baby, was charged with a series of major 

 crimes the most serious of which was the fact that all during his life thus far 

 he had faued to cross the equator. As Defense Attorney, I took the position 

 that although my chent was gmlty of everything charged to him and probably 

 more besides, indeed deserved to be tossed over the side without more ado, 

 none the less I reluctantly pleaded for mercy, and asked the comt merely 

 to have the unfortunate criminal shorn, greased, baptised. 



Officers and Petty Ofiicers received individual attention from the Shell- 

 backs, of course, but by the time the main mass of enhsted men came through 

 ( there were probably some 75 or more poUywogs to begin with, representing 

 about half the ship's company ) the first bloom of enthusiasm had worn off 

 and the men were nm through in groups in rather haphazard fashion. 



AU in aU, everyone had a merry time of it, and it was several days before 

 the grease had been properly cleaned from the decks and several weeks 

 before the ship's barber was able to restore any sort of order to the haircuts 

 of those who had been treated by the Royal Barber. 



I should mention that the first to go through the initiation was our Com- 

 manding Officer, Captain Charles W. Thomas, USCG. A rather violent initia- 

 tion was planned for him, but at the last minute the SheUbacks got cold feet 

 and sent a delegation to the "old man" to say that if he preferred, he would 

 be given only a perfunctory initiation. Captain Thomas, a wonderful gentle- 

 man and a good sport in every respect, insisted emphaticaUy that he be 

 spared not one whit. Indeed, he entered into the spirit of the game whole- 



