Are you a Pollywog or a Shellback?

[Wallymanowar]

SHELLBACK - went to Chile in '95 and Australia in 2000. Almost went around the Horn on the Chile trip but I got flown home for my Father's funeral[:(] Other than that it was a good trip, the Chlieans are very nice to Canucks.

[reg113]

Shellback

15 JAn 1975 at lat 0000, long 084 degrees 30' east, CVAN-65 .

dereck, just gor back from San Diego. Spent most of Thursday aboard the Midway Museum. They have done a pretty good job of preservation. Lots of spaces open and most aircraft and helos from the Vietnam era. Even had a E-2 Hawkey (plane my squadron few, VAW-113). Sign on the way out said they are working on acquiring WWII and Korea aircraft. A very pleasent day.[:)]

[JJB647]

Back in July 93. On my third underway. USS POGY SSN 647.

[acmejeff]

Shellback here, Jan 84, the USS Ranger.

[Mynok]

I assume civilian isn't an option? [:D]

Seriously, let me be the first landlubber to thank those who serve in militaries for their sacrifices.

We owe you an unrepayable debt of gratitude. [&o]

[Wallymanowar]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


I assume civilian isn't an option? [:D]

Seriously, let me be the first landlubber to thank those who serve in militaries for their sacrifices.

We owe you an unrepayable debt of gratitude. [&o]

Actually, Mynok you can become a Shellback without joining the military. you need to know the secret first[;)]

[Terminus]

ORIGINAL: rogueusmc

If you don't know what I'm talkin' 'bout, you are a Pollywog...[:D]

Actually, I KNOW what you're talking about, but I'm still a Pollywog...

[ilovestrategy]

Pollywog

[Ramjet]

SHELLBACK:

1981 USS Belleau Wood LHA-3 (Pacific)
1982 USS Belleau Wood LHA-3 (Pacific)
1989 USS Hewitt DD-966 (Pacific)
1994 USS Halyburton FFG-40 (Atlantic)
1998 USS Carl Vinson CVN-70 (Pacific)

[kellyc]

Pollywog....




Kellyc

[mogami]

Hi, When my ship crossed the equator there was not one Shellback among the crew. We thought we would all become Shellbacks without dealing with Neptune. We were wrong. A helicopter with 6 CPO (All Shellbacks) landed on our flightdeck and proceeded to initiate us the old fashioned way.

[Nick E]

ORIGINAL: Mynok
Seriously, let me be the first landlubber to thank those who serve in militaries for their sacrifices.

We owe you an unrepayable debt of gratitude. [&o]

I wonder if the Chinese users of this forum share the same positive attitude toward their military. I read that prior to the Communist takeover, a military career was considered something only a lowlife would choose. I'm sure that the Communists tried to glorify their military, but with it being involved with things like the Tien An Minh massacre maybe their military is viewed as an oppressing rather than a defending force.

[Andrew Brown]

ORIGINAL: Mike Tremblay
Actually, Mynok you can become a Shellback without joining the military. you need to know the secret first[;)]

Well if you are counting civilians, that would make me a Pollywog, but also a Mossback and a member of the Order of the Ditch (just to add a little variety).

[Nikademus]

Alien posing as Earthman.

[rtrapasso]

Actually, Mynok you can become a Shellback without joining the military. you need to know the secret first

I thought it didn't count unless you went through the ceremony (of Neptune). No ceremony, no certificate...

EDIT: Ah, i suppose you are talking about the Merchant Marine...

[jubail1999]

Shellback, 1982, USS New Jersey (BB 62). Believe me, teak can be just as hard on you as non-skid when you have to crawl 1600ft on it.

Shellback, 1997, USS Antietam (CG 54). Much more enjoyable the second time around.

Yep, 15 years between crossings. Something always came up in the other deployments that prevented the ship from getting to the equator.

[ChezDaJez]

I thought it didn't count unless you went through the ceremony (of Neptune). No ceremony, no certificate...

That is true. I crossed the equator a gazillion times flying long range patrols but that didn't save me when I did my crossdeck and we crossed the equator. No certificate? Come'ere boy! Ya gots a date wid da king!!! <sigh> Do you know what happens when a chief pollywog goes before the court?[:-]

Unfortunately, just like with the CPO initiation, the ceremony has been toned down a lot in the name of political correctness. Bah, puuuey, spit....

Chez

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: ChezDaJez

I thought it didn't count unless you went through the ceremony (of Neptune). No ceremony, no certificate...

That is true. I crossed the equator a gazillion times flying long range patrols but that didn't save me when I did my crossdeck and we crossed the equator. No certificate? Come'ere boy! Ya gots a date wid da king!!! <sigh> Do you know what happens when a chief pollywog goes before the court?[:-]

Unfortunately, just like with the CPO initiation, the ceremony has been toned down a lot in the name of political correctness. Bah, puuuey, spit....

Chez

I'm not a sailor (or 'mariner'), but I do know that this tradition dates back many many centuries, and is so time honored that down through the centuries - even in wartime - ships 'heave to' (I believe that's the term) and go through the ceremony - just a quick web search is very illuminating...

It's a shame Political Correctness is hitting this too. However, in the past, the tradition has gone through periods of getting out of hand and then becoming more restricted so I doubt any softening now will last very long.

B

[rtrapasso]

Unfortunately, just like with the CPO initiation, the ceremony has been toned down a lot in the name of political correctness. Bah, puuuey, spit....

That, and the murder charges that sometimes resulted...

[Dereck]

ORIGINAL: ChezDaJez

I thought it didn't count unless you went through the ceremony (of Neptune). No ceremony, no certificate...

That is true. I crossed the equator a gazillion times flying long range patrols but that didn't save me when I did my crossdeck and we crossed the equator. No certificate? Come'ere boy! Ya gots a date wid da king!!! <sigh> Do you know what happens when a chief pollywog goes before the court?[:-]

Unfortunately, just like with the CPO initiation, the ceremony has been toned down a lot in the name of political correctness. Bah, puuuey, spit....

Chez

The second time I crossed the equator a new "wog" I knew from photo school had just been assigned to the Midway. Another person who went to A-School with him selected him as his wog but when I learned this guy was planning to use the shilaley line to beat the crap out of him I pulled rank (I was a PH3 and this other guy just an AN) and took the wog as mine.

He went through the initiation - I made sure of that - but it was something he could look back on and laugh about later instead of having bad memories of. A few weeks later I had another run-in with the AN that ended up getting him busted [:D]