Crewmen aboard the destroyer USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD (DD-968) participate in the traditional shellback initiation ceremony during Exercise Unitas XXI. The shellback initiation takes place anytime a U.S. Navy ship crosses the equator.
By Donn Nemchick
There is a long standing maritme tradition to have a ceremony when the ship crosses the equator. Back in the days of wooden sailing ships, crossing the Line ceremonies were designed to prove a sailor’s worth as a mariner and earn becoming an official child of the mythological ancient Roman God of the Sea, King Neptune.
The U S Navy holds a “line crossing” ceremony wherein sailors who have been across the equator are called Shellbacks. Sailors who are the about to cross are called Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs, the lowest form of life.
Shellbacks perpared for this frolicsome controlled chaos by putting together makeshift costumes usually looking like salty pirates or characters made up to intimidate the wogs.
I willingly experienced the ceremony in 1973 while serving on board an attack aircraft carrier, USS Constellation (CVA-64). At first light of day the Shellbacks would hoot and holler to call out the Pollywogs to the flight deck.
The ceremony began with us Wogs getting sprayed by high pressure fire hoses or having buckets of salt water thrown at us to wet us down for the ensuing whipping on the back side with large wooden paddles or pieces of hose some soaked in salt water to harden them. Being soaking wet your clothes sticks to you thus intensifing the stinging pain.
We were then lined up to be guided through a large canvas tube filled with garbage, oil and other disgusting refuse. We crawled through what seemed like 50 yds of tubing.
Shellback initiation aboard the destroyer USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD (DD-968) in 1982.
An aircraft carrier has a large crew, most of them were Shellbacks, who would take a whack at you with a paddle or hose, so the guantlet was long and manned on both sides with Shellbacks who wanted to rough you up.
At the end of the guanlet was a makeshift throne wherein the fattest guy on the ship had the final role in the ceremony. He sat on a chair and on his ample belly would be a mix of eggs, mustard, ketchup, mayo and whatever they could find to smear on his torso. Wogs had to crawl to him on hands and knees and have our faces rubbed in the foul mess. That was final step in degrading our human dignity in the time honored transformation to the honored Shellback designation.
We were now Shellbacks, a certifcate signed by the Captain was entered into our formal service record.
After this initiation concluded each newly hardened shellback would clean up and begin to enjoy the reward of a “Steel Beach Party” we were now on Stand Down. Quality chow was served on the flight deck, usually steaks, chicken, burgers and other BBQ food. No two beer allocation for us, there were just too many guys. Some guys hooked up music speakers and the day became joyous and normal again. We were glad it was over.
I recall my dungarees being so scuzzy I just threw them over the side and hit the showers and donned a clean uniform.
The Navy has wisely outlawed such hazing and now the sailors participate in talent contests, sporting events or music and dance therefore a more civil and less painful ceremony.
Either way the crossing ceremony is voluntary and is conducted to boost morale and foster a spirit of camaraderie, tradition and unit cohesion.
I look back at that part of being a seagoing sailor in 1973, I laugh about it and proudly display my Shellback certificate on the wall of my home office.
