Manatee (AO 58) - Naval Cruise Book

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The initiation ceremony itself began with all polly- wogs assembling on the forward tank deck, whilst the Shellbacks went aft to prepare their surprises. Each pollywog seeking membership was led before King Neptune where his charges were read. After his feeble defense failed utterly, the pollywog was led on hands and knees to kiss the Royal Baby. This particular tra- dition has been time tested to be one of the most substantial tests of a pollywog ' s True Grit. Royal Shellback MMC LUNDY provided the belly which was liberally spread with packing grease (the highest priced spread) into which each pollywog had to place a fer- vent kiss. Borber KELLY takes o little off the top. Moving through the finot test. Once blessed with that sticky momento the pollywog was encarcerated in a pilgrim vintage stock, rendering him helpless. Here Royal Shellback BTC Barber KELLY took over. Although his trims were not of substantial volume, they did seem to cut into the middle of things. As the Royal Bar- ber was freeing the captive from his growth of hair, Royal Shellback HMC Doc BICE, provided gourmet-type snacks, guaranteed to bring water to the mouth, or at least the eyes. 56

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After the arrival of Neptune, a formal inspection of all pollywogs was held on the cargo deck where mustache wax (packing grease) was liberally distributed to those slimy neophytes with face hair. Summonses were also issued calling for offending pollywogs to appear at the specified time and offer defense to King Neptune. The charges ran from minor offenses such as failure to enter the domain of King Neptune (4000 lashes) to more felonious acts such as MANATEE ' S navigator was charged with: Willfully navi- gating MANATEE away from the equator. As expected these crimes were indefensible, and the guilty pollywog was punished to the limits of the Deep Sea Scrolls. No mercy! says newly initialed Shellback DOYLE to his less fortunate compatriot. A group of well dressed Pollywog Officers. W VtfiU F Ar0 -d X i ■« 4jlk Wr ' i 4m +J0S J 55

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Once released from the stock, the excited pollywog, now almost a Shellback, plunged headlong into his next task ... a ten foot tunnel of garbage, especially saved by our fine cooks. To urge on the man between layers of refuse, paddlers lined the trench and pounded out encourage- ment. Finally, weary and dirty, but now a Shellback, the once slimy pollywog turned Prince of the Sea bathed in his glory ... a fire hose. These accounts may seem harsh and frightening. How- ever, the ceremony itself was conducted with the greatest concern for safety and orderliness that allowed each man to enjoy the experience. Each of those participating will receive a large color certificate to verify his accomplish- ment in the future. The general comments were that: IT WASN ' T ALL THAT BAD . . . The initiate washdown, and it ' s all over! 57