Marshall (DD 676) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 27 text:

To all sailors wherever ye may be, and to all Mermaids, Whales, Sea Serpents, Porpoises, Sharks, Dolphins, Eels, Skates, Suckers, Crabs, Lobsters, and all other living things of the sea, Greetings: Know ye that on this day of March 1956, in Latitude 00-00 and Longitude 165°-20.8 E. there appeared within our Royal Domain the USS MARSHALL (DD-676) bound South for the Equator. Be it remembered that the said vessel and officers and crew thereof have been inspected and passed by ourself and our Royal Staff. And let it be known by all ye Sailors, Marines, Land Lubbers and others who may be hon- ored by their presence that said officers and men having been found worthy to be numbered as one of our trusty Shellbacks have been duly initiated into the Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep. Be it further understood by the virtue of the power vested in me I do hereby command all my subjects to show due respect and honor to them wherever they may be. Disobey this order under penalty of our Royal Displeasure. Given under our hanc 1956. ur hand Davy Jones r eptunus Rex His Royal Majesty ' s Scribe Ruler of the Raging Main The above entry, which appears in all of the crew ' s service jackets, is a mite polite. To be blunt, the initiation appeared and sometimes felt like the product of a nightmare of a small man locked in a some chain locker with a case of hot San Magoo. Still it was a lot of fun, both for the Shellbacks and the Polywogs. The day ' s ceremonies were outstanding in all counts and were a credit to those whose crafty little minds drafted the plans for the initiation and left all the newly ordained Shellbacks with material for new sea stories, a conception of being very very salty and with beady little eyes set on a future date when they would be the senior shellbacks on a vessel loaded with polywogs. The following pictures are a very brief story of what actually takes place at King Neptune ' s door. 23