Menifee (APA 202) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 32 text:

CKOSSlNG3 THE UNE The first Menifee skipper, Captain Paul P. Spaulding, was maintaining one of the oldest of naval traditions when he played host to King Neptune and court on the two occasions his ship crossed the equator. Though it may be small consolation to the 430 former pollywogs who were hosed, beaten, smeared, shocked, clipped, rotten-egged, and ducked in their trans- formation to trusty shellbacks, the initiation of men crossing the line for the first time into the solemn mysteries of the ancient order of the deep has been traced back to the early days of the Vikings. Even earlier, when mythological Qods were believed in, seamen paid special respect to Neptunus Rex, and it is this deity to- day who rules at the boisterous initiation cere- monies. Nothing serious remains from the origins of the ceremonies on crossing the line, however- it's all just a big party for the crew, especially the trusty shellbacks. Few of the men who at- tended the parties aboard the Menifee 3 Febru- ary or 22 lune as pollywogs will forget any part of their ordeal, from the first ominous warning to the final plunge backwards into a tank of salt water. The first time the 202 crossed into south lati- tude, she was on her first trip out, bound for Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands. Lowly pollywogs got a hint of bad times ahead 29 Ianuary when the Plan of the Day stated, HH hands . . . who can furnish documentary evi- dence that they have been initiated into the Realm of King Neptune will submit their names twith evidence? . . ' Pollywogs felt the noose tighten again 31 lanuary when they read this remark in the Plan of the Day: The following dispatch was this date received by the Commanding Officer from King Neptunus Rex. Quote: My Royal Hstronomer has informed me that you will enter my domain in the near future . . . Please inform me if all of the present crew of the Menifee are loyal subjects of mine or if you have on board any pollywogs, landlubbers, beach duty hounds, or sea duty shirkers . . . Signed Nep- tunus Rex. Unquotef' Capt. Spaulding ordered the following dispatch sent in reply: . . . lt is

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Page 33 text:

1 I CROSSING THE .LINE with great pleasure that I bring the U.S.S. Meni- fee into your realm. However, it is with deepest regret that l inform you that there are in the crew on board this vessel some 400 pollywogs, landlubbers, beach-duty hounds, sea-duty shirk- ers, sea lawyers, and even worse, passenger sea shirkers to the grand total of 350 who so much desired to avoid visiting your realm as to have entered the Hrmy instead of the sea- going service of their country. lt will be my pleasure to present these persons to you in due form for proper reception upon arrival at your capitol the Equator, Saturday, 3 February. On Friday, 2 February, Davy Iones came aboard as King Neptune's representative and distributed summons to all pollywogs to appear at King Neptune's court the next day. Not one of the sea duty shirkers before the Court next morning had a chance. Each was found guilty by the Royal ludge of the crimes on his summons. However, half the punishment was already done, since previous to seeing the fudge, slimy pollywogs had been gone over with firehose and shillelaghs by some happy shellbacks. Hfter being sentenced, they -were further assaulted by the Royal Doctor, Royal Dentist, Royal Barber, and Bears until finally released, battered and shorn-but Shellbacks! Most of the men who took part in King Nep- tune's Court were salty chiefs: King Neptune, Castine, CWTQ Queen, Percy, CSK5 Princess, Vtfhite, CMOMMQ Royal Baby, Vtfells, CBM, Davy Iones, Pay Clerk Robbinsp Devil, Bartholo- mew, CRMp Royal Sheriff, Hodge, CMM: Royal ludge, Matheson, CCM, Royal Prosecutor, Lin- ville, CBM: Royal Doctor, Terry, CPhM7 Royal Barber, Shepherd, CBM, and numerous enthus- iastic assistants. When the U.S.S. Menifee crossed Latitude 00 southbound again 22 lune, she was enroute to Milne Bay, New Guinea, from Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands. Only 34 men aboard were not loyal subjects of King Neptune. They were given proper reception at the equator. Fore- most among those helping the court receive these 34 were the salts who won shellback cer- tificates on the Menifee's first trip out.