Norris (DD 859) - Naval Cruise Book

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Used Exeeeded 200 O00 served as NGFS ship in various places in- cluding Vung Tau, Phouc Hai, Can Gio, Ham Thang, Rung Sat Special Z on e, Mui Ho Tram. Thepatternwas as ithadbeenbe- fore-firing all day with frequent breaks for refueling and r e ar rn in g. During one re- arrning Palisano, SM3 was washed over- board by a huge Wave while working at the midships station. NORRIS made a record be m e r g e n c y breakaway and quickly re- covered Palisano. On 28 Feb NORRIS moved north to II Corps. On I March Lt E. A. Weaving was highlined aboardfrorn the USS Chara QAESIQ. On 3 March NORRIS herlast round of the war at Tam Quan,was relieved by USS C.P. CECIL fDD835J and proceeded to Yankee Station for plane guarding and screening. At 09I5fH5 on 9 March the war ended for NORRIS when she fdeparted Yankee Station for Subic Bay. Homeward Bound! Helo landing on NORRIS CDD 8595 off Vietnam t if ' Q y Gunboat November 66 Vong Tau, Vietnam f Q

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Total Cost of F116 10 Feb 1327 Q15 Underway for Buckner Bay, Okinawa. 12 Feb 1315415 Anehored in Buckner Bay, Okinawa. 1557 Q15 Underway for Yankee Station. 16 Feb 0730qH5 Arrived at Yankee Sta- tion. Refueled fr om USS TAPPAHAN- NOCK QAO435. Conducted short ASW ex- ercise with USS TUNNY 1SS2825.223OfH5 Underway for Vung Tau and 111 Corps NGFS operations. Crew at Okinawa

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Crossing The Line 11 March 1023qHJ Moored Subic Bay, Luzon Island, Philippines 12 March 0607 QHJ Underway for Singapore 13 March Commenced preparations for crossing the Equator 14 March Crossed the Equator at Longitude 105 270 The boisterous ceremonies of Crossing the Line are of such ancient vintage that their derivation is lost. It is known that ceremonies took place long ago when the ship crossed the thirtieth parallel, and also when going through the Straits of Gibralter. These early ceremonies were of the toughest sort and were supposed to determine whether or not the novices on their first cruise could endure the hardships of life at sea. At earliest times, when sailors believed in the existence of Neptune, the mythological god of the seas, ceremonies of propitiation were carried on. Neptune had to be appeased and marks of respect paid those of his underwater domain--mermaids, sea s erpent s, whales, sharks, porpoises, dolphines, skates, eels, suckers, lobsters, crabs, pollywogs, and other living things of the sea. Sailors eventually came to doubt the existence of Neptune, but the tra- dition carried on and Neptunus Rex is today the majesty who rules over the ceremonies. The night before the ship crosses the line, Davy Jones usually appears on baord with a message for the Captain from His Majesty, Neptunus Rex, stating at what time he wants the ship hove to for the ceremony. Neptunus Rex is generally the eldest and most dignified member of the crew. Additionally, Her Highness Aphrodite is selected in a raucous beauty con- test attended by all andjudged by the shellbacks. On the day of: the ceremony all manner of indigities are inflicted upon the unfortunate pollywogs. They are made to crawl through slime and garbage, receive a good salt water dousing, and are given a proper haircut by the royal barber. Then, upon paying their respects to the royal baby, they are pronounced Shell- backs, fit subjects for Neptune's great sea do- main. ' TMSN Taylor as a Shellback ' , 'll iN-A'-.'.L', ..