General Sturgis (AP 137) - Naval Cruise Book

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L tteUita J-ke, J—LHi 1 After almost a year of sailing, the STURGIS and most of her crew were inducted into the Ancient Order of the Mysteries of the Deep on I 5 April when the ship crossed the equator while enroute to New Guinea. The blessings and maledictions of the order were bestowed on the crew by his Majesty, King Neptunus Rex, after his trusted servant, Davey Jones, had thoroughly initiated all pollywogs aboard. The senior crew shellback present, David A. Clark, ruled as King Neptune, and James M. Church was salty Davey Jones. Kangaroo Court, where pollywogs received subpoenas stating their crimes and assign- ing penances, was held the morning of the first day, and the penalties were carried out during a Pollywog Sea Watch in the afternoon. The circus has its clowns, the zoos their monkeys, and the screen its stars but the Sea Watch produced more freaks and talent than most of their civilian counterparts can ever muster at one time. Who would have thought Walter Cressler would ever blow a horn like Gabriel? Or Ray Gibson recite poetry? Or Carl Ultes jitterbug better than the steward ' s mates? Or Ken Lochner be taken by the wiles of Arthur Pardun? Or Ted Dalzell ever be such a perfect mother? Or Lewis (the Bull) Martin grind and bump like Gypsy Rose Lee? Or that Harold Carter could disguise himself so thoroughly as a Market Street woman that he could fool his own shipmates? 29