New Orleans (LPH 11) - Naval Cruise Book

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The Royal Court i The Royal Babies The Royal Doctor administers The Royal Coffin The pillory

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',-, 'V 'f At about l0 a.m. an announcement from the bridge came: We have just crossed the Equator. A few minutes later King Neptune and his royal court were piped aboard. The Captain of USS New Orleans was summoned before the royal court, and a simulated turn-over of the ship to the Royal Navigator occurred. The Captain, the senior shellback on board, was then a part-time spectator at the ceremony. The actual ceremony started at about 10:30 when the first divisions were summoned to climb three flights of stairs to the flight deck and prepare to meet the Raging Main. ,fr i King Neptune's queen sits among members of the Royal Court. The flight of the polliwog begins with a salt water shower. squirming up paddle row'

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'li'- The traditional crossing-the-line ceremony was character- ized' by anticipation, apprehension, high spirits, hard work and fun. The shellbacks labor resulted in colorful, artistic costumes and functional, innovative staging. With subpoenas in hand on the day of the ceremony the lowly polliwogs made their way from the hangar deck to the flight deck where a cordon of hardy shellbacks eagerly awaited. The polliwogs began the initiation on all fours and proceeded to run the line of fearsome paddlers. King Neptune in full regalia, attended by his Royal Court, waited on his throne at the end of the line to hear the charges and pronounce judgment. The standard punishment was the Uopportunityi' to pay respect to the Royal Baby. The Royal Babies had their bellies smeared thick with axle and baking grease. All polliwogs were enticed to plant a big kiss on the Royal Baby's belly. Though whether they did or not, all polliwogs emerged with grease covered countenance. The Royal Dentist encouraged all polliwogs to sample his special tobasco sauce mouthwash and the Royal Doctor likewise prescribed a specially unsavory medicine for all polliwog ailments. Further down the line the shellbacks had constructed an ice filled coffin and a pillory for unruly polliwogs. The climax of the ceremony was an old fashioned dunking in a pool of salt water, green dye and garbage, which was enjoyed by all . . .Shellbacks After all polliwogs had been initiated into the realm, King Neptune relinquished command and returned to the depths satisfied that his domain was secure. Today, King Neptune does live on in spirit . . . still, that is a very real spirit. just ask one of the New Orlean's crewmen about King Neptune and His Royal Court. I'm sure you'll find that he'll shiver his timbers at the mention of Latitude OO-OO. An unruly' polliwog is led away to face individual treatment. David Fox, Associate Producer for CBS on board, leaps into People's Pool. Directly behind lVlr. Fox is Tony Sargent, the CBS commentator heard round the world on the Apollo 14 recovery. ' 'i ' 'M