Oklahoma City (CLG 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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i 1 w I A i w 1 Crossing the Line is one of the oldest surviving ceremonies of initiation in the Navy. Since man first floated on a raft, there has been some ceremony to show reverence to dieties of the seag some serious, and others, such as this one, for fun. The day before the actual ceremony is Pollywog Day. On this day the pollywogs are inspected by Davy Jones to see if they are worthy to be brought before the August Presence. This is also the day the pollywogs receive their summonses for their offenses against the King of the Sea, Neptunus Rex. On Pollywog Day, pollywogs become dancing girls, stand various watches such as radar watch with a bed frame fsee photosl, or just dress with blue trousers on backwards with flap unbuttoned, white jumper, also worn back- wards, and watch cap. The left is shaved from the knee down and that trousers leg is rolled up. If Davy Jones gives his approval, then the next day the King and his Court will arrive. Then the ceremony begins. Clad only in their underwear fworn backwardS of coursej the pollywogs crawl from forecastle to fantail on hands and knees being whipped by Shellbacks and screaming 'ff-fail Davy Jonesn fthere were a few variations on thisj until they reach the fantail. Once there, members of the Royal Court. such as the Royal Baby, DCHUSY, Doctor, Executioner and Barber are waiting to perform their specialities. After a fcw memorable things occur, each pollywog crawls through the garbagechute, climbs up a ladder, sits down in u chair. gets his hair snippflfl by the Royal Barber or one of his assistants and then gets back-flipped into H baptisimal-type pool. ' Shellbacks at lastl 62

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AT SEA-This is what makes a Navyman a sailor and not just a serviceman. Here is the tranquility, the violence, the beauty and the harshness of Nature. Even in the days of sail, when the pay was low, conditions harsh, and the work constant, there was a Call of the Sea that men could never fail to answer. Today, with the modernizations that have made a sailor's life easier, some of the romance may have gone, but the Call is still there. At sea, with no liberty call to anticipate through the day, the work becomes less strained, and, therefore, less tedious. Time is not marked by the hour, but by sunrise and sunset. A timelessness prevails and a quiet settles on the ship and on the men, and one is seemingly pleasantly isolated from the world. But, putting out to sea denotes a destination. A new port, or a port that has been visited and learned about before. So, in the quiet of the ship is the pleasant hum of anticipation. These things combine to make the atmosphere of Sea Life. But, there are things that happen at sea also: Crossing the Line, Fantail Frolics, Bingo. Men can now get together for cards or bull sessions. Add to these some less pleasant but all-important things such as CQ, watches, etc. and you have the modern day sailor,s Sea Life. Ol

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Nc-ptunus Rex. The Royal Barber, portrayed by our smiling Execu- tive Ofhcer, gives a pollywog a haircut. One of the two Royal Babies shows an ample physique for his role. 63 'fr 9! tag, - fi be Pi , y 13 - Q rf nf all ff me f ,. ,,' gr. N 1 X ex