Stevenson (DD 645) - Naval Cruise Book

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Gawain? Me .fine Crossing the Line is an experience reserved for a select few in this man's Navy, and what an experience. Ask the man who has been through it. The STEVE crossed the Equator on 4 November, l945, but it was at least a week or ten days before this date that things started to happen. First, the Shellbacks banded themselves together to repel Pollywogs and prepare the ship for entry into the Realm of Neptunus Rex. They found the situa- tion pretty alarming. lt seems that the Mark 2 Stink Detector had been working overtime, that the indicators were jumping from kilocycles to microseconds, and the gears were hot from the overload. One of the oldest and wisest of Shellbacks was called in for consultation. After a quick look at the Stink De- tector dials, the Shellback announced that all signs pointed to the greatest number of slimey, smelly, slithering Pollywogs on board that he had ever seen in his whole career. Captain Varland became alarmed and sent for Eriedel and Loesche to cal- ibrate the Stink Detector. The smell was terrible, and just before the PPI Cputrid pollywog indicatorl melted down completely, word was sent up that there were at least 60 Pollywogs on the ship. So, a second meeting of Shellbacks was immediately called, and plans were laid to prepare the slimey creatures for their initiation. About a week in advance, the hell started. All Pollywogs were ordered to turn shirts, pants and caps backward. Their lives were-made miserable shin- ing shoes, washing clothes and supplying cigarettes for the Shellbacks. At one point, First Lieutenant Charlie Nold found the focastle deck pretty dirty, and sent for a detail of Pollywogs to scrub down with tooth brushes. They did a lousy job, but what can you expect from such characters. In the middle of that week came Pitts Rebellion. No one will ever forget it, least of all Ensign loe Pitt. Pollywog Pitt decided he'd had enough and pub- liclv announced a rebellion, to be organized and started on the fantail. Instead of King Neptune, his gang wouldlclaim allegiance to King Spittoon. Revolu- tioneer Pitt headed aft on his dirty work, but never quite got there under his own steam. He was grabbed up by a swarm of angry Shellbacks, given a powerful water cure and hung up on Gun 4 to dry out. That ended all re- bellions. Then came November 3, the night before we crossed the Line. The ship slowed, turned into the wind, and out of the sea climbed Davey Iones C Daisy Mayl and the Royal Chief of Police C Chips Corbittl, followed by a gang of the roughest looking characters anyone had ever seen. They swarmed all over the ship, and with the able cooperation of the rest of the Shellbacks, gathered all slimey Pollywogs on deck. From here on until late at night the Pollywogs were beaten, pushed, slapped and trampled, and finally half drowned by the hose. They were forced to waddle around and make a noise like ducks, bark like dogs, deliver speeches and sing songs. Talks were given on what it is like to be a Pollywog, and Deacon Ioe Sidebottom stopped the show with his dissertation on the Sex Life of said animal. . In the meantimegfour slimey Pollywog officers were below doing duty as messcooks, dishing out the chow, sweeping out and swabbing down the mess hall. Chief Engineer Dryer washed more trays that night than he ever knew existed. 59