How many C-Brats are also Shellbacks?

I have no idea what the heck a shellback is. Sounds like a turtle to me and while I still have DSL, I don't think that's what you were asking.
 
Rodger, it is the crossing the equator ceremony on a ship where you go from a pollywag to a shellback, also known as the sons of Neptune.

This happened to me on 1/19/1974 at Lat 0 00 00 Long 56 49 00 E. I crossed the equator a few more times after that but the first time was an experience.
 
Been there, done that. A few times. Not a "Golden" shellback but did become a "Horned" shellback by traveling around the horn after crossing the equator. Also a member of the Order of the Bluenose.

Don
 
Wasn't that fun...never made the shellback (we were only 60 miles away and the captain refused to do it) but have my Golden Dragon and Bluenose certificates above my desk at work. Lots of folks have never seen them and they are quite a conversation starter.

Rick
 
Done that several time....always so tired from working diden't have time to enjoy the festivities.... curse of being an engineman...

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Royal Diamond Shellback at 0 degrees North/ 0 degrees East on 28 April 1983 signed by Davey Jones. This was while onboard USS Carl Vinson maiden cruise around the world.
 
Shellback, Bluenose, Order of the Rock, Golden Dragon; went from Wog to Shellback on an aircraft carrier (USS Eisenhower) where most of the crew were already Shellbacks...UGH!
 
Not Me.... but Stacy (the Admiral) has several times. First time as the XO on the NOAA ship McArthur. Last time as the XO on the NOAA ship Ronald H Brown.

ship0471.jpg
 
My Dad (RIP) was a member, and his Navy certificate still hangs in his den at my Mom's house.

Even more interesting, he became a member of the club on board the USS Indianapolis, on its historic trip chauffeuring FDR to South America and back (~ 1937). I wonder if the swabbies were on their best behavior on that trip?

(Can you imagine the president being away from the U.S. for three months these days?)

iggy
 
Mark Judy and me as non-official shellbacks. Sailed across the Equator at ~150W, but the "Ceremony" was limited. It was at 2 in the morn, and there was only Judy for me and me for Judy. I think we drank to it.

Boris
 
Flying from DaNang RVN to Sydney Aus in March 1969 for R&R the pilot notified us that if we were on a ship we would be in "trouble".

Being the good Marines that we were we accepted the de bugging of the cabin prior to landing in Australia -- "hold your breath while we spray" was the command from the lovely flight attendant.

Bill Uffelman
Las Vegas NV
 
We always sprayed after the Marines left! :twisted: :D

On the other hand, even Quantas sprayed every commercial flight arriving in AUS whenever we went down there. Not sure what they were worried about but they always did it...

Charlie
 
Like Boris, El and I have crossed many times together -- land, sea, and air. Back when I was an Ecuadorian Certified Guide to the Galapagos Islands, we'd cross every few days, since the islands straddle the Line. On one of those trips, when on an Ecuadorian Naval Vessel, I helped initiate a few Naval newbies to the Line (we were on the way to drop me off on a Galapagos Island, that had a newly erupting volcano, to make some geological observations (no volcanologist was nearby, so I was 'drafted.') Never forget the sight of that volcano, at night, newly erupting as we rounded an island (with the sky red behind the island) and then saw the eruption in full view! One of those memories indelibly etched in the memory.
 
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