Line Crossing Ceremony

[OzComrade]

Hey guys

I was watching the Carrier PBS documentary Episode 8 if I recall correctly where it features the crew of the USS Nimitz, returning home from their cruise in the gulf, crossing the equator and holding the 'line crossing ceremony'.

I understand that todays pollywogs get it easy compared to the past in terms of strict rules and regulations on what can and can't be carried out during this initiation rite. My question is to the old sea dogs out there like Ordie and Popeye, how does it compare to how it was done in your day and do you think its for the better or worse that we now have alot of rules to protect sailors from unnecessary abuse and hazing, or we should we all just harden up a bit?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-crossing_ceremony

[HollywoodMarine]

If you ask me, it now sucks ass with the new and gentle approach. On my second to last deployment (UNITAS 2004, USS Tortuga), all Shellback's attended a briefing on the upcoming ceremony. I asked the senior Shellback if we were allowed to use shalalees to beat down Wog's. When he answered with "no", I and a few other Marines and Sailors said, "Aww... " in disgust and walked off.

On my first deployment (WestPac 1993, USS Ogden), those Shellback's beat the $hit out of us with shalalees, while making us crawl all over the ship on our hands and knees. A little pain wouldn't kill anybody.

HollywoodMarine (Shellback)
Order of the Golden Dragon & Order of the Ditch

[Eztyga]

I understand that todays pollywogs get it easy compared to the past in terms of strict rules and regulations on what can and can't be carried out during this initiation rite. My question is to the old sea dogs out there like Ordie and Popeye, how does it compare to how it was done in your day and do you think its for the better or worse that we now have alot of rules to protect sailors from unnecessary abuse and hazing, or we should we all just harden up a bit?


Heaps softer than it used to be, may as well be on a cruise ship. It was a much nastier affair when we had all male crews. Some 'enforced' disipline was handed out. :)

I have been invited to partake in some recent crossing of the line ceremonies, but have declined as I see it as a watering down of a tradition.

It all 'went to sea' when the RAN had the 'sump on the rump' incident from a disgruntled submariner. He was just trying to get back at the Navy because he broke the terms of his contract and they wouldn't award him his trade. The actual incident had occured years before he left.

As usual the brass went into knee-jerk damage control and it was actually banned for a short period.

Then there were guidelines *sigh*...:|

[Ordie]

The biggest change in the past 20 years on carriers is the inclusion of women.

With the exception of a single civilian tech rep, the entire crew of my ship (USS Carl Vinson CVN-70) was exclusively males. (about 6,000 men)

Once we pulled anchor, all the norms of behavior was left at shore. Swearing especiall the "B" and "C" word was common, dirty jokes, **** (VHS, Magazines, books, etc..) was openly displayed. It was not uncommon for sailors to show up in skivvies to muster in the hangar bay whenever "man overboard' was called.

During liberty, anything that happens on shore, stays on shore.

Wog day was brutal.

There were three ways to get out of it.

1) Opt out and wait in the library all day
2) Win the beauty contest
3) capture the Jolly Rodger flag.

Rank and seniority had no privileges and all were expected to participate including the Marines, the Naval Academy Cadets on Summer tour and the single USAF exchange pilot we had.

Opting out was not an option for me since there's too much peer pressure and it is entered in your service records.

Winning the beauty contest was out of the question for me.

Capturing the Joly Rodger was dangerous since it was flying on the top mast.

The night before, all the Shell-backs would get worked up in the hangar bay for an x-rated skit. There was a beauty contest for the best looking Wog in drag. Some shipmates went out of their way to shop at Macy's to get some of the most fashionable dresses. Damn they were good looking and convincing. If the Wogs in drags were picked, they were exempt from the initiation.

The day of the initiation the Wogs put on their dungarees inside out. The Shellbacks had cut pieces of fire hoses called shillelaghs and would literally whip your back-end as you crawl your way through the hanger deck on to the lift to the flight deck. Along the way they make you eat mixed up leftovers, blow water out of the pad-eyes, and they'll tag your backs with spray paint.

Once on the top deck, there was an obstacle course of demeaning tasks. Such as swimming through an tank full of leftover mulched food, kissing the belly of King Neptune's baby (usually the fattest guy on the ship). Once that is done for, you dive into a tank of dyed water and come out at the other end. A Shell-back will ask you what you are. If you reply Wog, you repeat the whole process. If you reply Shellback, then its all done.

Afterward you walk to the outdoor showers on deck and start stripping down to your birthday suit and take a shower to get rid of the the crap you accumulated. You chuck your clothes overboard and walk naked from the flight deck to the berthing areas to get cleaned up and rest.

What do I think about today? I sort of lament the fact there's no sanctuary for men to be men without being scrutinized. It was very fun in being a "viking bastard".

I thought it was too excessive in 1989. But I don't agree in making it a simple formality either. If anything, it should be capped with a steel beach picnic to let out some steam.

[Eztyga]

What do I think about today? I sort of lament the fact there's no sanctuary for men to be men without being scrutinized. It was very fun in being a "viking bastard".

I thought it was too excessive in 1989. But I don't agree in making it a simple formality either. If anything, it should be capped with a steel beach picnic to let out some steam.

Agree! :)

We do get that bit right. It is normal practice for the CO to pipe 'Hands to swimming stations', saves some water and the grey water system. Then a BBQ, and if we are lucky these days, a beer issue.

[cv41emo]

I was on active duty with the the USN in the '70's and '80's. I served mostly in the western pacific and I/O. I experienced both the traditional shellback and Chief Petty Officer initiations. My shellback experience was very much like Ordie's. The big difference I see is back them I could encounter a retired sailor in a bar and share sea stories with him and realize that we both had a common experience. Now when I hear about how things have changed and speak with active sailors, I feel glad that I was able to serve when I did. I have no envy for those serving now.

[James]

I became a shell back on the USS New Orleans in 1997. It was very much like what Ordie described, except the USN and USMC were separated.

[Eztyga]

I regard my Crossing the Line Certificate higher than my medals.

[OzComrade]

Thanks for all the input guys. Great insight provided Ordie. I guess no one would purposely go through that all and come out screaming wog

[bd popeye]

My question is to the old sea dogs out there like Ordie and Popeye, how does it compare to how it was done in your day and do you think its for the better or worse that we now have alot of rules to protect sailors from unnecessary abuse and hazing, or we should we all just harden up a bit?What Ordie stated is 100% correct. Compared how it was.. and how it now is..it has really been toned down. They don't evn have a beauty contest. I asked my son about it and he said he never heard of a beauty contest..jeezz..And he became a shellback in 2002.

Ordie stated;

The day of the initiation the Wogs put on their dungarees inside out. Yep us too. On the America after the initiation we had to wallk over to elevator 3 and toss our dungarees overboard. The Russkie trawler that had been trailing us was observed scooping up the nasty dungarees..

I remember in the morning of wog day all the chow was dyed green. But the Shellback ate in the forward galley a breakfast of steak & eggs..

After the initiation all hands were served steak and lobster.

Eztyga stated;

I regard my Crossing the Line Certificate higher than my medals. Not me.I hear ya though!.It was one of the toughest things I ever did in the USN.

Here's Big Daddy Popeye Shellback certificate from the USS America CV-66 on 10 August 1981 in the Indian Ocean on our way to OZ....aaarrrvvv

http://i37.tinypic.com/a252cz.jpg

Hi-res (http://i38.tinypic.com/2s0mqs1.jpg)

[OzComrade]

Thanks Shellbacks!

[hank2222]

that like pinning of the airborne jump wings..there used to be the blood wings ceremony ..but no one longer does it for now it a form of hazeing ..it the traditions that made you part of the unit and the history was passed onto the unit though the little things that where done ..

when we had the drinneing in ceremony for i was youngest person there ..so it was my job to make sure all the old timers where seated in the right spot so was told to me by the co ..for i did not really get the joke intill the night of the drinneing in ceremony ..and then i got the joke..but it was part of the unit traditions to do that little joke on the youngest member of the unit ..

for they would invite the oldest member of the unit and his wife and they would act as the old timers and some of the things that they made you go and try to find it pretty funny later on at the time ,but when looking for the items it was not funny at the time.for you had to say out loud for the items that you where looking for and come back if you found the item or did not find the item for you had to stop and report back to the person table in a very military fashion ..for some of it was very funny and some of it was not ..and leave at that..let say i was a red faced a couple of times when i reported back to them ...

[HollywoodMarine]

They don't evn have a beauty contest. I asked my son about it and he said he never heard of a beauty contest..jeezz..And he became a shellback in 2002.
Our male and female Wogs dressed up during our 2004 deployment. It probably depends on the ships Skipper.

[Ordie]

There are other "orders" as well.

There's the order of the blue nose for crossing the Artic Circle.

And the realm of the golden dragon for crossing the international date line. But that crossing is so common that they don't bother.

There's a higher percentage of Shellbacks in the West Coast Navy than the East Coast Navy. Much of it has to do with geography and where the hot spots are. It's not uncommon for sailors who spent thier entire careers as wogs.

[bd popeye]

There are other "orders" as well.

There's the order of the blue nose for crossing the Artic Circle.

I'm a Bluenose. They are susposed to paint your nose blue when you cross the Artic Circle. But there was no ceremony. They just gave everyone a certificate..which I don't have....That was on the JFK in September 1972. At that time the JFK was the largest warship to cross the Artic Circle.


Our male and female Wogs dressed up during our 2004 deployment. It probably depends on the ships Skipper. True enough.. On the America in '81 the kid that won looked like a woman. PERIOD. The shoes and the dress fit the ****s looked real.. In the words of our maintenance SCPO AMCS Rogers.. "That boy has worn the uniform before"..p-)

[James]

I'm curious about becoming a blue nose. I've been north of the Arctic Circle in Alaska, so what would happen if I inexplicably found myself back in the service and sailing north? It's not something I expect to happen, I'm just curious.

We wore our utilities inside out for shellback. Riding the elevator to the flight deck, I dropped my pants and mooned all the shellbacks above us. My wog colleagues cheered my defiance and we were blasted by a fire hose.

[HollywoodMarine]

It will depend on the chain-of-command, but you'll more then likely have to participate the ceremony.

[happyslapper]

Royal Navy crossing the line ceremony, HMS Bulwark, Op Taurus 2009:

http://www.youtube.com/v/8aDtMX_s0MU

It's the final episode (first part posted above) of a 6-part series which finished airing a couple of days ago. You can see the preps for the ceremony, as well as the daily grind and homecoming. The other episodes were also highly enjoyable, and are on the same youtube channel.

[hank2222]

i think this way guys ..we survivied it and live to to tell the tales of the units ceremonys ..