One of the more colorful naval traditions Americans inherited from Mother England is the initiation of sailors and passengers the first time they cross the equator. Think of it as a baptism at sea.
My father, Clayton Tuggle, served on the USS Birmingham in World War II. Seriously battered and burned in the Battle of Okinawa, the Birmingham limped to Guam and later to Honolulu for extensive repairs. The sailors enjoyed their shore leave, but knew the ship was being prepared for the final invasion of Japan. However, Japan’s surrender on August 15 changed everything. The Birmingham’s new mission was to sail to Brisbane to serve as the flagship for the Commander of U. S. Naval Forces in Australia.
On September 15, 1945, as the Birmingham steamed toward Leyte Gulf, Captain R. H. Cruzen received an urgent request from King Neptune, the monarch of the sea. Neptune was greatly troubled that the ship was infested with Polywogs who had never before crossed the equator. Captain Cruzen graciously accepted the King and his consort, Salacia, the lovely goddess of the sea (in photo above).
The Polywogs were so numerous and so green that King Neptune summoned the Devil to oversee the purification process. The Devil enthusiastically administered the proper cure to the Polywogs, including immersion in seawater, crawling through kitchen refuse, and wearing women’s clothes.
Officers were not spared. Above, a recent Midshipman School graduate (90-day wonder) marches cheerfully to his doom. Sailors who had previously been initiated – Shellbacks – look on approvingly.
Not even the pilot of the Birmingham’s single seaplane was spared from the Devil’s not-so-tender mercies.
With their sins forgiven, their greenness thoroughly washed away, and their worthiness proven, the Polywogs graduated to the rank of experienced Shellbacks and were inducted into the Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep. Sailors got to let off steam, and King Neptune acquired hundreds of loyal subjects.
Mike,
Thanks for sharing this. I’d heard something about this, but had no idea it was so elaborate. Nice to think about those heroic warriors having a little fun.
Jim,
I’d say they had a lot of steam to let off.
I once heard that Canadians called the uninitiated “tadpoles” 🙃
🤣
Endless,
The Navies of the world have no shortage of nicknames. Tadpoles, griffins, and wogs were some of the nicer alternatives I saw.
In your experience, are there more “nice” nicknames or “less nice” nicknames in the world’s navies?
Great story. Thanks
Pretty interesting process. I’d read some time ago, about a pierced ear with a cross earring (I’m assuming civilian ship) and always wondered if that was accurate.
Anon,
They’ve toned down the entire initiation. I saw some instances when things got pretty rough.
A terrific story of the crossing Mike. I’ll be reblogging it tomorrow.
Many thanks, GP!
Tradition is a wonderful thing, bonding and fun when the ‘job’ is tough. The Navy has many traditions, and this one continues today (although I don’t know the full extent.) Getting your head shaved after crossing the equator is big- women included! Thank you for sharing your father’s story and the wonderful photos!
Jennie,
Yes, the crossing initiation continues, though in a tamer version. I saw that a few maritime institutions have put a stop to it.
What a shame to stop this tradition, because in the long run it’s what sailors remember and smile about. These are the stories they like to tell. I bet it’s tamed down now, but if we ever hit wartime again I hope it is revived in full glory. I ‘get it’. So did your dad.
There’s more than a hint of Mark Twain’s style to this post. Thanks for sharing.
Funny you should say that. I just finished Twain’s Roughing It. His engrams may well have set up house in my head.
love the names
War in general and life at sea in particular consists of long stretches of tedium interrupted by intervals of terror. Elaborate escapes like this are how they coped.
Loved reading the history behind this initiation process. I recently came across a certificate confirming my father becoming a shellback.Now I understand what it was all about.
Hold on to that certificate. That’s a precious memento of an aspect of your father that’s otherwise forever lost.
A fun description
Thank you, Anon!
A fun description
Fun for the not faint hearted!
So true! These guys fought hard and played hard.
I have read (and seen pictures) of many crossing the line ceremonies. This is the first one (that I am aware of) that mentioned King Neptune’s Queen. But you would need a Queen to have the Royal Baby (which was usually the fattest, hairiest member of the Shellback portion of the crew). Fun story. Part of the pollywog initiation ceremony was to kiss the belly of the Royal Baby, which had had extra disgusting stuff rubbed on it. My husband has still retained his Crossing the Line card to prove that he never needs to go through the ceremony again!
I found 10 pictures of the initiation in my father’s trunk, but no pictures of the Royal Baby. Too bad!
Maybe your thater’s ceremony did not include that part. I remember my husband talking about it during his ceremony. Wikipedia does mention him.
Thank you for sharing. I had not heard of this tradition.
Hello again, I just posted and my message came up Anonymous; however, I’m on WordPress too, not sure why it didn’t show me as a fellow Blogger. I’m http://www.monicaganz.com . I exist. LOL
My uncle was in the Royal Navy from 1936-1946, and he told us stories of crossing the equator. More or less identical to your photos.
Best wishes, Pete.
That was a prime time for this particular tradition. The US borrowed it from the Royal Navy. A worthy tradition if you ask me.
This year my husband and I crossed the equator and a number of the guests volunteered for pretty much the same sort of stuff as shown. Neptune’s wife had a beard, the pollywogs were ritualistically mocked and then covered in slime. I’m so glad to see that things haven’t changed much at all.
kaitiscotland,
It’s definitely a tradition that deserves to live.
Great to read & see such neat history-thanks for sharing! V/r JS
And they would claim to be a Christian country!!! I dunno…….but they do seem to have had a good time, and one certainly a lot better than invading Japan.
jfw,
Those men had a lot of tension and anger to work out. King Neptune knew what he was doing.
Yep, my husband went through this initiation/purification when he was in the Navy,
Liz,
What year?
Hi, Mike. He had to dig out his cruise book. It was 1983.
I enjoyed your coverage of crossing the line. My Dad was also a polliwog and then shellback during WWII.
John,
What theater?
Pacific. Lexington and Yorktown.
Hi Mike, what a fascinating recount of naval traditions and your father’s experiences on the USS Birmingham during World War II! It’s incredible to think about the transformation from Polywog to Shellback, marking a significant rite of passage at sea. The blend of tradition, humor, and a hint of mischief in these ceremonies adds a unique flavor to naval life. Your father’s journey, from the intense battles to the lighter moments, truly captures the multifaceted life of a sailor. Thanks for sharing this intriguing slice of history!
Michael,
These old traditions are old because they address deep-rooted needs.
It’s interesting how varied the rituals were. The cruising world has adopted the practice of marking an equatorial passage, although it’s obviously smaller in scale and doused more liberally with alcohol! I enjoyed your post, and learning a good bit of new history about the tradition.
shoreacres,
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the post. I enjoyed researching and writing it.
The Odessa Black Sea Flotilla has the same tradition, and we always thought it was unique.
koolkosherkitchen,
When I puzzled over these pictures as a kid, I assumed the ceremony was just a crazy concoction of the sailors on the Birmingham. Little did I know!
Mike, I think the ceremony has some historical traditions, though I have never researched into it. Here is a clip from a famous Russian musical: https://youtu.be/E1wdirgTXw0?si=f90lN4e8JqaHx_T_
Yours,
Dolly
That was an unusual indoctrination that I had never heard about before. The sailors would never forget that King Neptune rules the seas.
Gypsy Bev,
A lifetime of memories, for sure.
What an amazing story. Yes, some fun needed and maybe Neptune’s power given due respect!
navasolanature,
It was a combination of fun, therapy, and escape for the sailors.
I really enjoyed your story, thank you for sharing it!
These initiations are interesting, Mike. This must have been enjoyable and liberating.
Superb
marylou,
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
A couple years ago, I wrote a book partially based on the experiences of an ancestor who traveled as a missionary from Pennsylvania to Liberia in the late 1830s when there was an effort to establish it as a colony for freed American slaves. As part of my research I found a voyage journal of one of the other missionaries that served with him. The ship he crossed the Atlantic on was not a Navy vessel, but still all those who were first-timers crossing the equator did participate in a ritual tribute to Neptune, similar to this one. It was so fascinating, I fudged the route my main character took in the book so that he could be a part of it. One of my critique partners is a retired Rear Admiral from the US Navy and when he read it, he said, “Well, that’s not quite the way we did it, but I guess it gets the job done.”
The story reminded me of my Dad’s experience when Neptune visited his ship , the USS Morton , during the war. Seems to me he had a certificate to commemorate the event .
And so my Uncle Henry wasn’t telling a fib. He claimed it was good if you already knew how to swim and I guess if not you learned pretty fast lol
Didn’t intend to be anonymous. Visiting from http://www.katytrailcreations.com
Wonderful read. It brought back a lot of memories. I am a proud Shellback. USS St. Louis LKA 116. Thank you.
Eric,
Thanks for that. Was your initiation as grueling as what the sailors from WWII endured?
It was 1992, and it was probably a little worse. However, I was an “ESC” (extra special case) because I was attached to an admiral’s staff.
Eric,
An ESC? Yikes! I was never in the military, but I know it doesn’t pay to stand out.