LONGITUDE 105-30 LATITUDE 00-00(Billy Sample) If those numbers mean something to you then you are probably a SHELLBACK!

On January the 29th of 1980 the John Paul Jones DDG 32 crossed a Longitude of 105-30 East and a Latitude of 00-00. Yes, that is the equator!

Sailors have for centuries, for the lack of better words, turned this into a ‘Big Deal’. This is when you go from being a Pollywog to a SHELLBACK! One of the best days anyone could experience. This was my second time to cross, the first being on board the USS Tarawa just a few months earlier. It’s a lot more fun the second time across, trust me on that!

Here’s a brief description. If you have never crossed the line you are classified as a Pollywog. Now a Pollywog is as low as you can get as a sailor. A Shellback means you have been there and done that. You have visited the DOMAIN OF NEPTUNUS REX and his Royal Scribe DAYY JONES and they have declared you qualified and worthy to visit the ‘Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep!

The night before you cross is called Wog Night. The ceremonies start with a beauty contest to pick a Queen for his Majesty. Any wog who wishes may dress up in, well in drag. They would parade in front of the Shellbacks who would vote on the winner. That person would still get initiated but on a much more relaxed way. ‘She’ would set beside King Neptune (the most senior Shellback). After the queen is selected the rest of the night is sort of an open season on all the Shellbacks but one should remember that when the sun comes up tomorrow. Shellbacks will remember the night before.

It’s inevitable that there will be many more wogs than Shellbacks on any ship. The JPJ was no exception to that. The numbers weren’t anywhere near what they were on board the Tarawa when I went through the initiation. The Tarawa had 800 Sailors and about 1200 Marines. The Jones had around 200 crew members with probably about 70 already a Shellback.

My good friend Del and I went into the berthing area after sundown when someone threw a water balloon and hit me in the back of the head. Then someone else threw an egg. We both knew it was time to get out of there and asap! We hid out in a storage room till our watch time came at midnight.

When the sun came up it was fun time! All the Wogs were required to wear their pants on backwards and only a t-shirt. They crawl on their hands and knees around a specific trail topside of the ship. The Shellbacks can dress as cool as they wish. Usually this means you try to look as much like a pirate as you can. An old fire hose was cut in to 3-foot sections and every Shellback got one. You would tape one end of the hose to make a handle out of it. The other end you would use to beat the ass of the wogs as they crawled by!

The path had obstacles such as a garbage tube. Literally, it was a tube full of garbage that the cooks had been collecting for weeks. The first few wogs to make it through the tube were the lucky ones. The end of the line had them not only crawling through the garbage but also a lot of vomit from the previous visitors. Yes disgusting.

As they crawled out the other side, they were all washed down with fire hoses. When the path was finished, they would find themselves at the Royal Court located on the fantail of the ship. Here they would be required to pay homage to the Royal Baby. This position was awarded to the fattest Shellback, That’s putting it bluntly but, that was the criteria. The Royal Baby would be setting in a diaper, usually a torn bed sheet. He would have a can of lard or grease that he would smear on his belly, then grab the wogs by the back of their head and smear their face in his belly grease!

After paying respects to the baby they then kneel before King Neptune. He passes his blessings on them and they may now stand! Another member of the Royal Court then pronouncing them.
SHELLBACK!

You are later given a suitable for framing Certificate and also a wallet ID. I have had mine in my wallet for 40 years. It says the following;

‘DOMAIN OF NEPTUNUS REX – Know you that SM3 Billy C. Sample III, USN on the 29th of January 1980 aboard the USS John Paul Jones Latitude 00-00. Longitude 105-30 E. appeared into Our Royal Domain and having been inspected and found worthy by My Royal Staff was initiated into the Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep. I command my subjects to honor and respect the bearer of this certificate as one of Our Trusty Shellbacks. Signed Davy Jones, Neptunus Rex. Ruler of the Deep Blue Sea!

It is considered by most to be the ‘Best Day In The Navy”! I totally agree!

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