Comments

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  Samuel Swenson Jr. March 17, 2021 at 2:10am

  June 18th 1958
  USS Vega (AF-59)
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  David De Rooy May 17, 2019 at 10:05pm

  The thing about being a pollywog was it never mattered until you knew you would be initiated. Then being a "wog" was a dirty word.
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  Christopher James Cook May 17, 2019 at 5:14pm

   I will always remember that special day. AOAN Cook,USS INDEPENDENCE CV-62.Honored SHELLBACK.1988. However it was interesting,being a pollywog.
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  David De Rooy October 9, 2018 at 3:12pm

  From "pollywog" to "salty dog" and other distinguished titles. If you spent four years or more in the Navy and you didn't get across the zero latitude line (Equator) you missed out on a rite of passage. But if you did then let us hear about it.
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  John W Sargent October 9, 2018 at 11:26am

  Second time this year for a comment. I found a list of other "unofficial Navy certificates" I don't remember them, our squadron onboard The America in 71 and 72 did qualify for. Order of Rock, Spanish Main and Golden Dragon and I thought I was just a Shellback.
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  John W Sargent July 20, 2018 at 6:22pm

  Setting in Maine thinking about crossing the line on CVA 66 . Drinking  Miller Lite but my mind goes back to pulling liberty in PO town drinking the rotten beer from PI. I've bought it a few times not good but better than the formaldehyde laced Bud we got at the EM club. Going around the Horn in Africa when Cod landed wrong taking out 5 or 6 A7's from VA 82 and Va 86 not too mention the Cod's starboard wing was lying on the flight deck. Crap getting old. 
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  Christopher James Cook July 19, 2018 at 7:36pm

  Aboard the USSINDEPENDENCE CV-62 we crossed the EQUATOR south of brazil.King Neptune and his royal court held a initiation for all who's AND those found worthy became Trusty Shellbacks.I remember that day,but the day before,pollywog day,we could do whatever,we wanted to do,because we new,what was coming the next day.SHELLBACK,CHRISTOPHER JAMES COOK.1986-1990.
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  David De Rooy February 9, 2018 at 12:28pm

  On may 4th 1971 aboard the USS Vancouver LPD2 we crossed the Equator south of Singapore. King Neptune and his royal court held an initiation for all "wogs" and those found worthy became "Trusty Shellbacks"

  I'll never forget that day. But the day before was even more memorable. Known as "pollywog " day, we got away with pretty much anything we wanted to. We squirted oil and food coloring on the chiefs khakis, Locked the air officer in the pri-fly tower and broke into the armory and stole the coffin they had built to fill with food waste for us to lay in during initiation. We ran across the flight deck and tossed it from the fantail, and watched it float away. It was great fun but the next day we paid for our misbehavior.
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  Robert E Bouchard September 23, 2017 at 9:19am

  I crossed the line on 6/12/72 aboard the USS America CVA66 twice.
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  Robert C Smith July 16, 2017 at 10:50am

  USS Hancock (CVA-19)  October 24, 1968  WESTPAC/Vietnam