Comments

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  ronnie mcmasters October 30, 2011 at 9:42pm

  I crossed  on board the USS Constellation CV-64  July of 1974
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  Tom Panko October 28, 2011 at 8:41pm

  Crossed twice in 1968 on Unitas 9 on USS Josephus Daniels DLG-27, then 2 more times in 1970 on Daniels to and from West Pac.
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  Kevin Warner October 28, 2011 at 7:45pm

  
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  Hector F Latorre October 10, 2011 at 6:50pm

  Actually in 1980, during the Iranian Embassy crisis., while on board USS Constellation CV-64, i had the opportunity to cross the equator 3 times in little more than a year.. My first deployment, from September 1978 to May 1979, was originally scheduled to end in March but was extended due to her sortie into the Indian Ocean in reaction to a political crisis in Yemen. Following a relatively short eight-month turnaround cycle, she was underway again in February 1980. After participating in RIMPAC exercises, Constellation steamed westward to the Arabian Sea, where Gonzo Station had been established following the November 1979 takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran. Connie had reached the eastern Indian Ocean when the unsuccessful 24 April 1980 raid to free American hostages took place, and she relieved Coral Sea (CV-43) on Gonzo Station on 1 May. This at-sea period would last a record-setting 110 days.
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  Leon Tucker Jr September 8, 2011 at 1:45am

  Crossed the line early in my career after 1973. Made several trips after that. To many wogs to count. Became a GOLDEN SHELLBACK  10/25/1988 on board USS New Jersey BB-62.
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  David Carter August 21, 2011 at 2:29am

  I was on the USS Hull DD-945 in 1983 when I became a ShellBack when my ship went to Bunbary Western Australia, (100 Miles south of Perth) great times were had by all.
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  John W. Souder July 27, 2011 at 1:53pm

  I became a Shellback on USS Nimitz back in 1993...Being a Wog and crawling on the nonskid through the Hanger Bay and up on the Flight Deck was a challenge and having my shower shoes duct taped on my knees was a relief lol...
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  Don Johnson June 15, 2011 at 1:00pm

  I crossed the line for the first time on May 13, 1978 onboard USS Peoria (LST-1183) with 225 Officers and enlisted and 300 Marines. We were doing island hopping on that cruise, stopping in exotic places like Saipan and Tinian. I again crossed on USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) about June 1984 heading to Fremantle/Perth and then again on USS Independence (CV-62) about July 1990 heading towards Diego Garcia for a weapons exercise. We had left Cubi headed towards Singapore and lost an A-6 Intruder along with the pilot and bombadier/navigator. This was the IraqPac cruise. We headed to the Gulf of Oman and launched a combat air patrol (CAP) over Northern Saudi Arabia. Some very good cruises for seeing other parts of the world I had never been to before.
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  Irvin Elais Stowell June 15, 2011 at 10:53am

  I crossed the line Jan. 11 1947 - S2/c plank owner on USS Philippine Sea CV47 - on our way to the South Pole carrying Adm. R. Byrd to another of his explorations.

  What a time that was! I was ordered to "line watch" on the  fantail dressed in dress blues w/watch cap and peacoat on backwards and all buttoned up!

  Sorry to say I did not see the "line" and paid dearly for it - long shelalley line! But a great experience for an 18 year old kid  -never will forget it or regret it. 
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  B.A Mann June 5, 2011 at 10:37pm

  Became a SHELLBACK  ON BORD USS AMERICA CVA66 DEPLOYED  WITH SQU VS32  WORLD CRUZ..81..83