the
SHUTTLE
USS Enterprise (CVN 65)- Thursday, June 23, 2011
Fall-in Wogs
Arise Shellbacks
USS Enterprise photo by MC1(SW/AW) Isaiah Sellers
Thursday June 23, 2011
the SHUTTLE
Page 3
Enterprise News
Enterprise inducts more than 3,600 Shellbacks
By MC3 (SW) Jared M. King USS Enterprise Public Affairs
USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – More than 3,600 Sailors aboard the deployed aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) awoke as lowly pollywogs, and after trial and tribulation, became trusty Shellbacks June 22. For centuries ships’ crews have been tested by more seasoned Sailors to ensure they are seaworthy. The Navy traditionally conducts the ceremony after crossing the equator or ‘line,’ a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. King Neptune, the mythical god of the sea, detects an infestation of ‘pollywogs’ and deems it necessary to take control of the ship to rid it of this plagued condition. King Neptune is represented by the most senior Shellback aboard, usually a senior officer or chief petty officer who became a Shellback decades earlier. The plot is scripted and serves as a scene setter for the participants, and it also reinforces the unique history and tradition behind the ceremony for the crew. “I went through crossing-theline ceremony March 6, 1982. It’s changed a lot in 29 years,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael G. Topping, who crossed the line in 1982 and played the role of King Neptune. “To be King Neptune was an honor. It was awesome. I never imagined being the senior shellback aboard Big ‘E’, especially since we weren’t even planning on crossing the Equator. I think the ceremony went very well. Everyone had fun and it was done in a very professional manner, and everyone was treated with dignity and with respect.” In a rare chance to relax their uniforms and have fun, Enterprise Shellbacks designed shirts and costumes resembling sailors of old,
Photo by MC1 (SW) Rebekah S. Adler
“Pollywogs” aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) submit to King Neptune for approval on the way to becoming “Shellbacks” in a crossing-the-line ceremony aboard Enterprise. The centuries-old tradition is celebrated on U.S. Navy ships after the vessel crosses the Equator.
pirates, swashbucklers, and helped one another design makeup, eye patches and other costumed effects to reinforce the history of the event and to have a little bit of fun after spending 69 straight days at sea. Enterprise is finishing its support in the U.S. 5th fleet area of responsibility where the crew was conducting combat operations for more than four months with just four days of liberty. The crew welcomed the break. “Crossing the line was definitely interesting. It was a lot of fun and not what I expected,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Stewart A. Breen. “It feels good, and I feel proud to be part of a Navy tradition that is centuries old.” Enterprise, home-ported in Norfolk, Va., doesn’t always get the opportunity to cross the equator during a deployment. Many east
coast ships rarely cross the equator during their service lives due to the deployment schedules and movements. It is not uncommon for a senior Sailor who has served more than a dozen or more years to have not become a Shellback due to never having the opportunity. An extreme case of this aboard Enterprise is the ship’s Dental Officer, Capt. Steven R. Clarke, who became a Shellback at the age of 58, after serving 37 years in the military. “It was fun! My dad was a shellback and now I am a shellback too. It was another chance to follow in his great footsteps” said Clarke, whose father crossed the equator on USS Ranger (CV 4). “It was great to become Shellbacks with the Dental Department. We’re used to working together as a team, but this time we had the opportunity to
have fun as a team.” Big ‘E’s crossing the line ceremony consisted of pollywogs conducting a talent show the evening before where they performed skits, songs and even a game show to the amusement of the Shellbacks who cheered or booed their performances. The ship’s senior leadership acted as judges and were often made the brunt of the jokes offered by the pollywogs. The Marine F/A-18C Hornet squadron pollywogs put forth arguably the best effort. They performed a Jeopardy game show Marines acted as the carrier strike group’s admiral, the ship’s captain and command master chief as contestants on the popular game show. (continued on Page 4 at “Big ‘E’ Sailors cross-the-line, have picnic”)
Page 4
the SHUTTLE
Thursday June 23, 2011
Big ‘E’ Sailors cross-the-line, have picnic (cont.) “I always look forward to steel beach picnics. I had the chance to hang out with my friends, and eat barbeque,” said Ship Serviceman Seaman Tommy G. Brown. “It was great to slow down from the mission tempo and relax.” As the Sailors aboard Enterprise complete their very successful operational mission in the Middle East, having the opportunity to cross the equator, become
Shellbacks, enjoy grilled food and the camaraderie of each other’s company seems a fitting end to the months at sea and months of hard work. Just as the crew gained a deeper appreciation of their unique history and heritage, the Navy gained more than 3,600 Shellbacks, tested, tried and accepted into the ranks of the generations of Sailors who spent their lives taking ships to sea.
Photo by MCSN Jesse L. Gonzalez
Sailors aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) play bean bag toss on the flight deck, one of the activities offered during its latest steel beach picnic.
(this story is continued from Page 3) The Shellbacks, including the admiral, captain and command master chief, rewarded them with the most applause and laughter. Following the crossing the line ceremony, the ship conducted a steel beach picnic on the flight deck, where Sailors cooked up traditional barbecue fare and listened to music while participating in another old Navy
tradition: a beer day. By longstanding tradition, Sailors who are at sea for more than 45 days and do not have a port call scheduled shortly afterward are allowed to drink two beers with their shipmates. While Navy ships have long been dry, the beer day tradition is seen as a great reward for long and successful periods at sea. Sailors are only allowed their two beers after their daily work is done.
Photo by MCSN Jesse L. Gonzalez
Sailors aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) line up for food, beverages and activities during a steel beach picnic.
FUN ZONE!
Down 1 Make an aquatint 2 Cleaving tool 3 Use a stopwatch 4 “___ Choice” (Streep film) 5 Top part 6 Apollo’s moon lander 7 Corrosive chemical 8 Capital of Lesotho 9 Memorable jazz nickname 10 Forbidden 11 Extraterrestrial 12 Auctioneer’s call 15 Prone to pique 18 Currency in Capetown 22 All together 24 Diagnostic image 26 Somewhat 27 “___ fan tutte” (Mozart opera) 28 Feared spiders 30 Bidder’s amount 32 Actress Russell 34 Depraved emperor 35 Fork-tailed seabird 37 Carp 38 “Ah!” 41 Restricted fare 43 Harassed 45 Expired 46 Heavenly instrument? 47 Seaport of Jordan 49 Actress Witherspoon 50 Sound for attention 51 TV award 53 A psychic may sense it 54 Fed. agent 55 Epsilon follower 58 Judo grade Down
1 Newts 5 Shellfish 9 Health resorts 13 Small combo 14 Anchorman’s summary 16 Folksinger Guthrie 17 Meet halfway 19 Work hard 20 Bray 21 Disconnected 23 Bed and breakfast sites 25 Act impatiently
26 Played a part 29 Unit of electric charge 31 Feathery wraps 32 U.K. fliers 33 Consecrate 36 Neighbor of Leb. 37 Circumscribe 39 Casual shirt 40 Jeweled headpieces 42 Superlative ending 43 Munich Mister 44 Old kingdom in the Pyrenees 46 Wore
47 Leader of the Huns 48 Chapters in history 50 Like an eagle 52 Sham 56 Saintly symbol 57 Pseudonym 59 Former Israeli statesman 60 “The Three Musketeers” author 61 E in Q.E.D. 62 Assemble 63 Northumberland river 64 Actor Andrews