[babygene]

“My Dad became a Shellback in 1944. My Son has the book and his certificate.”

For me it was 1966.

[suthener]

“My Dad became a Shellback in 1944. My Son has the book and his certificate.”

“For me it was 1966.”

1980 for me. USS Mars (AFS-1), going from outside the Persian Gulf to Diego Garcia. The first time we crossed there were hardly any shellbacks on board so it was fairly easy. I wore the top of my boots down to the steel toe crawling around the deck, though. The next time we crossed the ratio was completely reversed. The new guys paid for their cards...dearly. A new asshole ensign was abused so bad they pulled him out and still gave him his certificate. Oh the good old days.

[ExSafecracker]

I got initiated in 67 or 68. We were gator Navy and carried Marines a lot. This was tense racial times and a group of black Marines decided you can't do that kind of stuff to them.
The captain ordered all of them to stand watch in the engine rooms during the ceremonies and the steak BBQ after.