A lot of our naval traditions have been stripped away. The Chief Petty Officer Initiations, Shellback, and Blue Nose ceremonies have been damned near stripped of all tradition. It all started with Tailhook. Gunner might agree with that, or not.
Yes. The Tailhook purges.
Pat Schroeder. Cut the nuts off Alpha males.
How sad... I still have my father’s card signed by Neptunus Rex, aka King Neptune. He crossed the line several times, thus attaining the informal title “Crusty Old Shellback. Being a WWII Pacific Fleet Submariner, he lived more during his time in the navy than many people live in their whole lives. Going through multiple depth charge attacks by Japanese destroyers really made him appreciate life for the rest of his days. I sure miss him...
Just as the DoD has been changed back to the Department of War, the old traditions should be resurrected. Traditions build strong teams.
“A lot of our naval traditions have been stripped away. The Chief Petty Officer Initiations, Shellback, and Blue Nose ceremonies have been damned near stripped of all tradition. It all started with Tailhook. Gunner might agree with that, or not.”
I’m a Shellback. During the (coincidentally) Iranian hostage crisis we sailed regularly between Diego Garcia and just outside the Persian Gulf unrepping with every ship out there. The first time we crossed there were very few Shellbacks so it was relatively easy. The ratio was like 10:1. The next time? The ratio was like 1:10. People got the ever loving crap beat out them (figuratively). Good times.