“humiliating initiation ordeals on board ship”
Sounds like some of the Pollywogs got a bit upset by their treatment by the Shellbacks during the Crossing the Line ceremony.
Anyone know the full story?
That’s an interesting point. It’s possible that the ship was just following the old shellbacking traditions, and someone whined about it. In that case, the skipper may not have been all bad, but instead weirdly caught up in some PC-motivated crackdown.
after reading the story, it would appear one of the pollywogs was a gay dog handler....figures, centuries of tradition out the window because of one fag with an attitude...
I was in a Golden Shellback ceremony. We had one guy not want to do it and he did not. Everyone else had a lot of fun.
I don't think a sheelback ceremony is what this is. Back in the late 70s and 80’s when I was in, there was truly humiliating initiations on my ship that just doesn't belong in any mans Navy. And nobody was punished, because victims were afraid to talk. Where talking young terrified sailors being held face down, having their pants pulled down and objects such as broom handles, grease guns hoses, whatever put you know where.
I was going to make a career of the Navy, but the scum that joined (mostly during the Carter years) made me change career paths. It was not my Dad's Navy.