Crossing the Equator

Photograph

-

Destroyer Escort Historical Museum

2012.7.25

2012.7.25

Name/Title

Crossing the Equator

Entry/Object ID

2012.7.25

Tags

Depth charge, CANNON-class, Enlisted, Ceremony

Description

A member of the SLATER crew emerges from a makeshift pool built on the ship's deck. Other crew look on in excitement as he is paddled from behind. Sailors taking part in the Ancient Order of the Deep ceremony. This is a celebration of the ship crossing the Equator. Those that had never crossed are called pollywogs, whereas those that have crossed are called shellbacks. To become a shellback, the pollywog must complete a hazing ritual and answer for crimes committed against King Neptune! USS SLATER (DE-766) crossed the equator on November 4, 1945, while en route to Biak, Indonesia from Yokohama, Japan.

Context

Equator crossing

Collection

USS Slater DE 766