Crossing the Equator

Photograph

-

Destroyer Escort Historical Museum

2012.7.28

2012.7.28

Name/Title

Crossing the Equator

Entry/Object ID

2012.7.28

Tags

CANNON-class, Enlisted, Ceremony, Depth charge

Description

A SLATER sailor jumps out of a makeshift pool built on the ship's deck for the Crossing the Equator ceremony. Other sailors laugh 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