Name/Title
Polaris Certificate Richard G Bull Feb 26, 1949Entry/Object ID
001447Tags
Richard G BullScope and Content
This document is a commemorative certificate issued by the USAF Polar Arctic Indoctrination School in Nome, Alaska, dated February 26, 1949.
It was awarded to Second Lieutenant Richard G. Bull to mark his completion of arctic survival training. These types of certificates were common in the military as "unofficial" rites of passage for service members crossing specific geographic boundaries or completing grueling specialized training.
Key Details of the Document
The Authority: The certificate is issued in the name of POLARIS, referred to as the "Omnipotent King of the Lands, Heavens, and Arctic Seas."
The "Trials": The text uses whimsical, mythological language to describe the harsh conditions of the training, claiming the recipient passed trials imposed by Polaris's "minions":
Omnaweh: Lord of the Winds
Seekuh: Lord of Ice
Oppoon: Lord of Snow
Mukee: Lord of the Last Passage
Signatures: The document is signed by several officers, including a Captain (Robert H. Park) and other lieutenants, acting as "servants" to Polaris.
Imagery: The borders are decorated with hand-drawn illustrations of Arctic life, including a polar bear, a whale, a seal, a narwhal, and mythical figures representing the "lords" of the elements.