A newsletter for the sailors of the USS GURKE (DD-783) GURKE NEWSLETTER

Volume 3 Issue 1 May 2009 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE USS GURKE (DD-783)

Special Points of Interest CROSSING THE EQUATOR • Did you cross the equator? If so, BY BRIAN LOTT ward boson’s locker – it was short time allotted to me. you’ll identify all Greek to me. But, I would Next morning I had the with Brian Lott’s And it came to pass one eventually be able to put all of eight to noon quarter-deck cover story. Read morning that a member of it together, so painfully. watch as messenger. and remember! Fox Division came into plot Six months later we left Things were different. There and passed around the news Saigon and headed south for was a tension throughout the • Frank Hickam that we were going to cross Singapore. These were calm, ship. As I came on watch I has an important the equator. There were warm South seas with was struck dumb by the sight health alert for some quick glances passed brilliant nights and sweltering of a young engine room everyone to heed. See page three. between three of the five of days. But, there were some striker running along the us who were running checks oddities to be noted, but not deck being chased by sev- • See if anyone can on the fire control computer, given much thought: we were eral others of the “black answer Tom and then there was a sudden no longer dumping garbage gang” wielding rubber hoses Swanston’s ques- rush for the hatch leaving the off the fantail (someone said it wrapped with white line. As tions under Mail remaining two of us some- would be collected in Singa- he was running along the Call on page what befuddled and feeling pore), many of the older crew- deck, seemingly for his life, four. very much alone. We were members were not eating with he was suddenly hit by a due to depart San Diego in us newbies, and the food had stream of high pressure wa- • What was the two days for West Pac and become decidedly spicier, ter from a fire hose and most surprising our time was consumed with there seemed to be a lot of slammed into the back of a thing you learned checking equipment and laughter among the older gun turret. I turned to the in the Navy? See standing inspections. The crew members whenever they Officer of the Deck with what what some fellow sailors had to incident in plot was soon for- got together and it stopped must have been a quizzical say. See page 5. gotten or so I thought. Peri- whenever one of us new guys expression on my face. odically, there would be little came around. I had little time “Pollywog,” he said, as if • John Kuncas snippets of information to give these details much that was all the explanation shares an inci- passed among crewmem- thought as I left the ship and that was necessary. “Your dent during the bers, but it generally had little went sight-seeing, especially turn is coming. We cross the with interest for me – the Chief to the Tiger Balm Gardens. Equator today.” us on page six. Boson has found some old 2” Singapore was a loud, bus- With that there was an fire hose, they’re giving out tling, and energetic town and I explosion of any number of • Pictures and white line at the paint locker, was on a mission to see as men were being chased rosters from 1951 shillelaghs to be stored in for- much of it as I could in the (Continued on page 2) are on page 7. Volume 3 Issue 1 USS GURKE NEWSLETTER Page 2

(Continued from page 1) revive, and then be sent back down. administered a peptic concoction of back and forth along the deck by Topside pollywogs did not fare much every hot spice the cooks could others yelling and wielding their shil- better. Some of them were also find. Finally, a visit to the royal bath lelaghs in a menacing manner. Oth- dressed in their blues and made to where we were shaven bald and ers manned fire hoses and delighted stand lookout watches in the blazing then nearly drowned in a makeshift in knocking men to the deck or in sun. Others were beaten and soaked tub. We emerged, soaked, bald- holding them spread-eagle from the until the ship slowed to a point where headed, our guts a raging inferno, water pressure along the bulkheads. we hardly had steerage. At that point to see a gauntlet of shellback crew The local inhabitants must have it was announced that King Neptune members, shillelaghs in hand, ex- thought they were witnessing a mu- himself along with his retinue, the tending the length of the ship. tiny on an American ship. But at this royal baby, the royal doctor, the royal “Put your hands over head, don’t crucial moment the old salts who had barber, and numerous strong-arm drop them, and walk slowly or you crossed the Equator before, known men, had come aboard to pass judg- will have to do it again,” came the as shellbacks, paused in their ac- ment and execute punishment on order. So it began on a blistering tions to finish their breakfast. those sorry creatures who had dared hot day, one step at a time while Quickly, word spread to all of the to enter his realm. They brought with trying to block out the pain as shille- non-initiates (pollywogs) describing them, as evidence of our unworthi- lagh after shillelagh, made from fire what the rest of the day was to be ness, a collection of all of the now hose, soaked in salt water, with a like. With that in mind they made a rotting garbage, sewn in a tube, that handle created by tightly wound rush for the mess decks and sealed they claimed we pollywogs had white line, smacked across our but- in the shellbacks. Oh how proud we thrown overboard, thereby defiling the tocks. Step after step until we were. We had beaten them at their King’s domain. The last item on the reached the stern of the ship and own game. Beat me with a shillelagh initiation would be to crawl through there to find that tube filled with the – I think not! Soak me with a fire that collection of rotting refuse and smelling stench of rotting garbage hose – not on your life mister! Score vomit as others wailed away with their and vomit through which we must one for the Pollywogs! shillelaghs. crawl. And crawl we did, but only to “This is the Captain, all hands The entire time I had been on find ourselves trapped inside as prepare to get under way. All hands watch, my best buddy was also stand- shellbacks stood on the ends of the man your sea detail stations. Those ing the watch as the messenger. tube while others administered pun- crew members being locked in the Every so often the OD would send ishment. The unbearable heat, the mess compartment will be set free him on an errand to a remote part of stench, the fire in our guts, the pain, immediately!” the ship thereby subjecting him to be- the pain, and then the darkness. My heart sank, “Oh my God, we ing waylaid and beaten time and time Oh, glorious rain, wet, cooling were about to turn an angry monster again. At one point he begged me to with brilliant sunlight shinning in my loose.” Set, game, and match for the trade places with him. I refused. To eyes. We were being revived from a shellbacks. We sailed out into that this day that weakness on my part still torrent of cool refreshing saltwater blue sea with every pollywog fearing haunts me. I salve my conscience cascading over us. It was over, and the worst and every shellback relish- with the knowledge that the OD would hundreds of years of naval tradition ing what they new was about to hap- never have approved the exchange had once again been honored by pen. as my friend was not a qualified the birth of a new crop of shell- Having cleared the harbor the helmsman. But still…. In the overall backs. noon watch was called and I gleefully scheme of things it might not have However, to this day, I remem- changed my uniform and ran for the mattered as we were shortly relieved ber that moment of selfishness to- bridge where I was to be the helms- of our duties and unceremoniously ward my brother in arms. It is not man for the watch. As I ran along brought before the King’s court. always given to us to come face to dogging shillelaghs, fire hoses, and Forced to kneel, we listened to the face with our inner daemons and attempts to stop me, I kept yelling charges that were placed against us. fears, but on the bridge of the Gurke that I had the watch and was there- Then forced to acknowledge and that hot May day in 1960 with a fore only momentarily delayed. I plead guilty to the alleged indiscre- slowly rolling ship on an endless reached the sanctuary of the bridge tions we listened to the punishment sea astride of the Equator, with while all about me all hell was quite pronounced on our pitiless souls – we chaos all about, I did. Ever since, it literally breaking loose. were to be prepared by members of has been my constant effort to face Members of the engineering crew the court to meet the punishment down such daemons of weakness were frequently seen dressed in their doled out by the shellbacks. and thereby be a better person. wool, winter, blue uniform, the out- First was our appointment with the Now, almost a half a century later, I side temperature was about 110°F, royal baby whose belly had been cov- hope that wise, old, trident carrying and made to stand watch below in ered in gun grease and to which we King can recognize me as being the engineering space. Some would paid homage by kissing that bulbous worthy of the title – shellback. pass out, be brought up topside to gut. Then off to the royal doctor who ______Volume 3 Issue 1 USS GURKE NEWSLETTER Page 3 HEALTH ALERT Submitted by Frank Hickam, RMC, USN, Ret, RM1 USS Gurke ‘54-’56 I’d like to share a very important health experience I had during the WELCOME MAT TAPS past year. The USS GURKE takes great Back in September 2007, Helen pleasure in announcing that the fol- The Gurke Newsletter was in- and I noticed a full page ad for several lowing shipmates have been located formed of the deaths of the follow- life screening tests. We checked with since the last newsletter. Welcome ing former crewmembers since the our physician and he encouraged us Aboard! We hope to see you at the last newsletter. The entire crew to obtain these prior to our usual de- next reunion and that you will be- extends our deepest sympathy to parture to Florida. Well, Helen passed come active in the association. the families and friends of the de- all of her tests, but I was caught as ceased. having an Abdominal Aortic Aneu- rysm, which was photographed for Nick Aportadera Wilmer Rasp forwarding to my doctor. The evi- (1963-64) MM1 M Div Date of death not reported dence prompted them to “check it 339 Silver Pine Dr again” in six months. Lake Mary, FL 32746 Ed Anderson While at the Gurke reunion in San 407-931-9656 (1946) QM2 Diego, I received a call for me to get dacudaodingle1932@ Died May 25, 2008 re-checked in May 2008. We returned Flpi179.prodigy.net to Florida, packed up the motor home, Douglas Banhagel car and dog, then back to Delaware Phillip Precht (1956) ET2 where I underwent further tests. The (1968-70) LTjg Gunnery Officer Died February 6, 2009 aneurysm had enlarged to the extent 938 Coon Box Rd that the doctor said, “You get the next Centreville, MD 21617 Billy Castlebury bed, at 5 a.m.” Needless to say, I was 410-758-8325 (1951-55) there on June 2nd, where I underwent [email protected] Died August 20, 2008 the surgery to repair. My hospital stay was 7 days, during the hottest times Frank Noyes Norman Scholton that year in Delaware. (1957-61) RD2 OI Div (1946-47) SC 2/c An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm is 50378 Sailer Rd Died December 23, 2008 a silent killer. The surgeon told me Frazee, MN 56544 that it was hereditary and that every- 218-334-4531 John Payne one in my family tree should be [email protected] (1952-53) 3rd C Petty Officer— checked. This I communicated to my Cook children and others in the family tree. Joe Stroud Died December 19, 2007 This past January I received an e- (1961)RM2 OC Div mail from my sister telling me that our 8701 Percy Way Anyone learning of the death of 1st cousin died from a ruptured aortic Knoxville, TN 37923 a former crewmember please no- aneurysm. He had no symptoms, pain 865-531-9293 tify the newsletter so their passing or anything wrong. The “Silent Killer” [email protected] can be acknowledged in TAPS and claimed another victim. on the Honor Roll at the reunion My conclusion is that I am very Glenn Bisel memorial service. fortunate to have had the “Life Line (1951-52) RD2 O Div Screening” tests and that the enlarged 3827 E Swift Ave aorta was detected by the ultra sound Fresno, CA 93726 USS GURKE (DD- 783) device exam. 559-227-7339 REUNION Now that I’m a zipper club mem- ______ber,” I wanted to share this experi- ence with everyone. There is no pain or any indication that you have any MAY 28-31, 2009 problems. Only by getting screened Financial Report: can you have any assurance that your The cost of this issue is RAPID CITY, SD heart, arteries and aorta have any $227.08, mailed to 84 dues paying weaknesses. members without e-mail ad- HOTEL ALEX JOHNSON Look forward to seeing all atten- dresses. dees in Rapid City. Volume 3 Issue 1 USS GURKE NEWSLETTER Page 4

worked for the Federal Government STATEMENT OF and the Department of State, PUBLICATION spending time in Malta, Bahrain, The Gurke Newsletter is the offi- Oman and Botswana. cial publication of the USS GURKE In 1990, Bud and Martha moved Association. From now on it will be to Bullhead City. He was an active published quarterly in February, May, MAIL CALL member of the Coast Guard Auxil- August and November, subject to iary and the Elks Lodge. He was receiving sufficient funding. The Mr. Hickam, This is to let you know that John also a life member of the Veterans Newsletter is funded by voluntary A Payne passed away Wednesday, of Foreign Wars (VFW). Bud was an contributions from the membership. avid fisherman, had a passion for All members are encouraged to sup- December 19, 2007. He was a third class Petty Officer. John was a cook cooking and loved world travel, port the voice of the GURKE. A fi- most of all traveling in Italy. nancial statement appears in each on the USS Gurke. He was on the He was preceded in death by his issue of the newsletter. In the event Gurke during the Korean War late 1952 and 1953. John was dis- wife, Martha, and his brother Robert there is insufficient funding for a Scholton. regularly scheduled issue, all funds charged in May 1954 and was from He is survived by two children, received will accumulate until the Rockport, Indiana. John found out he had esopha- Rev. David (Trudi) Scholton of next regularly scheduled quarterly Southern Pines, NC, and Debi issue. Out of sequence issues will gus cancer on February 11, 2007 during an endoscopy. The cancer (Steve) Nichols of Alta Loma, Calif; not be published merely to “catch- had spread to his bones. two grandchildren, three sisters, up.” one brother and his companion of The newsletter is intended to be a He looked forward to receiving the Pepco newspaper. I ask that five years, Jo Ann Rodgers. vehicle for the members to express you say a prayer for him (John) and ______opinions, make suggestions and es- wish him fair winds. pecially share experiences. John turned 79 in September 07 Gurke Shipmates, Unless otherwise stated, the and was able to celebrate that and Here are some questions for views and opinions printed in the you. newsletter are those of the article’s our 53rd wedding anniversary with me, our five children and eleven Where is the Gurke now? writer, and do not necessarily repre- grandchildren. What is she called? sent the opinion of the Association How many who served on the leadership or the Editor of the News-

Sincerely, Gurke are still alive? letter. All letters and stories submitted Mary Payne I learned more about effective will be considered for publication, 305 E Pearl St Rockport, IN 47635-1422 leadership in the USN on board the except unsigned letters will not be Gurke than I did in college or gradu- published. Letters requesting the ______ate school writer’s name be withheld will be

On a lesser note, where can you honored, but published on a space The following was sent to us by get a USS Gurke ball cap? available basis. Signed letters with Debi Nichols: no restrictions will be given priority.

Norman F. Scholton, Jr., age 81, Tom Swanston, Lt Letters demeaning to another USS Gurke 1953-56 shipmate will not be printed; letters a long time Bullhead City resident, went home to be with the Lord on USNA Prep School instructor 1956- espousing a political position will not Tuesday, December 23, 2008. 58 be printed. [email protected] The editor reserves the right to “Bud” Scholton was born in Corry, PA on April 9, 1927. He mar- edit letters to conform to space limi- ried Martha Jane Dimick on Decem- Editor’s Note: If you can answer any tations and grammar. ML&RS, Inc. is not responsible for ber 26, 1949. They were married for of Mr. Swanston’s questions, please 54 years before Martha passed e-mail him at his address above. the accuracy of articles submitted for away in 2003. ______publication. It would be a monumen- tal task to check each story. There- He served in the US Navy during WWII on a in the Pacific. fore, we rely on the author to re- MEMORIAL DAY search each article. Later he served 22 years as a qual- Two other names for Memorial Day ity assurance inspector in the US You are encouraged to actively are “Decoration Day” and “Poppy participate in the newsletter family Army. His many postings included Day.” Although the tradition of honor- South , Denmark, Germany, by submitting your stories and ing war dead on a special day is centu- suggestions. Yugoslavia and California. ries old, the federal holiday wasn’t de- After military retirement, Bud ______clared in the U.S. until 1971. Volume 3 Issue 1 USS GURKE NEWSLETTER Page 5 THE MOST SURPRISING THING I LEARNED IN THE NAVY

Editor’s Note: The following e-mail side and contest me on that state- other more often if I didn’t have was sent asking for input for this ment, but since I am to be 80 in a few that 6 months in port/6 months newsletter: “Please send a story months, he may give me some slack. WESPAC rotation schedule. about the most surprising thing you I did love my tour on that beat-up Shortly after we returned from learned in the Navy. Many of you destroyer which was designed for a WESPAC I applied for and was were a small town or farm boy when life of five to ten years, but which approved to report to the mothball you went in, so there must have never let us down, compliments of its fleet (PACRESFLT) in San Diego been some real surprises when you designers and from there to the many to start my shore duty. I was really were exposed to the world. Maybe it attentive and proud crews that kept looking forward to being a was another culture, an unfamiliar her afloat and able to make 30 knots. “landlubber” and enjoying being language (accents, phrases, foreign WELL DONE!!! close to my girlfriend. languages, etc.) or listening to how ______The most surprising thing to me other shipmates were used to living was that an Electricians Mate’s back home. Maybe you learned John Eggers: duty at the mothball fleet was sig- something about yourself and your While stationed in Yokosuka, Ja- nificantly different than it was on abilities that you never thought you pan, from November ‘71 through board the Gurke. Mostly, we just could do.” Here are your responses: March ‘74 on the Gurke, I attempted killed time until the next meal or to learn the Japanese language. Prac- quitting time. The daily work con- H. Clark Wright: ticing it on the economy was also a sisted of scraping dry seagull feces I was a sailor (Aviator Store- challenge, but quite exciting. Tail gat- off of the on-deck electrical equip- keeper, Second Class) before I was ing the Midway around to various ment and the nighttime duty was sent to OCS and obtained my com- places was most enlightening. standing guard at the end of the mission. It was after this that I was ______piers in case someone from Ti- assigned in 1957 to the Gurke as juana swam up and tried to steal a Supply Officer. This tour of duty took Larry Fancher: ship. me to the twice, to , After completing Yeoman “A” The only redeeming quality of Okinawa, Australia, Samoa, Hong school at the ripe old age of 17+ that assignment was that, for the Kong, and some other places (1952), I was assigned to administra- next 15 months, I could see my in the Far East as well as Acapulco, tive duties at the Naval Training Cen- girlfriend more often. We cele- Panama Canal, Peru (Lima) and ter (San Diego) Admin Dept. I was brated our 50th anniversary this Chile (Valparaiso). There is no way I directed to put the signature of LCDR February. could have seen all, if any, of those Goldman on about 75+/- National ______places had it not been for that tour of Agency check forms. My failure to 18 months. properly understand my order resulted Editor’s Note: If you didn’t get a What I learned in the Navy was in me actually signing these NAC chance to send in your story about that 95% of the people in that won- forms with LCDR Goldman’s signa- the most surprising thing you derful service were hard-working, ture rather than typing in his signature learned in the Navy, please send it dedicated people, always cheerfully as intended. When my error was dis- to us for the next issue. ML&RS, taking on the difficult tasks that arose covered, I expected the worst— Inc address is below. constantly. The bitching was a natu- anything from execution to a court- ______ral way of life, but bitching never martial. After properly “dressing me stopped any sailor or officer from down” LCDR Goldman gave me a bit Published by: performing his duty, except for that of wisdom that I have always carried MILITARY LOCATOR & REUNION 5%, which is about typical every- forward—he said, “Son, if no one SERVICE, INC. where. U.S. Navy sailors are great dies, we can always correct the error.” P.O. Drawer 11399 representatives for their country. I learned my lesson; but, I also Hickory, NC 28603 They are respected internationally, learned that not every mistake is the and loved (in more ways than one!) end of the world. Phone: 828-256-6008 by people living in the places we vis- ______Fax: 828-256-6559 ited. Whenever I see a parade or a [email protected] newscast that has American service- Dick Bruno, EM3: [email protected] men in it, I always see, remember After 2 WESPAC cruises aboard and confirm that the U.S. Navy is the the Gurke I thought it would be great www.mlrsinc.com/gurke greatest Armed Force that the United to be on shore duty instead of sea States has as one of its protectors. duty. Besides, I was engaged to a Our reunions work so you don’t have to. Some Marine might want to step out- very nice lady and we could see each Volume 3 Issue 1 USS GURKE NEWSLETTER Page 6 THE USS GURKE IN THE KOREAN WAR

By John Kuncas when patrolling were in Captain immediately ordered full sight. As a rule, there was no train speed, and we headed away from One of the means for the North traffic during the day; trains had the coast. There followed 64 more Korean forces to receive supplies was parked in the tunnels. projectiles. Our sonar equipment by railroad. A railroad line ran along The North Koreans had gun em- detected the exploding projectiles the east coast of the Korean penin- placements on the coast in the ex- when they hit the water. We never sula, where a level rail line could be pectations that a destroyer would did learn how many artillery pieces laid. The interior landscape is moun- come close enough to be fired upon were firing. When we were out of tainous, making a rail line extremely by the army artillery. range, the firing stopped. difficult. One day while on patrol, no The North Korean’s artillery cer- One of the patrols the Gurke was trains were moving. Our ship’s tainly captured our attention. We assigned to was the entrance to boiler pressure was up but we were found that two projectiles hit our ship, Woman Harbor, the other was off the drifting. Our major concern was to one landed above the water line on east coast of the Korean peninsula, to avoid and destroy floating mines the fantail, another penetrated interdict the rail supply line. The rail- that had been released from loca- through the forward stack and a bulk- road was visible from offshore, and tions far north of our patrol. One head into the radio shack. One radio- the trains as well. Some sections of mine was sighted and destroyed man was wounded, not seriously. the railroad were placed, of necessity, with rifle fire. We were unaware that The sea was calm, and ship fitters in tunnels where the hills could not be ocean currents and onshore winds patched the hole in the fantail the avoided. were causing us to drift toward next day. A few trains were destroyed by shore. Those two wounds to our ship shore bombardment from patrolling The first artillery projectile landed demonstrated to all on board why destroyers, so trains hid in tunnels to the port side of the ship. The destroyers are called “Tin Cans.” ______LET THERE BE NO MOANING AT THE BAR

Old sailors sit and chew the fat make And they’ll sail with shipmates again. About things that used to be, And the shrill of the bos’n pipe. Of things they’ve seen, How salt spray would fall like sparks from I’ve heard them say, Before getting The places they’ve been, hell underway, When they ventured out to sea. When a storm struck in the night. That there’s still some sailing to do. They’ll say with a grin that their ship They remember friends from long ago, They remember old shipmates already has come in, The times they had back then, gone And the Good Lord is commanding The money they spent, Who forever hold a spot in their heart, the crew. The beer they drank, When sailors were bold, and friendships In their days as sailing men. would hold, Anonymus Till death ripped them apart. Submitted by Edmond Melton Their lives are lived in the days gone by ______With the thoughts that forever last. They speak of night spent in bawdy Of bell bottom blues, Winged white hats, houses And good times in their past. On many a foreign shore, Of the beer they’d down, while gathering NOTE EXPIRATION DATE ON They recall long nights around, ADDRESS LABEL With the moon so bright, Telling jokes with a busty whore. Far out into the lonely sea. Please check the address label The thoughts they had as youthful lads Their sailing days are gone away on your envelope or the top of your When their lives were wild and free. Never again will they cross the brow. e-mail for your dues expiration date. They have no regrets, If it is past, this is the last issue of the They know so well how their hearts They know they are blessed, newsletter you will receive until dues would swell For honoring the sacred vow. are paid again. Send dues to Frank When Old Glory fluttered proud and free. Hickam, 25 Harlech Dr, Wilming- The underway pennant, Such a beautiful Their numbers grow less, with each ton, DE 19807. Make checks to sight passing day, USS Gurke DD-783 Reunion As they plowed through an angry sea. As the final muster begins. There’s nothing to lose, all have paid Assoc., Inc. Dues are $10 for 1 yr They talked of the chow Ol’ cookie would their dues or $50 lifetime. ______Volume 3 Issue 1 USS GURKE NEWSLETTER Page 7 PICTURES AND 1950-51 ROSTERS SUBMITTED BY GLENN BISEL

Pergafield, Bisel, Kluck Bisel, Chief Meadows 1951 Compartment Cleaners 1951 in Drydock at Yokosuka, Japan Volume 3 Issue 1 USS GURKE NEWSLETTER Page 8 LIST OF UNOFFICIAL U.S. NAVY CERTIFICATES Through the years, the wish to Emerald Shellback: Crossing of Gulf service mark other seagoing milestones has the Equator at the Greenwich Me- Plank Owner: Commissioning a given birth to certificates for all ridian. Ship or Shore Command Special kinds of distinctions. Most of them Frozen Stiff: Members who Honorary title for those certificates are variations on the shellback have crossed the Arctic Circle and requiring it. theme; they document, typically in are entitled to all privileges of this Pollywog: Member who has not salty language, passing certain frozen realm of blizzards, including previously "crossed the places for the first time. Some of freezing, shivering, starving and any Line" (Equator). these time-honored traditions that other privileged miseries that can Realm of the Czars: Cruising have come to light include: possibly be bestowed. the Black Sea. Golden Dragon: Crossing of the Red Nose: Member who has Antarctic Circle: Crossing of 180th Meridian (International Date crossed the Antarctic Circle (66-32 the Antarctic Circle (66-32 South Line). South latitude). latitude). Also known as the "Royal Golden Shellback: Crossing of Royal Domain of the Emperor Domain of the Emperor Penguin" or the Equator at the 180th Meridian. Penguin: Crossing the Antarctic "Red Nose." Goldfish Club: Pilots who ditch Circle (66-32 South latitude). Also Arctic Circle: Crossing of the and have to take to a life raft. If they "Antarctic Circle" and "Red Nose. Arctic Circle (66-32 North latitude). spend more than 24 hours on the Royal Experiment of Guinea Also known as the "Northern Do- raft, they become "Sea Squatters." Pigs at Bikini Atoll: Operation main of the Polar Bear" or "Blue Great Lakes: Cruising the St. Crossroads, 1946 Nose." Lawrence Seaway and Great Royal Order of Whale Bang- Blue Nose: Crossing of the Arc- Lakes. ers: Crew members who acciden- tic Circle (66-32 North latitude). See Icelandic Domain: Commemo- tally fired at a whale, unfortunately also "Arctic Circle," "Frozen Stiff," rating service in Iceland. mistaking it for a submarine. and "Northern Domain of the Polar Mossback: Traversing around Safari to Suez: Transiting the Bear." Cape Horn. Suez Canal. Caterpillar Club: Anyone who Neutron Owners Certificate: Sea Squatters: Member who had made an unscheduled para- Plank owner certificate issued to takes to the water and spend more chute jump from a disabled plane. crew of USS Nautilus (SSN-571) on than 24 hours on a life raft. Caterpillar denotes use of a silk- 17 Jan. 1955 at latitude 40 20' 46. Shellback: Crossing the Equa- worm's product in parachute con- Northern Domain of the Polar tor. Special Gold Shellback title for struction. Club members wear a Bear crossing at the International Date gold caterpillar on civies only, the Crossing the Arctic Circle (66- 32 Line, special Emerald Shellback title color of the caterpillar's jeweled North latitude). See also "Arctic Cir- for crossing at the Greenwich Me- eyes is determined by the circum- cle" and "Frozen Stiff. ridian. stances, i.e. ruby eyes show that Order of Magellan: Going Spanish Main: Cruising the Car- the wearer has survived a midair around the World. ibbean. collision. Order of the Ditch: Transiting Suez Canal: Transit through the Century Club: Pilots who have the Panama Canal. See also Suez Canal. Also "Safari to Suez." completed their 100th carrier land- "Panama Canal." ing. Also applicable to hurricane Order of the Nuclear Navy: Note: If you are a Navy veteran who hunters who have flown through Designates the bearer of this wallet- has received a certificate not listed winds of 100 miles per hour or sized card as an honorary member above, and would like the certificate more. of the USS Nautilus' ships com- considered for inclusion in this list, Deep Dive Diploma: Presented pany. It was issued to personnel send a photocopy of the certificate to crew members for first dives, last outside of the crew who had with a brief explanation concerning dives, etc. "performed feats underwater" while its issuance to: Decommissioning: Decommis- aboard the vessel for a visit. sioning of a ship, land unit, or Order of the Rock: Transit Web Site Committee squadron. through the Straits of Gibraltar. Naval Historical Center Deep Dive Diploma: Issued to Order of the Square Rigger: 805 Kidder Breese Street crew of USS Nautilus (SSN-571) Service on any square rigger ship. Washington Navy Yard during the boat's first dive. Panama Canal: Transit through Washington DC 20374-5060 Double Centurions:Pilots who the Panama Canal. Also "Order of ______have completed their 200th carrier the Ditch." landing. Persian Excursion: Persian