Wednesday, July 10, 1968

DAVEY JONES' PLAN OF THE DAY

FIRST WEDNESDAY, 10 JULY 1968

Equator Crossing Ceremony — USS Jouett (DLG-29)

3 pages

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DAVEY JONES'

PLAN OF THE DAY

FIRST WEDNESDAY, 10 JULY 1968

THE PLAN OF THE DAY CONTAINS OFFICIAL INFORMATION. ALL HANDS ARE CHARGED WITH

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF ITS CONTENTS. THE POD IS NOT TO BE

REMOVED FROM THE SHIP OR SHIP'S OFFICES.

SUNRISE: 0604 SUNSET: 1806

UNIFORM OF THE DAY:

SUBSERVIENT POLLYWOGS - Trousers worn backwards, Tennis shoes, Tee shirt

with "POLLYWOG" spelled out. Officers and Chiefs

will also paint a flower on their tee shirt

ROYAL SHELLBACKS - - - Garb-of-the-Day for the Realm of King Neptunus Rex

DUTY DIVISION - - - - - - MISSILE/FOX

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TIMES OF MODIFICATION TO USS JOUETTINST 5330.1 ARE UNDERLINED.

UNDERWAY CROSSING THE LINE ROUTINE

0345 - Relieve the watch.

0500 - Call the duty ship's cooks.

0545 - Call the duty MAA, food handlers, duty stewards, and reveille PO's.

0600 - Reveille. (All hands except the mid-watch and others authorized to sleep

late.)

0615 - Reveille PO's make reports to MAA. Mess gear.

0630 - Breakfast for the oncoming watch and PO1's.

0645 - Breakfast for all hands on the mess decks.

0700 - Up all late bunks. Relieve the watch.

====

0730 - Secure the mess line. Muster on station. Turn in muster reports to ship's

==== office by 0800. Turn to. Commence ship's work. Sick call.

0740 - Test alarms.

====

0830 - Knock off ship's work. Commence holiday routine. All pollywogs assemble

==== on the forecastle in accordance with the diagram in note 2, to pay homage

to his majesty Neptunus Rex, Ruler of the Raging Main.

0900 - Cross the Equator.

====

0930 - (About) Commence Equator Crossing Ceremony. King Neptunus Rex boards the

==== Good Ship JOUETT bound across the Equator.

1345 - Movie call.

1545 - Relieve the watch.

1645 - Check setting of material condition YOKE. Make reports to D. C. Central.

1700 - Mess gear.

1715 - Supper for the oncoming watch and PO1's.

1730 - Supper for the crew.

1915 - Relieve the watch.

1930 - Secure the mess line. Lay before the mast all eight o'clock reports.

2030 - Movie call.

2200 - (About) Unrig movies. Sweep down movie area. Taps. Lights out.

2345 - Relieve the watch.

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NOTES

1. The following message was received last night from His Royal Majesty

Neptunus Rex:

I have sent Davey Jones, My Royal Scribe, to the good Ship JOUETT tonight

to serve summons on all the landlubbers, pollywogs, sea vermin, and crabs

and eels who have not been initiated into the Supreme Order of the Deep.

The members of my court, in my behalf have brought serious indictments

against those who still have traces of heifer's dust and cow dung on their

feet, as well as those of the big towns who think they are real city slickers.

But, no matter, all will be Shellbacks after the Royal Treatment on the morrow,

at which time those summoned will appear before my Royal Judge and there answer

for offenses committed both aboard and ashore. Remember ye all... Sorrow and

woe will befall those who resist or talk in a light or jesting manner of my

ceremony or of my Queen Amphitrite and her beautiful daughter the Princess!

Farewell, and I will board your fine ship soon, as you proceed into my Royal

Domain.

Signed,

Neptunus Rex

2. Pollywogs' Forecastle Assembly Diagram:

[Bow diagram with numbered assembly stations arranged in two rows on

the forecastle, viewed from above:]

(11) (10) (5) (4)

(3)

(6)

(7)

(1) (2) (9) (8)

1 AND 9 - Officers and Chief Petty Officers of all Departments

2. - Food handlers, cooks, stewards, and Nav/Admin Department

4 AND 8 - Operations Department

5 AND 7 - Engineering Department

6 AND 11 - Weapons Department

3 AND 10 - Supply Department

3. Vietnam Campaign and Service Medals. All personnel who have been on board

since 29 February 1968 are eligible to wear both the Vietnam Campaign Medal and

the Vietnam Service Medal. Personnel who have reported aboard after 29 February are

eligible to wear the Vietnam Service Medal only unless they have accumulated Vietnam

service elsewhere. On Thursday, 11 July 1968 the Vietnam Service Medal will be

issued to all personnel who are eligible. Specific times and procedures for

issuance of this medal will be announced in Thursday's Plan of the Day. The Vietnam

Campaign Medal (the green and white one with Device) is not yet available, but all

hands are urged to purchase the ribbon suspension bar which is available at most

uniform shops and Navy Exchanges.

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4. Movie Schedule.

Wardroom: Rasputin, The Mad Monk, starring Christopher Lee and Barbara Shelley,

Cinemascope, Technicolor

Mess Deck: Greed in the Sun, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Lino Ventura,

Cinemascope, Black and White

DAVEY JONES

ROYAL SCRIBE

APPROVED: J. A. WALKER, JR.

LCDR USN

KING WOG

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NOTES

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The equator crossing ceremony ("Crossing the Line") is a centuries-old naval

tradition. Sailors who have not previously crossed the equator are "pollywogs"

(or "wogs"); those who have are "shellbacks." The ceremony transforms pollywogs

into shellbacks through a series of humorous ordeals presided over by sailors

playing King Neptune (Neptunus Rex), Queen Amphitrite, Davy Jones (Royal Scribe),

and the Royal Court.

Jouett crossed the equator at the 180th meridian (International Date Line) on

July 10, 1968, homeward bound from WestPac. The "FIRST Wednesday" heading is a

play on the International Date Line — crossing it westbound means living the

same day twice.

Mike's Super 8 film clip "King Neptune's Court — Equator at 180th" captures

this event. He also has 5 slides from the ceremony in Photos/Slides/.

Duty division is MISSILE/FOX — Mike's division had the duty this day.

LCDR John A. Walker Jr. signed as "KING WOG" — the senior uninitiated officer

who leads the pollywogs. Walker received a Navy Commendation Medal at the

October 11, 1968 Awards Ceremony.

Weapons Department (Mike's) assembled at stations 6 and 11 on the forecastle.

The Vietnam Campaign and Service Medal issuance the next day (July 11) marks

the formal recognition of the crew's combat service. All personnel aboard since

February 29, 1968 received both medals.

USS JOUETT (DLG-29) 1968 CRUISE BOOK — PAGES 156-157

...WITH THOROUGHNESS...

[Photo: Sailor working on helicopter rotor blade on Jouett's flight deck, helicopter partially visible]

...With thoroughness...a total of 450 accident-free helicopter landings was

compiled by JOUETT during Westpac deployment alone. This total, a source of pride

to all concerned, attests to careful preparation, attention to detail, and devotion to

duty.

...WITH HUMOR...

On 10 July, 1968, at Latitude 00 00', Longitude 180 00',

JOUETT was honored by a visit from his Imperial

Majesty, King Neptune, ruler of those equatorial

regions. Before His Royal Highness arrived, a group of

crusty Shellbacks appeared, and assembled all Pollywogs

on the forecastle.

[Photo: Pollywogs assembled on forecastle with arms raised during King Neptune's Court ceremony]

[Photo: Shellbacks dunking/hosing Pollywogs during the crossing-the-line ceremony, sailors being splashed with water]

[Photo: Row of Pollywogs crawling on hands and knees on deck as part of the initiation]

[Photo: Smiling Shellback in costume/hat overseeing the ceremony]

After the scurvy Pollywogs were convinced that a certain display of humility

was required...

USS JOUETT (DLG-29) 1968 CRUISE BOOK — PAGES 158-159

[Photo: King Neptune and his court in costume assembled on deck — Neptune with trident, Queen, Royal Baby, and attendants in elaborate costumes]

...King Neptune and his court arrived. Pollywogs were ceremoniously escorted into

the presence of a panel of judges, ...

[Photo: Pollywogs being brought before the judges' table, Shellbacks in costume presiding]

[Photo: Pollywog restrained in stocks near sign reading "JUDGES", Shellback in top hat and striped outfit standing guard]

...who found it necessary to order restraint of some of the more militant Pollywogs.

[Photo: Pollywog lying on a table/platform being subjected to "THE ROYAL JUDGE" treatment by costumed Shellbacks on deck, sign reading "THE ROYAL JUD..." visible]

King Neptune's Medical Department uncovered many rare and curious

ailments among the Pollywogs, but all responded to the prompt medication and

treatment prescribed.

[Photo: Shellback "doctors" administering treatment to Pollywogs at a table with bottles and supplies]

[Photo: Pollywogs crawling through mess/slop on deck, sign reading "ROYAL JU..." visible, costumed Shellbacks overseeing]

USS JOUETT (DLG-29) 1968 CRUISE BOOK — PAGES 160-161

[Photo: Pollywog getting head shaved by the Royal Barber on deck]

Following a visit to the Royal Barber...

...Pollywogs were presented to King Neptune, Queen Amphitrite, and the Beautiful

Princess.

[Photo: Pollywogs kneeling before King Neptune's throne, Queen Amphitrite and Princess in costume seated alongside]

[Photo: Sailor in wet t-shirt after baptism, signing the King's Log]

After a final baptism in the waters of the Seven Seas, Pollywogs signed the King's

Log and were granted the most honorable title of "GOLDEN SHELLBACK".

...WITH A SENSE OF DUTY...

[Photo: Group photo — Radarman First Class Allen R. Melton with Admiral Hyland, LTJG Clyde Lassen, MR Lassen's Co-Pilot, and two rescued aviators from USS America, all standing together]

...With a sense of Duty...emblematic of the dedicated and professional services

rendered by USS JOUETT in the Tonkin Gulf is the performance of Radarman First

Class Allen R. Melton, pictured above with Admiral Hyland, Commander-In-Chief,

U.S. Pacific Fleet, Medal of Honor Nominee LTJG Clyde Lassen, MR Lassen's

Co-Pilot, and two rescued aviators from the USS AMERICA. On the night of 19 June,

an aircraft from the USS AMERICA was brought down deep in enemy territory. The

scene of the crash was pinpointed by RD1 Melton in less than one minute, and a

rescue helicopter, piloted by LTJG Lassen was vectored to the scene. Despite heavy

enemy concentrations of troops and ground fire in the area, a successful rescue was

effected. For his incredible bravery under fire, LTJG Lassen was nominated for the

nation's highest award for his role in this COMDESRON ONE-JOUETT SAR.