<p>I've never seen that. I thought all pickle suits looked alike, unless you're talking about the one with slanted arm pockets (I think). </p>
<p>In the squadrons, you could always tell the new dads. There was baby burble down the back of their LAST clean flight suit. Pretty funny! :D</p>
<p>In September, 1917 the "Forestry" Green uniform of the U.S. Marine Corps was authorized for aviation officers as a winter working uniform. The earliest use of the uniform by enlisted men came in 1941 when chief petty officers designated as Naval Aviation Pilots were authorized to wear the uniform. In November, 1985 Aviation Working Greens were authorized for wear by women in the aviation community. </p>
<p>Navy Trivia: TATTOOS - A tattoo of a pig on one leg of a sailor and a rooster (****) on the other is a charm against drowning.</p>
<p>In my squadron, all the aviation-billet officers (maintenance as well as pilots) wore brown shoes. We wore cool english-style brown sweaters, too. Leather flight jackets were strictly pilot-wear although most of us had green Nomex flight jackets since there really isn't a decent warm issue jacket to wear with khakis that isn't a FOD hazzard. FOD being Foreign Object Damage, stuff that gets sucked into a jet engine intake.</p>
<p>Shoes (non-aviation folks) are said to be the more anal-retentive, less fun-loving branch of the Navy. This might be true.</p>
<p>GA, I will advise Spider he needs to consider the pig/rooster combo on his next visit to the tattoo parlor. I (the parent), of course, will be found standing right behind him with the six pack and the crack pipe. Joke! Joke! :)</p>
<p>spidermom:"GA, I will advise Spider he needs to consider the pig/rooster combo on his next visit to the tattoo parlor"</p>
<p>Or he could get his canines drilled to take a small green (s'bd) and red (port) stone that would show when he smiled. Old China hands with waay too much time on the Asiatic station woud sometimes do that:D No joke!</p>
<p>Would they put a white stone in his forhead and another above the crack of his butt? ;)</p>
<p>How's about hanging a pair of halyards from his ears? </p>
<p>Of course, he'd have to have a full-body tattoo done in haze grey, his name just below the aft stone, and a number in white on each temple to REALLY make the package complete. :D</p>
<p>Hey, some disconnected yahoo tattooed and implanted himself to look like a tiger, so why not a ship? </p>
<p>You go first. ;)</p>
<p>ETA: Come to think of it, that would make one HELL of a halloween costume! LOL! :D</p>
<p>Spidermom and others - Hey there again - I think I remember telling you about my sons and their tattoos. Anyway, son #2 recently returned from CARAT 2006 on the USS Salvor- last diving and salvage ship in the navy, decommissioned in Dec. after they returned. He wanted to get an ESWO pin or some such thing. Anyway, after 5 months and several ports in the South Seas, he came home with - believe it or not - only two new tattoos. Yep, a '****' (rooster) on the top of one foot, and a pig on the other. What's up with these Navy traditions? And what the heck is "King Neptune's Court"? When I asked him, he just looked down, shook his head and said "unspeakable things"
Anyone? Or do you have to kill me if you tell me?????</p>
<p>LOL! He's a fellow Shellback, eh? Cool!</p>
<p>Sorry, wogs (non-Shellbacks) are not permitted to know the details. ;)</p>
<p>"Shellback"? Okay, now what does THAT mean? And what is a "wog"? And what else goes on "out there"? C'mon!</p>
<p>O.K. I'll give you a break at grave personal risk. A Shellback has crossed the Equator and been initiated by Davy Jones, King Neptune et all. A Pollywog hasn't. I don't know about current practice, but the fact that you have crossed and endured is duly noted in your Offcial personnel record. The initiation however is something :D</p>
<p>So, is there any "initiation" for us "wogs?" I mean, I feel a little "unspecial," here? Do we get any chocolate or anything? :D</p>
<p>And I don't mean chocolate "wogs!"</p>
<p>Sorry nurseypoo, no initiation for you but you can still eat the chocolate!</p>
<p>I'll go sit in the corner with my bag of Hershey's kisses and soothe my hurt feelings! :D</p>
<p>If eating chocolate denotes hurt feelings, mine must be hurt frequently! :D :D</p>
<p>"Initiated by Davey Jones"? I can understand boredom at sea, but really! There must be drinking involved - oh never mind ;) And it's noted in your official record? Seriously? Do all ships crossing the equator have some kind of King Neptune costume trunk? The more I know the less I want to know, but I am glad I now know how to use the smiley faces!</p>
<p>It's okay, utahmom, you can sit over here by me and have a box of "Hot Tamales" or "Gummi Bears." You get first choice. :)</p>
<p>I think it's one of those things that states or is similar to: Whatever goes TDY, stays TDY.</p>
<p>In the U.S. Navy, when a ship crosses the equator a time-honored ceremony takes place. This is a Navy tradition and an event no sailor ever forgets. With few exceptions, those who have been inducted into the "mysteries of the deep" by Neptunus Rex and his Royal court, count the experience as a highlight of their naval career. Members of Neptunus Rex's party usually include Davy Jones, Neptune's first assistant, Her Highness Amphitrite, the Royal Scribe, the Royal Doctor, the Royal Dentist, the Royal Baby, the Royal Navigator, the Royal Chaplain, the Royal Judge, Attorneys, Barbers and other names that suit the party.</p>
<p>Officially recognized by service record entries indicating date, time, latitude and longitude, the crossing of the equator involves elaborate preparation by the "shellbacks" (those who have crossed the equator before) to ensure the "pollywogs" (those who are about to cross the equator for the first time) are properly indoctrinated. All pollywogs, even the Commanding Officer if he has not crossed before, must participate. </p>
<p>A Golden Shellback is one who has crossed the equator at the 180th meridian.</p>
<p>Pollywog To Shellback
by John Muldowney
USS J. R. Y. Blakely DE 140</p>
<p>"Ninety percent of our crew were Pollywogs, (that is a person who has not crossed the equator). We knew that we were all in for a good hazing. All of our Chief and First Class Petty Officers were Shellback. Most of them had served on the battleships that went down at Pearl Harbor. Tradition was a big thing with them. </p>
<p>The day before we were to go over, the Shellbacks constructed the 'Royal Bath.' This was a pool about four feet deep and about seven by seven feet square. A handy billy was then rigged and sea water was pumped into the 'Royal Bath' and mixed with diesel oil. Word was passed that Davie Jones was to come aboard that evening and we were to entertain him on the fantail. Some had to dance for him, others told stories or recited poetry. I was lucky in being in a singing group. After the entertainment we were presented with a summons to King Neptune's Court the next day.</p>
<p>Breakfast was piped at eight bells for all Shellbacks the next morning. Our Ensign had been lowered and the 'Jolly Roger' was hoisted. This meant that the hazing was underway. Steak and eggs was the meal for the Shellbacks. We had hard tack and coffee made with salt water.</p>
<p>Various charges were levied against the Pollywogs. Officers were dealt with more harshly than enlisted men. We had a lieutenant who had been in the First World War. He was a Mustang with 25 years of service, but had never crossed the line. Accused of painting the town when we were in New York, he was made to climb the rigging with a bucket of paint. Another officer was ordered to the forecastle with two coke bottles for binoculars to keep a look out of the mail buoy. I was accused of impersonating an Irishman, and had to eat an Irish apple, (which was a raw onion).</p>
<p>As you knelt before the Judge in King Neptune's Court, you were ordered to kiss the Royal Baby. He was the ugliest guy on the ship. A bucket of mustard was hidden behind him and when you went to kiss him, he reached back to the bucket and hit you with a handful of mustard. The royal barber was next. He had electric clippers that kept shocking you as he cut your hair. After that came the 'Royal Bath.' You had to say Shellback three times as they were dunking you.</p>
<p>Running the gauntlet was the final stage of the exercise. A tarp was spread out on deck and greased with graphite, over it about a foot was strung a cargo net. You had to crawl along the tarp for about ten yards with Shellbacks paddling you and another at the end with a fire hose to drive you back just when you thought you were through. When it was all over you could take a deep breath and with great pride say: Now I am a Shellback."</p>
<p>I am sworn to silence. </p>
<p>Long live King Neptune!</p>
<p>Anyone a Bluenose?</p>
<p>Only if the Antarctic counts also:confused:</p>
<p>Hubby thinks it's only the Arctic, but that's a good question. Have to check it out!</p>
<p>Okay...Order of the Blue Nose is for those who've crossed the Arctic Circle, Order of the Red Nose is for those who've crossed the Anarctic Circle.</p>