Week 18: Emerald Shellback!

Hey Everyone...

Pretty hard to believe I've been gone 18 weeks and am in my final month of deployment!! We arrived in the Gulf of Guinea early Monday morning and marked the event by participating in an ENCOUNTEREX with the other five ships in our group. We split the force into two task groups and held a "mini war" between the two groups. I was on watch in Combat During the entire thing, which was pretty cool too!! Following the ENCOUNTEREX, we had a tactical RAS, where the entire force filled up with gas from the oiler who is traveling with us. Then we steamed in formation and had a helo go up to take pictures of us in different configurations...if I can find the photos on the sharedrive, I'll be sure to send them along!

Early Tuesday morning, we split the force and some of the ships headed in closer to the coast to patrol, while NORMANDY and two other ships are plowing straight through to get deep into the Gulf as soon as possible and begin patrolling. We spent a few days around Cape Formosa (near the Bight of Benin off the coast of Nigeria) patrolling and conducting some training before heading BACK toward the outer edge of the GOG to refuel and head South toward the center of the Earth for our Shellback ceremony!

On Saturday morning, we had one last refueling (RAS) before we head South to Cape Town. Since we were also getting some last minute supplies from an oiler that made a special trip to meet us, it was a long RAS (about six hours). After standing watch from 10 Friday night until 2 Saturday morning, it made for a long day for me. Following the RAS, we began the "Wog Rebellion" which included a talent show and "beauty contest" for all the people who have yet to "Cross the Line" (equator). Part of the fun and games included the start of a pool for me to shave my head (the department heads started it). I told them if they could raise a mortgage payment, we would talk! Thus began the long standing Naval tradition of the Shellback Ceremony, which would last until Sunday evening...

Sunday morning, the Shellbacks woke all the 'Wogs up at 5AM to begin the festivities. The Officers began in the Wardroom where we had do practice our "Duck Walks" and "Crab Walks" and eat a yummy Shellback Breakfast. I'm not sure what it was, but it was green and lumpy, and not so yummy! Then we had to parade around the main deck and berthings on the ship, crawling on our hands and knees, yelling, and occasionally being thrown into the showers to cleanse us of our "Pollywog Dirt and Grime". Finally, we were allowed outside. We began on the fantail (stern of the ship) and got a lovely lard shampoo and saltwater bath. We made our way around the main decks doing various things like calling Flipper, finding Davy Jones's boatswain's whistle in a sinking ship, catching a "fish" (yes they had a real fish in a pool and we had to find it), bailing out another sinking ship, crawling through a bunch of garbage (and left over food from last night's dinner), rig a sail during the "perfect storm", and plenty more! Finally, we were allowed to enter the Royal Court of King Neptune. We had to stand before the Royal Court and be judged for any crimes against Shellbacks (during last night's Wog Rebellion) and then kiss the belly of King Neptune's Baby (and suck an olive out of his bellybutton...and let's just say that wasn't a pleasant experience at all!). After that, we were baptized in the Royal Waters and proclaimed Salty Shellbacks! Actually, we are now Emerald Shellbacks, which is when you cross the Equator at the Prime Meridian, so it's a bit more special...

And that concludes this week's fun and games! Next time I write, I'll be at the 20 day mark before coming home!

Cheers!

Kate