50 Yrs Ago Today - Mullinnix Crosses The Line (Again)
(Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
But to be alive for 25 February 1959 meant everything to a Navy man. The crew that celebrated their crossing last July was going to get to invoke their lessons learned on yet another group of mangy pollywogs. With the sun covered by rain clouds, the wind flecked with salt, the rain held off for a time. A black cloud moved across the sun, dropping the Mullinnix into shadow. As the sun went behind this rain cloud, it burned a purple hole through its center. When the sun finally broke through a cloud, the tops of the mast and stacks lit up as though they had been touched by fire. It was time. The ship’s log described the day as:
• 0800 Mustered the crew on stations.
• 1115 Shifted all pollywogs into the uniform of the day. Stationed the Equator lookouts. Commenced making all preparations for receiving King Neptunus Rex and his court on board.
• 1303 Maneuvering on various courses and speeds to enter the realm of Neptunus Rex.
• 1330 Davy Jones came aboard.
• 1331 His majesty Neptunus Rex and members of his court came aboard for the purpose of converting all Mullinnix pollywogs into trusty shellbacks. Broke the flag of Neptunus Rex. Entered the realm of Neptunus rex and commenced the initiation ceremonies.
• 1537 Completed the initiation ceremonies. No pollywogs remain on board. King Neptune left the ship. Hauled down the flag of King Neptune.
• 1538 Maneuvering to rejoin formation. Set course 110T and speed 18 knots.
Dry thunder pealed slowly across the sky which was the color of a day-old bruise. As the heat went out of the day, the summer light seemed to ascend higher in the sky, so that the sea itself became a flat silver plain, mirror like. Flying fish sailing diagonally from the bow like sparkling metallic grasshoppers fleeing from an approaching mower.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
But to be alive for 25 February 1959 meant everything to a Navy man. The crew that celebrated their crossing last July was going to get to invoke their lessons learned on yet another group of mangy pollywogs. With the sun covered by rain clouds, the wind flecked with salt, the rain held off for a time. A black cloud moved across the sun, dropping the Mullinnix into shadow. As the sun went behind this rain cloud, it burned a purple hole through its center. When the sun finally broke through a cloud, the tops of the mast and stacks lit up as though they had been touched by fire. It was time. The ship’s log described the day as:
• 0800 Mustered the crew on stations.
• 1115 Shifted all pollywogs into the uniform of the day. Stationed the Equator lookouts. Commenced making all preparations for receiving King Neptunus Rex and his court on board.
• 1303 Maneuvering on various courses and speeds to enter the realm of Neptunus Rex.
• 1330 Davy Jones came aboard.
• 1331 His majesty Neptunus Rex and members of his court came aboard for the purpose of converting all Mullinnix pollywogs into trusty shellbacks. Broke the flag of Neptunus Rex. Entered the realm of Neptunus rex and commenced the initiation ceremonies.
• 1537 Completed the initiation ceremonies. No pollywogs remain on board. King Neptune left the ship. Hauled down the flag of King Neptune.
• 1538 Maneuvering to rejoin formation. Set course 110T and speed 18 knots.
Dry thunder pealed slowly across the sky which was the color of a day-old bruise. As the heat went out of the day, the summer light seemed to ascend higher in the sky, so that the sea itself became a flat silver plain, mirror like. Flying fish sailing diagonally from the bow like sparkling metallic grasshoppers fleeing from an approaching mower.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 09:24
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