Sailors

President Harry S. Truman (1st row, center) watches ceremonies of the Royal Court aboard the U.S.S. Missouri carrying him back to the U.S.A. from Brazil, aimed at turning pollywogs (those crossing the equator for the first time) into shellbacks. A banner with skull and crossbones reads "Expect no justice." From: Truman Home.

Sailors aboard the U.S.S. Missouri (carrying President Harry S. Truman back to the U.S.A. from Brazil) practice whacking "pollywogs" (those experiencing their first equator crossings) who have been sentenced to "shillalah alley," a 60-foot double line of shellbacks armed with stuffed canvas billies. (See also 66-1273.) From: Truman Home.

View of the mess hall aboard the U.S.S. Missouri where the crew is enjoying lunch with President Harry S. Truman (not shown) and members of his mess who were seated at several tables. The President is enroute from Brazil where he attended a conference. From: Truman Home.

Bess Truman, (3rd from left) lunches with the crew of the U.S.S. Missouri in the crew's mess hall along with all members of President Truman's party who sat at designated places at several tables. The President was enroute from Brazil after attending a conference. From: Truman Home.

President Harry S. Truman appears before Master Sgt. A. Waclawski, Royal Prosecutor of the Royal High Court of the Raging Main, to participate in a ceremony for those who have not previously crossed the equator to become a "Shellback." Margaret Truman in sun glasses stands next to Bess Truman in the background on the left. The President is aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, returning from Brazil. (See also 66-1299.) From: Truman Home.

Aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, carrying President Harry S. Truman on a return trip from Brazil, Captain Robert L. Dennison appears before "Davy Jones," clerk of the Royal High Court of the Raging Main in a "Shellback" ceremony for those crossing the equator for the first time. (See also 66-1285.) From: Truman Home.

Aboard the U.S.S. Missouri during shellback ceremonies for those crossing the equator for the first time, a "pollywog" is pitched backwards into the Royal Tank where he is dunked by participating sailors. The ship is carrying President Harry S. Truman back from Brazil. From: Truman home.

Aboard the U.S.S. Missouri during shellback ceremonies for those crossing the equator for the first time, a "pollywog" is pitched into the Royal Tank where he is dunked by participating sailors. The ship is carrying President Harry S. Truman back from Brazil. From: Truman Home.

A volunteer walks down "shillalah alley," a 60-foot double line of shellbacks armed with stuffed canvas billies, as they prepare to whack the pollywogs (those crossing the equator for the first time), a punishment meted out by the Royal Court during ceremonies held aboard the U.S.S. Missouri carrying President Harry S. Truman from Brazil to the U.S.A. (See also 66-1273.) From: Truman Home.

The crew of the USS Missouri, docked at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is at the "man-the-rail" position as they await the arrival of President Harry S. Truman after he spoke at the Rio Inter-American Defense Conference. From: Truman Home.