Ships

(Left to right) Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, Margaret Truman, and Captain Robert L. Dennison carry their own trays through the serving line in the mess hall to designated places at where they will lunch with the crew aboard the U.S.S. Missouri on its way from Brazil to the United States. 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.

President Harry S. Truman (with binoculars), daughter Margaret, and Bess Truman stand on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri, witnessing the firing of five salvos from turret one of the ship's main battery during the return trip from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Norfolk, Virginia. (See also 69-325 and 92-2.) From: Truman Home.

Aboard the U.S.S. Missouri carrying President Harry S. Truman home from Brazil, pollywog Merriman Smith, newsman, stands watch for Davy Jones, emissary of King Neptune, during shellback ceremonies for those crossing the equator for the first time. 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.