U.S. Navy Shellback - Crossing the Line Boonie Hat - Limited Issue in O.D

FRIDAY September 13, 1957 I was aboard the USS H.J. THOMAS (DDR-833) Enroute to Brisbane. Australia. This was my last of three cruises to WESPAC and going "Down Under" was a day to remember. We had to wear a white hat turned inside out a neckerchief around our necks, one shower shoe and a boot on our feet and dungarees. We had to serve the "Shellbacks" breakfast, we got oatmeal. We had received a summons to appear before King Neptune and the Royal Court. When we answered to the charges, we had to kiss the Royal Baby because we made him cry, and we got down to do that on his fat tummy and he shoved my head into some concoction he had made in the galley, which tasted terrible, then we had to go see the corpsman who gave us a shot with a needle as big as your arm. The supply officer had some awful "horse cock" meat that was spiced with hot sauce. The barber had to cut your hair down as low as possible, but we knew about this, so one of my shipmates was a barber, and he cut our hair like in boot camp. Then we had to jump into the pool of water which was filled with garbage and they dunked you under the water. They asked me what I was. I said a "Pollywog." Wrong answer. After the second dunking, I came up a Shellback. The next thing we had to do was crawl on our hands and knees while the Shellbacks hit us on our wet butts with cut off fire hoses. I saw what all of this was going to happen to me, so I asked the officer in charge if I could go first and take pictures for the ships cruise book. I recorded it for that book. When we went to chow there were some really ugly Shellbacks in the mess hall, but it was day that I will never forget. We went into Brisbane for the next seven days. I was a second class petty officer and got to go to the Outback to hunt the "bloody roo" (kangaroo) the next three days. We were treated very well by the people who lived out there and we had a party with lots of food and drink, pretty girls and a dance band to make our trip out there great. I never shot a "roo" but they ran too fast to hit. They gave me a "roo" hide, but it was full of tallow worms, so we had to dispose of them. One of our officers who was on the hunt put his roo hide in the officers' quarters, but the worms were getting all over the place, so he had to toss his overboard. We met the nicest people in Brisbane, they bought us a drink every where we went. When the trip to Brisbine was over, there was not a dry eye on the ship or the pier. There were five ladies to every man at that time back then, so they were so nice to us and I will never forget the kindness and hospitality of the Australians we met there. DAVID L. CASEY , JOURNALIST FIRST CLASS, USN (RET.) January 9, 2025 pacratflt@aol.com

I like the look, it fits, I plan to use it while golfing. But so far the weather isn't cooperating...

Pleased with this purchase.

Okay for the money but would pay double for high quality thicker brim and embroidery emblems and lettering

My only suggestion is to put the emblem on as a patch (embroidered) instead of the current one that is some type of an iron-on or silk screen idea.

I Like It..

Love it awesome

If you’re a shell back you need this one.