| A long standing naval tradition
is the
issuing certificates and/or other mementos to commemorate events such
as
crossing the equator, the international date line or being deployed to
or transiting a particular spot. Below are listed what we believe to
be all of the certificates applicable to the USS Little Rock's travels
and deployments. If you know of others that are pertinent to the USS
Little Rock, please feel free to contact us with the details. |
"Plankowner"
The Plankowner certificate was issued to USS Little Rock crew members who were on the commissioning crew of the USS Little Rock when the ship was commissioned on either: 17 Jun 1945 (as CL 92), or 03 JUN 1960 (as CLG 4). • Show me a "Plankowner" certificate. |
| "Last
Cruise" This certificate is issued to crew
members who were part of a decommissioning
crew. Crew members of the USS Little Rock when the ship was
decommissioned on either 24 Jun 1949 or 22 Nov 1976 are entitled to this
certificate.
• Show me a "Last
Cruise" certificate. |
"Spanish
Main"
Commemorates cruising the Caribbean Sea. It does not appear that this certificate was ever issued while the Little Rock was in service, although tradition has it that all crew members who were deployed anywhere in the Caribbean are eligible. (See Note 1 below.) • Show me a "Spanish Main" certificate. |
"Equator
Crossing"
The "Neptuni Regis" certificate is issued as a means of commemorating the crossing of the Equator either north-bound or south-bound. Eligible crew of CL 92 during the South America cruise received this certificate. Eligibility dates are: 05 November 1945, or 09 March 1946. • Show me an "Equator Crossing" certificate. |
"Rounding
Cape Horn"
Sometimes called the "Mossback" certificate commemorates rounding (or "doubling" Cape Horn, South America. USS Little Rock CL 92 crew on board on 23 Jan 1946 received this certificate. • Show me a "Rounding Cape Horn" certificate. |
"Panama
Canal Transit"
Often referred to as the "Order of the Ditch" certificate commemorates a crewman's transit through the Panama Canal from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean (or vice versa). Eligible date for CL 92 crew is 15 Mar 1946. (See Note 1 below.) • Show me a "Panama Canal Transit" certificate. |
"Straits
of Gibraltar Transit"
Sometimes referred to as the "Order of the Rock", this certificate is issued in commemoration of a sailor making a transit through the Straits of Gibraltar. Known dates of transit by USS Little Rock CL 92 and CLG 4 are: Spring 1946, Fall 1946, 20 Nov 1947, 02 Mar 1948, 18 Feb 1961, 16 Aug 1961, 09 May 63, 15 Dec 63, 14 Dec 1964, Spring 1965, Jan 1967, 26 Aug 1970, Dec 1971, Apr 1972, Aug 1973, 1974, 1975, Sep 1976. See Note 1 below.) • Show me a "Straits of Gibraltar Transit" certificate. |
"Suez
Canal Transit"
Usually referred to as the "Safari to Suez" certificate, it commemorates a transit through the Suez Canal. USS Little Rock CLG 4 crew members who were aboard for the re-opening of the Suez Canal ceremonies on 05 June 1975 are eligible for this certificate. (See Note 1 below.) • Show me a "Suez Canal Transit" certificate. |
"Arctic
Circle Crossing"
This certificate, sometimes referred to as the "Blue Nose" or "Northern Domain of the Polar Bear" certificate. It commemorates the crossing of the Arctic Circle (at 66º 32' North latitude). Eligible USS Little Rock crew members would have been actually on board for crossings on any one of the following dates: 30 Nov 1946, 03 Dec 1946, 29 Sep 1965 or 14 Sep 1972. (See Note 1 below.) • Show me an "Arctic Circle Crossing" certificate. |
"Antarctic
Circle Crossing"
Commemorates crossing of the Antarctic Circle (at 66º 32' South latitude). Also known as the "Royal Domain of the Penguin", "Frozen Stiff" or "Red Nose" Certificate. (See Note 2 below.) • Show me an "Antarctic Circle Crossing" certificate. |
| Links
to other USS Little Rock Memorabilia • Plaques • Patches • Lighters |
Other
Related Websites
Here's a link to several websites that elaborate on the traditions behind the certificates listed above, as well as many other certificates not pertinent to the USS Little Rock: |
Notes:
1. It does not appear that a certificate was ever issued by Little Rock for this event. If you did in fact receive one of these while on board Little Rock, please contact the Webmaster. 2. The Little Rock on the 23 Jan 1946 reached South Latitude 56º 06.5'. However, this is NOT sufficiently far south to qualify for the "Antarctic Circle Crossing" certificate which is authorized for sailors who have crossed the Antarctic Circle at 66º 30' South latitude. |
Current
Navy Policy on Initiation Rites
Times change. In the past, the various ceremonies that commemorated the special events noted above could be sometimes "rough" and even embarrassing. Not any longer. Here is SecNav Instruction 1610.2A dated 15 Jul 2005 which spells out the policy concerning military functions which involve initiations or other similar ceremonies: SECNAV INSTRUCTION 1610.2A Dated 15 Jul 2005 1. Purpose. To provide a Department of Navy (DON) policy on the prohibition of hazing, establish enforcement guidelines, afford assistance to hazing victims/witnesses, and to implement reference (a). 2. Cancellation. SECNAVINST 1610.2 3. Applicability. This instruction applies to all DON military personnel, Regular and Reserve; Naval Academy and Reserve Officer Training Corps midshipmen; and Reservists performing active or inactive duty for training or engaging in any activity related to the performance of Department of Defense (DOD) Reserve duty or function. 4. Background. Hazing is contrary to our Core Values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Adherence to Core Values by our Sailors and Marines is central to DON'S ability to meet its global mission. These values have served the sea services well during war and peacetime. They are our guiding principles for treating every Sailor and Marine with dignity and respect, and as a valued member of the Navy and Marine Corps team. Hazing degrades and diminishes the ability of victims to function within their unit. It destroys our members' confidence and trust in their shipmates and is destructive to unit cohesion and combat readiness. Every member of DON must be afforded the opportunity to be a productive and contributing member free of hazing and its ill effects. Hazing is not part of our "time honored traditions" and it has no place in the modern Naval Services. Hazing will not be tolerated by any member of the Navy or Marine Corps. 5. Discussion a. Sailors and Marines are our most valuable resources. DON leadership has a responsibility to create and maintain an environment free from hazing. b. Military customs and traditions have long been an integral part of the Navy and Marine Corps. Although in the past some hazing has occurred in conjunction with ceremonies, initiations or rites of passage, these activities, if properly supervised, can be effective leadership tools to instill esprit de corps, unit cohesion and respect for an accomplishment of another Sailor or Marine. While most ceremonies commemorate the many selfless feats of bravery of our military men and women, they also commemorate significant events. These feats and events form the basis upon which our Core Values of Honor, Courage and Commitment were founded. Graduations, chiefs' initiations, "crossing-the-line" ceremonies, and others are only meant to celebrate and recognize the achievements of individual Sailors or Marines or those of entire units. Service members must be able to work together, building-up, encouraging, and supporting their shipmates. Hazing behavior that is degrading, embarrassing or injurious is unprofessional and illegal. c. Commanders must be aware of all ceremonies and initiations conducted within their organizations and take proactive steps to ensure that these activities do not violate this policy. 6. Definition a. Hazing is defined as any conduct whereby a military member or members, regardless of service or rank, without proper authority causes another military member or members, regardless of service or rank, to suffer or be exposed to any activity which is cruel, abusive, humiliating, oppressive, demeaning, or harmful. Soliciting or coercing another to perpetrate any such activity is also considered hazing. Hazing need not involve physical contact among or between military members; it can be verbal or psychological in nature. Actual or implied consent to acts of hazing does not eliminate the culpability of the perpetrator. b. Hazing can include, but is not limited to, the following: playing abusive or ridiculous tricks; threatening or offering violence or bodily harm to another; striking; branding; taping; tattooing; shaving; greasing; painting; requiring excessive physical exercise beyond what is required to meet standards; "pinning"; "tacking on"; 'blood wings"; or forcing or requiring the consumption of food, alcohol, drugs, or any other substance. c. Hazing does not include command-authorized or operational activities; the requisite training to prepare for such missions or operations; administrative corrective measures; extra military instruction; athletics events, command-authorized physical training, contests or competitions and other similar activities that are authorized by the chain of command. 7. Policy. It is DON policy that: a. Hazing is prohibited and will not be tolerated. b. No service member in the DON may engage in hazing or consent to acts of hazing being committed upon them. c. No commander or supervisor may, by act, word, deed, or omission, condone or ignore hazing if they know or reasonably should have known, that hazing may or did occur. d. It is the responsibility of every Sailor and Marine to ensure that hazing does not occur any form at any level. Every service member has the responsibility to make the appropriate authorities aware of each violation of this policy. e. Commanders or individuals in supervisory positions are responsible for ensuring that all ceremonies and initiations conducted within their organizations or commands comply with this policy. f. Supervisory personnel shall ensure that service members participating in command authorized ceremonies, initiations and other activities are treated with dignity and respect during these events. g. Reprisal actions against any victim or witness of hazing incidents are strictly prohibited. |