Colorful partly-printed 'Shellback' certificate issued aboard the USS Iwo Jima during its mission to recover Apollo 13, one page, 14 x 11, April 7, 1970, signed at the top in black felt tip by the complete Apollo 13 crew—Jack Swigert, James Lovell, and Fred Haise—and at the conclusion by the Captain Leland E. Kirkemo. Certificate issued to Francis G. Williamson to commemorate his first trip across the equator, in part: "To all sailors wherever ye may be: and to all Mermaids, Whales, Sea Serpents, Porpoises, Sharks, Dolphins, Eels, Skates, Suckers, Crabs, Lobsters and all other Living Things of the Sea, Greetings. Know ye that on this 7th day of April 1970, in latitude 0° 0´ and Longitude 164˚ 25´ W, there appeared within Our Royal Domain the USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) bound for the Equator and for Apollo 13 Recovery. Be it remembered…Francis G. Williamson…having been found worthy to be numbered as one of our trusty Shellbacks has been duly initiated into the Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of Deep." The embossed gold foil seal of the USS Iwo Jima remains affixed at the bottom. In fine condition, with minor foxing and paper loss to the upper left corner.
The ceremony of 'Crossing the Line' is an initiation rite in the Royal Navy, US Navy, US Coast Guard, and other navies that commemorates a sailor's first crossing of the equator. This maritime document acknowledges one's advancement from a mere 'polliwog' (who had never crossed the equator at sea) to a more experienced 'shellback' during the historic mission to recover Apollo 13.
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