Summened by the Realm of Neptune

Eddie Pearce Gibbs was a sailor, he served 26 years. Amongst his papers I found his summons to the Realm Of Neptune. This fills in a small piece of the puzzle that is my dad. He served 26 years in the Navy and piece by piece I am learning where he served, from this piece I learned he was on board the U.S.S. Midway CVA-41 in 1955.  This is an old Navy tradition that every sailor how crossed the Equator was a part of.

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE REALM OF NEPTUNE IN AND FOR THE DISTRICT OF EQUATORIUS.  The People of the Realm of the Deep VS GiBBS BM3-1st div, of the U.S.S. MIDWAY (CVA-41) SUBPOENA Filed this 5th day of January 1955 Davy Jones, Clerk G Smith Scribe.

I HEREBY CERTIFY, that I have duly and properly served the within subpoena on this the 5th day of January 1955 on the herein named person on board the U.S.S. MIDWAY (CVA-41) in sufficient time previous to the crossing of the equator by said vessel, to permit the defendent to make a ridiculous attempt to prepare an ample defense to such charges as appear herein. Davy Jones, Clerk  Geo. W. Koski Hon. Peg Leg Deputy

 SUBPOENA AND SUMMONS EXTRAORDINARY THE ROYAL HIGH COURT OF THE RAGING MAIN.  Region of the South Seas Domain of Neptunas Rex }ss. To Whom May Come These Presents Greetings and Beware.  Whereas, The good Ship MIDWAY, bound southward of the Equator, is about to enter our domain; And WHEREAS, the aforesaid ship carries a large and loathsome cargo of landlubbers, beach combers, guardo rats, sea lawyers, lounge lizards, parlor dunigans, plow deserters, park bench warmers, chicken chasers, hay tossers, bingo players, dance hall sheiks, drugstore cowboys, asphalt arabs, and all other living creatures of the land, and last but not least, he-vamps, liberty hounds, State street Cabarilles masquerading as seamen, of which low scum you are a member. having never appeared before us; and WHEREAS, THE ROYAL COURT of the RAGING MAIN will convene on board the good ship MIDWAY on the 6th day of January, 1955, longitude 36-10W, latitude 00-00, and WHEREAS, an inspection of our Royal Master shows that it is high time your sad and wandering soul appears before OUR AUGUST PRESENCE; and BE IT KNOWN, That we hereby summon and command you to appear before the Royal High Court and Our August Presence on the aforesaid date at such time as may best suit OUR pleasure.

You will accept most heartily and with good grace the pains and penalties of the awful tortures that will be inflicted upon you to determine your fitness to be of our Trusty Shellbacks and answer to the following charges:

Charge I.  In that you have hitherto and maliciously failed to show reverence and allegiance to our Royal Person, and are herein and thereby a vile landlubber and pollywog.

Charge II.  In that you have been continuously impersonating a good Navy Man, while in fact it is well known that you are one of the lowest of the desert crawling creatures,

Charge III.  Guilty of drinking A SEAMAN under The Table  (this charge appears to be in Eddies own handwriting)

Disobey this Summons Under Pain of Our Swift and Terrible Displeasure.  Our Vigilance is Ever Wakeful, Our Vengeance is Just and Sure.     NEPTUNUS REX Ruler of the Raging Main

(Given Under Our Hand and Seal) G Smith  Scribe