ɑːn ɹˈuːt tə nˈuː kˌælɪdˈoʊniə, wˌɪtʃ wʌz təbi ɐ tɹˈeɪnɪŋ bˈeɪs fɚðə pˈæɹəʃˌuːt mɚɹˈiːnz, hiː kɹˈɔst ðɪ ɪkwˈeɪɾɚɹ ˌɔn mˈɑːɹtʃ sˈɛvəntˌiːn, ænd wʌz djˈuːli ɪnˈɪʃɪˌeɪɾᵻd ˌɪntʊ ðə ɹˈɛlm ʌv kˈɪŋ nˈɛptuːn.
En route to New Caledonia, which was to be a training base for the Parachute Marines, he crossed the equator on March 17, and was duly initiated into the realm of King Neptune.