<P> Later, on board the recovery ship USS Kearsarge, in front of Slayton, Walt Williams and the other astronauts, Walt Williams demanded to know how Schirra replied to Deke's question . Schirra played the recorder . "Hey, Wally, are you a turtle?" followed by the proper response . This incident is also recounted in Tom Wolfe's book The Right Stuff . </P> <P> Wally Schirra's membership in the Ancient Order of Turtles came up again during Apollo 7, which was captured by the in - flight recorder: </P> <Dl> <Dd> CAPCOM radioed, "Just a minute, Wally . Let's see . Oh, it's a little message to Deke Slayton . A little bit closer Wally . Kind of looks like something about -' Are you a, are you a --" Schirra acknowledged, "That's right ." CAPCOM continued, "Looks like it says,' Are you a turtle, Deke Slayton?" </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> CAPCOM radioed, "Just a minute, Wally . Let's see . Oh, it's a little message to Deke Slayton . A little bit closer Wally . Kind of looks like something about -' Are you a, are you a --" Schirra acknowledged, "That's right ." CAPCOM continued, "Looks like it says,' Are you a turtle, Deke Slayton?" </Dd>

Are you a member of the turtle club