Anthony (DD 515) - Naval Cruise Book

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-- glee dairy ojla anclgtir en BY Lieutenant Jere D. Lustig, USNR Any attempt to tell the full story of a ship and her men-must at best be but a feeble effort. The Iull story is to be found only in the men themselves. The joys, the fears, the experiences of the men who are the life blood of the ship are the true story of the ship. It is with this thought in mind and with a desire to tell the story of their experiences that this story is written. The ANTHONY is not uniqueg true, we who have been with her since her birth feel that she is just a little better, but this could be the story of any one of these courageous little ships . A complete story would include the hours, the days, and even the weeks of monotonous and dull routine operating and it is in just these times that that longing for our loved ones at home, and the desire to be back in civilization is the greatest. During the heat of an engagement, there is no time to be lonesome. For the destroyer man, always on the go, there are endless numbers of these unin- teresting jobs which are so very necessary even though they may not seem important to us at the time. It is just such routine work that enabled the navy to build and supply the necessary bases from which the war was eventually carried right to the very islands of Japan themselves. Although it is impossible toput all of the personalities, hopes and fears into this story, it is earnestly hoped that this account will enable us to look back with satisfaction at a job well done. It is with this thought in mind that this account is dedicated to my shipmates for their service on board the ANTHONYQ and it is quite fitting that such an account was started while riding at anchor off Okinawa Island, and completed in the waters of the Japanese Homeland itself. It was in Sasebo harbor, Kyushu, Japan, that Lieutenant Lustig left the Anthony. We who are left will add a postscript to his story to tell former shipmates of the return to the United States and the last days before decommissioning in Charleston, South Carolina. HISTORY On the quiet tropical night of February 15th, 1898, the peaceful Havana Harbor was turned into the scene of one of the tragedies of our nation. As the mighty U. S. S. MAINE was shaken by a terrific blast and then gutted by fire, the Captain's orderly, Private William Anthony, USMC, made his way through the fire and smoke to report to his superior in the same tradition of courage and devotion to duty that was to symbolize the career of the ship that was later to honor his memory. Commissioned in 1920, a flush deck, four piper destroyer was too late to carry the brave Marine's name into the fray in the first World War, and after being converted to a mine layer, she was later scrapped. 'J ..,,..