Bataan (CVL 29) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 76 text:

GOD WAS ALWAYS WITH US On the 25th of May, Bataan took on a distinct United Nations fhixor w hen she exchanged chaplains with one of our destroyer escorts. Cdr. John Coffey, of New Rochelle, N. ' ., was transferred to HMNS Piet Hein, a Dutch destroyer, and their chaplain, Lcdr. John Van Dewall, of Rotter- dam, Holland, came aboard the Bataan. The transfer was not made in the usual manner of traveling padres, but by the use of Bataan ' s helicopter. Lcdr. Coffey celebrated Catholic mass aboard the Piet Hein, and Lcdr. ' an Dewall conducted Protestant services on the Bataan. All hands of both ships were well pleased on the exchange of sky pilots. Catholic mass was celebrated daily, and twice on Sundays. Although Bataan had no Protestant chaplain. Chapl ain Coffey conducted general services on Sunday for men of Protestant faith. A Bible cla.ss, conducted by SCLK Foster, was held every Sunday evening. With these religious services available, the Bataan crew knew that truly God was always with us. Cdr. Arndt welcomes Chaplain Van Dewall aboard. Chaplain Coffey celebrates Mass on the flight deck. 1 4 %i ' VC ' I - -

Page 75 text:

CLOTHES FOR KOREA W hilt still in San Dic o the Bataan officers and crew collected clothing from vari- ous agencies in that city. They were to be distributed in Korea when we reached that area. Upon arrival in the Far East, it soon became apparent that the ship would not get into Inchon, the planned port for the distribution of the clothing. With a little conniving, however, a trip was arranged on the Sasebo-Pusan red ball express steamship. The 7,500 pounds of clothes were loaded aboard the S.S. Aiken ' ictory for the fifteen-hour ride from Sasebo to Pusan. Our goodwill ambassadors w ere provided with box lunches, for no meals are served on this run. Cdr. Arndt, Chaplain Coffee, Ltjg. Holtzer and Ltjg. Griffin delivered the clothing to three agencies in Pusan — the Sai-Dul home for orphans, the Maryknoll Sisters Clinic and the Central Presbyterian Church. It was indeed heart- warming to see the thank- fulness in the eyes of those unfortunate youngsters, said Cdr. Arndt upon his return to the ship. £S)$A

Page 77 text:

Van were itaan iiday Jiins. Iwas RECREATION COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE w ■ 1 ■ 2 • i i. Left to right: Lcdr. Coffey, Lt. Goddard, Lcdr. F. Smith, Cdr. Arndt, Ens. Olischar, Gunner Campbell, CHPCLK Tobin. The recreation council, composed of officers, and the recreation committee, composed of enhsted per- sonnel, form the joint body for the governing of the ship ' s recreational velfare. This group meets once a month, or on notice when the occasion demands it. At these meetings they discuss and vote on ideas for recreation submitted by the officers and crew members of the Bataan. From their decisions come about our intra-divisional and intra-ship ball games, swimming parties, tours and ship ' s parties. Another task for which they are responsible is the determining of amount of money which is to be spent for each activity. This money is then drawn from the ship ' s funds, and allocated for that particular activity. Left to right: Wootten, Guarracino, Schwartz. Borkowski, - llen, Bailey, McNaniarra.