Bataan (CVL 29) - Naval Cruise Book

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tain S. S. MILLER relieved Captain H. R. HORNEY as skipper. „ , . Back They Come The B ATA AN operated in the Yellow Sea until the 5th of May 1953. She then made her last visit to Sasebo for the Third Far Eastern cruise. She picked up the ship ' s boats and vehicles and headed toward Yokosuka. On 10 May she was relieved by the BAIROKO in Yokosuka. ComCorDiv 15 em- barked again and a new squadron, VS-21, came aboard for transportation to the States. On the way to Pearl Harbor the crew enjoyed periods of sunbathing and volleyball. The BATAAN arrived in Pearl Harbor on the 1 8th of May and two days later it left for San Diego, arriving there on the 26th, During the Third Far Eastern Cruise, BATAAN ' S planes flew a total of 1548 mis- sions against the enemy, causing much heavy damage to key positions behind the lines. Now, after a short rest in San Diego, the BA- TAAN will proceed to Pearl Harbor for a four-month yard period. It is a much needed and deserved period and the crew is looking for- ward to the four months among the hula girls and beautiful sunshine. So a lady rests!! A Short Stop Before Home

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We Get Them Ready BATAAN and ships from Australia, England, New Zealand, and Canada work- ed together with smooth pre- cision against Communism. Further evidence of United Nations teamwork was seen as the BATAAN and GLORY exchanged personnel for the purpose of observing each other ' s methods and establish- ing friendly relations between these two United Nations forces. Other noteworthy events during this cruise were the USO show and local enter- tainment witnessed by the crew. One we will remember for a long time was the Ray- mond Burr USO show from Hollywood, in which many radio and screen stars took part. But the work had to go on and the war was not finished. The BATAAN made trip after trip to the line, an average of 10 days each trip. On 10 March 1953, while operating off the coast of Korea, change of command ceremonies took place on board the BATAAN. Cap- I . . and Off They Go

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Happy Hour Johnny Ray? Among the several activities used to break the monotony of many cruises on the line and in the Okinawa area, was the BATAAN ' S own talent show, appropriately termed Happy Hour. The Happy Hour consisted of BATAAN talent only. Don Cook did a fine job as MC and the many fine acts were enjoyed by all. Ensign Campbell and Ltjg. Berst directed the show. Herman Harper ' s BATAAN Ramblers played very fine hill- billy music. Logan ' s Beeboppers made the joint jump with jive. J. J. Miller ' s rope tricks as- tounded the audience and his jokes had them rolling in the aisles. Larry Dunlap ' s trumpet imitations sounded more like Harry James than the great Mr. Grable himself. One of the outstanding acts of the night was Leon Jones ' pantomime of Eartha Kitt, singing Monotonous. The way he sang it wasn ' t a bit monotonous. Joe Darby, John Cloughley, and Leon Jones gave an almost perfect rendition of the Andrews Sis- ters singing a hit tune. Lee Woodward led a symphony orchestra. The BATAAN Theatre had produced another hit. The eleva- tor stage was the scene of an- other BATAAN Oscar award. Topping off the performance was a pie-eating contest in which pie-faced Scotty Rauber won the two delicious pies. The Happy Hour talent was so enjoyed that they were invited to perform at Club Lorraine in Sasebo, Japan, and at various hospitals in the area. It was re- ported that the show did much to uplift the morale of the wounded men from Korea who The Ramblers SOW the show.