Belle Grove (LSD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 13 text:

J,V-- :.,v. - Up PSmBI BHI V B K s B B jn ' hE - ; jini, . -v A : H ; ll ' ' ' ' i ' SB.- ij L ■ i d ' fiiKif . — — — i Early on the morning of the 25th we steamed out of Pearl Harhor and proceeded independent of the Task Unit in order to lessen the strain on our refurhished old uniflow engines. We left the palms and cliffs of the Hawaian Islands and set sail into the vast emptiness of the Pacific Ocean. .f . ' SIeSS kSnS I h y fl B HpMJ H Ul 1 . - .j4[ T— - i g jH i M Ei B B ' i l

Page 12 text:

FIRST STOP... WE PAY HOMAGE TO THE U. S. S. ARIZONA, THE WATERY MASS GRAVE OF A GREW, AND SENSE THE STUPIDITY AND FUTILITY OF MAN ' S INHUMANITY TO MAN CANADIAN AMERICAN ACCORD IT ' S A BARGAIN ... HAWAII... After seven days of formation steaming through cahii seas. Diamond Head loomed into view. The initial short leg of our trip to Westpac had been accomplished. The crew donned their dress canvas and hit the beach to mingle with the natives for a dav and a half of relaxation. They went to the beach, had a cooler or two and met the Canadians who had formed our Destroyer screen on the voyage to Hawaii.

Page 14 text:

RLTO OKINAWA ■ feis Steaming independently enroute from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to Buckner Bay, Okinawa Ryukyup Islands in accordance with COMPHIBPAC movement order 1-60 as modified by COM PHIBRON SEVEN message 22 2247Z of February 1960, on course 274°T. The ship settles into a routine that includes such activities as watch standing, boxing, loafing about the decks with a guitar or deck of cards... and watching such outstanding flicks as THE GIANT SPIDERS or THE GIANT CLAW . . . watches are relieved, chow is served, hair is cut, and the Belle steams on with only a few strav birds to break the monotony of sky and water.