Blair (DE 147) - Naval Cruise Book

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1000: CHURCH CALL lust as surely as there are no atheists in fox- holes, no one can regard the howling fury of a Hatteras storm with aught but a feeling of humility in the face of its eternal mightg with but a profound respect for the awesome power beyond the unseen stars. A sailorman's religion is oftimes more in- dividual and less orthodox in nature than that of the landsman. In many instances it is more sensed than spokeng more of a state of mind than a mode of expression. It is in part crys- tallized from thoughts during long mid- watches the stormy North Atlantic, recollec- tions of the brilliance of Pacific moonlight, memories of the azure tranquillity of a Medi- terranean afternoon. One whose life's concern is the rise and fall of the glass, the ebb and How of the great tides, the vagaries of river and ocean current, can never disregard the sense of the Almighty presence. There are some hands who perhaps would decline to admit this but none who follow the sea can ever escape it. Church pennant flies at the fore as UF21fllCl'H Connors conducts interdenominational services. 55 3 M11 ,L ,Wal

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Storm Condition I - Newport, R. I. 16 March, 1956 Eternal vigilance is the watehword for 3 other ships of Escort Squadron Ten along- survival - at sea or in port, as exemplified by side Destroyer Pier l, Narragansett Bay. the fateful events of the night of 16 March, The light snow which had been falling mgst l956. BLAIR lay quietly moored outboard of the day did not interfere with normal Blizzard hits Pier 1, Newport, with unanticipated fury. i i E E