Joseph Kennedy (DD 850) - Naval Cruise Book

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effing mlezfwpzy All back one-third The day had come. Months of preparation, a yard overhaul and a refresher cruise had preceded it, but still February 15 was greeted by each of us with a mingling of anticipation and melancholy.Some of us had already said goodbye to our loved ones, others had their wives, parents and Sweethearts waiting on the pier. For all it was a poignant moment, a brief time for reflection. Reverie soon ceased with the call to Station the special sea and anchor detail. The last farewell words were given in hasty exchange as the men hurried to their stations. The ship closed up for setting out to sea, the brow came in, the engines backed. When the last line cleared the pier and the colors were shifted, the Med cruise had begun. The time of sadness was past now, and each man looked forward to the deployment with expectation and pleasure. True, much that we cared about had been left behind, but we were Navymen, and limitless possibilities awaited us beyond the rim of the visible sea. It would be a chance to travel, to explore the legends of the past, to discover new experiences and relationships. For most it would be an opportunity to purchase many luxury items for a fraction of what they cost at home. Above all, though, it would be a chance to test ourselves against the rigorous requirements of operations in the Sixth Fleet. We looked forward to the challenge, confident that we would show the value of all our months of preparation and training. Yet we knew that even underway this would not be the full story. The life of the seafarer hasits own special joys and forms of relaxation. It is a total existence. No one who has not made the sea his home can appreciate the full beauty of sunset, the mightof the storm, or the insignificance and extreme importance of the individual. This knowledge too, awaited us. As we plied the rolling ocean toward its far shores we looked forward to all that lay ahead.

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X Q pix if X ws mlX xA E ,f o X That's what I said, Chief: just like you cook. Broyles counts the take after a mess decks bazaar. X fr-fxffia .rx I+-'f fl W ?5 F424 L Nz . lt may not get us the parts any faster, but this board will look great on the next admin. MATTHEW DAVIS Chief Commissaryman REYNALDO B. PILA SD3 ROBERT D. ROBERTSON SA RALPH W. ROGERS CS2 CARL E. SHEEHAN SN HORACE SIMMONS SDI JOHN R. TAYLOR CS3 JOHN P. TRAUTEN SK3 CLIFTON P.H. WALKER SH3

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The brow comes in. A Navy wife puts a Lightning Ten Patch in her purse to keep Someone a little closer through the coming months. f .af X , -f-?'4117f M The tug is standing by to give any assistance that may be needed. - 1' ' fy 7,7 Wffffiff-4 f f, , K 1 ,, ' ffff 4 - r 4f'1,.11.,? , ,M , ' 4 Mm? MM'fU' The long vigil has begun. , X I I , w-W-W,.f,L ,,