Lexington (CV 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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AVIGATION compensationsi the cheers at mail call and libe. the beauty of some of the calls like tattoo, taps an church call, the knowledge of skilful work done THE YEOMEN We are in the middle, tooe-right between tiff typing of court-martial proceedings and getting the log typed and signed tespecially the latterl, We get a lick or two in on the side doing, a little specio. work and taking care of the l,D. cards, liberty, ITITIQYY' tenance of the crews library and part of the edu cational details. All in all, we lead a busy if none too happy life THE BAND Our job it is to make like Dorsey, lames, Goode man, Krupa and Tatum, to entertain, provide ree laxation and relief from the strain of hectic times and otherwise keep the morale of the entire ships personnel at a high level. We've had breaks both good and bad. We've played in some of the swanks iest officers clubs the Navy has, and ridden in some of the vilest garbage trucks to get to them. We formed the unit in music school at San Diego and left the States early in August 1944. With us then were some of the best in the profession, some of whom we lost along the way, and some of whom are still with us. At the present writing we consist i I ' 1 I 4 N it 'N

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77 some tight squeezes at most unexpected times, but we are proud to say that action on the part of our lads has brought us safely to port. Ideas, special knowledge and a heck ofa lot of work ha nated from the division. ' We have followed every path of the Blue Ghost in the planning, in the executing, in the recording. We have taken orders from and made friends with nearly all the officers aboard. We have watched our gunners blaze away at the enemy. We have seen her pilots make history. We have made friends with her Hsnipes' over the UV phones. We have delivered valuable dope from her lookouts and C.l.C. We have to step over her electricians in port and under way. We have grown in the process to know her like a book and in the knowing to fall a little in love with her. But lets get this straight: We haven't a darned thing to do with supply, ve GITICI- Tl-lE BUGLERS We are also the men in the middle-strictly in the middle as far as reveille is concerned. The 0.0.D. says, Blow Reveillef' We blow it, and a concerted groan rises from 3000 throats. But we have our N Division fBGhdl fn? - if au-nl 1' ' ,f

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Y l DEP RT E ,-xl vi men who have played with the best, some day will play with, and perhaps will be, the tops-symphony men, theater men, dance men, col- lege men, men who have learned trades such gg building locomotives, machinists, teachers, lawyers, grocers, and business managers. We, too, stood practically all the watches on the bridge. For a long time it seemed that in order to make lvlus2c we must know the r.p.m. table back- ward and forward, be qualified helmsmen, be able to plot accurately bogies and surface gadgets, and be able to pick up pips on the radar scope be-fgre C.l,C. or the operator spotted them. Since the end of the war, when we were relieved by the gunnery department, we have been able to devote all our time to rehearsing, and to playing for the crew and the officers. To those who have been our shipmates we wish to say, lt's been swell knowing you, and sailing with you. We've done our share of griping, but all in all weve enjoyed our association with the Lex and the men of the Lex. We only hope that our efforts have helped to make your stay aboard a little brighter and a little more pleasant than it would have been otherwise. If we've done that, then our efforts have been rewarded. We've en- ioyed playing for you and working with you all. men who x 9 . me w