Magoffin (APA 199) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 52 text:

N.H. Naha, Okinawa was our first port of call. Here we unloaded 1400 MEN of the 2nd BTLN . 3RD MAR DIV . , A FINE GROUP OF AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN , WHO WOULD BECOME OUR PROFOUND AND GOOD FRIENDS IN THE MANY MONTHS OF ASSOCIATION AHEAD. To SPEAK OF Okinawa and her fine people we could mention rice rad- DIES, ox carts and THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE ORIENTAL ATMOSPHERE. BUT quick to catch your eye is the american influence that permeates the urban scenes of small independent shops and stores and the numerous government housing developments for the dependents of the army and Air Force personnel stationed on the islj nd. K ? A

Page 51 text:

' fev ' Sr , . ■ ' lS i? : t OUR GUESTS - 2ND BTLN . 9TH MARINES u N ) % - R A MUSICAL FAREWELL WELL DONE, MR HOWARD! LIFTING THE LAST LINE - SO LONG SAN DIEGO WESTPAC On THE 19th of November 1961, at 1500 MAGOFFIN lifted her last line from the pier. We WERE on our WAY TO FOLLOW THE SUN TO LANDS LITTLE KNOWN AND NEVER SEEN BY MANY OF US AND well known and often seen by the widely traveled old salts among us. This parting had its share of sadness, for a good number of us were leaving the focal point of our lives - wife, child, sweetheart, and homeland for the greater part of a year. it is at precious MOMENTS AS THIS THAT OUR HEARTS CAN FEEL THE FULL WEIGHT OF OUR LOVE AND NEED FOR THOSE WE HOLD SO DEAR TO US. |T IS A PRECIOUS MOMENTS AS THIS THAT THE NAVY WIFE, THE GIRL BACK HOME RISES ABOVE ALL OTHER WOMEN IN SACRIFICES AND DEVOTION TO HER MAN, TO HER COUNTRY. YET, INTERMINGLED WITH THE SADNESS OF PARTING WAS THE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE AND DISCOVERY - TO SEE AND TO KNOW WHAT WAS TO BE HELD BEYOND THE FAR HORIZON IN THE WARM WISTFULL SEAS TO THE WEST. We were on our way!

Page 53 text:

GRAMPA SAN ' O-HA-EE— YO-O, joe! GOT GUM , JOE HOME SAN A SMALL - FISHING VILLAGE MAMA SAN AND BABY SAN GIRL SANS DRAWING WATER SOME OF THE LOCAL DEBS -|