Marquette (AKA 95) - Naval Cruise Book

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SMALL BOATS WITH BIG PLANS Fort Pierce g ,lAL- SV 1-1 tvl , Fort Pierce, an island separated from , Qi V:-V ','. 1 1:1 . - . ' the Florida mainland by the Indian e'eLie-' 1 . gf' Qs- 1 . . SL-1 SS'e .iL, Sll- RIVCT, Was the home of the U' S' Naval 5. .i', ffl ZA, 'f .,'- Q :A , , . . ive i t ,AAS u SSAL - ,Q,' Amphibious Training Base. All that kept LeV-e e,LLV 'L.vVe ,l--,L, ' ef,V .'i'+ 'ele ASQA iiiff ,SLvAA,A the men stationed there from drawing 'i r 'ira g th 10 H drawbrid C that ' '-'i' ,- ' . - 'r1't 125717 1'1 fz' 1 11e'i Sea pay was C g g iffy fii i .1 - Q d 0 1 d m ai -... A - rr' . . S Connects C 15 an 'iii'i, P - . , Upon arrival at Fort Pierce, we were :,4 ,.,1r . - - rrr quwldv put through 21 C1-aSS1fiC21f10n f Mia, ',fi' 1-' - '--'- center. In a very short period, we were told what our specihc job would be, where we were going to live, and what would happen to us during our stay on this island. From the center, we Were hustled into tents or barracks, and the process of settling down began. We soon found the island has an area of approximately eight, heavily-wooded, square miles, more than half of which is swamp. 'Small portions have been cleared of most of the trees and other vegetati-on, leaving nothing but bare sand which varies in depth from four to six inches. With the slightest sea breeze, the visibility drops down to two miles or less. Men from the North thought they saw low- sweeping clouds, men from the East thought it fog, but the men from the South- west knew too well that it was a sand storm. No, even they too were wrong! This strange matter flying through the air was not sand - it was pebbles. We remem- ber Fort Pierce for this most plaguing and fantastic variety of storm. The inhabited part of this island was thickly populated with men and crowded with living quarters. VVe had heard of the beautiful Spanish-style buildings found in Florida with large bay windows and broad patios. But this was the Navy -- the living quarters were tents. Un entering one of these tents, any person taller than Eve feet, eight inches, had to bow politely, not to show respect to the occupants, but t-o keep from smashing his brains out. Qnce inside, if you weren't a booby-trap expert, there was great danger of stepping on the wrong board, resulting in shock and a barked skin. Looking up, we could see our real shelter, the sky and stars. After a meeting with our new officers, we commenced our schooling. It seemed as though knowledge enough for twenty men was crammed into us in a three-week period. We lived in classrooms morning, noon, and night. Small boat seamanship, signalling, diesel engines, recognition and amphibious warfare were sent at us in rapid-fire succession. After a few weeks of school we were readv to man our boats and Commence the grind of running maneuvers, beaching, retracting both day and night We made mock invasions to get the feel of things Tuo months of this routine went by and everyone could do his Job from force of habit Among other routme events many of us, especially the salvage crews, will remember the special boat and crew who finally earned the title, Broach im boat and call me 1 7 . Q a . - , ' I U g , . ' If ' ' 7 H ' s C D ,,.

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To all hands: When the Marquette steamed into Hampton Roads at noon on April 19, 19-16, she had com- pleted a trip around the World. By date, it was just ten months after commissioning. iThis cruise covered almost 32,000 miles and touched all continents, as Well as Hawaii, Guam, Manus lsland, and the Philippines. Of the original crew who sailed from New York on July 1, 1945, 153 remained With the ship and completed the World cruise. The balance joined the ship enroute, but practically all who returned to Norfolk had completed a trip around the World. As time passes, it is hoped that you will remem- her your cruise around the World With increasing satisfaction, and that this souvenir bo-ok will serve to recall your experiences and shipmates. J. E. GABRIELSON Captain, U.S.N. C viii J

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At the eind Of 21 100g d2W,S W0l'lC0ut, we returned to our haven to try to rest our Weary bodies and souls. More often than not, we would find a two-inch coating of sand on our sacks! then the two-hundred yard hike to the showers which often didn't have water. If we survived the shower-house without having to be taken to sick bay for repairs, we could trudge wearily back to the bunk, maybe for 3 good night's sleep or maybe for an eight hour pitched battle with the mosquitoes and sand flies. There are very few who won't swear that the insects came over in formations larger than Berlin ever saw in its largest raid, or that they argued out- side the tent whether to eat us there or carry us to the swamps. It was a pretty tough grind, but even so, it had its humorous side. For example, working parties were picked for the different details and assigned to a mastcr-at- arms. The odds were twenty-to-one that within ten minutes there would be noth- ing left of the working party. Where did they go? Ask any of them, each had a private place. Another infamous subterfuge was securing from sea maneuvers be- cause of a breakdown. Each day there seemed to be more and more wrong with the boats. Yet no one could find out just who or what was causing the trouble. Smart motor machs! The end of the course brought the toughest period of all, waiting for the ans- wer to the eternal question, Am I on a draft? God, please send me with the rest of the boys, I don't want to be left behind. Wham! We were on a draft. Big deal - AKA 95. I can't wait - at last a ship to call my own. More red tape, then at last, the final dress parade came. We passed with flying colors, the Hsuperu flotilla, so named because of its high percentage of petty officers, and the mighty LCM crews. All aboard for Newport, Rhode Island, at last. When the hour of the day came, we jammed our way into the awaiting busses with much shouting and display of released energy. We listened to a speech entiled, There shall be no intoxicating beverages on the trainn. Qnce at the station, we were put under what might be called Uprotective custodyn. This was as a precautionary measure only, for it was certainly not that they did not trust us. However, the middle men in the business world were still to be reckoned with. The boys that were not shipping out not only came to see us off, but also to do their bit to make it an enjoyable trip. The train pulled out and rolled away into the night. It was only a short time before a wave of joyous merry-making swept through the cars. As the stroke of midnight approached, the haze of smoke and laughter grew thicker, and menis visions began to fail them. By this time, every man burst out with a hidden talent for entertaining, and much agreeable diversion from the long trip was provided. The next morning those responsible for holding reveille had much difficulty in carrying out their job for some strange, but not completely unknown, reas-on. There were long lines to the scuttlebutts and a great demand for coffee. The greater part of this day we spent in our sacks. All was quiet while the miles swept by, and the atmosphere of a typical troop movement prevailed. Upon arrival at Newp-ort, the sight.of undress blues and pea coats was very strange and the weather a little uncomfortable. At first we were very fidgety because of the way everyone stared at our sun tan, but as time went on it became amusing and we got into pace with the Newport detail. Famous Last Words - Now the man with the keys to the Paint Locker, lay down to the Paint Locker ll' C25 1 ,