High-resolution, full color images available online
Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
View college, high school, and military yearbooks
Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
Support the schools in our program by subscribing
Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information
Page 21 text:
“
more. We really gave two tugs a workout that day. We then proceeded under our own po There was time to take a quick look around, taking in the sights until the barge came f our ammunition. At least it looked like a small part, until We went aboard to start transferring the ammunition to our ship. Many a man said that da I was a little on edge with all those five-inch shells staring me in the face . There Y, was plenty of forty and twenty-millimeter stuff too. It seemed as though the boxes Just kept coming at us until we could hardly stand up any more. Things Went fine until two f h f ti s were dropped on deck Fortunately they didn't explode, but our chief cans o t e or e . boatswain did. We worked well on into the evening until the last box was aboard, then wer to Gravesend Bay just off Coney Island and the Marine Basin. alongside with a small part o settled down for the night. U If you have ever been to a big, gay party and had to sit in the corner with a sore foot d l k on ou know how we felt watching the lights of Manhattan twinkle a silent an oo , y message to the lights of Brooklyn. just off to starboard, we could see some of the lights on the high spots of Coney Island. The ferris wheel, parachute Jump, and roller coasters were visible and most inviting. Yet the night passed on without anyone attempting to swim for the beach. tiful words formed with white stones on the embankment near Fort Hamilton, Well done, welcome home . Many of us had felt a little proud when we came -back the first time, for we had helped to make . . . . h 1 . those words possible. Now it was starting all over again. We hoped we might e p ln uttin similar words on the shoreline of some West Coast harbor, even though the men P g in the Pacific were at that moment doing a terrific job. When we came out on deck in the morning, we saw those beau lThe compass adjusters came on board and we swung ship. It took little time to get k h fi l nderwa when they were finished and probably most of us were glad to brea t e na U Y ties as quickly as possible. The water moved away from the bow with tiny ripples as we began to cut out way into the Atlantic. Everyone was on deck trying to get one last look at the great city. Soon the wonderful shoreline of New York was once more growing dim ' l b 'd t atch in the distance and we were on our way. A few went up to the signa ri ge o W it being swallowed up on the horizon like the long distance fade-out at the end of a motion picture. Wx 3 uf 5 :fs Ti .- -. -1:- N. seg 1 ,211 . L., . -. ,',y,g' 'ff 1 pix jff-friifi, ' f It f 1 'Q '33-11:4 wif? . 1 5 ,vp --1, gig, ,,-:.,'.gi,g-4'.1- .--.- .,,,,, k Wg? 3 1-.ive Arg I e---n . 1'1 'I t 'ur , -f 172 ' .27 4' Ti '. iff ',.-Lf' .' ' .' - .:a Lf--' f fv' ff t ,. ' 'if , 5 ':,,f.-13.-vfsgg vif' -. us, . 1Z.,21 -3,,.,5'., g,5l, -Q2 191 sg 5175 ' Aft Rv. C87
”
Page 20 text:
“
l if UNE LAST FLING -- New York - Almost immediately after the commissioning ceremony, we began to load equipment and supplies. All hands were turning tof' almost continuously and were hoping that this steady Hood would soon ebb. 'Supplies by truck loads were coming out to the ship hourly, and men with clouded and weary thoughts toiled day after day until the last box came aboard. Its funny how little thoughts in the mind can become so large and frightening. Many of us wondered just how much good all this back-breaking work would do. How much of this effort and material would finally go into action? A million little thoughts can trouble a sailor while lugging a heavy box up the gangway. For almost two weeks the job of supply- ing and fitting out the ship continued. On the 29th of June, 1945 the work was completed. One last liberty would be granted -before leaving New York. It wasn't much of a liberty if it was compared with others of the preceeding weeks, or if figured on the basis of time, because it was only for eight hours. But we all knew it would be the last time we would see New York for quite a long time, perhaps never again. Things which a sailor likes to do most were packed into less time than ever. Pm not a resident of New York, but I have many friends there, so I spent those short hours saying 'So long', and celebrating with them. My evening was rounded up with a juicy steak smoth- ered in onions, french fries fdouble orderj, cole slaw, and a few ice-cold beers. The Hotel McAlpine will live in my mind for years to come. The last night ashore is always the hardest.for a gob to go back to his ship. The thought of not going back is always there, but it either is passed on in short order or drowned away before it becomes effective. For those of us who happened to live close enough to get home, it was harder still. Yet, we had a lot of men for whom even ten days leave would not have been enough to get home and say good--bye. Everyone had feelings that could never be expressed on paper - anyway, how could one put war on paper as it was felt? As we planned, on the morning of June 30, 1945 at 0930, our lines were released from Pier J-15 and tugs began to churn the water, pushing the AKA 95 into the East River. About fifty yards from the pier, a light shudder came over the ship to announce that our own screw was beginning to push the ship forward. just ahead lay the steel and stone structure of the Brooklyn Bridge. Few realize the traffic that passed over and below her in one wartime day. The next nationally-known land mark we passed was the Statue of Liberty. Though a symbol of one of our country's greatest assets, many of us had never seen it before nor were acquainted with the details of its structure. The Statue of Liberty was familiar to people all over the world. Citizens of France, Italy, Egypt, Australia, and India go out of their way for the opportunity of having us as American servicemen, tell them what the Statue of Liberty stands for really exists, We headed a short distance up the Narrows into the Deperming Station. All ship's clocks and watches were taken ashore to prevent their magnetization, as the yard H1611 were already putting the wires about the ship. The deperming process is used to neutra- l1ZC the magnetism a ship acquires while being constructed, After several hours, the WHYCIICS arid Cl0CkS were again on board, and we received our lines from the dock for the last time in New York Harbor. The tugs came alongside to ease us back into the bay once 47? 2 vi
”
Page 22 text:
“
VVE LEAVE THE CORNER FOR THE RING'S CENTER A -- Norfolk to Pearl Harbor -- I Gradually the lumps disappeared from our throatsg New York was gone, though certain- l not forgotten. The last remnants of the stores were put below decks and we settled down Y . . to the new, but familiar, Navy routine of eating, sleeping, and standing watches. Most of the boots going to sea for the first time, wandered about exploring the ship and ran top- side whenever another ship came into sight, while the wiser old hands headed for their bunks. Some of us couldn't seem to get used to the ship's rolling and had to head for the rails every now and then. To those who had sailed these same waters before the surrender in Europe, it seemed strange to have movies on deck and to have the ship lighted at night. The silence of this first weeks cruising was broken by the start of the never-to-be-ended roar of chipping hammers. On July 3, 1945, we reached Norfolk and anchored in Hampton Roads, and the next morn- ing the Margzzette hoisted anchor and headed into the 'Chesapeake for her shakedown. Thus began nine days of drills, drills, and more drills, all hours, day and night, during meals, even while at the movies, general quarters, fire and rescue, abandon ship alarms were sounded and it seemed as though we never took off our life jackets. After a few days most of the kinks were ironed out and things began to run more smoothly. Then came firing practice, and for two days we blasted away at surface targets, plane-towed sleeves, and radio controlled drones. At long last, back to Norfolk we went for Admiral's inspec- tion. Then, there was one last trip up the Chesapeake for a speed run and once again, anchored at Norfolk, we waited for loading and routing orders. The sailing and loading instructions came almost immediately, and it took about a week to fill the holds with a cargo of dry provisions destined for Pearl Harbor. We sailed as soon as loading was complete and Norfolk was last seen over the fantail on August 1, 1945, one of those lazy, sunny days so typical of summertime on the East Coast. That old feeling returned, and with sad, aching hearts we lined the rails and stared off into space, realizing that this probably would be the last time we would see the States for a long, long time. Pulling out of the harbor, passing ships bearing fresh battle scars from the Pacific, we wondered when we would see our homes again. I Gnce off the coast, the Jiffarquetfe turned southward for Panama. A few days later, near Cuba, we ran into the first rough weather that this ship had ever seen. Following the old adage of better safe than sorry , we back-tracked and lost a day in our journey. The morning of the 7th found us off the coast of Panama awaiting information on our passage through the canal. The same afternoon both the .Marquette and the Oglethorpe, AK14 100, docked at Cristobal with orders to proceed through the following day. Taking advantage of the delay, our Uexeci' declared liberty and off to Cristobal town we trooped. The Blue Moon night club seemed to offer the biggest attraction, and sooner or later most of the liberty party found its merry way to one of them. Nylons and alligator handbags took what little money we had left. The most surprising thing we noticed was the abundance of canned foodstuffs, tires, and all the rest of the commodities rationed in the States, here in Panama they were still unrationed and comparatively cheap. In the midst of Central American excitement, liberty quickly expired. Laden with souvenirs and memories of Panama, we dutifully headed back to the ship. We found the duty section in the midst of an all-hands, stores working party. Those of us who were not too much under the weather lent a shaking hand, and in a few hours we had everything aboard. C93
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.