Marquette (AKA 95) - Naval Cruise Book

 - Class of 1946

Page 22 of 90

 

Marquette (AKA 95) - Naval Cruise Book online collection, 1946 Edition, Page 22 of 90
Page 22 of 90



Marquette (AKA 95) - Naval Cruise Book online collection, 1946 Edition, Page 21
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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

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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 23 text:

Slipping the dock the following morning, we twisted into the approach of the first set of locks. A large wooden traffic arrow pointed to our channel and we moved into the first of the Gatun Locks. Lines were put over and attached to the tow locomotives which ran on both sides of the concrete walls of the canal. The native line handlers gave an impressive exhibition of seamanship, tying knots in our cumbersome eight inch manilla lines in a matter of seconds. Slowly the mechanical mules strained forward and we were on our way through the Gatun Locks. The canal in its present well-developed state seemed to belie all the stories of yellow fever and hardship so true in its early days. All the locks had smooth grass lawns surrounding them and the buildings were all new or in excellent condition. Finally the last gate of the locks swung open and the Marquette steamed into Gatun Lake, the world's longest artificial lake. VVe had a rather joyful time cleaning out our fire lines, washing down decks, and wading around in fresh water ankle deep. Soon we were in the Culabra cut, a seven-mile channel cut through solid rock for most of its length. One of our radarmen, whose family lived in Panama, tracked their car on the radar as they followed on the edge of the cut. About midway through Culebra, we passed a returning troop ship and half-heartedly smiled at the cries of Have a good time and You'll be sorry . At the same time, news came out that afternoon of a new atomic bomb that was capable of wiping out an entire city, which had been tried at Hiroshima. This also seemed to be the key for Russia to join the fight against japan. Towards nightfall, we passed through Mirafiores Locks and were out of the canal. As we passed Balboa, we picked up an escort of three frigatfs and headed into the Pacific. Many of us then had our first taste of wartime-cruising conditions. All naked lights were blacked out and a sojurn on deck after dark meant stubbed toes, skinned shins, and bruised heads. On the 9th of August we encountered a storm which harried us for three days. Things got a little rugged at times but the old salts just laughed and pointed at the frigates which sometimes seemed to leap out of the water and then disappear behind a swell for what seemed minutes. Rather symbolically, on the morning of the 12th, at the end of the storm, we awoke to the news that peace was in the offering. The radio shack had every receiver going full blast night and day, another atomic bomb hit, the Russians knifed through Manchuria. On the 1-fth of August, word was passed over the PA system that the war was over. This news, coupled with the start of dernobilization, gave much for discussion until the Hawaiian Islands appeared on the horizon. Far off on Diamond Head a signal light flashed permission for entrance and after stepping politely aside for the Saratoga, we steamed into Pearl Harbor. The Navy was gathered in force here from groups of LCI's on up to the new super-carriers. All about us were evidences of the collected might which had been preparing to hurl itself against japan proper. Even the VP's were not to be denied. Literally hundreds of them scooted back and forth from ships to the landings in the different channels. The main fieet landing looked like the junction of 42nd street and Broadway, complete to a traffic cop in a boat. The confusion was projected to three. dimensions by the continual take-off and landing of planes both from the field on Ford Island in the center of the harbor, and the little Kingfishers using the main channel as their runway. We moored temporarily in a berth alongside the remains of the ba-ttleship Arizona. This was a last grim reminder of the holocaust that had struck these islands a little less than four years previously. just behind us were moored a long row of auxiliaries of the PA and KA class, this secluded spot was quickly christined AKA Rofw and We were soon to get acquainted with it. To add a travel catalogue touch, the huge Dole pine- apple tower back in the distance near Honolulu sported its first bright yellow coat of paint since 1941. It was not too long before the mail came aboard and much time was spent ,reading and answering letters. The liberty schedule was posted and within a few days we were off to see Hawaii. The Fleet Landing proved to be quite an attraction in itself. Sailors swarming in and out of C107

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