Menifee (APA 202) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 97 text:

s?ok fs SOFTBALL In spite of the sore muscles it brought, the Softball was broken out whenever a diamond was available. Even the least enthusiastic players got cocky as the devil when they were a couple runs and a couple beers ahead. Milne Bay, New Guinea, was our most ideal softball spot. We were the only ship in port and there were just a few army units around. Teams from the S, H, M, N and E divisions were formed, along with one of officers and one of chiefs. After several hard-played and much argued games, the Port and Starboard liberty parties each picked a team to meet the local doggies. Results were a 10-inning 4-4 tie and a 1-0 win for the Army. The M and N divisions played two tie games after emerging from previous play the most formidable teams. Batteries were Leden and Kozlen for M division, and Dahl and Shields pitching, Hendershot catching, for N division. Lt. Com. Dozier, Lt. (jg) Morrow and Ensigns Brenny and Finkelstein were the hotshots among the gold-braid, while Gray and Wegge starred for that hashmark gang the CPO ' s. Down at Mindoro, in the P-Boat League of flPfl ' s pres- ent, the Menifee held her own — tieing the Mclntyre (flPfl- 129) 3-3 and splitting two 1-0 games with the Wayne (flPfl-54). The whole business of softball seemed to be pretty tied up with the business of beer. If a man hit a home run, he was rewarded with a beer. If he hit a three-bagger, he was rewarded with a beer. If he could stand up, he was re- warded with a beer. There were few complaints. BOXING The only major sports event which could be held suc- cessfully aboard ship was boxing. Number 2 hatch was transformed into the squared circle for this purpose by the capabilities of the deck divisions and shipfitters. Under the able promotion of Chaplain Holland many fine bouts were held, both with troops aboard, and among members of the ship ' s crew only. Whenever the troops took part it brought out the true incentive to win as Mr. Holland would wisely match a marine or soldier against a sailor or a private with a sergeant. Several capable ring artists among the ship ' s crew lent their talents to these events and provided many an interesting and exciting moment to the enjoyment of those who were spectators. Those who dominated their weights v ere Jesse Kirk, MoMM3c, and Don Lewis, SK2c, who fought in the heavyweight division; John Moss, the rugged Coxswain from St. Louis, and Connie Beach of Bremerton, showed the way in the middleweight class, but were followed closely by Jimmie Riggs, Chuck McCannon and Joe Corner. Of the smaller men too much cannot be said of QM Harvey Johnson of Kansas, who in the performance of his professional duties aboard ship has to stand on a chair to see over the charting table; and Jittery Jobe, the flashy colored boy from Chicago. The third man in the ring was usually Ensign Brenny.

Page 96 text:

Any publication pretending to give a picture of any Naval activity would be meaningless as hell without some consideration of the institution of joe — or coffee, as it is seldom called. This article will attempt to cover the rise of joe in the Naval service. Considerable re- search by the Menifee Yearbook ' s staff has been in- volved, and although some veteran joe-swallowers may find slight inaccuracies here and there, we believe the story as a whole is a pack of lies. To begin with, joe was discovered in America by radarmen of Christopher Columbus ' famed task force 00 who had to find something to keep them awake on the mid-watch. They claimed they talked some Indian maids into revealing the secret of brewing joe during a 48 in Norfolk. This, of course, was a lie. They really got the dope from an obscure chief named Ten-Ton- Boom in exchange for a mattress cover and a pack of Camels. Then we come to the Limeys and Admiral Nelson, whose last words, as every schoolboy knows, were too damn much cream! THE HISTORY OF JOE From the Limeys we jump to the U. S. In addition to the tricky uniform, we borrowed mud (joe) (coffee) from our ally. We also borrowed a cup of sugar, the •galley being secured at the time. In the United States Navy, joe really made out. From a position of obscurity, it rose, in the highest Naval traditions, to distinction. At first, it was brewed in worn- out sickbay gear. However, it got better and better treat- ment until it was compounded from a formula according to the Naval Pharmacopoeia in chromium jobs which blew Early Chow when the joe was done. The Bureau of Naval Personnel was not slow in realizing the importance of joe . It immediately cre- ated the rates of Joeman 3c (AA) (LO (RSVP) (T) to the warrant rank of Chief Joe Pourer (CJP). It was a right arm rate with the insignia of a crow drinking, from a regulation Navy cup, joe without cream. Or sugar. From there on, of course, the newspapers take over. We all remember reading how joe was credited with winning the Battle of Midway, for taking Mount Sura- bachi, and for shooting down countless Kamakaze planes. P2

Page 98 text:

S?Oli1S PING PONG TOURNAMENT In May, 1945, while enroute to the States from the Philippines, a ping pong tournament was organized by the chaplain to help relieve the monotony of the long non-stop trip from Ulithi to San Pedro. After several days of practice and some lively games between all the men interested, sixteen men of the top flight players signed up for the tournament. fill men showed unusual skill with the wooden paddles, and all the games were won by a very close margin, some even going to 28 to 30 before a winner could be declared. After a few games it was quite evident that Sacco and Shelton would be the contestants for the final game, which would be played off for the winner of three out of five games. Sacco, Shelton, Durham and Hopkins played in the semi-finals. Durham and Hopkins received two cartons of cigarettes for their prizes. Shelton received three cartons and Sacco a carton of highly prized Coca-Cola, which was a real treat in the hot Pacific. Throughout the tournament the games were interesting and the men watching the contest enjoyed it as much as the men who participated in it. The Champ. What No Shorts? — Must have Lost them over Beer — or was it a case. Island Football — where Goal posts are only 20 yards apart.