Mississippi (CGN 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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II. ODYSSEY THE CYCLOPS On the way home, OdySSeuS Bild his men stopped for food and drink at the land of the Cyclopes. The Cyclopes were a race of uncivilized giants with a single eye in the center of their foreheads. Odysseus and twelve men brought food and wine to visit the cave of Polyphemus, the Cyclops. Upon arriving, he was not there, so they walked in to wait for him. Soon the Cyclops returned from tending his flocks, closed the door to his cave and built a fire. Seeing Odysseus and his sailors, he promptly picked up two of the men, killed them, and ate them for dinner, uentrails, flesh, and the ma.rrowy bones alike. The next morning, after consuming two more men for breakfast, the Cyclops left to tend his herds, and locked the survivors in the cave. During that day Odysseus had his men cut off a portion of the giant's walking stick, sharpen it, and harden it in the fire. In the evening the Cyclops devoured two more men, but became drunk when Odysseus gave him a jug of wine. Odysseus, when asked, told the Cyclops that his name was Nobody When the monster fell asleep, Odysseus and his remaining men heated the pointed stick in the fire and then thrust it into the Cyclops ' eye, blinding him. He cried out in pain, yelling: Nobody is hurting me! The next morning, Odysseus and his men stole out of the cave by hiding beneath the sheep as they walked out past their blinded master. As their ships sailed away, Odysseus in his pride yelled to the Cyclops that it was Odysseus, not Nobody, who blinded him. The Cyclops, furious, prayed to his father, Poseidon, the god of the sea, to destroy Odysseus. Poseidon brought storms and disasters upon Odysseus and his men, and his rage made their voyage home even more treacherous. fu 16 f X

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and sailed home together as proud Mississippi men. Prouder, even, than when we left. X' 'bs' Clockwise from upper left: Main deck joggersg Meritorious Mast on the fantailg The thrill of victo- ry, and the agony of defeat in Mississippi volleyballg Chaplain Lovejoy leads Easter Sunrise Servicesg Another hot game of B- ball on the boat deck.

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ODYSSEY if A cold, clean and starry night in Decemben somewhere south of Sicily Near midnight, as the Mississippi steamed east toward a rendez- vous off Lebanon, a Ma yda y call came crack- ling over the radio. The Greek merchant vessel Andalusia, with seventeen men on board, was taking water and sinking. The Mississippi quickly came to thirty knots and headed for the stricken ship, as Cap- tain Ta ylor's voice over the announcing system woke the crew and brought them to their neces- sary stations for the rescue effort ahead. By two a.m., we were alongside the sinking freighten and moments later her grateful crew was being hauled aboard by Mississippi men. The cause of the flooding was unknown, and with a cargo of cement, the Andalusia might go down at any moment. Throughout the night and into the dawn both Greek and American crewmembers watched the little freighter as she slowly slid deeper into the sea. Finally five hours after her crew was safely removed, the Andalusia ga ve up her battle, and with a rush of waten she dropped out of sight and was gone. 1 .MA 17