Mount Baker (AE 4) - Naval Cruise Book

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r 4 f 1 .., 4 Q 5 1 i 4 i i R ,i I 1. ! I 5 1 , ,I i ' i 3 il 4 l 70 72 7 DE K LOG, l ANUAR i'-967 O0-04 The Ancienf Mariners paused in his sfroll And reflecfed how 1-ime had faken ifs foll. Though crooked of back, wifh body so fhin, His mind sfill alive, and fhe memories fherein Of fhis Maiesfic Old Lady of fhe Sea, And how fogefher fhey've served fhis year faifhfully For over fen monfhs and many days more In union fhey foiled by a far foreign shore Through long days and nighfs fheir labors unceasing, To supporf fheir brefhren whose fasks keep increasing In defense of freedom, for which all iusf men aspire, From fhose who wouldsf seize power for fheir own sel- fish desire. Slowly fhe aged sailor gazed all around. He was happy fo nofe fhe maid had af lasf found a haven, nesfled safe and secure. Her homeporf of Concord was where she was moored Wifh fhe Naval Weapons Sfafion nearby, Far upriver from San Francisco. Where SOPA SFRAN RADM Taylor did reside. Sfarboard side she lay againsf pier number fwo, Lines doubled up, fhe wind scarcely blew, Readiness five and condifion YOKE were sef Though holds one fhrough five lay opened, her fask is nof finished yef, A few more days before she could resf From fhis years long labors and fo regain her zesf. The Mariner sighed as his eye a fear did mar For he knew below number fwo engine was nof up fo par. Buf her hearf sfill beafs ouf a sfrong song Wifh number fwo and four generafors humming along. Sfeam was coming aboard from fhe land - dai ca: - f. To give fhe Gracious Lady iusf a bi+ of a hand. And aff of fhe Maid fhe Old Sailor saw in fhe misi- The bow of her sisfer, fhe Virgo, wifh a slighf lisf, For she was loading ouf, now if's her furn fo go, And if won'+ be long unfil fhe warm seas she will know Sadly fhe old man moved fowards fhe brow, For he knew fhe hour of deparfing was now. The wafch sfood silenf and remained quife sfill Looking on wifh compassion as fhe Old Mariner leff againsf his will When fhrough fhe fog came a sfrange sound Like fhe fap of a shoe againsf fhe ground. All of a sudden fhe wafch fook a sfarf For ouf of fhe fog sfepped a Young Sailor wifh a song in his hearf. Brisk in his manner and iaunfy in sfride He wore his uniform wifh obvious pride Jusf before fhe Old Mariner disappeared in fhe fog, He furned fo fhe Young Sailor and said wifh a sob Take care of her Lad and give her your besf, She'll never disappoinf you no maffer fhe fest Have no fear old man, said fhe young man wifh fervor I l'll render all fhe love and care l can nurfure. As fhe Young Sailor came up fhe brow wifh vigor The ship suddenly began fo shake and quiver. The lines did surge and fhe bow did liff: The Grand Old Lady seemed fo sense fhe giff. Somehow she realized all was nof fhrough In a few more weeks fhe Gallanf Maid would be like new. JAMES E. McDIARMlD LT USN Us