Mount Olympus (AGC 8) - Naval Cruise Book

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Q- :QQ f 1 tag' .fpbv :Q K , -Xl - . A - .llwmva if f O 0 o O O Fl? . ?f, 51 in g w M? gf 3 October . . . After a rough, cold four-day trip from Oslo, we dropped the hook at 0900 just outside the breakwater which forms Reykjavik's harbor and under a bright sun which lit Iceland's snow-dusted mountains. Of Iceland's capricious weather we soon were to learn more. Lusty winds made peacoats and gloves welcome to the liberty party, who found the small city crowded. The Althing, Iceland's Par- liament, was in session. Prices were extremely high, the girls very pretty and the men noncommittal. To avoid any possibility of a clash with the city's expand- ed population, liberty expired early at 2300 on the dock. 6 October . . . , On Saturday - 4 Oct. - sudden high winds caused cancellation of boating, and Reykjavik could not accommodate the 130 stranded men of the liberty party who waited in the cold wind. Most were without money, so . . . After it became ap- parent that boating could not be resumed at all during the night, the Shore Pa- trol Oflicer contacted the Air Police at Keflavik Air Force Base, about 35 miles from Reykjavik, and requested assistance. The Air Force went to work and two and one-half hours later busses arrived. We were on our way on the bumpy, narrow, and in places almost impassable road. Rain and wild Icelandic driving - all horn and no brakes - made the trip harrowing for those who could not sleep. Arriving at the base, we found the buildings we were to occupy, popularly known as Hassel's Castle or that old red Quonset on Operations Hill , cold and too small to take us all. We were finally housed in the Air Force hotel, some of us thankful for even a warm spot on the deck on which to stretch out. Sunday it was learned that the ship had dragged anchor in the high winds and was required to get underway and ride out the storm at sea. After learning this, the Air Force decked out their new gym with 130 completely equipped beds, and the Red Cross furnished toilet articles. We were then free to visit the clubs or movies. or hit the hay. Informed that the ship would return Monday at 0800, we held reveille at 0430 and b 0600 were on our wa back to Re k'avik H so fx Y Y Y J - Making sure all personnel were safely on board, we heaved sighs of relief at being U back on the Mount O , for there wasn't a , 5.f man jack of us who wanted to be left ashore in Iceland. 'nsi fn, . . a erson, r. Gu Q 0060 6October.FyE g F S P tt J ri Admiral Rose left this morning to fly to Naples to join the planning staff. Soon after, ,,, ,, .. . . g. .... the Mount ..0,f gOt under way for the Med- ll . W A W s A s iterraneang first stop will be Augusta Bay, Sicily, then on to Naples.

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ROGNER PARK AND GUSTAV VIGELANDS SGU .'?' fx 1 ,PU I Q 'I 'ff 1. 5. gf 'F ll 'f x ,Q- '. a' 3 , ,K 4 4 I I V . . . . A f K' 'L 'L i 5 f'fib 4

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1-us ExcEu.sNcY, me unmao smres Mumsmn 'ro ICELAND, comes ABOARD REYKJAVIK , ICELAND THEN CAME THE STORM. MR. E.B. LAWSON AND RADM. ROSE I I V ' , 1 L' . jim y,fy.vsNg'. ,,,., -. ,A.......M!'