Mount Vernon (AP 22) - Naval Cruise Book

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group. As the weather became warmer and the novelty of passengers began to wear, rope yarn Sundays were started — on Wednesday afternoons. Boxing matches, arranged by Chaplain Martin took part of the time and amateur shows finished the day. Once the English put on a skit for the show. The American evaluation of the British brand of humor is well known. The course drew the ship through the passage called the Dragon ' s Mouth into the harbor of Port au Prince, Trinidad. Ship ' s company was intrigued by their first close up of a tropical island. They discussed the mysteries teyond the mountains, the pitch lake, and the liquor. Ten percent of the crew was allowed ashore. Those left aboard tried swim- ming off the fan tail. Divers made all manner of attempts at diving. Pulling themselves up the boat falls proved too strenuous in the tropical heat. Mail came aboard. Top priority of morale boosters is mail. Whether after a six months ' trip around the world or a week ' s crossing of the At- lantic, nothing gives the uplift of news or the sugar report. Carl Mut- schler CMaM has been getting the mail through to the ship ' s company with the least possible strain for quite some time. Helping, have been Hyland, Hoyer, Shields, and half the Marine detachment. Dire threats of impending happenings were casually dropped about the ship as the convoy steamed south. The ship was approaching the Equator. A small group walked the decks with lordly airs. All the loyal shellbacks prepared to pay homage to His Majesty, King Neptune. The polywogs discovered that they were greater in number and decided to

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Diclcman . Hunter Liggett . Ranger , Orizaba . Astoria . Vin- cennes , Quincy , Cimmeron , Annapolis and escorting destroyers. The British and the Americans soon became friends. International understandings were worked out by the mutual good nature of both parties. Some Tommies were on a working party which worked beyond their dinner hour. Their Commanding Officer had arranged with the Paymaster Commander McCray to have them served tea after the job was finished. When they arrived in the mess hall and found the tea. milk, and sugar, they hesitated. The chief commissary steward, noting their hesitation, asked, Why? The tay. We ' re waiting for the tay, the sergeant answered. Well, there it is , replied the steward. But, ' es tay. That ' s right. But, ' es just tay. Yes, I know. I was supposed to give you tea. There it is. The chief had become irritated. But, tay means meat and vlttels. The sergeant patiently explained. When I ' m told to serve tea, I serve tea. Its there. You can drink It or leave it alone, I ' m going to hit my sack. The chief left the bewildered

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' ■ - do something about it. They tried! One morning Lassltar, the phar- macist ' s mate with the salesman ' s soul sneaked around the corner with a new hair cut. One half of his hair was cut scalp high. He reported that dental technician Bunting and himself had spent the night in the brig. Other polywogs looked over their shoulders more often as they wandered through the darkened passageways. The librarian Ravahel had published statistics proving that Crossing the Line had been fatal to some. Watch standers appeared in uniforms with subtle changes. The First Lieutenant, Commander Wilcox wore diving shoes, raincoat, and fire helmet and carried fire axes as accessories. Some of the other officers reported to the bridge to test the visual qualities of nozzles in place of binoculars. At 1300 the next day. King Neptune came aboard and held court. Salt water flowed freely. Arms, as well as rumps, ached from the swing- ing of paddles. Lieut, (jg) Wilder caught the back sweep of a paddle and spent several days in sick bay. Stitches closed the wound in a sailor ' s scalp. Initiates begged the Immediate Installation of the extra high mess hall tables (without benches). The crew sobered a few days later when the Captain told them they were in dangerous waters. All hands were ordered to carry life jackets.