Mount Vernon (AP 22) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 61 text:

The facilities for care of the pa- tients were comparable to any hos- pital ship ' s. Under the direction of Dr. Taber, the medical department had been organized. Under Dr. Jostes ' direction, it had been en- larged and improved. A new oper- ating room had replaced the board- on-bathtub apparatus formerly in use. From Fiji to San Francisco, these patients had uninterrupted medical care.

Page 60 text:

Nature hid the stern mountains of the FIJI ISLANDS under a lush blanket of undergrowth and jungle. Surrounding the shore line were long treach- erous coral reefs requiring expert navigation of inconning ships. Here, the crew of the Mount Vernon found an Army bivouac, a Naval Supply Base, and a hospital — but no city. A few native huts were scat- tered about; a few Army tents dotted the area; several storehouses in- dicated some form of activity. Taking of photographs was permitted. Suddenly, many cameras ap- peared that had not been seen before. Everyone tried to get his picture standing with the Fuzzy-Wuzzy policemen. Wearing dark shirts and pure white scalloped lava lavas, the barefoot police created a sensation. Patients evacuated from the advance battle areas to the Fiji hospital were transferred aboard.

Page 62 text:

Palm trees and jungle along the beach against the backdrop of nnist covered nnountains rising high in the distance gave the New Guinea coast a forbidding but ainnost ethereal appearance. The ship entered Milne Bay with caution as charts and navigational aids along the Guinea coast were many times Inaccurate. During the stay, however, evidence of the