Mount Vernon (AP 22) - Naval Cruise Book

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During fhe long weelcs of fhe Pacific voyage, fhe afhlefic program of fhe ship was ufilized fo ifs maximum exfenf. War had empfied fhe swim- ming pool and broughf fhe space and equipmenf devofed fo recreafion 'ro a minimum, buf due fo ample deck space, ahlefic compefifion proved pracfical and popular. lnferesf of fhe ship's commanding officers had always been reflecfed in shipboard afhlefics. One had been exfremely inferesfed in fhe fradi- fional Navy sporf of boxing. Anofher, whose inferesf followed volleyball, had nofified officers of any such games by sending an orderly wifh fhe message: Capfain's complimenfs. Volleyball will begin on fhe arena in five minufes. During fhe Pacific cruise, however, baslcefball caughf fhe inferesf of fhe crew and passangers, and, wifh fhe acfive supporf of fhe commanding officer, became fhe cenfer of fhe mosf far-reaching afhlefic program fhe ship had seen. Such afhlefic pursuifs were in addifion fo an exfensive program of calisfhenics each morning which lcepf fhe officers and men in fop physical condifion. The Pacific cruise saw fhe firsf of fhe baslcefball fournamenfs, consisf- ing of compefifion befween divisions. Corpsmen of fhe H division and declc hands of fhe Second division rafed as fhe fop feams in fhe inifial round of play. Wifh fhe developmenf of scores of experf players, an All-Ship feam was organized for compefifion wifh passengers as well as feams from ofher ships. Alfhough many sfrong Army feams were de- veloped aboard, only fhree fimes were fhe passengers successful in de- feafing fhe ship's enlisfed squads. ln fhe years fo follow approximafely fhirfy of 'rhese Army-Navy games were played aboard. When fhe vessel sfeamed info fhe Aflanfic, weafher condifions, alfhough offen unfavor- able, seldom caused cancellafion of fhe program, and games were played many fimes in almosf freezing femperafures.

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L ii 2 c is is .gr Ugg xi is E Y 2 .Ti 1 V M X S Qi? V ' In 1 it i in 6 ? , ,M ,T fp T E yi S i i V K '.,h' V I K? X C 67 is X s , 0 N, ge t Aff .s ,xx . W , 7 Viv., ffl i ' 'ESQ , S will Q I 4 4? ' , ff f 5 2 ? 4 . , I 1 I , A. i4 fi : A J 1 :W K it 3 , if 231 K , ,,, 5, , or f Vg, , W, ,K K 2 Q . ,, f fs .V f T ,V X 5 X, ,figs f , , ' I .. . 5 ' , 1 4 lv: V fm yi. 4 , if fix! fail 5 I s i T ' Jn A ' A 1 1 T OPERATIONS ATLANTIC were, for fhe mos+ par+, varied. A+ +imes, +he seas mounied and showed power unsuspec+edp +he waves 'rossed +he ship as if she were a piece of wood: +hey sprayed eighfy-five 'Fee+ +o her highesl' deck: fhey slowed her iravel. Such was fhe 'rrip of 'rhe Big Roll a+ which +ime +he ship lisfed +hir'ry-+wo degrees before righiing herself. A+ 'rimes, however, 'rhe silence and 'rhe calm were hypno+ic: fhe sea broughf back memories of fhe quiel lake off in The woods ai' home.