Noble (APA 218) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 43 text:

13 August Moved to Buckner Bay, unloaded pas- sengers day following. 14-15 August Air attacks by Japanese. General Quar- ters most of both nights. Two sister APAs close at hand hit and severely dam- aged, and still air raids and alarms 'til 18 August. 5 September Peace having become an accomplished fact, embarked Army troops for occupa- tion duty and departed for Jinsen, Korea. 8-11 September Harbor of Jinsen, Korea. Embarked about 450 Allied prisoners-of-war, among them 120 American officers and men taken at Bataan and Corregidor. These men were visited on board by Admiral Thomas C. Kincaid, Commander of the 7th Fleet. 11-16 September En route Manila, P.I. One mine sunk by escort enroute. 16 September Arrived Manila, and debarked RAMP pas- sengers to the music of an Army Negro band assembled on the dock in official welcome. Brief opportunity to see the ruins of once beautiful Manila. 19 September Departed Manila en route to Okinawa with 500 Navy replacement personnel aboard as passengers. 21 September Ordered to search for and succeeded in finding Army fiiers whose C-47 Skytrain had been forced down at sea off Formosa, and who had been adrift in open rafts for over 30 hours. Two of the men picked up by the NOBLE, the other six by an escorting DE, after a full night and day search over a wide area. 22 September Arrived Buckner Bay, Okinawa. 25 September-2 October En route Manus, Admiralty Islands. Missed typhoon which struck Okinawa with devastating force after our .depar- ture. Another Equator 'initiation on aboard for the few new po-llywogs who joined the ship in June. 2-11 October Enjoyed the ample and no longer crowd- ed facilities of Seadler CGerman for Sea Eaglewb Harbor and the Navy and Marine Corps Bases on Manus and Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands. 11 October Departed Manus carrying Service Air 1 and Marine Air Group 25 and their equip- ment to Tsingtao, China for occupation duty. 15-17 October Stopped over at Leyte and Samar, Philip- pine Islands, to pick up some of our roaming mail, enroute Tsingtao through mine infested Yellow Sea-sunk four mines. 22-23 October Tsingtao, China. It was here that we had opportunity to witness the formal sur- render of Japanese Forces in the Tsingtao Area to the Commanding General, Sixth Marine Division, and the Deputy Com- mander, Eleventh Chinese War Area. 28 September Departed Tsingtao en route to San Fran- cisco, California via Okinawa, on first 6'Magic Carpetn run. V 31 October Stopped by Okinawa to embark the re- mainder of our 2000 man Magic Car- pet load and upon departure was divert- ed to Seattle, Wash. 15 November Arrived Seattle and debarked 2000 happy men. Large group of Ship's Company detached on points here, including the Ship's Executive Officer, Lt. Comdr. E. W. Lakas. 19-30 November Dry docked at the Everett-Pacific Ship Yards, Everett, Washington. 3 December After loading stores at Pier 91, departed for Nagoya, Japan via the Great Circle Route on another Magic Carpet run. 4-20 December The U.S.S. NOBLE'S FIRST REAL BAT- TLE WITH THE ELEMENTS! Gale weather continually, causing damage to the ship and great discomfort to all on board. Lost 15' life rafts en route. Vis- ualize SS ........ , ........ sliding around the shipis passageways when the Disbursing Officer's safe got loosew and tore through the office bulkhead! But no personnel losses. Sunk anlother mine off Japan. 23 December Arrived in Nagoya, Japan. 24 December Embarked 2000 Officers and Men .of the Army, homeward bound for discharge. Navy Christmas dinner with all trimmings and Xmas gifts for all our crew and passengers. 26 December Sailed for Seattle by much more southerly route than was followed on trip over with smooth sailing. 3-4 January 1946 Detoured to Pearl Harbor. Enjoyed Hula show on dock alongside the ship, and 'fgot our name in the papers along with a picture of the show taken by an .official Navy photographer. Destination changed from Seattle to San Pedro, California. 9 January Arrived San Pedro, and debarked pas- sengers early the following morning. 14-26 January At Terminal Island, San Pedro Bay, Cali- fornia. Total mileage to date: 60,242. 26 January or about Sailed for Panam-l Canal and active duty in the Atlantic, cleaving behind in the ia! Pacific many friendsiand a uwell done I wwf-'-11 from all who have known the NOBLE. f

Page 42 text:

+3 ll1',r'9l sk R' If 4 5, Tu. x xx W. . xt-1,255.1-1E,E,,t,. 36 IIER LIFE I 27 November 1944 U.S.S. Noble commissioned at 1400 at pier 27, San Francisco, California, and left immediately for Oakland Supply De- pot to load stores. 1-5 December At I-Iunter's Point, San Francisco, Cali- fornia for fitting out. 7 December Proceeded to Mare Island to load ammu- nition. In pea soup fog, soon finds the value of her Radar in avoiding near- collision with another ship. 10 December Sailed for San Pedro for ffshakedownw cruise. 11-28 December Shaking down- new crew in San Pedro waters. 29 December-13 January, 1945 Amphibious training operations at San Diego, Oceanside and adjacent waters. New Year's at San Diego. 14-15 January, 1945 At Bethlehem Steel Co., Yard, San Pedro, California, final fitting out. 24 January Sailed for San Francisco to pick up new LCMS. ' 25-30 January In San Francisco Bay. Loaded two LCM 6s for Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. 30 January Sailed alone from San Francisco en route Fo Afulagi, Florida Island, Solomon Is- an s. 31 January-1 February Winds of gale velocity and high seas caused first sea sickness and helped an unseasoned' crew to early get their sea legs . 5 February Sighted MAUNA KEA peak, Island of Hawaii, T.I-I., after playing about with large unidentified target, the first contact at sea. A 12 February Passed within sight of Little Makin Is- land, Gilbert Islands. At 734 crossed the Equator into South Pacific area. During Full Moon slipped silently passed the Jap held Islands of Nauru and Ocean. 13 February About ,fif ty Shellbacks initiated some 450 pollywogs into the Ancient Order of the Deep in an impressive ceremony. 14 February Dropped anchor in Purvis Bay, Florida Island, Solomon Islands. 23 February-11 March Maneuvers, gunnery, loading and landing exercises in Iron Bottom Bay, around historic Savo Island and adjacent waters. 12-14 March Anchored off' BUNINA POINT, Guadal- canal and embarked 1409 officers and men of the 6th Marine Division. THE PACIE IC 15 March Sailed with Task Group 53.11 en route to Ulithi Island, Caroline Islands. 21-26 March Anchored in Ulithi Lagoon. A 27 March Underway for invasion of Okinawa, Ry- ukyu Islands. 31 March Off' South West coast of Okinawa, com- menced final approach for assault land- ing. Easter Sunday Services held today. 1 April 1945 I CEaster Sundayj V At General Quarters almost continually. Landing effected at H-hour 0830. 5 April Mission completed, sailed from Okinawa to Pearl I-Iarbor with stopover at Saipan, Marianas Islands. 19 April Arrived Pearl Harbor, moored to buoys in East Lock until 6 may 1945. Enjoyed Hula show on board, several trips around the Island of Oahu, and liberty in Honolulu and Waikiki. 6-14 May OH' Maui Island, T.H., participating in practice day and night attack and load- ing maneuvers with squadron of Attack Transports. 14-16 May Pearl Harbor again. ' 17-27 May Round and round NII-IOA, T.I-I., in com- pany with U.S.S. New Kent CAPA 217j, simulating convoy movements for sub- marine maneuvers. Underway fueling of our two P.C. escorts. 29 May Sailed from Pearl Harbor en route to San Francisco and first leave! 2-29 June San Francisco Bay. Coveted leave or lib- erty for all hands. Several officers and men detached here. About 40 new men added to the crew. 29 June Sailed alone from San Francisco en route to Okinawa via Eniwetok and Ulithi with 1267 officers and men of Cub 17 aboard. 11-14 July Stopped over at Eniwetok. 18 July-8 August Anchored in Ulithi Lagoon. Despite the doubtful attractions of Mog-Mog Island, the Pearl of the Pacific , 22 days in the sweltering summer heat. of Ulithi La- goon with 1267 restless passengers aboard is no picnic. ' 8-12 August Last leg of the long trip to Okinawa. Again at Hagushi and again night air ral .

Page 44 text:

.. l wiggle- gl F '7 'Q I qv ' V5.1 ' ai x xx - -mf QJQFSH. i v l ' ' 2--- S., ..,i-.uEg,.,,. 38 HER PASSE GERS-WHAT THEY HAH T0 AY 1. Major Robert E. McCook U. S. Marine Corps: TV I, and many other Marines aboard the U.S.S. NOBLE, have served and travelled on many ships of our Navy, but we have yet to find a ship that can compare with the NOBLE for its human interest for the troops aboard. . 2. Captain J. J. Freyman CMCD USNB ' Comdr. A. E. Pagan CMC, USNR: G-411: Throughout the six weeks on board your ship we were conscious of your constant concern for the health and comfort of your passengers, and are taking this opportunity to express to you our sincere appreciation for your kindness and thoughtful consideration. 3. Major Mark E. Barber 32nd Infantry: I express the thoughts of my officers and men when I say that this has been the most enjoyable voyage we have made in our 29 months of amphibious operations. 4. All British passengers CEX-P.O.W.sJ deloarking at Ma11ila: We are so grateful for all you have done for us that it is difficult to express our thanks. What has touched our hearts so profoundly on this voyage of deliverance are the spontaneous interest, the individual kindnesses, and the unvarying generosity of all grades from the Captain down. We shall ever remember you with gratitude? 5. Lt. Col. I. Alexander, USA Lt. Col. C. T. Beecher, USMC: , For ourselves and on behalf of all evacuated American personnel, we join our British brethren in the sentiment so aptly expressed. HER CONINIENDATIH 1. Commodore H. B. Knowles, USN Commander TransRon 12, U. S. Pacific Fleet: The following commendatory message has been received by ComTransRon 12: YOU HAVE ADDED TO YOUR LONG LIST OF STRENUOUS OPERATIONS A MOST SUCCESSFUL AND HIGHLY COM- MENDABLE JOB. I EXTEND TO YOU MY CONGRATULA- TIONS AND APPRECIATION . . . From: CTF 53 fCornPhibGro.4j Receipt of such a message was made possible only because of the highest degree of loyalty, fullest cooperation, prolonged and unceasing endeavor, and a high state of discipline of all units and individuals involved. 2. General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., USMC To ComTransRon 12: Upon debarkation of the Sixth Marine Division from vessels of your Squadron, I desire to extend my commendation and appreciation for the efficient manner in which you, your staff and shipis Captains have conducted the Naval phase of the amphibious operation. I also desire to express my appreciation for the many courtesies extended by the officers and crews of your transport squadron during the voyage to the target area. Their efforts to make the troops comfortable have done much to increase their morale during this period. If I