Pocono (AGC 16) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 15 text:

There was time for relaxation in Guan- tanamo, however, and we had two ship's parties and a talent CYD show. CAPT Barkley helped the Marines take time out to' celebrate their 193rd. birthday, and of course a man could lways find a quiet comfortable spot on eck to sleep during lunch.

Page 14 text:

Jilwf, 315.5 ' I For the first two weeks, we had walked through our drills for training. During the final week we performed these drills for score so the Fleet Training Group could evaluate our training. The week was culminated in our Battle Problem on Fri- day. Here the exercise book was thrown at us under simulated battle conditions. As we returned to port the ship riders hud- dled to grade the results, and in a final meeting, CAPT J.M. WEST, Commander Fleet Training Group, gave us the results. The final evaluation disclosed that POCON0 had made GOOD progress in her training, and although training must never stop, we had developed a solid foundation on which to build. And so the complete metamorphosis has taken place. The Boston Naval Shipyard has helped us overhaul and repair our material, and we, together with the Fleet Training Group, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba have Hoverhauledn our talents and skills. Our twenty-three year old lady is now ready for operations with her trained crew. f

Page 16 text:

Our trip back to Norfolk was uneventful until we reached the coast of Florida. Radar first picked up the storm, and we were soon right in the middle of it. The high winds,up to 70 knots at times, whip- ped the seas up to 30 feet, and CAPT Barkley found little choice but to head into the wind and wait the storm out, After two days of constant rolling .and pitching, the storm finally broke and we set our course for Norfolk once again. Damage to POCONO was negligible, and the ship passed a test that could be likened to the one the crew passed at Guantanamo.