Santa Fe (CL 60) - Naval Cruise Book

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4M l I t I 1 Gr 1. ......,.. .,:s.4.... ...... , . t..,. , . , Disenzbarkingfrom LCI, tlzen wading across coral fy' dorkless Majuro fllflarslzall Islandsl is, at least, a changefrom shipboard routine. WF YW, k . e.,. X! .hxta lf CN i f Y, W: - 1 ,. X i r , , -. lil 'F ii - O, 'H Xl! E .. ai, ,1,L,A 4, -. 1 A, . K .. .. J, Y, V . HOURS ON SUNNY 'BEACHES AREN'T ALL THEY'RE CRACKED UP TO BE h'f1 1XHE only relief from weary months spent aboard ilwship during wartime operations was recreation on a 'L few small islands. It was welcome relaxation, but at each place it was the same-the men swam in the warm water over the coral reefs, hunted for strange sea shells, played football or basketball, had a few cans of tepid beer, and then returned to the ship, glad to be back in clean compartments and to have cool, fresh water again. After Espiritu, with it's natives who had the word on souvenir prices, came the atolls, each with one islet set aside for recreation. Majuro, unspoiled by war, offered shade from the burning sun and the novelty of picking 1 cocoanuts. Kwaj alein differed only in that the recreation island had been torn by invasion shellfire. Eniwetok furnished a strip of sand with few trees and almost no grass. However, the unforgettable spot was Mog-Mog, which daily catered to thousands of men getting a few hours off ships anchored at Ulithi. Mog-Mog, where, besides the unavoidable sand, sun, and coral, there were shouts from the softball games mixed with the music by carrier bands, where the beer was a little cooler and the clicking of the dice a little louder, but where there was nothing to allay the universal longing-for it was still a man's world. After the war there were Tsuken Shima, at Okinawa, which offered the variation of recreating on an island still containing enemy land mines, and Guam, with more complete facilities than anywhere else, but stricter regula- tions. Wading ashore from an LCI, getting shoes full of sand, acquiring blistered shoulders, wishing for another beer-thus went the SANTA FE's island liberty. After many weeks of walking on undulating decks, tlze steady feel of land is welcome to any sailor-even U it is aslzore at Mag-Mag.

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Hula girls,for which the islands are so famous, make the stay at the Royal Hawaiian most welcome after a long patrol. t Add afewfree lessons zjthis type to the sunshine and warm air, and an enjoyable two day leave passes much too guickbf. No one who is able to go misses the opportunity zjtaking in Nimitz Beach where the SANTA FE has its frst ship's picnic. Hours fy'training with a six inch gun arenot of much use here, but what is a beach for but to forget such things for a -while? A A good picnic is never complete without having the gang gather round, beer zn hand, to have their picture taken for the Illbltfll-

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R s g I The recreation island at Majur'o, eleared zjffaps and natives alike, is a new The outcome of a hot and impromptu pig chase leaves everyone satisfied, kind of playground for the SANTA FE,s men. hut wondering just what they will do with the pig. . zrfg' Third Fleet personnel spend afew hours relaxing on Mog-Mog's coral heaeh. When they see a woman for the frst time in I2 months, 5 general alarms 'KUny'orm M the Day is up to the individual. fail to get all hands away from the lnfe lines. Whalehoats, launches, LCVP's, and LCM's crowd up to Mog-Mog's dock and reeeive their respeetive shiphs returning recreation party.