Santa Fe (CL 60) - Naval Cruise Book

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To, around, or away from Pearl dd fring praetiees fre alwayr lzeld. A-1- ,, 1 HONOLULU, ONLY LIBERTY PORT BETWEEN LOS ANGELES 81 TOKYO 1TH September and success, the SANTA EE ' returned to Pearl I-Iarbor from the bleak Aleutians. Oahu was new in 1943. Surf- boards, canefields, Kanakas, Chinese and Wahines were something to write home about. Balmy breezes caressed the Royal Palms at the Royal Hawaiian while the men basked in its luxury or sunned themselves at Waikiki Beach, played golf at VVaialae, or drank beer at Nimitz Recreation Center. Every man aboard was determined to get his lill of any diversion Hawaii offeredzseeing hula shows, eating pineapples and papaias, drinking fresh milk and Five Islands imitation whiskey, or buying grass skirts and other souvenirs. But the Islands were more than just liberty portsg they provided a naval establishment complete with dry-docks, warehouses, and repair shops. The air strikes and bombardments that were increasing the SANTA FE's anti-'lap score followed a regular pattern of sortie, attack and retire to Pearl--but Pearl Harbor was 3520 miles from Tokyo. If the Pacific War were not to last forever, the I-Iawaiian naval facilities must be moved enmasse to bases closer to Japan proper. Landing Craf! Cmediumj Jeatter as the SANTA FE .slowly m U llz Y d elzannel to lier arrigned dock. .Majestic outline Q' central Oahiiis igzuni azirnzddiiyfdgrffagjjkfo mivjcgiidagifgbegoizfgoz ai dl ngllmjng 37155 - ' or va ua e or a e tain: is generally obscured by ever-prexent razn clouds. 24 dflmflgf-V ffquiring immediate repair.

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run ,I i W Fiw-1 l s. . N. Q .f . 'xml A 3 'wsQ 'Q.iftllilll,lil,l'lill kl During July and August the patrol was shifted to Kiska to soften it up prior to invasion. Fourth of July fireworks were saved for Kiska on the 6th and a repeat performance was given the 22nd. While guarding the southwest approach to Kiska from a reported Nip cruiser and destroyer force, one of the battle wagons in the group had a possible surface contact. What followed is best left unsaid, except that radar was still in its infancy and was not too well understood by the Heet units. , By next morning this poem summed up the incident: Hush my children! Button your lip, And I'll tell you of the Battle of Sitkan Pip. It all began in the early morn, When Lava took his hugle and blew the horn, Then ffoe gave vent to his pent-up ire, Pulled on his pants and opened fre. He was quickly followed hy Lava and Cahle, Who poured it out for all they were ahle. At last, old Crystal with nothing to do, Added her voice with a salvo or two. Only Lyric, calm and serene, I Sat down on her dujf with not a pip on her screen. find so until morning with injnite care, Lava, dear Lava, found pips everywhere. At last came the sunrise a hlessing so sweet, So hush my dear children-please go to sleep. l Dog-Day, 15 August, found the SANTA FE and BRONSON covering the troops wading ashore at Gertrude l Cove. With disappointment, yet some relief, the crew received the word that the Iapshad somehow succeeded f in completely evacuating Kiska. After returning to Adak, the SANTA FE was de- tached to report to CinCPac at Pearl Harbor. - King1isher COSZUD rips of starboard wingfloat on Baker recovery and capsizes, leaving two very wet and lonebf aviators. Beards grown primarilyfor the laughs and a picture to send to the girlfriend were practicalbf standard equipmentfor all hands. Navy Regs says Verholen on the Van Dykes, hut in suchfog-hound waters most anything went. 23

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