Stoddard (DD 566) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 42 text:

,is THIS PAGE-TOP: The Swift boat was a familiar sightp this one came for ice. BOT- TOM: Empty brass, often much more than this, piled up on our decks. OPPOSITE PAGE-TOP: Operations were impromptu and called for rapid planning. BOTTOM: LTJG Stokes adapted to his six hour watches in the sun. , . - fy . ,' ' L98 E is iv, il 3 Q 'ii-A 315.1351 L ... . ' -'

Page 41 text:

TRANSIT -milf 'ti to-'Lai OPPOSITE PAGE-TOP: As the days grew warmer, cooling off called for drastic measures-like this fire hose. BOTTOM: Midway Island offered pines and goonies, and little else. THIS PAGE: The scenery almost never varied in the transit. The transit to WestPac seemed to go on forever. For those who had never been to sea before the limitless vastness of the Pacific was an experience they will not soon forget. Steaming with the USS R.K. TURNER and the USS INGERSOLL, we plowed along for almost three weeks, stopping at Pearl Harbor, Midway, and Guam, until we finally reached Subic Bay-the gateway to the Western Pacific. A U f I, - -

Page 43 text:

THE GUN LINE J: ullllllllnullnlllnllllfilusunnnuuunnnunnp Q After an upkeep period in Subic Bay, we plunged into the war. Heading to the gun line, we practiced shore bombardment in the Philippines, then headed for Eye Corps, where the Marines were fighting hard. For three long weeks we stood port and starboard watches-six hours on and six hours off. Our reward was our knowledge of a job well done-compliments from our spotters and satisfying gun damage assessments.