Whetstone (LSD 27) - Naval Cruise Book

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A On 2 December we arrived in Danang, offloaded the three PBR support barges, and bid farewell to COLONIAL. We were underway the same day for NAI-IA, OKINAWA where we arrived 7 December . The next two days were spent loading twelve CH-46 helicopters and one M-48 tank. Attempting to arrange this load was a challenging task, indeed, as LSD - type ships had never transported aircraft in their well decks before . However, the Ship's Boatswain and his ouija board produced a workable solu- tion. While we worked hard in' Okinawa, we also had our first liberty since Pearl Harbor exactly a month before . We departed Okinawa on 9 December for Danang where we arrived five days later and offloaded our helos and tank. Our well empty, we blasted down and loaded one LOU, two LCM-8's and two LCM-6's. With our new load we departed for Subic Bay, Philippines on 14 December. Lt. Murchinson, CO of the PBR Mobile Unit riding the barges out of the well deck in DaNang W One down - eleven to go! 46

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another refueling stop. Arriving at Guam on Thanksgiving day We refueled and w Gen After a brief two day stop in Pearl Harbor to refuel, We departed for Guam an d ere erway four hours later. But before sea detail had been secured we were at General Quarters. The trouble Was quickly diagnosed as gasoline fumes in the Engineering ees and precautionary measures were promptly taken to prevent fires. With eral Quarters finally secured, we Were able to sit down to our Turkey dinners if r My ,V 1? i 157' 'fi iriim' l I 1 A 1 Vi - USS Arizona Memorial Waikiki Beach , if 6f !f f! I 'fill' ,fl ..u.....e-vmwvafm-vw I Qi 'Q' .- ii Thanksgiving Day Meal Chaplin Read conducting Services 45 if I 4

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lt's a tight squeeze ffbm the well deck to the flight deck L. SS X ,z K,-X 1 ,, The off - loading at Danang was easier because the CH-46'S Were flown off the flight deck 47