Antares (AK 258) - Naval Cruise Book

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CASABLANCA The stay in Casablanca was a short one. Liberty in this town was perfect according to Burke, Saltus, Szczur, Mann, and Hawkins. The city is suffering from growing pains. Soon it will be a challenge to any metropolis in Africa. The sections of the city are remarkable in contrast. The French section is as modern as New York. Window displays show the latest fashions from Paris. Sables and minks adorn the expensive shops on palm tree lined boulevards. Prices are high as most of the men found out when they went ashore. The bargains found in Rome and Naples were not present in Casablanca. The night clubs were more expensive than those in New York or Philadelphia. The rate of exchange in Casablanca was 325 franks for one American dollar. The other extreme is present in the Arab section of Medina. Here dirt, winding alleys and open markets prevail. Some brave people including Barnett, Tomchick, and Gunter went into this section to see the sights. Hair-cuts were not common among the arabs and Tomchick, our, barber, could make a fortune in this part of Africa. The last trip, tours were made to the prisons but no old salts went back for a second time on this cruise. The reason would be worth investigating. The thoughts of home were dominant as the ship left this port for the trip back across the Atlantic. IT May Bs Jonv' orHARo Fan ME To C ozvvuvcf Tn: 7?E.s'T of' The CHIEFJ' THAT I Gov' A li Goan BARGAIN 7 s-us NME. ' 7. h a 1 'fav' .',,. nw' My 6

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HOMEWARD BOUND The weather on the trip home was ideal. The seas were calm and the skies were clear. However, two days from Norfolk the ship ran into the end of a raging storm. Seasickness again took its toll. Buttercup braved the weather long enough to take a stroll on deck. The ship rolled over to one side and Buttercup slipped and fell from the 02 deck to the 01 deck and then almost over the side. The next days she spent below and Dikun's persuasions couldn't budge her from her new home. When underway religious services were held on Sundays. The mess hall was used as the chapel. Neary and his men set up the benches and a rostrum for the preacher. Sacred music was played over the radio preceeding the ceremonies. At 9 o'cIock the smoking lamp went out and the Catholic Services began. ENS Smith led the men in the Rosary. Prayer books, rosaries and hymn books were obtained from the Chaplain at the Norfolk Naval Base before making the cruise and these were issued to the men to. use during the service. The service ended at 0945 with a group singing of Holy God We Praise Thy Name . Religious music was again played over the radio until 10 o'clock. LTJ G Owen then led the Protestant service. TV films Frontiers of Faith obtained from the Chaplains oiiice were shown for two of the servicesg also pamphlets and testaments were distrib- uted. The Captain presented some thoughts from Bible verses-and hymns were sung' by the congregation. When in port no services were held on the Antares. In Augusta Bay, church 185 was held on the Evergladesg in Naples the Adirondack held church services. Here the men could attend a service led by a minister or priest. Some men went to 5Mass in the churches in Naples. St. PETER'S in Rome is the seat of the Catholic Church and many men were eager to attend a service in this Cathedral. On board no one was forced to attend the services but the turn out of the men was most encouraging. Birthdays were not forgotten. Each man had a cake baked for him by Parker or Thevenin when his day of glory occurred. The cakes varied in size but not in shape. All were flat and square and covered with red, green, and blue icing. No candles decorated the cake, the reason being that some men were easily overcome by heat. The radio gang devoured Ternes' cake, the deck gang finished off the one baked for O'Connor. Sutton managed to save a good piece of his cake and no one has ever found the hiding place. What Gallas, Thomason, Martin, Morris, D. A., Palmer, Anderson, McLeod, and Wagner did with their cakes is still a mystery. On Feb. 12 the ship had a birthdayg one year in commission. Two cakes were baked for this event. The cakes were proudly displayed by the bakers and pictures were taken. The crew then toasted the Antares with milk and cake. Parlor games were played on the way back. Winners included: Pinochle, Pendergrass and Tresseltg Acey-duecy, Card: Cribbage, Card 3 Darts, Tomchick. Finally the light ship was sighted outside. Chesapeake Bay. Three more hours and the crew would be home after a six week cruise of the Mediterranean.