Ashtabula (AO 51) - Naval Cruise Book

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presented an excellent substitute for the traditional grass skirts. And let's not forget those delicious fresh pineapple! You haven't really lived until you've eaten Chilled slices of freshly picked pineapple. For those Omgng the crew who had previously been to Pearl, ,WO days were not nearly enough time to shovv their Shipmates the true beauty of the islands. lt is hoped that the color pictures included here will be of Sgme aid in bringing back fond memories of our visit to Hawaii. On our second day in Pearl The ASHTABULA Wes inspected by COMSERVPAC. With the tarmelntes over, we sailed for Guam, Marianas Islands the follow- ing day in company with the USS PARICUTIN KAE-l8l. The trip was almost as uneventful as it was long. We did have a bit of excitement on the second day out when a steering casualty provided the bridge with a few anxious moments. The Engineering Department made the necessary repairs and we were on our way again in less than thirty minutes. Our arrival in Gugm was delayed three days due to our encounter with a temperamental female named Olive. GUAM ' Guam is Good or in our case, was good. The two weeks that we spent on this Island were enioy- able even though we saw few of the world famous GUAM is GOOD signs. Guam holds the distinc- tion of being the southernmost area that we visited during the cruise. lt is only seven hundred and eighty miles from the equator and the HOT weather served as a constant reminder of its location. Aside from 5llll0'S work-our tropical hours there extended from 0800 until 2000-we all enioyed the soft ball games over in lot Kilo Nine where the beer flowed freely. One oft-told story claims that when a foul ball landed amidst the beerdrinkers, ten empty beer cans were thrown out to the pitcher before the ball was found. ll was here that on the 4th of May Captain Hill launched the TAR BOX. With the able assistance of the entire Deck Department, the eight foot sailing vessel was finally placed in the water. The Ship's Welfare 8s Rec Council sponsored two tours around The island. We visited the towns of Umatac, Merizo, and lnuaraion where much evidence of the typhoons KWSN and Olive was visible. lt seemed hard to believe that this area had experienced winds of up to l8O MPH. lt was here that the XO became a serge- ant for a day when a small boy in lvlerizo greeted Tar Box f f Jaywalkers in Guam Howdy, Admiral Memorial Day Service

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We're Not Always at Sea . .. it only seems that WCIY DEPARTURE FROM SAN PEDRO On a bright and sunny April 9th we bid G sod farewell to our families and friends and left to begin our six month tour in WESTPAC. Last goodbyes were exchanged when the ASHTABULA officers and crew held open house between the hours of 0800 and l000. The last line was cast off at i002 and we were once again off on a long trip to far away lands. We caught . our last glimpse of land at i430 that afternoon so long' I'yI'e as we passed by San Clemente and Santa Catalina Islands. lvluch of the crew had recently reported aboard and were looking forward to seeing the Hawaiian Islands and Japan for the first time. For those making their second, fourth, or even twelfth such trip, it was merely a matter of five months, twenty-nine days and ten hours before they would return home again. Our transit to Pearl was hampered by heavy weather, but the endless series of shots ad- ministered by Doc Little proved much more bothersome to the crew. We observed Easter Sunday with a special sunrise service on the fantail, this was followed b y a zone inspection as once again we came to realize that there are no holidays for the service forces. On the l4th of April, the ASHTABULA opened its 2- center swimming pool and thus became the only oiler-luxury liner in the Pacific Fleet. International Market Place Aloha Tower HAWAII We arrived in Pearl Harbor on the morning of April l6th and were SUDfised to learn that our students at COVQO School had arranged for a ship's Aloha Party at Fort DeRussy. great time, hot dogs, hamburgerS, The Everyone had a WOVITI bluish waters of Waikiki Beach, and an after dinner stroll down Kalakaua Avenue toward the InternationOl Market Place all contributed toward making it a memo- r bl .a e day. The old saying, Guam is Good, but Hawaii IS Heaven , certainl S y held true for our visit to Pearl Harbor. slmenmen visiting the islands for the first time were 0 u en there were no hula girls in Hlllile grass skirts to welcome the ASHTABULA to Hawaii, but the men soon conceded that the more fashionable bikiniS but disappointed wh

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