Badoeng Strait (CVE 116) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 14 text:

All preparations for our Oriental Journey having been completed, all hands joined in the final Stateside fling. With food and drink a- plenty and the orchestra playing our favorite music, soft and mellow, everyone attending the farewell party had a good time. So successful was the party that it had to be held on two nights so all would have an opportunity to attend. We were sorry to hear the band play the last number for we knew that this was Good bye . i -93 IP' A I ff 4-pf X, 41 J

Page 13 text:

Beneath summer skies, with a background of snow-capped mountains, we lay in dry dock at Bremerton, Washington, while the ship's sides and bottom were scraped clean and painted, the flight deck thoroughly overhauled and general repairs made throughout the entire ship in preparation for our overseas trip. The sight of Welders at work and the sounds of pounding hammers and sand blasters became so common- place that the silence which followed the completion of our yard period was strange. . . but gratefully welcomed. The dry dock gates which had closed upon us weeks ago, were finally opened and once again we were a Ship Afloat. Following a test run and minor repairs We were off on the first leg of our Oriental Journey.

Page 15 text:

Whether it's a cut finger, a bad appendix, or an aching tooth, H Sz D Division stand ready with Band-Aid, scalpel or drill. The men in white who administer the healing touch have taken care of over 5, 000 cases on our present cruise alone .... and the dentist's chair has not seen a day of rest. This total does not include some 407 bed patients who have come and gone . . . . nor the routine administration of more than 3, 000 shots and vaccina- tions. In addition, the white Walls of Surgery have seen a score of operations, both major and min- or, performed this trip.