Bataan (CVL 29) - Naval Cruise Book

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CN lO 0) I— I Eh

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A WARRIOR IS REBORN BATAAN lay in mothballs from 11 February 1947 until she was recommis- sioned on 13 May 195U. Her prospective Commanding Officer, Captain Edgar T. Nealc, reported aboard and re-commissioning ceremonies were held. The Sponsor of the affair was Mrs. George D. Murray. She w as also the Sponsor at the original commissioning ceremony in August of 1943. The Matron of Honor was Mrs. James Charnley, daughter of the Honorable Sergio Osmena, former ' ice-president of the Philippine Commonwealth. Mrs. Charnley, nee Miss Osmena, was al.so the Matron of Honor at the original commissioning ceremony in 1943. Rear Admiral R. E. Schuirmann, Commandant, Fourth Naval District, acted as Re-commissioning Officer and also was the principal speaker. An invocation by Chaplain Harold E. Mayo, Lcdr, ChC, U. S. Navy, began the cere- monies, followed by Rear Admiral Schuirmann or- dering Captain Neale to place the ship in full com- mission. The colors were hoisted once more. Cap- tain Neale read his orders and assumed command of B A T A A N . The first watch was set. Captain Neale then introduced the Sponsor and Matron of Honor. Rear Admiral Schuirmann gave an ad- dress followed by a short talk to the ship ' s company by Captain Neale. Chap- pain Mayo gave the Bene- diction and the ceremony was completed. BAT.A. N was a fighting ship once again. J. R. Hacffner, QMC, USN, salutes the colors as they are hoisted to fly once again above BATAAN.

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SECOND FAR EAST CRUISE The clay was 27 January 952. A new year was just 26 clays old. San Diego. California, grew distant on the horizon as B. TA. N dug her bow into the M-a and steamed toward the Oient once again to help with some unfinished business. She iiad finished a well-earned rest and was again ready to an.swer her country ' s call. The year was new, but the old one had not been forgotten by BATAAN and her crew. Nor would the year forget BATAAN. Her record was enviable. In 1951, during the hardest and most difficult Communist aggressions, she was there to help fight them off. She made a record for herself and added glory to her name. Then things cjuietcd down and she sailed home for a rest after six months of battle. Now she was ready to begin anew. She had a new face and carried herself proudly and erect with the knowledge of her past record of greatness in two terrible wars. But her second war was not yet won and she had to return. Many of her old crew were with her, but there were others she did not know. She knew, though, that she would get acciuainted with them soon enough. Some were fresh from boot camp; kids with eagerness in their eyes and ad cnture in their souls; some were from other ships or stations; old salts, wonder- ing if BATAAN would again live up to her name. BATAAN thought over the situation and breathed deeply of the fresh, salt air. It seemed that cities made her tired, for w hen she hit the open sea, she reared her head and surged eagerly forward. This time she knew her destination. She had been there before. Vokosuka, Japan, had become a common everyday word in her vocabulary. Now she was to commence her second tour of duty in the Land of the Rising Sun since the outbreak of the Korean War. BATAAN carried on her back, as Gangway is removed and placed on Quay Wall. she had in November, 1950, a load of jet planes. This time Marine Panthers. She wondered sometimes if they were not making a cargo ship of her, but her orders were to get them to their destination safely. She would carry out those orders at all costs, for she was a good sailor. It would only be for a little while then she would get into the fight again. Her bur- den was also heavy with tru cks, ma- chinery and other vehciles. But they were all a part of her contribution to the var effort. The journey began calmly enough. BATAAN steams west- ward. Point Loma bids sad farewell.