Belleau Wood (CVL 24) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 13 text:

PREP COE Cglflight Quarters is the story of the U.S.S. BELLEAU WOOD, CVL-24. Produced by the ship's company, it presents in picture and word the carrieris experiences on the long road from Camden to Tokyo. WWW y if 55 The title of the book is adapted from the most distinctive call heard aboard an aircraft carrier -the call to 6'Flight Quartersi'-which sum- mons the crew to stations for launching and landing aircraft. The public address system carries the voice of the boatswain's mate throughout the ship, GcFlight Quarters for launching and landing aircraft, followed im- mediately by the sprightly notes of the bugle. This call to flight quarters is a lively call, a familiar call, one we will always associate with the BELLEAU WOOD.

Page 12 text:

Nearly two hundred individuals made direct contributions to this book. Their work has been super- vised and coordinated by the fol- lowing staff membersz. THE T FF A Editor Assistant Editor Editorial Committee: Layout Committee: Photography Committee: Circulation Committee: John W. Alexander Qjgj Richard L. Saunders Geoffrey Creyke CjgD Bertill W. Johnson fjgj Frank Sloan Ens. William W. Baines Ens. Cole G. Coleman Ens. Albert C. O'Neal Don C. Brandvold, Ylc August Jennevien, Slc Raymond L. Jones, QM3c Richard J. Koch, Slc Eugene Malone, Ylc Don A. Olsen, Slc Lt. Conrad E. Green' Gilbert R. Porter, Slc Louis J. Reedy, Slc Lt. C Arden I. Lichty Don W. Shearon, PhoM2c Theodore Perett, PhoM3c Ens. Frank Morgan Francis Read, SF3c Kale Hatfield, CM3c Charles Van Ooteghen, SpA2c

Page 14 text:

'Sl CAPT. ALFRED M. PRIDE .CAPT. JOHN A. PERRY 't '5i!'! FFICER APRIL 12 1944- - JANUARY 26 1945 COMMANDINC crrlclan, JANUARY 4, 1943 - APRIL 12, 1944 COMMANDING 0 , , g V P 1 , ,, . A ., , ,, I-. - ' w r ,, , , ,, , , , 1 V. A , - ,, , cri sis 'fl -j ,:m:'S:i,li'5,Zf?'I'-til-f4:?'NH. ,',' -- 1 -' 4 .-Fxffih , dig- -'-:ld , fa Y A 1g4h51,,LQf,glV- ...ff-t if --ll --Mau! --',sur,::,,: J J rl Y A N . E- . ' '9 A1 f ei i at - . ' .1 R I Q R R A I A 1 ' if 1 if -+3 R A ' ' I ' - F J A.R1 ,,, -K f Q M '- . 215223342 1 A V xrdfffifiigs 'XXV K , V' M V .. - S , V' 1, 'P A.-A .- fx ' I I sy i ' i J . .M , 1 3 Sf-TNQ. in api: .3 HIS book is not expected to be literature. We are not coiners of fine words or joiners of graceful phrases. Our experience at writing has been restricted to requisitions for war supplies and Action Reports-or occasionally making out a pay receipt. So the great might of the pen is not for usg ours has been the simpler task of bearing the sword. But perhaps the incidents jotted down herein will serve as an aide-memoire in an hour of reminiscence later ong or, still later, get one of us out of trouble and embarrassment when asked by one of the grandchildren, Where were you, Grandpappy, when Halsey was beating the hell out of U16 .laps and trying to get on that .white horse? With dignity you can produce this booklet as evi- dence, then quietly add, 'Don,t say 'hell' Sonny, us real fightin' men don't swear? Ahem. Together we have sailed the BELLEAU WOOD in the first strike against Tokyo when the home islands of the Empire were strong. Thereafter we stood against the Empire in every attack of either Task Force 58 or Task Force 38 until our enemy was beaten and gave up. We have seen many enemy suicide bombers nose over for the last diver as the Able Able opened up and you must have had a fleeting thought, as I have had, I wonder who will win ? At night we have been under .ISP flares and wondered 'what's up or more specifi- cally uwhat is coming down? Those flares, I know, produced a strange feeling of nakedness- Those occasions were much like the bad dream wherein one imagines that he is in a bathtub at Times Square with one notable exception, 88 someone said, This ain't no dream!