Belleau Wood (CVL 24) - Naval Cruise Book

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!

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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.

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X, e Qi K CAPT. WILLIAM G. TOMLINSON CAPT. JOHN B. MOSS F l V, N v3,1,e?,g-fr.g,:q-uyfawvvfx--. :--.v1- f. - ' Y -- --M - g- ' '- - -----A -r----H ,, , ,, COMMANDING OFFICER, JANUARY 26, 1945 - DECEMBER 15. 1945 rr-srvvsvlw' 4 ' ' 1-- -H ' ' -' Y -'-'Z-'f-ff f ww- ---1..:- . 5, , 6, i', :J . ' ,-jrax, g YM Y V. W V AV A A --J - -.-...-..-..-...--: f------4 ---Y --1 ----- : su:-N... Our record of Nip planes that were splashed, Jap men-of-war and merchant ships that are on the bottom, sitting ducks that were torched, air- field installations that were wrecked, industry blasted and locomotives blown up speaks for itself without a single word of embellishment. Every oflicer and man aboard contributed to these achievements and so each one may take pride in the service rendered to King and country. Fleet Admiral King, of course. Before reporting as the BELLEAU WO0D'S third war time skipper I knew of her fine reputa- tion in action under Captain Pride and Captain Perry. lt seemed that it would be impossible to add one mite to her stature as a Fighting Lady, and so it became the greatest wish of my life that, under my command, nothing would detract from CUMMANDINC OFFICER, DECEMBER 15, 1945 - --, ,.., - ---- - W,-aww-11523-5-.un-..-A...-f - 4' 91...-A-1: , -- - 5 Y- f-:::-:-M 1 - -- x X N fa her bright page in the history of the Fast Carrier Task Force. You, the crew of my ship, the officers and men of Air Group 30 and Air Group 31 have generously given me the fulfillment of that wish with high courage, real blood and sweat, but with- out tears. Let us guard the future and may God then grant us peace for our remaining days and beyond, so that our next generationis young need not die in battle. With great admiration, deep respect, and affec- tion for the crew which could not he stopped by enemy action . . . or a typhoon, ff , KTQ 7 Captain., U. S. Navy