USS Cambria (LPA 36) - Naval Cruise Book

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PARTIES TTerk lie the remains of parties. Whether on the giving or receiving end, whether for the orphans of Naples or the orphans of the Camhria, there were always parties. When birthdays and anniversaries rolled around the bakers whipped up icing bedecked cakes suitable for the occasions. On November 10th, the Marines marked the 176th birthday of the Corps with a cake cutting. On December 12th, cake was passed again, to celebrate the first anniversary of TransDiv 24 under the command of Commodore Schleif. In Greece it was a party every night at the Sixth Fleet Canteen. Our host was the American Colony of Athens, a group of state-siders with jobs in Greece. Every night we filled up on free franks and burgers, gulped up coffee and soft drinks and almost tripped ourselves up doing a medium-light fantastic with aspiring goddesses. We gave two parties for orphans. The first, on Thanksgiving, was for a group of Greek orphans. And the second was in Naples just before Christmas. There we watched eager-faced boys and girls wait- ing in line to get presents from ' Papa Natalie. After that one, we chased wrapping paper from the buffalo ' s head to the after 5-inch. On Christmas Eve we stayed home and had a party of o ur own. Our singers, musicians and thespians staged a Happy Hour. It included a little bit of everything. Music ranging from hillbilly stompings to swing, skits taking off roach hunts and boatswains ' piping, and in between, round noters and slow boaters giving out in a variety of vocals. And then there were the Navy beer parties and the Marine dances in Naples. Yes there were always parties. ' In Greece it was a party every night. ' '

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KU SAIOKI li Center — Dec. 12: two-layer transfer at sea. Right — Nov. 10: the Colonel ' s sword went on T.A.D. ■»■ ' ■ ■■■■