Cayuga (LST 1186) - Naval Cruise Book

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LEAVING LONG BEACH THE MORNING OF 4 APRIL FINALLY ARRIVED. THE SHIP WAS BUSY PUTTING LAST MINUTE STORES AWAY AND ENSURING THAT EVERYTHING WAS ON- BOARD. EVERYONE WAS BUSY AND FACES WERE CONCERNED OVER THE MANY ITEMS THAT FILLED OUR MINDS. OUR FAMILIES WERE ON THE PIER, WATCHING OUR SHIP MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR GETTING UNDERWAY. THOSE LAST FEW MINUTES ON THE PIER WITH OUR LOVED ONES WERE A SAD TIME INDEED. LOTS OF HUGS AND KISSES THAT WOULD HAVE TO LAST THE FOLLOWING FIVE MONTHS. THE GOODBYES KEPT US ALL WONDERING HOW WE WOULD BE ABLE TO EXIST WITHOUT THEM. LOTS OF PREPARATION, IN OUR WORK AND IN OUR HEARTS, WAS CONDUCTED FOR THIS DAY OF DEPARTURE.

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STEEL BEACH PARTY

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OKINAWA TRANSIT TO OKINAWA WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER LEAVING LONG BEACH WE EXPERIENCED SEA SWELLS OF 6 TO 8 FEET, WHICH SET THE CREW TO RESECURING OUR GEAR FOR THE ROUGH WEATHER AHEAD. FOR SEVERAL DAYS THE SHIP TOSSED AND ROLLED. WE ALL FELT THE UNSETTLING DISCOMFORT OF BEING UN- DERWAY IN SUCH VIOLENT SEAS. THERE WAS LIT- TLE TO DO WHILE THE SEA CONTINUED TO POUND THE SHIP. OUR THOUGHTS WERE ON THOSE WE LEFT BEHIND, AND OF WHAT WAS YET TO COME. WE WERE ON AN ADVENTURE THAT WOULD LAST IN OUR MINDS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. AS QUICKLY AS STORMS DEVELOP, THEY SEEM TO FADE AWAY, AND WE SOON SAILED INTO CALMER SEAS. THE ROUTINE OF THE DAY BEGAN TO COME ABOUT AND EVERYONE WAS BACK INTO THEIR WORK SPACE FOR THE OPERATIONS AT HAND. AS THE WEATHER CLEARED, AND WORK PRO- GRESSED, IT WAS TIME FOR OUR FIRST OF MANY STEEL BEACH PICNICS ON THE FLIGHT DECK. WE ENJOYED A COOKOUT, PUT ON BY THE SUPPLY DEPARTMENT, WITH GRILLED STEAKS AND SODAS FOR ALL THE CREW. THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT FOR SUCH AN EVENT. IT WAS ALSO A DAY FOR SUNNING, AND DISCUSSING THE EVENTS THAT WERE TO COME. WE FINALLY ARRIVED AT WHITE BEACH IN OKINA- WA. AFTER SUCH A ROUGH RIDE, WE WERE GLAD TO STOP AT THE FIRST PORT ON OUR SCHEDULE. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, WITH THE SUN SHINING BRIGHT AND THE CRYSTAL BLUE WATERS OF THE BAY INVITING ALL FOR A SWIM ON THE BEACH. WE WERE ONLY TO BE INPORT FOR THE ONE NIGHT TO UNLOAD CAUSEWAYS, SO A PART OF THE CREW WAS GRANTED LIBERTY. THE NAVAL BASE WAS SMALL, AND CONSISTED OF ONLY A FEW SMALL SHIPS WITH JAPANESE FLAGS AT ITS PIERS. IT WAS STRANGE TO SEE THE STARS AND STRIPES FLYING NEXT TO THE RISING SUN IN A PLACE WHERE SUCH VIOLENT ACTION HAD TAKEN PLACE JUST 40 YEARS EARLIER. THE USS OGDEN AR- RIVED WITH US. MANY OF US WENT TO KADENA AFB, WHICH WAS ABOUT 15 MILES AWAY. TAXIS WERE AVAILABLE AND MANY SET OUT TO VISIT NEIGHBORING AREAS OF INTEREST. OKINAWA WAS A RUGGED, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WITH SUB-TROPICAL WEATHER SIMILAR TO SOUTHERN FLORIDA. 30