Colonial (LSD 18) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 5 text:

' TIS TWELVE O ' CLOCK AND HERE I STAND, NOT QUITE THE WAY I HAD IT PLANNED. A WHOLE LOT WORSE, THOUGH, IT WOULD BE IF WE WERE STILL STEAMING IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. INDEED IT ' S A BLESSING TO BE HERE AT HOME IN SAN DIEGO WHERE WE LOVE TO ROAM. THIS SHIP IS MOORED AT BERTH 85, OUTBOARD FROM OAKHILL, WHO IS IN PHIBRON FIVE WE ' RE ON COLD IRON AND WATCHES ARE SET THIS VESSEL ' S SECURE FORE AND AFT YOU CAN BET SIX LINES AND A WIRE THAT SHOULDN ' T SLIP HOLD US AGAINST THE INBOARD SHIP. ASSORTED HOSES AND LINES CONNECT AT OUR BEAM, FOR POWER, TELEPHONE, WATER AND STEAM. ALL OF THESE SERVICES COME FROM THE PIER TO KEEP US GOING WHILE WE ARE HERE. VARIOUS SHIPS OF PACIFIC FLEET ARE ALL AROUND, BLOWING WHISTLES AND MAKING PLENTY OF SOUND. WITH SECURITY CHECK GOING THERE IS NO SLACK, ESPECIALLY WHEN SOPA IS COMNAVAIRPAC. AS THE OLD YEAR PASSES HAPPILY ON, WE THINK BACK ON IT ' S WORK AND IT ' S FUN; THE HIGHLINES AND FUELING ON ROUTINE HOLIDAY AND TWO GLORIOUS DAYS IN PORT SUBIC BAY. IN THE NEW YEAR WE ' RE EXPECTING SOME MORE OF THE SAME WHICH WILL ADD TO OUR MUSCLE AND ADD TO OUR FAME; BUT DESPITE ALL THE HARDSHIPS WE HAVE TO ENDURE, OUR HANDS THEY ARE STEADY, OUR CONVICTIONS ARE SURE. THE LOVERS OF FREEDOM HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR-- THE ' GATORS WILL GUARD THEM THROUGHOUT THE NEW YEAR. FROM THE ANTONIO MINA, SHI -p4pp, 1 JAN. ' 65 OOD LOG s ?? ' S 3M iP ' 9«oawspa

Page 7 text:

' t-A-TL - VSS Colonial ( JSIb 18 ) Wed Pac 1964