Columbia (CL 56) - Naval Cruise Book

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lengthen, fall in at the end, get another carton. It was rumored that this was the Hrst line not dragged by the chow line moochers. Finally all the cars were emptied, the bodies mangled during the scramble picked up, and the dock swept down. Then lunch-and after carrying aboard roasts, canned turkey, cake flour, and pineapple, how welcome was the Spam, cold beans, weak coffee and belayed liberty. A tribute from the grateful people of the City of Columbia, South Carolina, to her name- sake, the gallant Cruiser, the USS COLUMBIA, whose glorious record has brought new lustre to a proud name. This compliment to our ship was printed on the program for USS COLUMBIA Day, Charleston, S. C., 2 June 194-6. The good people of Columbia, S. C., while lauding the record of the living, did not forget our departed heroes. As a token of their re- forty-four rnembrance, the citizens of Columbia presented a wreath of magnolia leaves and Howers, fit- tingly decorated with a patriotic ribbon, which they requested to be placed upon the broad waters of the Atlantic. This ceremony was conducted on the fore- castle of the Gem,' at 1500 on 5 June 1946. Father Thomas H. Bodie, the ship's chaplain, opened the ceremony by conducting the stu- dent oflicers in the singing of the Navy Hymn, Eternal Father Strong to Save, and then he delivered a brief address. After a few appro- priate words, Captain B. B. Adell, USN, placed the wreath on the waters. The guard of honor Hred three volleys in concluding the ceremony. The significance of this and similar events held aboard the USS COLUMBIA, should make us all realize that death is not the end, and death is not to remain a sorrowful memory. The man who has a true spiritual perspective will readily grasp the note of expectancy in the following poem by Samuel Johnson: Catch, then, oh catch the transient hour: Improve each moment as it flies! Life's a short summer, man a flower 3 He dies-alas! How soon he dies.

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ern luminaries, including the Governor of South Carolina, the Commandant of the Sixth Naval District, mayors and ex-mayors of Columbia and Charleston, and two bands. The ship was presented two dozen silver goblets Ccontents not disclosedj and a magnolia wreath, and we reciprocated by presenting a battle flag. Speech-making was brought to an end with a few remarks by Captain Adell, and the playing of America concluded the ceremonies. Gradu- ally the spectators left, and favorably impressed, we hope. In spite of the fact that we felt like wet blotters most of the time, and that our living compartments had the air of an over- heated gymnasium, we enjoyed our sample of southern hospitality. And besides, think of the money we saved by not going to New York right away! . . . And then came the time to pay the piper. For two months we had been enjoying those delicious G. I. meals, and now we had to re- plenish the supplies. fYou canit just eat the shingles, you know.j Consequently, we were greeted that fateful Monday morning by five freight cars crowding the Charleston dock, and all hands turned to to bring the 93 tons of chow aboard. Even the Master At Arms force turned out to make sure that everyone was working-an unnecessary precaution, of course. What a scene of industry we presented to the Southern eyes! Long lines of men carefully avoiding the crates of potatoes and sacks of Hour nearby, and eagerly awaiting the next car- ton of Post Toasties. But when the light stuff was gone, they pitched in on the heavier goods with equal enthusiasm, even to the extent of dropping a crate or two of juicy oranges in their haste. In fact one stevedore was so hasty that he had to let go of his box three times before it finally cracked open. 'Round and 'round we went through the cycle: carry a carton aboard, rest up with a cigarette, fall back in line to get up on the dock, take a couple of glasses of lemonade while waiting for the line in front of the cars to -Q., ll .giants 'Trl' forty-three

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. ...Ln Up from the depths of the deep south, from Charleston, the Queen-City of Magnolia Land, the mighty cruiser COLUMBIA fstill panting from its 32-knot speed runj came steaming through the narrows to the Empire City of the New World. Coming to Pier 51 on the port side of Manhattan Island, the COLUMBIA slid into its berth and scarce had the strains of the bugle call announcing liberty died away and the third repeater hoisted when down the brows came a rushing stream of officers and men eager to sample the strange and exotic de- lights of the mysterious city called New York. We once again had come from the sweet drawl of the southern y'all to the melodic youse- all of the north. As a liberty town New York will long be re- membered as the spot where the Port watch section of student officers, rising to the occasion in a spirit of outstanding gallantry took only one in four, that their less fortunate brethren the Starboard watch might have as much time as possible for liberty and recreation by which to recover from the horrors of the past. Those of us who were fortunate enough to ind a native New Yorker to brief us on the intricacies of the city's layout and hence did not lose ourselves in the maze of subways, made our way immediately to the center of town and the Great White Way. For those who had never been to the big city before, sightseeing was in order-such spots as - The Bowery, Greenwich Village, Rocke- feller Center and the Empire State Observatory Roof, echoed with the joyous shouts of our happy comrades. Those cosmopolites among us who knew of city life from past experiences, could be found in any of the many malt- shops along the avenues sipping the various beverages served by proficient waiters expecting a large remuneration, or else discoursing on world affairs with intellectual young ladies whom we are told, frequent such spots. Those of us interested in the drama and the arts had the chance of a lifetime by receiving the opportunity of seeing the current successes of Broadway. Harvey,,' Born Yesterday and the musicals- Oklahoma, Carousel, Billion forty-fiie