Columbia (CL 56) - Naval Cruise Book

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i' -K 'K -K -K -K -K fifty-two ir 'k ir -K ir 'k nl' 421 ememzm We stop to pay tribute to two departed com- rades, both of whom were killed in the Zine of duty during this Training Cruiser. WILLIAM LEON WOODRUFF, Ensign, USNR one of the oiiicers in training aboard the Colum- bia, and GEORGE GERDWOOD CLARK, JR., Ensign USNR, one of 'the Columbia's ship,s company 4 4 4 4 4

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of being surrounded by more beer than you could possibly drink. A further item of acute interest to USN transferees was the fact that civilian clothing was somewhat cheaper and more plentiful than in the States, and more than one eager Ensign was soon with arms loaded with slacks, sport coats, and tan-and- white oxfords-in preparation for the next twenty years in the Navy, no doubt. But as always in port, tempus fugits. Had it not been for the fact that we were leaving Quebec for home, either through a leave or discharge, we would have been sorry to go. As it was, when we Hnally pulled out into the river on the 24th, it was with gratitude to the people of this beautiful city, and particularly to the oilicers and men of the Canadian Armed Forces, who had made our stay so comfortable and helped us see the town. The next few days were spent in the limbo of boredom, waiting to reach port, passing through the dayis routine, listening to the squawk boxes blaring, with automatic reactions and mechan- ical reflexesg only the mind geared up, and that far ahead, in Philadelphia . . . but all comes to those who wait, and we waited, and we came to Philly. As we walked off the quarterdeck of the COLUMBIA for that last time that day in the latter part of June, could it be that there were a few fond memories with us?-Of the Ber- muda beaches, the Hoods down in B-3l2L, the companionship in travails that came as the squad cursed as they 'heaved to and triced up' to scrub the deck, the fun at the Charleston dance, cranking in a five mil correction at Casco Bay so that we would actually hit the target, the derisive chuckles we had at Navy efficiency, the watches, the fantail sun club, the beans for breakfast, the Class Z movies, the laundry with its little machine that tore buttons off the shirts and fired them through the socks . . . Could be, could be. it -l 1 y N g 2 1 1 Va 1 i , l fifty-one

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