Comet (AP 166) - Naval Cruise Book

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I-I. B. Knowles, on the USS CAIXIBRIA CAPAD. Extensive drills inldebarking troops, further training of boat crews, and gunnery practice consumed the first week in September. The ship then re- turned to Pearl Harbor, debarked troops, and remained there for another week before re-embarking them for the invasion of Yap. LEYTE OPERATION In company with this Attack Group the CGIVIET steamed out of Pearl Harbor on 15 September enroute to the final staging area at Eniwetok. Training and drills were conducted on the way, and before the convoy reached Eniwetok, it was learned that because of a change in Allied strategy the Yap invasion was to be cancelled. Arriving at Eniwetok on 25 September the Attack Group got under- way for Manus Island, in the Admiralty Group, just oiI the northern coast of New Guinea. Tactical exercises and ship handling drills continued, but the high point of the journey was the crossing of the Equator on 2 Qctober with appropriate initiation ceremonies. 'With C hief W ater Tender Caldwell and Chief Boatswain Brady as Neptunus Rex, the Ruler of the Raging Main, and Davy jones, his Royal Scribe, the ceremonies got underway. There weren't too. many shellbacks aboard and for a while it looked as if the polywogs would take over. However, the rebel- lion was quickly .put down and soon the polywogs who had gone through the initiation quickly assumed their roles of shellbacks and the sides were somewhat evened. Chaplain Pillsbury was one of the rebel force. He took over a high pres- sure jire hose, and for a while it seemed that he would hold off the shellbacks indefinitely. He was subdued, however, but not before putting up a mighty wet scrap. The shellbacks rigged up all kinds of devices, much to the discomfort of the polywogs. Lesko, the Royal Barber, clipped hair like a man 50

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Crossing the Line-Royal Barber i Crossing the Line-Royal Party Crossing the Line-Royal Doc. and Patient

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