Duncan (DDR 874) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 18 text:

MIDWAY ISLANDS I lircL- tluuisnnj and ninety-seven miles from our port of tlcparture from tiie United States, we came upon tliis pair of small islands in tlie Pacific, wliicli are so well- U ' nown to seafairing men wno make tne enclianting ports ol tne l ar East. Tne circular coral reef anout tne Midway Islands encloses an area six miles in diameter containing hastern and Sand Islands, tlie latter teing our refueling station and liase of activity during ' our sliort journey there, ' flie Kigliesl in.int of tlie group is on Sand Island. It rises to an altitude of 43 feet, and is composed of white coral sand and iron wood trees. Their small area, low elevation and restricted channels are a challenge to any navigator. ' I ' he islands are self-sufficient as regards to their Iresh water supply, and are the main re-fueling stop ah.ng the route to the I ' ar lEast. Due to their size, the recreation facilities availahle to us were limited to the well-equipped gymnasium, gedunh or snacL- har, and the hase theatre. Several athletic ac- tivities were carried on cKiring our stay at Midway, the most notahle of which were the numerous softhall games played on the s|)acions diamonds set aside lor x ' isitlng ships ' teams. Many ol us were previously acquainted with the main attracll,.n offered hy Midway, hut there were a few of the l-irst-tlmcrs who utilized this occasion to mahe friends with the gooney hlrd , or alhatross, the nests and young of which were prominent throughout hoth the islands.

Page 17 text:

PEARL HARBOR, T.H. Mention tlic name Pearl 1 larKor to most people, and tlic first tluni lit tliat enters tlieir minds is tlie date December 7, 1941, followed In ' the idea tliat it is located in Hawaii. Tl,e seldo.n reco ni .ed fact is that while l -arl llarhor and Hawaii luTve become synononunis, it is actually incorrect t. tliinL ' of it as sucli. Pearl Harlxir is located a few miles from Honolulu, on the island of Oaliu, tire second largest island in tlie Hawaiian Archi- pelago, wliile Hawaii, tlie largest of the group, is located some one liundred-fifty odd miles to tlie southeast. Those visiting Pearl Harhor for the first time were fascinated hy the pineapple fields, coconut palms, rrndcr ' ic ' s, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, palmringed Waihihi Beach, the Surfrider ' s Cluh, the memorial created on the sunhen hattleship .M- IZOXA, and all of the other interesting scenic and historical points, such as Diamond Head, which will continue to mahe Pearl Harhor one of our hetter liherly pcu-ts. 13

Page 19 text:

Tlio cily of ' oL-o L.Li, sitiuiloci in ll,e CL-ntral part of Mlurn Peninsula, is tlic largest in populati.ni and size- of Japanese naval liase until tlie end of World War II in 1945, YoLosuL-a lias lieen reln.rn as one of Japan ' s nu.sl important trade and fisliin ports, as well as serving as a Lase of operations lor siijlit-seein tlirousjlunit tlie entire l eninsula area. The well-equipped Enlisted Men ' s Clul,, witli its laxi dancers, SL-oll Room, Top Three Lounge; tlie narrow streets filled with tk- shops in wlucli one can purchase all types of Japanese trade items, tlie pleasant treatment received liy all insure that when Lihcrty Call is sounded, all hands rating liherty will he waiting impatiently to mahe new friends, and renew old acquiutances in the port that is first mi our Par ]:astern Itinerarv.