Eastwind (WAGB 279) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 48 text:

Officer places miniature Chr: stmas free rn passageway. CHRI The Coast Guard Icebreaker East- wind was ghostly quiet as her 220 officers and men observed Christmas in the white and barren stretches of Antarctica. There was no scream of the en- gines reving up to give the ship enough speed to take another run at the bluish-hard ice. There was no jolt of the icebreaker smashing into the pack to gain another few valuable yards. There was no rocking from side to side as thousands of gallons of water were rapidly pumped from port to starboard heeling tanks and back again to break the friction holding the ship fast to the ice. There was no roar of the ice grinding its way down the side of the ship and getting spit out of the screws. It was truly a silent night and a holy one. With all engines shut down, the 269-foot white cutter was wedged firmly in the thick pack ice of Mc- Murdo Sound, her mast and yardarm forming a giant cross sillouetted by the midnight light of the low South Polar sun.

Page 47 text:

,mgyigjf F 1 l is ffftia SFPQ' tmgrg ffsfg. s,s,kx i I f L 5 E . L S E E E Fuel oil drums are swung onto waiting tractor train. E Race on ice proves penguin's superiority over one of ship's officers. E I 1 i N 1 r i i i 3 2 ! i Adelie penguin amuses Eastwind's officers and men. 1 i .. - H . . M. ..L. '. ,.. 4..L.:..m.-J-,wf.:..-..--.:...4...4.M.g....J....1..-. .4 if - -1-':+rfw:-'P-v1.H 14- --e-fw-----a-- -.-.,... x , , , ' .' - If: 'A H ' -A ' - .. ., , ,, ,1 - ' i-'I

Page 49 text:

Wm! T ia A-1 .. Jw-eff:vs .g...g..., . ' -1 -rw- , '.......-..,,, Members of Eastwind Chorus practice for Christmas concert. Gifts from home are openedunder treesbrought aboard in New Zealand. l s TMAS Below decks, trees taken aboard at New Zealand were trimmed and decorated in typical yuletide fashion. Presents that family and friends had left with the ship's morale com- mittee before the icebreaker left Boston in October were arranged under the trees. Both Protestant and Catholic Christmas Services were conducted. Then gifts were opened, greetings exchanged, and a Christmas Pageant begun with Captain Joseph W. Naab Jr., the Eastwind's commanding officer doing the reading. A concert of Christmas Carols by the Eastwind's choir followed. On Christmas Day, a sumptuous feast, a good cigar, and some quiet talk about Christmasses past, present, and future. Next the Coast Guard's Annual Penguin Bowl Foot- ball game was played on the ice. Then, the low muffled roar of the engines, building up to a crescendo and soon after, the relentless pounding, churning, and crashing through the ice to clear a channel for the supply ships soon to come. In Antarctica, at the very bottom of the world where scientists of all nationalities, races, and religions seek knowledge under the most extreme conditions of physical and mental hardship. . . In Antarctica where a task force of Operation Deep- freeze ships and planes annually deploy to support their activities. . . In Antarctica by agreement of all the worlds nations, is a living example of peace on earth, good will toward men. fcontinuedj Chorus conductor sings difficult passage during rehearsal. . M , , . . , . , . ,. ,. . .,, . ,H ..,. .. .. . . ,, -1 Q ,- n ,.- 'gin W- ,'- . 1 . --7-' -' :w-'zu'-'1'- f'!tw +.'v-in 3-win-0 :,4L.l'7g?' 1 'lqf'1 '1'?'44fu71,f 561'' 'vu I 2 ': W L '. ' H - ' H ' - ' -1 1. . - -A s- 4. 1 - .. my 'L .af L- .' , , ' ,. dr -ww-9-4-F ' ,NH - : 1, ' 4, '--- ftfllslwu- ,, A .. H -' A . V - '- - , .. V . z 1 ., .Li ' - -' -' - +63'c'E-li?-u-Teik-niet? Sigh' 595 ' m4s9:YE 'Mff'.f'7-fi, ., , , - ,, .. .. ,. ... . ,. .. , , -.M 5 ?2 'ff 'l Q 7 wr I