Eastwind (WAGB 279) - Naval Cruise Book

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C -I Earlier in the week, the Eastwind's crew had pre- i pared a temporary mooring area for the huge supply ship near the mouth of the channel, about 5 miles from Where she would ultimately have to unload her cargo bound for scientific stations throughout Antarctica. Then, the Coast Guard icebreaker had helped her tie up to the ice ledge when she arrived. In retrospect, the most interesting Antarctic event aboard the Eastwind in 1960, was the sighting of a live volcano, previously though to be extinct. Cn December 29, while the Eastwind was breaking 1 ice in McMurdo channel, 10,148-foot Mt. Terror was observed coughing huge clouds of steam into the in- tensly blue South Polar sky. All hands were soon on deck taking pictures of the event. . ,. Mt. Erebus, 13,200 feet high, is supposed to be the only active volcano on the Continent , i J E. i New Year's day aboard the Eastwind was excitment filled, and culminated in a huge feast for everyone aboard. , the 269-foot gleaming white icebreaker. It has been, with the Lord's help, a good year for us, said Captain Naab in an informal talk to the 0 officers and men on the ice before the celebration be- A gan. I am proud to hafve under my command a group of .Q officers and men who have displayed great courage and defvotion to their ship, their shipmates, and their lofved ones. 1 Then he offered the first toast: From all of us on Af Sfroke of midnfghf, flag hoigf proclaims L, the Eastwind, to all of you back in the States, A Happy New Year. Happy New Year, and a prosperous one. , I Rare photo of Mt. Erebus lfli and Mt. Terror fri both emitting clouds of volcanic steam. l - . l 1 ,- f

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Wg Penguin gets rare treat from Two crew members. The New Year 1961 The 220 officers and men on the Eastwind toasted the New Year in with cold beer on ice: Antarctica style. Captain Naab drove the ship up on the ice until she was firmly wedged in. A ladder was lowered, and cases of beer and cheering men were soon scattered around on the seven foot thick ice pack. From ten in the evening until midnight, the East- wind's officers and men whooped it up. And it wasn't long before the USS Edisto, another Operation Deep- freeze icebreaker assisting the Eastwind, pulled up alongside to join the party. Attracted by the excitement, scores of penguins joined in the fun. Waddling around on the ice and squaking raucously, they added just the touch to a way-out New Year's in McMurdo Sound. At the stroke of midnight, the ships whistle blew, eight bells were struck by the youngest man on the ship, and lusty strains of Auld Lang Syne were sung. The traditional New Year's midnight watch log entry was written in verse by the officer of the deck. Then, back to the task of clearing the ice-clogged channel so that the USNS Towle could unload her val- uable cargo close in to McMurdo. ,. , W.. ., ,M .- - ,.,,,.,..-,... f-M fe L. .. , ,M .I , ,,.,u1,KA.,,mi H . ,I A ,xl Y

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i- ---,,-.H. - -.. ..- -L-1 -......-. 1-:i2,..11-.1 .,-.n.mwu.,,,,,,-....-... .-,,mn. vm mxw - Q VV A I V Cargo ship Towle follows closely behind Eastwind before mooring to ice ledge in McMurdo Sound. Captain Naab directs and executes mooring of USNS Towle. wmmmw