Edisto (AGB 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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.,.. --,. ,-r -- --1 '-- 'HI 'Ti H- 7T l ' When water, commonly known as H20 be- cause of the unity of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom within the molecular bond, is lowered to a temperature of 32'F. or, if you prefer to live rakishly - 0'C., it congeals into a translucent, cold, tasteless solid. In this form and in small quantities it is used to cool: refrigerators Ciceboxesl, ice cream, soft drinks, fish, vegetables, bourbon, and fevered brows resulting from bourbon. In slightly larger quan- tities and shaved to thin particles it creates: movie snowstorms and snow in july for mountain ski resortsolf these were its only functions we might well elevate it to a place in our heritage second only to the mixmaster and Abraham Lincoln. There dwells, however, in the dimoutermost reaches of abnormality a dragon of weather and wind and storm who breathes not fire but ice. His hunting ground is the southern latitudes of Antarctica and he is treacherous in his dealings with mortals who nibble away at his secrecy. Here ice becomes a deadly foe and is present in such huge, unimaginable masses of obstruc- tion that the men who rcome to battle it year after year come away with a subtle feeling of only half-victory. It is with a desire to explain this encounter with the ice and with a vague suspicion that it will not be fully understood by those who have not been there that the officers and men of the USS EDISTO present. . .