Essex (CVA 9) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 15 text:

X 1' Q I It was the deadly, dreary, monotonous war orc Flying circles around the Task Force, the search For submarines and the drills, drills, drills For the attack which never came. Lacking the goal ol: ultimate victory, what impels men to sacriliice For such a strange war as this on the other side ol: the world? For some it is the distance and remoteness itselt, the mystery ol: strange new places and new experiences. For some it is the resigned acceptance ol: a struggle we could not honorably avoid. For some it is an appeal to reason and to abstract ideals. For all it rerclects a Fierce pride in them- selves, in their jobs, in their ship and in their country. Never before have men worked so hard and suffered so much For so Few ot the visible symbols ot accomplish- ment and victory. Yet in their unselliish service they brought to themselves and to their country a blazing, unliorget- able glory-and that is, in itsehc, victory. The men ot the ESSEX could well Feel proud that January evening as the ship weighed anchor in Yokosuka l-larbor and headed For home and their loved ones who waited so anxiously For their return.

Page 14 text:

Q'- .iANuAQY 25, IQ53, Yoi4osui4A, .JAPAN n January 25, IQ53, the USS ESSEX sailed From Yolqosuka l-larbor, bound For home after seven months in Korean waters Fighting a war which would never bring victory. It was a war in which men shot to kill For two years aicter talks designed to end it, were begung it was a war in which Falling bombs blew great holes in the harsh Korean earth For lack ot better targets while the very arsenals oi: the enemy lay untouched in privileged sanctuaries a Few miles away. It seemed, some- times, the most illogical, trus- trating and liruitless war in history, but it was a war which had to be Fought. lt was a cause which had to be detended. During this cruise, Five men From the ESSEX gave up their lives For that cause. To the world, the Korean War was a limited war. To the pilots ot the ESSEX, who Faced enemy guns every day and to the men who supported them, it was war unlimited. It was a war ot bombing, straining, road and rail interdic- tion and the air support ot ground troops. It was a war ot endless maintainance, spot- ting and respotting, tending boilers and the myriad ot other tasks that lceep a great carrier underway and her planes in the air. i l A -pi- I i i 1 E i L ?'2 lg

Page 16 text:

1 -,n g I For twelve dragging days and twelve sleepless nights we steamed Eastward toward San Diego. Bright and early on Friday, the oth ol: February, we lined the bow, searching For the First glimpse ot point Loma. Finally, it is sighted ll We stand down the harbor at a snail's pace and then a thrilling spectacle emerges From behind the intervening buildings .... Thousands ot people, bands, beautiful maiorettes, scores ol: romping Children and above it all, the brilliant colors ot the gay dresses ot our wives and sweethearts .... Our eyes blinlc to keep baclc the tears .... Tears tor the brave boys we lett in Korea and tears ol: thanlmculness tor being home .... After a 'KWELL DQNEH by CQlViAllQl3AC, the gangway was lowered and wives, children, friends, and sweethearts scrambled aboard ....