Essex (CVS 9) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 9 text:

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Page 8 text:

Since her commissioning in 1942 ESSEX has proudbffuwiled the prophetic words of her ,first commanding officer, Captain Donald B Duncan, who inspired the shuois' company to... Mmalce the name of ESSEX carry fear and destruction to our enemies ...and be an everlasting credit to our country and our flag.

Page 10 text:

- t- -Q-vw-.-' . . -,. W ...-.A-mv-f-..: -.1,..z-111: ss-.eff-fe,-.w-ffrfwlaiz'-If-uvffl :PSe1i?E:EiF2.2f55,EIlfffftfiT2-i'2'11 12:2?f'?ffF5'fi WF or extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the air, ashore and afloat in the Pacific W ar Area from August 31, 1943 to August 15, 1945. o 1942 . . .the world was gripped in the demonic clutches of two devastating and bitter wars. Around the globe, battles were waged countries were lost empires grew America rushed to its own defense and to the and of its Allies on all fronts while at home the attempt to mobilize the country into a great fight mg machine picked up speed It was a time of sacrifice time of hard work It was the beginning of long years of per sonal hardships of rationing and long lmes of endless separa tions, and goodbyes that were forever It was a time of war bonds and women in factories and a nation suddenly seized with the need to fill the seas with mighty warships and darken the skies with planes to carry supplies to our forces around the world to build and build and raise more money lt was a time of blackouts and sirens and blood donations and uniforms on every street lt was a time of news paper headlines that shouted with outrage and shuddered with despair lt was the morning of the war when the light suddenly broke over a world gone insane and madness lay revealed in death and agony and struggle This was our nation facing one of its great tests France had fallen . . . London lay in flames. ln the Pacific, our own Pearl Harbor, still dazed and broken from the surprise attack that catapulted the United States into war mapped up the ruins and assessed the damage to our fleet And to bolster these battered naval forces a huge new powerful aircraft carrier was rushed to completion This new carrier was USS ESSEX bearing an illustrious name in naval history a name which was to find new meaning and greater fame inthe heroic efforts of the long and exhausting war which lay ahead Captain D B Duncan was given command of the new carrier at the commissioning ceremonies on 31 December 1942 In Nor folk Virginia and shortly thereafter with preliminary sea trials air group qualifications and shakedown completed ESSEX departed Norfolk She transltted the Panama Canal and by 8 June she arrived at Pearl Harbor where preparations for active duty with the Pacific Fleet were to be completed ESSEX was ready to play her part in the thrilling story of offensive action and striking power which was to progress relentlessly on to Japan itself But first Marcus Island 0 s I I u g 1 I - 1 . . . . . . , . . . . , I ' I I I . . . . . . . . . . . . . O , . , . . . . . . . 0 - I I . . . . . . . . 1 1 , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' - - 1 1 r . . . . . . . . . . , , . . - , . . . . . . - ' 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . - I . . . . . . I . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . 'jr ,W , l, 'A M ' .W ff 1, ,. ,, , ' , -: f ' f , V '7 'r: -3, , f 1, ' 'Iii -f , f . ,, , ?Mi.,V,L4, gg It I A , V . ' ,,,, TW ' A it f ,ls I, ,,,f,,f,,,,,W , 2 W, qu, ,ft .4 .5 ,M I .,v ,,,,,, 22 August 1943 . . . ESSEX departed Pearl Harbor to ioin Task Force 15 for the attack on Marcus lsland.