Grand Canyon (AD 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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IISHRIID UMU

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USS GRAND CANYON AD ' SS

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Mediterranean Cruise ANCHOR ' S AWEIGH FOR NAPLES Now Go to Your Stations All the Special Sea and Anchor Detail! The USS GRAND CANYON (AD- ' 28) moved. her bulky form in a convulsive, backward thrust. Miniature vessels, with powerful, frroaning engines pushed and tugged until they succeeded in forcing the wayward ship into mid-channel. Here and there among the men lining the rail was a forced smile, a hasty wave and perhaps, a forward glance toward Hampton Roads and the open sea. They had nuide adequate preparations for this single moment of getting underway. The Deck-force had loaded ammunition for three days; stores were aboard ; personnel transferred and received. In short everything was done that one could possibly imagine being done, prior to leaving home port for five months. But if some things were accomplished by individuals or groups, there was one thing that was done by all. They all said goodbye. It was the hardest task they accomplished. Some made tlie last dash home by air or train. Others said a last, few, hushed words at the pier. Everyone felt a keen loss somewhere inside. Yet, there was the realization that somehow they would come home again, and everything would be the same when they returned. But these thoughts, if a fleeting concept in the haste of the hustle and bustle can be so dignified, had little place in a ship struggling to find a great ocean highway. And when she passed Chesapeake Light Ship and increased to a speed appropriate for open waters, the men had time for more mature thought. And they must have thought of home; of Europe; of the .job ahead. Yet even, these thoughts could not find place in bodies whose stomachs were convulsed in the process of being terribly sea sick. (It was reliably reported that the seamen recovered more rapidly than the Ensigns.) Soon, however, the rails became less crowded with leaning forms and all were sailors in something more than name alone. Then, and only then, was there some real interest in food, shipboard living, Europe, and letters from home. (Occasionally someone was observed glancing through A Pocket Guide of Italian Cities. A few, at least, were deter- mined to have the jump on the rest of their shipmates and acquire facts that could be knowingly recited in the presence of those venerable European guides.) After a few days, the Azores Islands were sighted, and it was good to be close to land again. The ship ran south along the coast of Portugal, and finally approached Gibraltar. The view was rather interesting — like peep- ing over the top of a high wall and finding Gibraltar silhouetted in the morn- ing twilight. Cameras appeared, and shutters snapped, and smiles flashed across faces where only pale grins were before. Well, Europe was worth seeing. Some men spend a considerable amount of money to come here, and we have the trip with pay. Maybe it wasn ' t really so bad after all. There was Rome, Paris, Istanbul, Naples, and the Riviera — all worth seeing once in a life- time. Yet still, it would be just as nice if someone decided to send us right anticipation was back home. But man finds a way to adapt to almost any condition and the process of adapting was in full swing, now. Of course, you were going to work like the dickens and maneuvers might be pretty rough. I wonder what the Flag will be like? Rough? Can ' t be too bad, tho ' . Tomorrow we hit Naples. There ' s Ishchia! Isn ' t that Capri? Yea. The cameras were grinding again. An occasional smile of observed here and there. There she is — the Yellowstone! The little vessels were alongside again. They looked dift ' erent than the ones in Norfolk. Less powerful. The men spoke a different language. The ship was nudged into the inner harbor. The Service Force SIXTH Fleet Band blared a welcome. A destroyer slipped past blinking, Welcome to the Med. Send back Thank you. Just Thank you. You wouldn ' t know it to look at her, but the Grand Canyon was the most wanted ship operating in the Med. A price on her Skipper ' s head. Eight days free leave to the first Yellowstoner sighting the AD-28, preferably alive. They were happy on the Yellowstone. Apprehensive on the Grand Canyon. The booms groaned under the none too light liods of ammunition and supplies which they lifted from the Yellowstone ' s deck. Commaiuler Service Force SIXTH Fleet broke his flag on the Grand Canyon at 3 P..M., 11 February, 1952. She was in the SIXTH Fleet.