Horace A Bass (APD 124) - Naval Cruise Book

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33 Underway again for sea Clhere, of course, we longed to be!D, This time on a secret mission. I'11 tell you not on one condition - Don't tell a soul we're Shanghai bound A port where Communists abound. Americans are waiting there, Ready now to pay the fare For passage to another port. Our job is first to lend support. First we anchored still at sea, A port they call Ahcrity. Then on up to the Estuary, Ule' re just a supernumeraryl. Joined MIKE and NED in heavy seas, Shepherd for two LST's. The ship was tossing in the gale. KSome men were tossing at the rail 9 le shuttled hack and forth between Alacrity and sights we'd seen A When first up in the Yangtze mouth, uv' g, di L fl ' we 4 om' I Lt ll So i lefl He Thi Jn 1

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r ' ' 8 x T,,.,.,, 8 ' , I I ' L ,. e-be , X ,-. . .. ...Q-1 ,, I fx. 1.3 ,yt 1:- e f .-we X - .,, . x s5?' V- an vT - Sf' Lf- :Q Yrs -3 fr M ' r 45-eh. 2?.2+ff ' w.- 5 .0 ,,,,,- Jstfu I. . 5 . -A., f '77 - mf' 1' A-A . - r Y Q ' ' ' V I' 4 1' . L1 r :ff ,Q in s v fe - f he s ' , ,ef le won't forget the Chinese 11.311,-gl lho swallowed fire, then from his gizzgrd Pulled the yards of ribbon up, lade water in an empty sup. And we remember Ilary Boo, lhose girls did nothing hrt turn-to. They scrubbed the mess decks, cleaned the Just hem their bl-Lubes 'une the tides Moved the sampan up and dom Removing rust stains, dirty brown. Our duties there were varied, though, The biggest job was radio. Remember, too, receding hairlines Came from operating airlines. PHl's made weekly flights Bringing men to see the sights Of Hong Kong, and, though often late, Our mil came, if the total weight Of first class passengers permitted ind if the millngs could be- fitted sides , 524 ,. ' 1,' f 'iQr' 32 Between the thousand pounds of flour And if the p1sne's full take-off power Could lift it from Manila hy And start it winging on its way. .--d ' -rx ' -. , - fx 'V '- F' -3 f45'Ef' -2 - K ' 1542 ,islifs-2Tffg,..::ff..-r. 231. :wet-. .1 4 - 1 'f-Mflfsls-:'f'e'- -A--' 5fei:.r,-e5f2f,i'.'41erP-- .-, 2-M:-+fsl?5C'F ff' . . f 'A V ' f'k.,.'l' n ' V-E , ' a z- IA ,Jul f 1. - 4 , .- ' Z ' L L- nest L ': ff'- -5 -:.S,-.,qeGf fr55 's-- ....ui'f'3 ',..' ,Q '91 'D 4 ' .AP . , e - rr- '- ' ng-

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Returned at last to Suhic my, We waited for the happy day. A few more dreams and recolleetions, Fire drills and ship inspections. Our job it seems is ending soon, At least before the first of June. So when ee get our anchor hack wefu head for sea and jnoln the pack. We'll post a lookout high to see The first sign of an APD. In may the lucky mmlonvs que. We'ZL1. meet :Ln Guam, and then the crew H111 pass to WANTUCK an the gear Bequeathed to her without a tear. We'lJ. say farewell to Seventh Fleet And count the days 'til we shall meet Our families, sweetheerts, wives, and all We left behind at home last fall. JW sonmranm 'rr-m LE'I'1'EB8A,Ij 9, me mss A munsronr, mr nor ws. we mon sr-rs nom as Hmm mfr 'INX PUEPQE QFFQIGNALQ- THE LETTERS g,.5.5. , THEY sn, umm THAT BASS IS mmsmur smmmr mn smmn, Too, A .nrsr A mmom Asx ms casa: fEditor's Note: Although the author of this Odyssey of our journey in the Pacific prefers to rennin anonymous, the editor has discovered that his initials are A.RJ