Hornet (CVS 12) - Naval Cruise Book

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PREPARES FOR DEPLOYMENT Cranes brought ammunition aboard at the Seal Beach ammo anchorag-e prior to deployment (above) and the Air Group on-loaded essential equipment in San Dieg-o a few hours before departure 1 Vital war materials -additional aircraft in protective cocoons and torpedoes — were loaded aboard

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The conveyor belts rattled incessantly as working- parties loaded the vital supplies on board HORNET Preparations for the cruise in- cluded the bringing- aboard of tons of supplies for the cre-w and the ship and the materials to support the elements of our mission. In late March, 1967 the ar- duous work of loading- took place. The train of trailers and vans arriving on the pier in Long Beach with vital supplies seemed endless. The conveyors rattled incessantly as, piece by piece, the crates and boxes were stowed on board. And there was ammunition to bring aboard. That meant two days at anchor off Seal Beach and work around the clock. Barge after barge came alongside and the stuff for Hornet ' s sting was lifted aboard. The day of departure. Hornet steamed to San Diego to pick up the Air Group. In four hours, the two halves of the fighting team were joined.

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Saying Good-by Was Never Easy A crowd of families and friends lined the pier in Long- Beach and San Dieg-o to bid farewell. Crewmembers (left and below) take advantag ' e of the re- maining minutes before departure for an affectionate g ' ood-by. A family (rig-ht) stands quietly tog-ether, realizing they will be separated for more than half a year 27 March 1967. The sun was travelling- across the eastern sky, lighting- in succession each city and town across the United States. As dawn broke over the Sierra Madre in Southern California, the men of Hornet in Long Beach and her Air Group in San Diego an- swered the call to reveille. Standing- at muster that morning, few could help think- ing that in the coming- seven months they would not see this sun until long after it had spread its light over their homes. Down on the pier, with brave attempts at cheerfulness, friends and families were en- acting- the familiar scene that has been act one of nearly every military endeavor. Saying goodby was never easy. As the last lines cleared the pier and the g-iant screws pushed Hornet to sea, the strains of Anchors Aweig-h sounded the final farewell. That nig-ht those who ven- tured on deck looked home- ward. As days passed life at sea became routine. Our eyes turned westward, our thoughts to the mission and ports that lay ahead.