John McCain (DL 3) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 37 text:

Qjb 05.9 ' 0 aff rvfwa Ausiralian poetry . I .. I f I ,f f ,ff-ff ff, , X' f , ,V QP My AND ON T0 THE PHILIPPINES...

Page 36 text:

DARWIN Our stay in Darwin, although brief, was a memorable one. A small 10,000 fueling port in Northwest Australia, Darwin, although lacking in big city attraction, was abundant with the world renown Australian beer. DesDiv 211 arrived on l8 May in the early afternoon with the temperature hovering around l00O, and left the next morning.V The intervening 20 hours were some of Darwin's and the McCain's blackest. Although no medals were awarded, some of us carry the scars of the Battle of Darwin to this day. O O ' 0 , O 0 f O ff' Q O00 9 ft' 'R 0 if U , A OO FQIJM Mm, 24 ltfwr-X O J tl 0 IA Z P I don't know what car you are talking thic!l about. it l

Page 38 text:

Hiqbyn conunu es to exlend a hand Subic Bay was the next stop on our agenda. Due for a lO-day voyage repair period in the yard, the McCain steamed through the crystal blue water and into her berth at the Repair Facility, stopping first alongside an ammo ship to refill our maga- zines. Everyone's attitude at this time was a little skeptical, having heard nothing about Subic except that is was plenty hot. Subic lived up to its reputation, but thanks to the Mickey's air conditioning, things weren't too uncomfortable. While on tropical hours, Subic Bay turned out to be quite a recreational area, with extraordinary facilities for skin diving and swimming, and the areahosting the beginning feuds in divisional basketball and softball. Most of the crew felt that they were getting too much liberty, so most re- tired early, resisting the inviting charms of nearby Olongapo. On the 4th of Iune, we bade farewell to Subic Bay, and retraced the wake of the other three ships of DesDiv 2ll on our way to Kaohsiung.