LST (471) - Naval Cruise Book

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feat of modern engineering. After a few hours of work and liberty, it was away again, this time on the last trip. HOME AT LAST Underway to Charleston, South Carolina, her new home port, everyone became more eager to reach the final destination. Although the seas were rough, all possible speed was made and mileage shortened so finally on the twentieth day of January 1946 the 471 finished her last journey which had taken many hundred thousands of miles in both Atlantic and Pa- cific oceans. lt was soon discovered that Charleston was a slo-w moving city where all people took life easy and there was little to do in the way of recreation. While all were working at top speed during the daytime to hasten the day of decommission of the ship, there was still time at night and weekends for relaxation. As a climax to all of this, a ship,s banquet and dance were held. After a month of wo-rking and waiting, the day of final decommissioning was to come about 22 February. At this time the old lady had little equipment left aboard and none of the crew. She was soon to be taken up the Wando River and left waiting for someone to buy her for scrap. Although she came to an unglorious end, she served her purpose well and during the three years she was in commission, more than once received the praise 4'Well done',. Er .. Q, ,f--L ii .,

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However, as is forever true in the Navy, one never knows when anything will occur un- til it has happened. Then on the twentieth day of November, 1945, the signal gang broke out and two-blocked the homeward bound pennant that they had made some months before to fly from the truck as the ship proudly sailed out of Manila Bay for Pearl Harbor and the United States. A After roaming the bounding main for three weeks, she arrived at Pearl Harbor. All hands eagerly went ashore when time permitted to visit the Pearl of the Pacific. Captain Bentley, after computing his discharge points, turned the command over to the executive officer and went on his way to become a civilian again. Lt. Qjgj Harold W. Lloyd, USNR, commanded the ship from then until' she finally was decommissioned. From Pearl, she sailed to San Diego, California, with an LCIQLJ in tow astern. Come Christmas eve and all hands were bitterly regretting that they were still two days out of port, when the towing cable parted. The sun had come up on Christmas day before the LCI was again in tow, leaving many with memories of a night not soon to be forgotten. Arriving at San Diego, the men aboard eligible for separation from the service were pleasantly surprised to discover that they would debarked within a matter of minutes. Re- maining only long enough to take on provisions, the ship pulled out on the last journey she was to make. Accompanying her was a small AGC. The latter was having engine trouble so both ships put in to the pleasant sleepy little port of Manzanillo on the west coast of Mexico for twelve hours. As soon as everyone had a quick taste of liberty and the engines were re- paired, the ships steamed on to Balboa and the Panama Canal. Receiving no chance to rest, she transited the Canal to the Atlantic side, where she remained for the night. Going through the Canal, many of the crew had the opportunity to see for the first time the beauty and scientific wonders involved in the construction of this

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