LST (491) - Naval Cruise Book

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f THE OL, DOUBLE TROUBLE Q t Q an interesting one as we went via Long Island Sound. At Davisville we loaded Seabee equipment and gear. We all had our pictures taken the day Captain Fahnestock was presented the Purple Heart by Captain Lee, the Commanding Officer at Camp Endicott. The Purple Heart was awarded to Lieutenant Fahnestock by the Bureau of Naval Personnel as he had been wounded while serving aboard the U.S.S. Marblehead in the Pa- cific. On February 15 we departed from Davisville, Rhode Island and proceeded to Boston via the Cape Cod Canal. We berthed at the Commonwealth Pier, remaining there only a few days. On February 17 we received Nunes, R., F2!c aboard for duty. On February 18 we left Boston in Convoy for Halifax.' We all en- joyed Bostong the liberty was good is a phrase that was heard from several of the men. And so we were on our way . . . to Halifax . and then on to Europe. Many were leaving their native land for the first time and each was asking himself, I wonder when, and if, I'l1 come back? The trip was uneventful and we made the port of Halifax in about three days. The harbor of Halifax is like a beautiful broad river. It lies between long ranges of hills, guarded by islands wedged into the harbor entrance almost like melons jammed in the mouth of a sack. After proper identification we were permitted to enter the harbor. The water was studded with all types of craft, large and small. There was a bit of confusion on signals between our ship and one of the Canadian Harbor patrol boats. 12

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THE SHAICEDOWN And the following day Anderson, K. L., S2!cg Colvin, C., 52fC3 and Little, L. A., S2!c were received aboard. On February 10, we loaded two LCS QSQ boats aboard the LCT. Ensign Frede and Ensign Dause and their crews also reported aboard. The same day we received two Doctors, Lt. W. P. Rogers and Lt. Qjgj H. S. Law- rence, two Chief Pharmacists, Harry Moss and J. A. Arnold, and twenty-seven pharmacists mates. Lewis, H. W., Phm3! c who was received aboard with this group was the only one to remain aboard until the ship was decommissioned. The doctors and corpsmen were to remain aboard to care for future expected casualties in anticipated operations in Europe. Harney, R. J., S2fc, McCaskill, W. S., F2!cg Ahearn, C. J., Slfcg and Woods, T., Slfc reported aboard before we departed for Bay- onne, New Jersey, where we loaded stores and supplies at the Naval Supply Depot. Our last day in New York was a busy one. The Red Cross furnished the ship auto transportation in order that we might complete our many official errands and details. One of the station wagons drove all over New York and made two trips for us to Bayonne, New jersey. lt was a long day for the driver, from nine-thirty in the morning until ten o'clock in the evening. When we expressed our thanks she re- marked that she enjoyed helping us as her husband was in the service, in fact in the Navy, and at that time at sea. Long hours were a daily routine for her. On February ll we left New York in a blinding snow storm and proceeded to Davisville, Rhode Island to load the cargo deck with equipment. The trip was 11

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THE SHAKEDOWN The patrol boat rammed our starboard side, and as it had a sharp bow, we had a hole to patch. We remained in Halifax about seven days to await the arrival of addi- tional ships for the convoy. The Smoker held at the Royal Navy Gymnasium was quite a success and an en- joyable evening for all who attended. All of the LST's in the harbor sent groups up to play ,basketball and each ship had several entries in the boxing show. There were a number of excellent boxing bouts. Although our Quartermaster Harold Summers boxed beautifully, he was not awarded the decision in his particular bout. The most exciting bout of the evening was between the 49l's entry, Wes Loudon and a cook from the LST 492. Loudon's opponent rushed at him swinging and slug- ging with all he could give. Loudon started to Hght back and iight hard. In about a minute and a half Wes was declared the winner. His opponent was on the deck. He did not sail with the convoy, but was sent to the hospital. During our stay in Halifax we encountered a terriiic blizzard. Plenty of snow fell and the wind was severe. One of the bitts on which our stern lines were secured to the deck, pulled loose from the deck on our fantail, and, as the decks were covered with snow and water, some of the boys sleeping below received an unexpected shower. 13