Lexington (CVA 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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ABOUT THI BOOK In presenting a work such as this whichihas consumed the time and efforts of many talented and industrious people and for which you have parted with several of your well- earned dollars, it was deemed fitting to offer a few words of explanation on what the book contains, and what, unfortunately in some cases, it does not contain. The initial aim of this book is to provide' you with a souvenir of this cruise on the Lexington. Should the book succeed in this aim as far as you personally are concerned, no more needs be said. But it is felt that more can be said because the book has been designed with more in mind. Though these books are called Cruise Books, the cruise itself is not the important thing. The fact that strangers, men from everywhere, have been put together for a short time to do an important job-your job-on one of the most complex, ingenious and magnificent machines ever devised in the history of man-that is important. What these men do, how they act, day after day: the com- monplace, the daily job with its monotony, its laughs and its accomplishments 5 the people on the job. The crew is the story of the cruise. That is why it is hoped you will look upon this not as a 'Q Cruise Book, but rather, as a Crew,s Bookf, ' The volume is divided into three parts: PROLOGUE, ALL THE SHIP AT SEA and TRAVELOG. The PRO- LOGUE is exactly that: a resume of the rebirth of the Lexington, her early trials and travels, and the preparation for this cruise. The second section examines the daily work of each divison, and thus, each man on board. It treats the commonplace as the uncommon, and it tries by so doing to give each of you a better understanding of what the other fellow does. The third section of the book, TRAVELOG, presents a pictorial review of the new countries and cities that the ship visited. A word here about omissions. The book is not all- inclusive, it is a sampling, a surveying Gallup poll rather than a national election. It cannot hope to capture the countless personal thoughts and actions you must have experienced. If you feel you were slighted or overlooked, then accept a sincere apology. No slights were intended. Finally, the name of this book is ICHIBAN. It was not chosen facetiously. A Japanese word, in itself symbolic of a cruise to the Far East, ICHIBAN literally translated stands for 'Q number one. This is a first cruise and this is the first cruise book. The concurrent other meanings of the word to the Japanese, however, seem to be yet more Htting: the beginning i'-it is, indeed, a beginning for the Lexington 3 'Q the Hrst, the highest, the best. .. -a bit presuming, perhaps, but pride in our ship could accept nothing but the bestf, Ichiban, then, is the symbol g it is hoped the book can approach this standard which the ship is setting every day.

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A machine is given men ancl comes fo life affer eighf years of silence. She sfirs, machine ancl man, and fesfs her new-found youfh. Sfrengfh again is hers, and power She leaves fo win again the glory.