Lexington (CVA 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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ET OFFICERS IiET 'THEIR HAIR DUWLN AND TAKE stiii iiiiiirinmi For Esther Williams it's been a long, long cruise-12 years thus far-and during that time she has been stolen, restolen, shaken, jostled, and her name has been brandished in witty repartee by officers of four navies. Estherj' is an enlarged photo of the glamorous film and swim star, bearing the inscription, To George, with all my love and passionate kisses. The original owner wrote the words. Since 1944, when she was purloined from an Australian ship by the officefs of a U. S. ship, she has graced the wardroom bulkheads of ships of the U. S., Australian, British and Canadian navies. The LEX became host to Esther in Yokosuka on Oct. 29, when Ensign Ming Chang combined the daring of Jones and the cunning of Farragut to win her for the LEX. Dressed as a Japanese yard worker, Ensign Chang boarde dthe USS BOXER and pilfered the prize from a chaotic wardroom Hlled with smoke from some smoke bombs Mr. Chang just happened to have set off. With BOXER defenders in pursuit, Ensign Chang hurled Esther into the harbor waters, where she was retrieved by LTJG's Wilson and Rogers in a waiting LCM and carried to the LEX. Twice officers from the submarine SEA FOX managed to get aboard the LEX, attempting to make off with the trophy. But the LEX's happy new owners foiled both attempts, and as of this writing, Esther is secure and guard- ed in the ship's wardroom. Under the Esther rules, the LEX cannot take her out of the West Pac area, so she wonlt see California with the ship.

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RESULTS OF KANGAROO COURT IN LEX WARDROOM. THE PLANNERS AND THEIR PRIZE-LTJG C.E. ROGERS, ENSIGN MING CHANG AND LTJG S.B. WILSON. 27 7