Lexington (CV 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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TIN HATS FOR PILLO

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long line of tiny specks . . . our ships . . . the entire task force is there behind us, spread wide in a long long line . . . a barrier fence between us and the enemy. I-Iigh overhead in the first glints of the sun, ride protecting formations of roaring planes . . . OUR planes from sister carriers. I-Iere is the same spine-tingling, goose-Hesh-raising sensation experi- enced as a boy, when in Genesis I first met the words: Let there be light. . ' This is the Navy. The climax of twenty-four hours of Navy tradition in combat action. I look into the faces of the men on the bridge, look for the emotion that is surging through me, it is not there, each man is carrying on with his job in the tradition of teamwork and of unity. The Navy is taking care of its own. . I We are still within reach of island-based enemy planes. Will they come after us? My Filipino friend brings up the Captain's breakfast and, as usual, an extra cup of coffee for me. I find out that it was not until four o,clock this morning that they were able to force open the hatch and get those boys out of the steering control room. The first man lifted out was Machinist Mate I f c A. M. Petty, still unconscious. Chief Electricianas Mate Lewis R. Baker, Quartermaster 2 f c Dale E. Woods, and Electrician's Mate 2 f c Ioe G. Rogers were taken to sick bay. I am amazed at the crisp fresh appearance of the Captain after over 24 hours on the bridge without sleep. I-Ie is kidding me about the camera and rubber-bag incident when our radar announces bogies on the screen. The Iap planes are busy again. We hear from radar plot that they are exploring the area we were in last night. Our intelligence, intercepting the talk between the Iap planes during the attack, heard one of them excitedly report that he had hit a big one, other planes claimed addi- tional hits and they are out there in force this morning looking for us. Our radar tracks them for hours as they fly widening squares combing and recombing the entire area for evidence of their victories, Tokyo radio will soon announce that their planes have sunk the new Lexington. We have a ship of tired tired men, the deck crew sprawled around the flight deck is sound asleep, still wearing their steel hats. They have had over 24 hours of strenuous flight deck chores and 134

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