Los Angeles (CA 135) - Naval Cruise Book

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LOS ANGF.LES had brcn active, out hriT at the Mole. Lons; Beach aval ilation ' s sheltering; arm. Trailer trucks lad l)n in;hl the stores and goods she leeded for the long cruise. Harbor craft nd passing ships ackno vIedged the majcs- ic cruiser and her coming journey. On board the working parties who had naded and stored tons of materials were een no more about her decks. The noises if scrappers, et paint signs, footsteps lurrying up a ladder had dwindled to the ew that were completing preparations, rhc ladden vessel knew the feeling of |uiet anxiety. Her men had left her early hose last few days for their homes or a ast good look at the activities around )cean and Long Beach. Those who kept he vigil ere quiet and pensive, as the big hip slowly rose and fell at her moorings, memotionally, with the gentle tides. . .0900, 13 NOVEMBER 1962. . . The time arri ed, as everyone knew it iould. .Some of us were busy getting the ship underway — loosing her mooring lines, running her engines, setting up communications. The others stood at quarters watching the crowd grow smaller as e left our home port behind. It was not a happy crowd. We weren ' t the happiest group at quarters either, but there was a lot of anticipation. The months ahead held many things for us, far from Long Beach, and different from California or Nebraska or Georgia. Yes, there was a lot to look for vard to, but not all hands were excited . . .

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U.S.S. LOS ANGELES {CA-135) WESTERN PACIFIC CRUISE 1962 1963

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But home ties arc strong, and very few found it easy to say goodbye that last overcast morning. LOS ANGELES felt the departure time drawing near, and she waited passively for the orders which would separate her from her comfortable berth for seven months. First backing away from the pier, then slowly moving out through the inner breakwater, guided by two tiny but sturdy tugs then beyond the outer breakwater and up to cruising speed, she made her way to the midday rendezvous with the small boys who completed the sail formation. Now the cruise was begun. We were on our way to estpac. The exotic sights, sounds and experiences of the Orient awaited us. We had an important task before us, for for within short range of the countries we visited there is a force that impelled our presence. To the uninformed or unknowing we represented our country as the true preserver of the inalienable rights which Communism would usurp.