Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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was unable to complete the task she had begun. Grievously wounded, we were or- dered to safer waters and the protection of a group of CVE,s steaming off the gulf. It was during this disaster that the Medical Department was observed. With- out any fanfare the corpsmen and stretcher bearers moved about the decks collecting the wounded and carrying them to first- aid stations in the wardroom, chiefis quar- ters, and to sick bay to wait their turn for the operating tables. First the most severely wounded were cared for. Blood plasma in large quantities was adminis- tered. What a God-send that was! It was new life blood for these men who had left theirs on the deck overhead. Then gently but quickly the wounds were bandaged, and the doctor, without faltering, turned to the next patient while corpsmen carried the previous one to a bunk or cot. Hour after hour this went on far into the night. When the last patient had been cared for the doctors turned their attention to the dead. Each body was positively iden- tified. Then it was prepared for burial. Sailmakers stitched for hours making canvas bags for shipmates who had given their lives. The chaplain moved among the men, comforting them, administering last rites, hearing last words and confessions, saying prayers, holding this man's hand as the pain mounted, or lighting a cigarette for another. A quiet, calm person who was always present to do some small task others were too busy to do. Then as the men quieted down and slept, he prepared his service for the morrow. The ensign was lowered to half mast as we buried our dead. On the well deck the chaplain read the service, said prayers for the repose of the souls of these men Who had paid the sacrihce that our nation under God would always be free. The silence was broken as military honors were 53 given, three volleys were fired and the bugler sounded taps. Then gently the bodies of our shipmates were committed to the deep waters of the South China Sea, and we turned away to carry on where they had left off. Among those buried was Admiral Chandler. Though he had been with us only a short time he had earned the respect and loyalty of all hands. With successful landings at Lingayen on the ninth of January, the Louisville returned in company with transports and damaged combatant ships to Leyte Gulf. There the wounded were transferred to hospital ships. We then turned our prow towards Manus and from there to Pearl Harbor. The word to leave for uUncle Sugari' came on January 31, and the Louisville headed out of Pearl Harbor bow pointed for San Francisco's Golden Gate. It seemed like centuries to all of us before we finally steamed under the Golden Gate Bridge on the morning of February 6, and Hdropped the hook in San Francisco Bay. It had been a long time, fourteen months, since the ship had been home. We all eagerly anticipated our leaves and reunions at home, and all the other things that are meant when we speak of the ship being back in the States. With repair of the ship and rehabilitation of the crew completed, we knew we would set out again for the last long, hard push to Tokyo. Meanwhile we intended to enjoy uStateside,7'-uOh, brother! 171

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