Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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Aflcr vt-ais ul loyal service Chief Gunner ' s Male Wagner is piped over the side t„ a well earned res along the highway, there was always the possi- bility that a Jap might be peeping at us from behind a tree, beeause they still bring in Jap prisoners almost daily, although, comparati cly speaking, there are few left there now. That, of eourse, is another reason we were so re- stricted as to where we were allowed to go. Our Squ. dron Leaves Us It was as if we had lost an integral part of our ship when, on 1 1 May, the day of our arrival in Guam, our Squadron left us on orders to return to the States for further assignment. They had reported aboard for duty on i6 Au- gust 1944, and had b een a part of us ever since. They came aboard as strangers and they left us as friends. They came aboard as inex- p)crienced in actual combat as were most of us, but they left us as seasoned veterans of many an offensive strike against the enemy. They came aboard with a youthful outlook and in high spirits, but they left us as more mature men; men n ho had, for the first time, in many cases. faced the stark realities of life. They left w ' ith the same high spirits with which they came, but they were definitely more .sober in thought and manner. They had proven that, as a cross-.section of .American vouth. thev could Finale of ' .XpoUo Oracles. '

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everyday, where the highlight of their Hberty was the privilege of actually talking to real, live and attractive American girls who were on duty there with the Red Cross. Then, too, ihcy got their usual ration of two cans of beer j)cr man, which added lots to the singing as tiuy gathered around the piano while one of the Red Cxoss girls or Talavera, Sic, played. lliere was also an Otticer ' s Club and a C:hicf Petty Officer ' s Club there, and the Officers and Chiefs had two barbecues at the Chief ' s Club during our stay, v hich were most enjoyable as they always are. Inasmuch as all the villages of Guam were out of bounds to military personnel, we saw ery little outside of our own military installa- tions and the recreation areas. We did have to go up to CinCPac ' s Headquarters one day, which, incidentally, is beautifully located up in the mountains. On this trip, we also passed through what used to he the village of Agana. Now, it is nothing but niins. and we understand that it was demoli.shed by our own Naval gun- Kri- during the invasion, retaking the island. As we rode along the coastal highway we would, occasionally, see a demolished Jap tank out in a field or a stranded American Alli- gator out on the coral reefs. While v e rode 7 jp: C-85 prepares tu dcparl sliip, betuut: C-b departs ship i orders to return to the States for leave and reassignment. at Guam: center: Fwankie Sinatra ' Josephine Gisch, Sac, dances. niber of Apollu Oracles sings; beiow: Wave 107

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rise to any occasion in the fight for those liber- ties we hold so dear. VV ' c had all undergone frightful experiences we shall not soon forget, and, having undergone them together, our bonds of friendship are even further strength- ened. Wc shall miss our Squadron far more than they will ever know, but we are happy to see them return to the States for that happy re-union with their loved ones for which they have worked so hard. They have done a grand job; we are proud to have called them ■ .Shipmates, and we shall ever be interested in their welfare, because, after all, to us, they shall always be a living and breathing part of the Lunga Paint. ' Tw. s A Ye. r Ago Tod.w VV e arrived in Guam just in time to celebrate our first anniversary. It was on 14 May 1944 that we were commissioned way back in As- toria, Oregon, and, now, on 14 May 1945, we found ourselves a long ways from home. Re- gardless of where we were, we had c ' ery reason to celebrate, because we knew in our own hearts that we had done a good job. So that night, our Anniversary party took place on the hangar deck. The program started with the officer in charge of arrangements introducing the Executive Officer, who, in turn, introduced the Old Man. The Captain made us a very appropriate talk, briefly reviewing our pro- gress during our first year, and sincerely thank- ing us for the backing we had given him. Nat- urally, we had e ery reason to be proud of his recognition. Likewise, the applause he got at the end of his talk was bound to have given him much personal satisfaction. Following the .Skipper ' s talk, we had a program of enter- tainment put on entirely by our enlisted per- sonnel. Our old standby, Talavera, .Sic, played his guitar and sang several of his ever popular Mexican songs. Johnson, Y3C, ac- companied by Merryman, RM3C, was again well received with his Irish songs. Then, the LuNG. Point Four, composed of Clark, Smalls, Hale and McLaughlin, all StMic, with Dale, .Std3c, as Manager. ga ' e us several se- . ' ' first . nnivcrsary the Skipper and Exec seem satisfied but apprehensive. 109