Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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of the Mfiknwiir Slraih. a Im Miiiifiil silver Iray, a ijift to tin- ship from Mrs. James H. Mi Kay. our S|j( iisor, who was tinahle to he present for the jommissioniiii;. Followiii); tlie formal r T- einonies. (!apiain Washburn invited our guests clown to the Wardroom, the Cl.l ' .C). Mess and the (brew ' s Mess for refreshments, and many of our guests look advantage of the o|)portunily chaplain Bamcr ad : to look around the ship, but many of them got lost, for even their guides were unfamiliar with all the many ladders and passageways at that time, not one member of the Ship ' s Com- pany having been allowed on board before 0930 that day. .Soon, our guests all departed, leaving us with a feeling of pride in the fact that our home for months to come had appro- priately been commissioned on Mother ' s Day, a day that is dear to the hearts of all of us. At 1 300 that day. Captain Washburn assem- bled the entire Ship ' s Company on the hangar deck where he talked informally to us for an hour, telling us exactly what he expected of us and what we could expect of him as our Com- manding Officer. He had just returned from nine months in th e Pacific with the fast carriers and knew what he wanted. He emphasized over and over again that, in order to success- fully fight our ship, it would be necessary to give more than our best. He admonished us time and again that he wanted our best ' plus 25 per cent. He told us quite frankly that he realized the gi ' eat majority of us were Boots in the Navy. and. for that reason if no other, it would be necessary for us to gi e that 25 per Oaptain Washburn reads his orders at cent extra. To further emphasize his deter- mination to whip us into a first-class fighting unit in record time, he told us that, starting that day. we could expect many drills and cla.sses in various duties. He warned us, also, that he expected us to conduct ourselves in keeping with the dignity of the uniform v e wear, stressing the fact that, while he intended to do all he could for the comfort, happiness and wel- fare of his men, he could make a man feel mighty small at Captain ' s Mast. Conse- quently, few men doubting him then, few have Captain Earner make 24

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Vc were highlv honored in having as Captain and Mrs. Washburn ' s guests, Captain and Mrs. J. D. Earner. Captain Earner being the Com- manding Officer of the U.S. Naval Station there, and later. Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Shangri-La. Since there was little doubt but that we were to be shipmates for a long time, this party was an excellent means of getting the Officers ac- quainted with each other. Moreover, it af- forded an opportunity for most of the wives of the Officers to meet each other for the first time, since most of our wives had followed us, with very little urging, to that beautiful Oregon country. Many Sea Stories were swapped among the Officers, and many a new hair-do was described in minute detail. Ey mid-night, the air thick with smoke and a spirit of con- viviality pre ailing throughout the Club, the Officers and their wives began saying their Good-byes to Captain and Mrs. Washburn, because a great event was to take place the next morning, and it was to be followed by weeks of hard work, and we needed all the rest we could get. The chairs soon were all empty, but there remained a lingering presence; the ghost of good fellowship rare. Our first log entry: Sunday, 14 May 1944: 0930- 1 200 Assembled the Officers and Crew of the U.S.S. Litnga Point (CVE 94) at quarters on the hangar deck. 0945 Captain Earner, USN, Clommanding Officer, U.S. Naval Station, Astoria, Oregon, came aboard. 0950 Lt. (jg) Lee, (ChC), USNR, deli ered invocation. 1000 Pursuant to Com 13th, Serial: 9505, dated 14 May 1944, the Commanding Officer, U.S. Na val Station, Astoria, Oregon, Captain Earner, USN, read orders directing the U.S.S. Lunga Point (CVE 94) to be placed in full com- mission in active status in accordance with . rticle 637 (la) and Article 638 (i) U.S. Navy Regulations. 1005 Captain G. A. T. Wash- burn, USN, in obedience to Endorsement 5, Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Station, Astoria, Oregon, with reference to BuPers speedlctter 92206 dated 20 March 1944, as- sumed command of this vessel, the U.S.S. Lunga Point (CVE 94), and ordered the watch to be set. Moored starboard side to Berth 9, Pier 3, U.S. Naval Station, Astoria, Oregon, with the following lines in use: Bowline 8 manila, forward bow spring 1J2 wire, after bow spring 1)2 wire, forward quarter spring lyi wire, after quarter spring i]4 wire, stern line 8 manila. No. i and No. 2 boilers in use for auxiliary purposes. Receiving fresh water and telephone service from the dock. Ships present: CVE ' s 91, 92, 93 and various small craft. SOPA in U.S.S. Makassar Straits. The commissioning of a Naval Vessel is al- ways a gala occasion and this was no exception, although it is only natural that there was a more serious atmosphere prevalent upon this W ' artime commissioning. It lacked none of the color attendant on a peacetime commission- ing, though, in that the usual formalities were rigidly adhered to and there were a goodly number of the fairer sex, dressed in all their finery, to give our commissioning the glamour that appeals to a Navy man. Captain Wash- burn, Captain Earner, Commander Eastwold, and the other officiating Officers took their places at the forward elevator, while Mrs. Vashburn, Mrs. Earner, Mrs. Eastwold, and our other guests, many of whom were the wives of our officers and men, had seats down the port side of the hangar deck. Opposite them, in a column of t% os, facing inboard, were the Ship ' s Officers. Amidships, facing forward, were the Chief Petty Officers, and behind them the enlisted personnel were formed by Di isions. To put it mildly, it presented a picture in keeping with the dignity of the occasion. Immediately after reading his orders. Cap- tain Washburn extended a word of welcome to our guests and greetings to the Ship ' s Com- pany, following which, he accepted from Mrs. VVarren K. Eerner, the wife of the Skipper . I.i.icd in Columbia River the day before Com-

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had to face him at Mast to this date. We were ail impressed with his sincerity of purpose and felt that we had a Skipper who was going to be tough when necessary but fair always. Many of us. even at that early date, suspected that he Captain Earner cnngratulates Claplain Washburn at commission- ing was a Perfectionist, although he denies it at this writing, only admitdng to striving for perfection. In either case, being or ■ striving, at the conclusion of his remarks, we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that we had a long road of indoctrination ahead of us before qualifying to strive for perfection. Following the Captain ' s talk, all hands turned to on fitting out and all that goes with it. The three weeks following our commission- ing were hectic ones. Without having gone through it, it is impossible for anyone to appre- ciate the tremendous amount of work in ol ed in putting a new ship in service. The hangar deck was piled high with what appeared to be mountains of stores, supplies and the usual ucar To y; Mrs. Washburn serves the Captain a slice of cake in ward- room followinc; commissioning exercises; center and bollom: en- listed men and guests enjoy commissioning party in forward crew mess. Ship ' s officers at ease during commissioning 25