Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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, E N ilfinuf' Xi' b 'Nvnof NH f After years of loyal service Chief Gunners lN4ate XfVagner is piped over the side to a well earned rest. along the highway, there was always the possi- bility that a Jap might be peeping at us from behind a tree, because they still bring in Jap prisoners almost daily, although, comparatively speaking, there are few left there now. That, of course, is another reason we were so re- stricted as to where we were allowed to go. OUR SQUADRON LEAVES Us It was as if we had lost an integral part of our ship when, on II 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 16 Au- gust 1944, and had been a part of us ever since. They came aboard as strangers and they left us as friends. They came aboard as inex- perienced 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 who had, for the first time, in many cases, faced the stark realities of life. They left with 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 youth, they could lfimile of Apollo Ol'HC'lt'S.i, 108 S 4 , l

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everyday, where the highlight ol' their liberty was the privilege ol' actually talking to real, live and attractive .Xnierican girls who were on duty there with the Red Cross. 'l'hen, too, they got their usual ration ol' two cans ol' beer per man, which added lots to the singing as they gathered around the piano while one of the Red Cross girls or 'l'alavera, Sic, played. There was also an Ullicerls Club and a Chief Petty Qllicer's Club there, and the Oflicers and Chiefs had two barbecues at the Chief's Club during our stay, which were most enjoyable as they always are. Inasmuch as all the villages of Guam were uout of bounds to military personnel, we saw very little outside of our own military installa- tions and the recreation areas. VVe did have to go up to CinCPac,s Headquarters one day, which, incidentally, is beautifully located up in the mountains. 011 this trip, we also passed through what used io be the village of Agana. Now, it is nothing but ruins, and we understand , L, W, ' ,W , 4 'rgmwf M1-fvry 4 , , ff, ,, 4 , i that it was demolished by our own Naval gun- fire during the invasion, rctaking the island. As we rode along the coastal highway we would, occasionally, see a demolished Jap tank out in a lield or a stranded American MAlli- gator out on the coral reefs. Whilcf wc rode i i i 'luffx Silas Green lap dancing as a member of .Xpollo Oracles 'l'np: VC-85 prepares to depart ship, below: VC-85 departs ship on at Guanig 1f'l1lf'l.' l?wanl4ie Sinatra sings: bf'!UZI'.' XVave orders to return to the States for leave and reassigmnenl. 'losephine tlisch, Sac, dances.

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rise to any occasion in the fight for those liber- ties we hold so dear. We had all undergone frightful experiences we shall not soon forget, and, having undergone them together, our bonds of friendship are even further strength- ened. We shall miss Houri' 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 'fShipmates,3' 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 Lzmga Point. fTwAs A YEAR Aoo TODAY We arrived in Guam just in time to celebrate our first anniversary. It was on I4 May 1944 that we were commissioned way back in As- toria, Oregon, and, now, on I4 May 1945, we found ourselves a long ways from home. Re- gardless of where we were, we had every reason .1 SS Wg' s Ig Jr? Q . .W e ,f'N f- WRX K SW? I L gi XZ ,- V X ' -.-...f it it s 'X i ff' 5 ff wwf to celebrate, because we knew in our own hearts that we had done a good job. So that I night, our Anniversary party took place on the H' hangar deck. The program started with the oflicer in charge of arrangements introducing T the Executive Gfiicer, 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- E urally, we had every reason to be proud of his recognition. Likewise, the applause he got at Q, 1 the end of his talk was bound to have given . 4 him much personal satisfaction. Following the Skipperis talk, we had a program of enter- :. tainment put on entirely by our enlisted per- 53 sonnel. Our old 'fstandbyf' Talavera, Sic, played his guitar and sang several of his ever popular Mexican songs. Johnson, Ygc, ac- companied by Merryman, RM3c, was again well received with his Irish songs. Then, the HLUNGA POINT F oUR,,' composed of Clark, Smalls, Hale and McLaughlin, all StM1c, with Dale, Stdgc, as Manager, gave us several se- ' Y ' 'lf' ,ls 'L' 'Z 1 4 A f it f iff' H On our first Anniversary the Skipper f N. 5 X f X ,f ,S X ef ' ff' 4 - 5 : K T' A 55 if if: 4'- X ,f X , 1. A 1 fi e . A 1 2' I 'M x X f if X I 5 X el, X t 4 ft f ' A A x 1 f 4 l A is S D xt X ,ff : X A 1'-SX ge X ' g 3 N i and Exec seem satisfied but apprehensive 109