Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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We were highly honored in having as Captain and Mrs. Washburn's guests, Captain and Mrs. J. D. Barner, Captain Barner being the Com- manding Officer of the U.S. Naval Station there, and later, Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Shangrz'-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. By mid-night, the air thick with smoke and a spirit of con- viviality prevailing throughout the Club, the Officers and their wives began saying their Good-byesn 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: 'cSunday, 14 May 1944: 0930-1200 Assembled the Officers and Crew of the U.S.S. Lunga Point CCVE 945 at quarters on the hangar deck. 0945 Captain Barner, USN, Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Station, Astoria, Oregon, came aboard. 0950 Lt. Cjgl Lee, CChCD, USNR, delivered invocation. 1000 Pursuant to Com13th, Serial: 9505, dated 14 May 1944, the Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Station, Astoria, Oregon, Captain Barner, USN, read orders directing the U.S.S. Lunga Point QCVE 945 to be placed in full com- mission in active status in accordance with Article 637 Ciaj and Article 638 CID 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 speedletter 92206 dated 20 March 1944, as- sumed command of this vessel, the U.S.S. Lunga Point CCVE 943, 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 IM wire, after bow spring iM wire, forward quarter spring IM wire, after quarter spring IM wire, stern line 8 manila. No. 1 and No. 2 boilers in use for auxiliary purposes. Receiving fresh water and telephone service from the dock. Ships present: CVE's 91, 92, Q3 and various small craft. SOPA in U.S.S. Makassar Slraitsf, 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 Wartime 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 Barner, Commander Eastwold, and the other officiating Officers took their places at the forward elevator, while Mrs. Washburn, Mrs. Barner, 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 twos, facing inboard, were the Ship's Officers. Amidships, facing forward, were the Chief Petty Officers, and behind them the enlisted personnel were formed by Divisions. 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. Warren K. Berner, the wife of the NSkipper', ., 5'., 1,101,311 litllillf aneliored in Columbia River the day before Com- missioning.

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,, ' 'Xltl l .1 ii CHRISTENING, COMM I SS l ON l NU AND SHAKEDOWN The cCLunga Pofzztw zefas hw' nanzc' As she wentfortlz I0 wizz lI6'I'!ffllI7f'. Designated a C- V-E, An Aircraft Carrz'e1', infacl, was sian f'Baby Flat-Zopn is plain a1nb1'g1z1'll',' For shflljfght her wqy out Qf 011s611r1h'. CHRISTENING At the Kaiser-Vancouver Shipyards, Van- couver, Washington, on II April 1944, a great event took place. Another of Henry Kai- serls many ships was being launched. It was just another mass of iron and steel that was to be sent down the ways into the Columbia River. There was, however, something differ- ent about this particular launching, something in the air prophesying a grand and glorious future for Hull 340. It was an auspicious occasion when, at exactly 1225, with her Matron-of-Honor, Mrs. R. L. Bowman of Coronado, Calif., standing beside her, holding her bouquet, Mrs. James H. McKay, also of Coronado, Calif., our Sponsor, gave that hull a soul as she slammed a bottle of Champagne against the shiny, new bow, and said, HI christen thee Lunga Pointlw Milli i4ll 1 N1 Lzmlgn l'n1nl going clown thc wav' COMlX1lSSlONlNG The night bcforc our Shi p was c'o1n1nissioncd the Officers had a cocktail party at thc Ufliccfs Club, U.S. Naval Station. Astoria. Oregon, which proved to bc a most dclighlful 0C'C'2lSlO1l. Our Sponsor and her Matron-of-honor, Ch I , .1 arnpagm. And a liolllv of Clrwa-flolu would havc dom' jllS! as wt-II.

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of the rllakassar Sifaify, a beautiful silver tray, a gift to the ship from Mrs. James H. lVIeKay, our Sponsor, who was unable to be present for the commissioning. Following the formal cer- emonies, Captain Washburii invited our guests down to the Wardroom, the C.P.C. Mess and the Crew's Mess for refreshments, and many of our guests took advantage of the opportunity l Captain Barner addressing ship's company at commissioning exercises. to look around the ship, but many of them got lost, for even their cfguidesw were unfamiliar with all the many ladders and passageways at that time, not one member of the Shipjs Corn- pany having been allowed on board before oggo 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 1300 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 Cfficer. He had just returned from nine months in the 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 ffplus 25 per centf' He told us quite frankly that he realized the great majority of us were ffBootsm in the Navy, and, for that reason if no other, it would be necessary for us to give that H25 per Captain VVashburn reads his orders at commissioning exercises centj' extra. To further emphasize his deter- mination to whip us into a first-class lighting unit in record time, he told us that, starting that day, we could expect many drills and classes in various duties. He warned us, also. that he expected us to conduct ourselves in keeping with the dignity of the uniform we 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 Blast. Conse- quently, few men doubting him then, few have l' ' ' - - .. . . ' ' ' , Laplain liainti nialses commissioning address. iv I l