Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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x. x, if I I Captain BQIIKIIVI' t'Ull1.Ql'LlllIlk1ll'S Captain XY2i5lllJlIlll at tomniission ing exercises. was a C'Perleetionistf' although he denies it at this writing, only admitting to 'striving for perfeetionf, In either ease, 'tbeingw or Hstriyingf, 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 Hstrive for perfection. Following the Captainls talk. all hands turned to on litting out and all that goes with it. The three weeks following our Commission- ing were heetie ones. Wlithout having gone through it, it is impossible for anyone to appre- ciate the tremendous amount of work involved mountains of stores. supplies and the usual geai xii A '?i.1 .,iQ,w-s..- Htl 5 if fs f i H3 Q K X SlllIilS1lIlll'l'IN.lI 1-.use llllllIlLQ rolliliuissit mm. ext nam in putting a new ship in serviee. The hangar deek was piled high with what appeared to be

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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

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Dance on hangar deck at Astoria. that is needed to adequately outfit and supply a Naval vessel, and there was even more in the warehouses on the adjacent dock. All hands turned to with splendid cooperation, though, and we all worked long days, passing up many liberties in order to speed up our job. Many of the Officers and men had their wives with them, so that, on their liberty nights, they had someone- to rub liniment into their sore muscles and joints, because both officers and men were doing heavy work in trying to finish up with a tough job as soon as possible. The housing situation in the Astoria area was about the same as in every other West Coast port, and Lunga Point wives were scat- tered all up and down the Columbia River, some even staying in Portland, Oregon. Most of our couples, though, were able to find places in either Astoria, Gearhart or Seaside, however, we feel that those who stayed at the Gearhart Hotel, Gearhart, Oregon, were the most fortu- nate of all, because the wartime shortage of labor had made it probably the Oountry's most unique hotel. We were fortunate enough to have gotten rooms there, and it was at the Gearhart that we first operated a passenger elevator, because the Elevator Boy had gone to war. It was also here that we tipped the Bellboy for bringing our bags to our room on arrival, and he promptly drew himself up to his full height and told us with great dignity that it just so happened that he was the Man- ager and Oo-owner of the hotel. The Gear- hart had its own switchboard in the office, but, when you called for ice to be brought to your room, almost invariably you heard the voice of the wife of another Ofhcer saying, UGO get it A Lzmga fjlllillf lovely and lien' Ixus-lmml al :Inner alioarrl ship at ,'XSltll'l2l. yourself, Dearieg itls in the pantryfl lwlany a Navy wife learned to be a switchboard operator at the Gearhart, and Room Service is some- thing we just learned to do without from the very first day. W7hen a guest went to check out, he would nearly always find a Navy wife behind the counter, handling the books and cash register just as though she were regularly employed there. They just all pitched in and helped where they were needed, and it seems they were needed ust about everywhere except in the kitchen and dining room and as maids. And speaking of the dining room, you were a total stranger if the waitresses didn't call you by your first name on your second day there, and, of course, they were always expected to join the Navy couples in the bar for a beer after dinner, and the bar tender was practically always a guest of the hotel. lXfIixing drinks, handling the cash register and cracking ice gave the guests invaluable training forjobs after the war. Probably due to insufficient ration points, they served no lunch at the Gearhart, but the Manager himself served coffee to the wives every afternoon before the big stone fire- place in the lounge. We assume that he felt he simply must give the wives some rest from their daily chores about the hotel. Not only was the Gearhart Hotel unique, but it was a real pleasure to have been fortunate enough to stay there. There was a spirit of hospitality and congeniality there that has made us determined to go back for another visit after the war. lt was a very spacious and comfortable hotel and has long enjoyed an ex- cellent reputation as a resort hotel, being situated mid-way between its own golf course