Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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FFF'--'i- terribly hot out there in the sun as we fired away at the targets, but we were destined soon to be more than thankful that the Skipper and the .Gunnery Oflicer were so insistent that we get in gunnery practice just as often as possible. After all, we were en route to the real thing, and, with that knowledge, the gun batteries hred away at those targets with even more in- terest and enthusiasm than they ever had be- fore. It was, so to speak, our final test. Ex- cept for our gunnery practice, this short cruise was uneventful, and on 'gSaturday, 30 December 1944: 08- 1 2 Steaming as before. 0834 c fs to 5 knots. cfc to 197014 and p.g.c., 1800 p.s.c. 0841 axe stopped. 0921 Anchored in Berth 24, Kossol Passage, Western Caroline Islands, in 18 fathorns of water with 75 fathoms of chain at water's edge to the starboard anchor. 0936 Secured main engines. 0940 Secured the anchor detail. Set Condition of Readiness III, Watch I. 0955 Secured No. 3 generatorg cut in No. 2 generator. 1035 Made daily in- spection of magazines, conditions normal. Here we were in Kossol Roads again. And, again, it was to be a very short visit, just long enough to take on some more stores and ammu- nition, because we all knew that a really big and important operation was in the ofling, and we were to be a very active part of that opera- tion. We still didnit know exactly where we were going, but there were many among our Ship's Company who were pretty good guessers. New Year's Eve this year was not celebrated by us by the ringing of bells, the blowing of whistles and the usual hilarity that accompanies it, but, instead, we were all very busy getting our ship and ourselves ready for the job just ahead of us. As we rang out the Old Year, we also brought to an end another chapter in the Odyssey of the Lunga Point. ,I 4

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would hereafter be 'cC0mEsCarForPac in- stead of f'ComCarDiv 29.3, Why shoulclnit we be proud, hadnit we helped f'train him? It was with a feeling of genuine satisfaction to all hands, however, that we learned that 'cAd- miral Calm would continue to be right with us, at least most of the time. A few days before Christmas our Squadron went over to Momote Air Strip, Los Negros Island, for a few days special training, and we were all greatly saddened to learn that one of our fighter pilots, Ensign William Alexander Read, was killed on an operational flight at the Air Strip on Christmas Eve. Burial and Mass were held for him at the American Cemetary, .ml-. .., . . . f . I -ev--0' .f- , fx 6-, Il! 1 1 . 'lt Q...l V A. 12-.Qx X in I ' il - if X I tt H gf X 1, l f X X X . ffl 4 ,. N I- y y , I .,., up up J ,gg , ,I X 1 'A v , ' N x I -GI 9 ,Q F:- N .' U 9 5' IW Na... . , - gl .pil , l .1 4 - . 1 X, '.,,, 1 - A Wg 4. ffl , ...,. - X . A a 1 , A . 5 Los Negros Island, on Q6 December, with all the Squadron and Captain Washburn in attendance, and he was buried with full Mili- tary Honors. CHRISTMAS IN THE ADMIRALTIES The idea of spending Christmas in the Equa- torial heat of the Admiralties was not a situa- tion we would have deliberately chosen, but it was all a part of the warg so we just had to make the best of it. Despite the fact that we longed for a white Christmas back home, we were given a definite and cheerful reminder of the Season as we crossed the hangar deck on Christmas Eve afternoon and saw Saint Nick Standing on the corner at UTimes Squaren ringing his bell, while benevolent passcrsby dropped nickels and dimes in his kettle hanging appropriately from its tripod. A coconut palm would not make a very graceful Christmas tree, although it would have been most appropriate. We, therefore, built us a Clnistinas tree, using a 4 by 4 and nailing narrow boards up and down the trunk at angles to form a conical shaped Htreef' VVe took a boat to Pityilu and got sullicicnt palm fronds and other greens to tack 011 the tree, and the result was certainly better than nothing. VVe had bought an amplg supply of Christmas tree ornaments during our stop in Honolulu, and we ended up with a very pretty tree, thanks to the men in the EU Division who furnished a complete set of vari- eolored lights, and to Des Llardins, Sie, 2nd 'Division, and Terrell, Sic, Ist Division, who helped us decorate it. We had a party Christmas Eve night, and, thanks to Des Jardins, who was a professional window dresser before entering the service, we had a very appropriate setting for our party. He ingeniously used red tow sleeves as back- drops forward of the forward elevator, and completely framed the elevator in palm leaves, making a perfect stage for Saint Nick to pass out his presents from as he stood in front of the large f'Mei'ry Christmasw sign painted by Colin, Sic, 3rd Division. With the stage set, the party was on, and everyone was in high spirits, at least as high as can be expected so far from their loved ones. The party started at 1930 with the officer in charge of arrangements introducing the Ex- ecutive Oflicer, who, in turn, introduced the Captain. The Captain made a very timely talk, expressing to all hands his appreciation for their splendid cooperation, and wishing us all a very Merry Christmas. The Old Man had hardly finished his talk when down the after elevator came Santa Claus. He got aboard a hangar deck tractor, with his big bag of toys over his shoulder, and was driven for- ward where he bounded up on the stage, and immediately began passing out presents to all hands. In addition to the presents, everyone was given two bars of candy, package of gum and a can of mixed nuts. Periodically, through- out the program, which lasted until ab0L1'C 2200, our choral group, lcd by Lt. Corkralh sang a number of Christmas Carols, whiCl1 added much to thc occasion. The pr0g1'a1'1'1 ended with the reading of The Night Before Christmasi' by one of thc officers standing in the dim light of the trcc, and all hands thfrlfl went below for ice cream and cookies, following which we all turned in uwith visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads? fl Qi .xiii I A 'iff- i n' i I S-,Ji '

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