Marias (AO 57) - Naval Cruise Book

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A MULE'S TALE The Mule, she's old shore 'nough But she's still round struttin' her stuff She's stubborn, hardworking, loyal and true She's a mite slow, but that's alright, too The Mule, she's a-pushin' 30 pretty hard Some say she ain't gonna be round much more But don't you go sayin' that to her face Or she'll be a-kickin' you in yer sittin-down place The Mule, her memories must be somtin else Why she's a legend in herself She's kicked her heels from here to there I reckon she's Hdone her thingu most everywhere The Mule, she's a strange ol' breed She passes a lot of gas, don't use much feed When things ain't right, you can't miss that brey You can hear her HGYSTH 15 mi1es.away The Mule, the one I've been talkin' 'bout Her father weren't no horse, her mother an ass I doubt She's just an affectionate, old class 22 oiler Who'll soon be turned out to 'nother pasture The Mule, the onry ol' cuss Known to outsiders as MARIAS Will soon be given to MSC To continue kickin' round the 7 seas The Mule, to those of us she'l1 depart She'1l leave a fondness of her in Cup heart For no matter what our begrudgin thoughts might be She's been our home, our life, our own little city WGS

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R 0703452 JUN 73 runs CTG 73.5 T0 Dss MARIAS 1, SINCE ARRIVING IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA MARIAS HAS SKILLFULLY H T THE CHALLENGE or PROVIDING VITAL LOGISTIC SUPPORT IN RESPONSE TO THE FLUCTUATING REQUIREMENTS or SEVENTHFLT OPERATIONS. You RAPIDLY ADJUSTED TO THE TEMPO or WESTPAC OPERATIONS AND CDNSISTENTLY PROVIDED TIHELY SERVICES TO ALL CUSTOMERS. THE sUccEss WITH HHICH You TACKLED ALL COM ITMENTS CAN BE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE, SRILL, AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE OF ALL HANDS. I EXTEND TO You A HEARTY WELL DONE FOR YOUR NDTEWDHTHT PERFORMANCE WHILE A MEMBER OF TG 73.5. 2. TAKE WITH You MY BEST WISHES FOR A SMOOTH AND SAFE VDTACH TO HAYPDHT AND A HAPPY REUNION WITH YOUR LOVED oNEs. F. D. BROMLEY. R 0905592 JUN 73 PM COHSERVPAC PEARL HARBOR HI T0 USS MARIAS WELL DONE 1. AS YOU SAIL HOMEWARD AFTER A DEPLOYMENT OF ALMOST SEVEN HONTHS IN SUPPORT OF PACIFIC FLEET UNITS, I WISH TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO COMMANDER RALPH, THE OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN OF MARIAS FOR COMPLETIHG A VERY SUCCESSFUL PACIFIC FLEET TOUR. SINCE YOUR ARRIVAL LAST JANUARY THE PROFESSIONALISM WHICH YOU EXHIBITED IN ACCOHTLISHING ESSENTIAL RENDEZVOUS AND REPLENISHMENT OPERATIONS SHOULD BE A SOURCE OF GREAT PERSONAL PRIDE FOR MARIAS'S HARD WORKING CREW. YOU CAN BE JUSTIFIABLY PROUD OF THE SERVICES YOU HAVE RENDERED. WELL DONE. 2. YOU HAVE MY BEST WISHES FOR A SMOOTH VOYAGE HOME AND A WARM AND HAPPY REUNION WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. REAR ADMIRAL P. B. ARMSTRONG. R 1309202 JUN 73 FH CTF SEVEN THREE TO USS MARIAS SAYONARA 1 AS MARIAS COM LETES A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL WESTPAC TOUR WITH THE SEVENTH FLEET MOBILE LOGISTIC SUPPORT FORCE, I TAKE THIS FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO COHMEND YOUR OFFICERS AND HHN FOR A JOB WELL DONE THESE PAST SIX MONTHS. DURING YOUR DEPLOYHINT YOU PERPORHED THE TASK OF TRANSFERRING FUEL AND FLEET FREIGHT, MAIL AND PASSENGERS T0 THE 160 CUSTOH RS YOU HAD ALONGSIDE DURING YOUR SEVEN LINE SWINGS. THIS ACCOMTLISHMINT ALONG WITH BEING TTMENT IS AN ACHIEVEHENT YOU AND UNDERWAY 63 PERCENT OF THE TIME AND NOT MISSING A COMMI YOUR CREW CAN BE PROUD OF. YOUR PROFESSIONALISH AND VERSATILITY PROVED AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT MARIAS COULD OF ATLANTIC FLEET YOUR CONTRIBUTION SIGNIFICANT. 2. AS YOU RETURN THE SUPERB SUPPORT MARIAS PROVIDED. I EXTEND MY SINCERE WELL DONE TO THE O MEN OF MARIAS AND BEST WISHES FOR A SMOOTH AND SAFE VOYAGE HOME. RADM J. D. JOHNSON. BE COUNTED ON WHEN NEEDED. YOUR PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN REPRESENTATIVE CAN DO SPIRIT AND REFLECTS CREDIT ON THE SERVICE FORCE IN GENERAL. TO THE NAVY'S EFFORT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA DURING THIS PERIOD WAS HOST TO THE EAST COAST REST ASSURED THAT WE IN WESTPAC ARE APPRECIATIVE FO FFICERS AND R 1504582 JUN 73 FM CINCPACFLT MAKALAPAHI T0 Uss MARIAS WELL DONE 1. AS You SIAL HDM WAHD AFTER A DEPLOYMENT or ovEH FIVE MONTHS WITH THE PACIFIC FLEET YOU ARE THE LAsT ATLANTIC FLEET AO T0 HAVE CDNTHIDUTED TO OUR NATION'S EFFDHTS IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA CONFLICT. I WISH T0 EXPRESS MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO CAPTAIN RALPH, THE OFFICERS AND M N OF MARIAS FOR COMTLETING A MOST sUCCEssFUL PACIFIC FLEET THE PROFESSIONALISH WHICH You EXHIBITED DEPLOYMENT. SINCE YOUR ARRIVAL LAST JANUARY IN ACCOMPLISHING ESSENTIAL RENDEZVOUS AND REPLENISHING OPERATIONS SHOULD BE A SOURCE