Napa (APA 157) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 104 text:

THE Napa was then directed from San Diego hy Commander, Western Sea Frontier dispatch 2123141 F ehruary, to proceed via the Canal Zone to Norfolk, Va., and report to the Commandant of the Fifth Naval District to he decommissioned. Thus ended the Napa's tour of duty with the Am- phibious forces and umagic carpetw duty in the U. S. Pacific Fleet. iw wb, WDIIIJ JII I CI hun J'lUJ'JJJ'JwJJX ihey'd built the ship that ne're wouhl sinh. Bui i'was neariviq Jim-a shore When the mortersqavi U J J IJ J .J ' a roar It was sad when that qreat ship went down It was sad It was sad. It was sad I In I I 9 J' when that great ship went down to the bot-tom of the -has-hands anal wives, little child-ren lost thier lives, It was sad when that areat 'ship went down. 96 1 ?'!-,g,,f I it i - .. MM --,,...i,,.,.,,...,,..- A.

Page 103 text:

f 1 1 u 4 1 1 I 1 1 1 A 11 lf 5 L. Z E L r 2 2 E l, x 5 4 E li I? I . s 3 1 I, Q, i ls 1 I X , L lt E if l i 1 1 1 1 1 ! E 1 I 24 FEBRUARY 1946. Steaming independently un- der Nos. I and II boilers' en? route from Tsingtao, China to San Diego, California, 1130 Set special sea and an? chor detail. Made all prepa-1 rations for entering San Die-Q go Harbor. 12150 Secured spej cial sea and anchor details' Moored ports side to Pier.- 1325 Commenced' fde- blarking troops. 1430 Fins ished deloarking troops and two Navy Nursesg 55 Naval Aiiv 17' officersg 4-78 enlisted Naval. personnelg 43 Marine zoffi-, cersg 1129 enlisted Marine personnel. Liberty com-L menced at 1700 for the Napaui crew and oilicers. State side ' LIBERTY. ' f A 1 s Q . Oo 5 'am ,M ,,,g,,,5N. V . , ,1,..s-.1 -M.g,.s ., L. H-+fm..,..Ms.,,,,K 'wmmxwm 'MGH' 4 1 . F T 2 l ' , 2 1 - r We N 1 ' N I , , 1 1 M A X V A X N l X l L S lv L L S I my W- 5 V., ss,, X . A , I NM A .s,s.t N M 1 X M ' O O o 0 it 0 191W fe '9 ' Q1 ' 1 1 Y T, A ,v v is wie., I 3 ., M- .. Nl ggwjvl-24-6 X U S W, W W 1 A - -I s e was .s,.s :N is -f M, f-f -.1 Y guess.. 1. , ' . X, S Wmmsw 'EN-'Q W- M -av., Ss -I is - 1 S We--..,s. -s ' ' I N-sw f W-sw -.N-M. ' LsWw1 13.iDw-- Q. ' V ,m1TWp..,.1QZsuL.ff'e- ' Q1 g'3s33z'ggfyf'fW I 'tfm,,,,m.QQf 'WTA I , M, y , 0 jk 'if MQmM,CW,Q.1Wf, . 1 , 'W fm., .1 sw -Wtif .Q - W' -- MVAW., or X, . W, M ,. M fMmsa,,sw AN A Y -X W. 1 V ., ,.,, f-M 'M M tw K S ,,.. .,,.,ii,,,mW W51:.w.-.ws 'XX105igQ,m-v in-my Mmm ,,..,251M

Page 105 text:

I. Now they built the APA, 'Twas the ship to save the day, And they thought they'd built . would sink. But t'was nearing ,lima's Shore, When the mortars gave a roar. II. The Na a Song Written by ENSIGN CHARLES PIPER a ship that ne'er Now an Ensign young and bold, Climbed the ladder from the hold, And he thought he'd walk around 'the quarter deck. 'C 'Bandon ship, the Helmsman cried, As he climbed the six foot side. III. Now the Surgeon dropped three stitches, And the Bos'n lost his breeches, When the Logan struck abaft th The Captain was asleep, Dreaming of his gig and jeep. IV. In the sack the T.Q.M., e port side beam. Heard 'the Chaplain shout, '4Amen. And the doctor said the booze and beer come first. Erse Ballard cursed the stars, ,Cause he'd lost his black cigars. V. ultis a Betty, shouted Bones, As he threw away his phones, And old Clifford shouted, uSavethe poker chips! aa . ,, Save my ocarina flute, Shouted Ensign Peter Smoot. VI. With her stern to .lima's shores, And no meat in number four, The Napa turned her thoughts again to sea. Now the crew was eating Spam, But they didn't give a damn. VII. So we sailed down Puget Sound In 'the fog Seattle bound. And the censors thought the secret was intact, But as we anchored near the town, Wives and sweethearts gathered lround. VIII. Though the chaplain jumped the gun, Others followed one by one. And soon the marriages were coming thick and fast. There were few did not comply, And right now they're wondering why. IX. When the Napa left Seattle She had scars of recent battle, But we had a string of victories on the shelf. Wives and sweethearts said goodbye. Some were ours - some other guys. Chorus It was sad when that great ship went down It was sad It was sad - It was sad when that great ship went down - To the bottom of the . Husbands and wives, little children lost their lives It was sad when that great ship went down. 97 ,