Napa (APA 157) - Naval Cruise Book

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AUGUST 1944-APA 157i Detail reported aboard theVU.S.S. Arlington .for :a ten day training cruise. Gold, green, red, blue crewsgq star- board, port, ,boat-deck, well- tdeck, weather-deck, director4 tubs, gun-tubs, welin Ydavits 3 stays, guys, blocks and booms. Four crews in train- ing getting in the way. of the ship's. complement. QlPuget Sound y iferryboats, , 'Alaskan winds, 'Port T .Townsend at night W T flurnber, paper mill, ismells--especially SMELLS jk, Port Angeles for ,gn-nnery practice. tWhereV is' mydstaf tion? l.'Wh'at crew' I are we- toi ydotweglget ,lib- erIY?7 1MoMM ones. landed ,A'. 5 in f in the drink Whenhe fell' off :Pia-LSQ1 while sneagkingyeqmir. nn j the fffanvtailandat 2400. y Heir . ll gi fgrgqt The hga' overaightg 11194 ertyl ills ,there fav ,first 'aid l in- ks tru ction' thi s-V in o rningi? Wh,'?1fC'..iSrN0--.4 hatCh?f-i 3 .1 N ' I mp as-,.t:s..-f--a A. fs saggy , , As,, X . ,-f:,. .s.i wif at ....m,,,mfZ4. X ,4-'M am SEPTEMBER 1944 f- Building No. 6 vacated by Napa crew to make room for boots assigned to a ,later APA. Underway by buspto Receiving Barracks, Tacoma, Washington - not expected by Tacoma authorities. Arrived Tacoma for tempor- ary billeting between CVE crews. Pacific Street, 1 MPap. py's Cabin, uC.rescent Ball- room, beer every' afternoon. Of course, marred 'by inspec- tions, Tacoma managed to make an impression. Those lucky f'?j 100. who took a side trip to i Pacific Beach for AA gunnery, some bang! ,m T l

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Mmm ll OCTOBER 1944 - Offi- cers and crew assembled at quarters on the after boat- deck before invited guests, relatives and friends and heard 4'Napa Napa resound over 'the P. A. system for the first time as Captain A. R. Ponto, USN, Commanding Officer of the Naval Sta- tion, Astoria, Oregon, came aboard for commissioning ceremonies. After the invo- cation by Chaplain Malcolm W. Eckel, USNR, the U.S.S. Napa QAPA 1575 was placed Hin full commission in an active status in the United States Navy. Captain Francis J. Firth, USN, pursuant to orders from the Bureau of Naval Personnel, assumed command and ordered the watch to be set. His Watch- words, 4'Our motto - work, our destination - doubtful and confidential, both equally unpleasant, both equally necessary, in time equally true. 1 O O J X54 6, O ' . ' A o 0 ' C'vmmiAAioning eremvm, 'A' Assembly of Crew Music by the Band The Commanding Officer, Naval Station, Astoria, l Received at the Gangway Prayer by Chaplain Malcolm W. Eckel, USNR Commissioning Orders and Remarks by Captain A. R. Ponto, USN y ir COMMISSIONING OF SHIP Band plays the National Anthem. National Ensign, Jack, and the Commission Pennant are hoisted. The Command ls Transferred to Captain Francis J . Firth, USN Reading of Orders and Remarks by Captain Francis J . Firth, USN The Watch ls Posted by Lieut. Commander Robert C. Lynch, USNR The Sounding of Retreat if I8