Napa (APA 157) - Naval Cruise Book

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2 DECEMBER 1944 -- 0500 Landfall. Island of Oahu sighted broad on the starboard bow. From a dis- tance it met all expectations based on the tourist and movie version of Hawaii. Diamond Head was satisfac- torily impressive. Only a few disappointed at the absence of Hawaiian beauties in war canoes, carrying leis and singing tropical love songs. 1200 Moored starboard side to berth A-12, Pearl Harbor, to discharge cargo and pas- sengers, Gun crews secured when there was a noticeable absence of laps. 5 DECEMBER 1944 - 1606 shifted to berth X-7 in east lock, passing the sunken and overturned Battleship Utah on the way. It was our first glimpse of the results of Japanese treachery. Other remaining evidences of Pearl Harbor day bombing were passed frequently in ensuing days by liberty boats going to and from the fleet landing. if Hum Gam.: I ll Q ' WITH GRASSSKI . ' 1 l 4 1 Ude to tice Zend of leiA, Zuma! and Ulzvlelaao HAWAII . . . land of golden shores, palm trees, brown-eyed 44Wahines, and Waikiki. As we steamed past Diamond Head, many were the thoughts that went through our minds. Some of us thought of Waikiki, others thought of a band waiting to greet us on the dock with the plaintive strains of 6GAloha Oe,'7 and still others thought of lithe Hlfanakasw div- ing for pennies which we might throw them from the ship. And of course there were other thoughts, but 64 . . . we don't talk about that Iv But alas! Alack! And what have you? We were doomed to disap- pointment. Waikiki . '. . a quarter-mile stretch of crustacean- abounding sand perhaps 100 yards wide at its widest point, surrounded on one side by the Pacific Ocean disguised to resemble a sewage disposal canal, and on the other side by curio shops and shooting gal- leries where H . . . both mother and daughter- working for the Yankee Dollarf, And now let us see what the band played as we proceeded to put our lines out to the dock. Oh, yes, there was a band-a band of native yard workmen, waiting to put up the gangway, and that's about all. uAloha Oew? That probablyiwent out with the bustle. Which brings us to the Kanakas diving for our few paltry pennies. Those selfsame Kanakas that greeted the Matsonia, Mariposa, et al, are now em- ployed in the Navy Yard for 31.50 per hour. Who has time to dive for pennies? fAny similarity between this description and a Fitzpatrick Travelogue is purely maliciousj 38

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.I 2 DECEMBER 1944- 1800 Captain Firth collapsed on the bridge from abdomi- nal pains. l4 DECEMBER 19441- 1500 Capt ain Firth 'trans- ferred to shore emergency hospitalization from which he was not allowed to return to sea duty. .I 5 DECEMBER 194-4- 1000 Commander Guido F. Forster, USNR, reported aboard and assumed com- mand i11 accordance with orders from the Commander, Service Force, U. Pacific Fleet. U i vvc-Y L Li gr-H 1, ,MALTA H N 1 ....lvdusanou-- ff 1 A f i COMMANDER SERVICE FORCE UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET SEF-6551-1Mfjhc ' P16-4fOO 15596-63 , 14'December 1944 From: The Commander Service Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet. To: Commander Guido F. FORSTER, CDEJ , USNR, 1109181 . Subject : Change of Duty. 1. Upon receipt of these orders you will consider yourself detached from your present duty and from such other duties as may have been assigned youg will pro- ceed immediately to the U.S.S. NAPA QAPA 157j. Upon arrival you will report to the immediate superior in command if present otherwise by dispatch, for duty as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. NAPA QAPA 157j. 2. No transportation other than government is necessary or authorized in the execution of these orders. ' 3. Delivered and detached this date. PAUL B. HARTENSTEIN ' By direction ' Copy to: BuPers AdComPhibsPac USS NAPA QAPA 1571 lst End I U.S.S. NAPA fAPA 1572 15 December 1944. From: Commanding Officer. To: Commander Guido F. FORSTER, fDEj , USNR, f10918j . 1. You reported on board at 1600, 14 December 1944. 2. Assumed command this date. G. F. FORSTER