Napa (APA 157) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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I I I I I I I I I II . I I 1. I I I I II Ii I I. I. III I II 'I :I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 2 I I I I 1 I I I I I I L , DECEMBER 1944 -- I 0726 Underway for training I' maneuvers to practice as- I sault landings on island EI beaches at Maui, T. H. I, DECEMBER 1944- I 1200 Beach Party C3 officers and 38 menj left the ship for I temporary duty under in- struction on an uninhabited island beach. '4Merry Christ- I man Eve. At least the rest of us will be on board our ' own ship, even though len- gaged in maneuvers. Christ- mas Party in the creW's mess hall with presents for all. Midnight Celebration of Holy Communion to usher in I Christmas. DECEMBER 1944- I 0440 Underway approaching objective beach. 0647 Ar- I . rived V i c i ni t y Transport Area and commenced lower- ing boats to simulate de- barking troops. 0924 Made I y smoke. 1012 Ceased making smoke. 1115 Commenced f hoisting boats aboard. 1210 Ip Underway in retirement g p movement. 1400 HHoliday I Routine. Mr. Ballard actu- y ally served everything men- I tioned on the menu to pro- I, I vide one meal the folks at I home could envy us - no I Spam. I Ii X 0 X , 1 X 5,0 X II II v 0 ,- I O O I , 0 0 ff I f :EQ E IYKII A- ' Xxx I ff ZZ? V X- X i 1 . , 5-L ' L ,..... an-:s...wqW. - I, fn- - :Zf5m.........m f ,aw , .' . EEKEE553EEEEEEZEEZKEEEEEEZKEEEEE5 4 -I H , O HO! The spirit of Yuletlde and no one feels , .Y . s- like Christmas this year. In the first place snow, . el-ry Clari tma which is so much of a necessity, is missing. Part of . E the Christmas packages have been received and some ' are cached away in preparation for THE DAY. De- i cember 24th and we are on maneuvers, nothing re- j springs forth with a Christmas Eve party in the mess- , hall. Pharmacist Mate Perry acts as MC, the Napa , , orchestra gets hot with some jive and our two . 1 little Christmas spirits, Yeomen Hopkins and Har- i ris, stand by the Christmas tree and pass out pres- - ents to all. Cake and punch and carols all add in I .f . - giving us something to think about and start remi- - Lf niscences. Next morning, a half-hearted Merry Christmas - rings throughout the ship and then back to work on I J : - maneuvers. At noon, the miracle happens. uSet Holi- I' I I from the shock. Suddenly, the word is passed for di hi f visions to turn in names for a swimming party on f I the beach and everyone ubangs earsw with thepdi ' I vision officer. A mad scramble for the boats and off ' we go to the beach just a little way from Lahina ' ' 66 0 79 day Routine, and three men passed out on deck t Roads, Maui, a beautiful beach, marvelous swim- I ming, baseball and football or just lying in the sun. . When we get back to the ship everyone is dead tired and the showers and clean clothes feel good. Z I V To top it all off is Mr. Ballard's masterpiece. What Q a meal! It almost takes two trays to hold it all but everything is there and the cooks and bakers really ,J 4 I outdid themselves this time. A real feast and almost j like home. ALMOST! I That evening as we sat out on deck and thought I 4 about the day, we could see Christmas trees in the I I I 1' f I I i 2 homes on the beaches of Maui. Many of us remarked Ig I that it wasn't a bad Christmas at all, but, it's not like j aback homef, Ei? 5 I? '- '- ' 'I I- 'I vsfasiaifi 42 ll 1 lf X! . sembling a holiday spirit, and then the Chaplain