Napa (APA 157) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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