Oriskany (CV 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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istor of the mise HE crew still wore Blues the day the Oriskany cast off lines and steamed away from the dock at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. The sun stood high. It was 1400, May 15. Along the shores of Narragansett Bay small leaves were bursting into sun- light on the trees. Seen from midstream, the hills gave promise of a beautiful New England summer to come. Within a few minutes, four powerful screws pushed the ship between the islands past Newport, and out into the Atlantic. By May 21, the ship passed south of the Azores. The Strait of Gibral- tar went by the afternoon of May 241. On Sunday, May 27, anchor dropped at Augusta, Sicily. All hands went topside to look for the ship the Oriskany was relieving. A small boat was lowered to allow officers to exchange courtesy calls. In the harbor the aircraft carrier Saipan lay ready to sail for home. The Saipan's helicopter flew over, clicking its blades and carrying greetings of welcome. Shortly thereafter, the Saipan raised anchor, quietly steamed out of the harbor and disappeared. Two days later the Oriskany also steamed away, heading east- ward through the Ionian Sea. Then the ship turned north, setting its course through the red clay islands of the Aegean Sea. On Fri- day, ,Iune 1, the flotilla found berths in Phaleron Bay, off Athens- Piraeus, in Greece. Through the long glass on the signal bridge, sailors could see the Parthenon shining white on the Acropolis, three miles inland. This was the first major port of the cruise. Even old Mediterranean hands made sure they got ashore. On Monday, June 11-, the ship hoisted anchor, following a line of destroyers out of the broad bay. Next afternoon, in rough seas, the Oriskany anchored off shore from Iraklion. Strong wind and rough seas continued through to the next day, forcing the Navigator to shift berths. Un Friday, June 8, the ship finally left the harbor and sailed out into the Ionian Sea for air operations lasting several days. On Thursday, ,lune 111-, the Oriskany pulled up to Tripoli, capital of Libya, in North Africa. All three sections took liberty before the ship steamed away on Monday, June 18. This time, the Fleet steamed northward several days, passing Sicily, Mt. Etna and the Strait of Messina. On Friday, June 22, Mt. Vesuvius was sighted, capped by clouds. The ship entered the beautiful Gulf of Naples. To starboard stood the Isle of Capri and to port was Ischia. The ship dropped anchor inside the mole early Friday, June 22. From Naples, steamers took parties to Capri, careening busses speeded them to Sorrento, and fast trains shot them to Rome. Almost one week later, Friday, June 29, the ship up-anchored and headed north again. In the attractive harbor of La Spezia, on the Italian Riviera, the ship moored to a buoy Monday, ,luly 2. Some sailors took bus tours to Genoa and to Pisa and Florence. For those who stayed behind, the ship celebrated the Fourth of July with turkey and trimmings. On the fifth the Oriskany departed. Next port, by almost unanimous consent, was considered the best in the Med. The ship dropped anchor at Cannes Saturday, July 7. It moved around the cape to Golfe Juan on Tuesday, the 10th. Next day the Oriskany ran out to sea for fueling, returning to Cannes late in the afternoon. From the Riviera one pany made a Eve-day tour L0 l.,m.jS, and another took a long bus ride through the Lake Country of Switzerland. Every day, officers and men visited cities and towns along the shore as far east as Monte Carlo' Nice, the lifth largest town in France, was the favorite. On the way to lzmir, air squadrons and detachments opgrated daily while the ship steamed a zig-zag course. At last, on Monday, July 23, the Oriskany hove to and anchored in Izmir harbor. There was boar hunting in the hills beyond the city. Tours took sailors to the ruins of Ephesus. On Saturday, July 28, the ship started westward again, ending the hrst half of the cruise. Most of the next two weeks were spent around Crete. First the ship anchored at Suda Bay on Thursday, August 2. Monday, August 6, she moved to sea, steaming into Iraklion, some 50 miles down the coast on Thursday, August 9. Early Saturday, August 11, the ship pulled out on a search for two downed fliers from the Coral Sea. They were found on a raft after an extensive search by ships and aircraft of many nations. The ship reanchored at Iraklion the same afternoon. Next morning, Sunday, August 12, the Oriskany left Crete for good. Almost one week later, Saturday, August 18, the ship pulled into Genoa, home of Christopher Columbus. A small party took a bus to Milan and, with some persuasion of the guide, made a flying dash to the Swiss border. After an houris delay, the Oriskany group was permitted to walk across, just so they could say: We were there? On Thursday, August 23, the ship hoisted anchor again. For the second time, the Oriskany headed for the French Riviera. Anchor was dropped in Golfe Juan Saturday morning, August 25. Another tour left for Paris. On Monday, the 27th, the ship shifted anchorage to Cannes, and on Saturday, September 1, the Oriskany was under way again. She steamed up and down the coast on operations for almost a week, heading into Genoa on Saturday, September 8. Tours were arranged to visit Rome and Venice. Late in the afternoon of Wednesday, September 12, the ship got up steam again and headed slowly for Gibraltar. The next ten days at sea were filled with operations. On the way, the Coral Sea joined the Oriskany and they met their relief, the Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the Leyte. The united fled sailed past Gibraltar wrapped in mist. In the Atlantic, all the ships combined in air operations. Finally, Saturday morning, September 22, the Oriskany, the Leyte, and the carrier escort Siboney, with accompanying cruisers and destroyers, steamed single file into Gibraltar Bay. For the last time, officers and men set foot on the soil of Europe, filling out their collection of souvenirs and giff5 before heading west. Wednesday, September 26, the Oriskany sailed proudly from under the shadow of the Rock. In the Atlantic on Thursday, She Passed Out of the jurisdiction of the Sixth Fleet. Eight days later she steamed past Breton Reef light ship, past the haughty city of Newport, and E1HChOl'Cd Off Quonset Point October 4. Next morn- ing the 0fiSk3UY moored alongside dock, at last returning t0 the exact spot from which the cruise began.

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Weap well, J. R. Murphy, D. C. Cruse 'ACK ROW, Lett to Right: R. J. Rhmgn, J. Gayle, R. F. Gerber, J. W, Morrison, H. B. Crider, C, F. Farrell, D. E. Savio, B. R. Winstead, R. R. Coggin, N. T. Wim., L. J. sfo-fi .... MIDDLE Row, Left to Right: W. L. Hyde, R, B. Wilmer, H. W. Wieboldt, 1, 0. Humphrey, G. F. Wesner, p, J. Koch, C. C. Farrell, D. G. Freeman, L. A. Monroe, J. J. pm., s. c. Alec .... FRONT ROW, Left to Right: R. G. Mich- aels, W. M. Jones, J. V. Der- nedde, B. A. Costilow, R. C. Ty- Ier, A. J. Leger, D. C. Schuessler, F. F. Donovin, A. J. Benedict, R. J. Gardner. BACK ROW, Left to Right: J. A. Krieger, E. T. Jones, J. N. Sci- animanico, R. G. Hansen, L. R. Daniels, E. S. Fleschner, S. W. Hamaker, J. D. Lehan, V. Ogro- dowski, R. D. Hillyard .... MID- DLE ROW, Left to Right: E. M. Thompson, G. F. Dugan, H. J. Boudreau, J. W. Swartout, R. C. Johnson, W. A. Waring, J. E. Handley, J. F. Morrison, P. F. Keating .... FRONT ROW, Left to Right: W. D. Moore, B. R. Kooken, J. Spelich, R. L. Larson, W. E. Yowell, C. A. Demasi, H. l.. Johnson, K. M. Wood, C. E. Bennett. on Co., lt Battalion, th arine BACK ROW, Left to Right: L. Le- vato, R. D. Mehrhoff, E. W. Teel, J. F. Kennedy, E. R. Thomas, J. F. Robinson, D. J. Carr, C. N. Beardsley, R. P. Stefanski, L. R. Poulin, R. J. McKinnon .... MIDDLE ROW, Left to Right: E. Zurek, R. P. Hein, J. A. Bran- dreth, R. F. Miller, J. R. Rum- ford, R. A. Fahey, H. B. Wall, H. H. Nissen, R. A. Shaul, V. G. Merritt, A. J. Boudreau. . . FRONT ROW, Left to Right: T. J Siemer, E. J. Whitcomb, J. M Weiss, F. K. Bebout, H. A. Shot- . L. Gilham, C. R. Hoeg, F. J. Sprague. BACK ROW, Left to Right: R. V. E. Robitsek, R. F. Ward, R. D. Hillis, J. D. Thompson, R. A. White, A. B. Stewart, P. T. Shive, W. E. Hamilton, E. B. Kelson. . . . MIDDLE ROW, Left to Right: A. J. Ventura, W. J. Cullen, T. A. Gable, F. S. Easton, E. L. Dal- ton, D. B. Bowen, B. B. Broyles, J. Palmieri, M. W. Trocio .... FRONT ROW, Left to Right: W R. Otto, R. C. Benfatti, H. W Robbins, R. L. Larson, C. J. Zien D. J. Mann, A. J. Molnar, W. W Knopf.

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RISKANY sailors first met European civilization in Sicily. Newcomers to the Mediterranean were puzzled by what they saw. The island itself, mountainous and green, looked ideally suited for a pleasant life of hunting, fishing and swim- ming. But the people dressed in patches, lived in shells of houses and enjoyed watching the fantastic Americanos. At the Fleet Landing in Augusta, itinerant merchants and peddlers did such a rush business that several of them tramped back home a couple of times during the day to replenish their stocks. After buying scarves and dolls, sailors noticed the i'Made in Moroccoil tags. This was chalked up to experience. The men promised themselves they wouldn't buy imported souvenirs next time. lt was a new experience, too, dealing in foreign currencies. Coins seldom changed hands. Practically all denominations of Italian lira came in paper money. Metal, it seemed, had too many more valuable uses. Five lire notes corresponded in size to cigarette coupons back in the States. The 10,000 lire bills were almost large enough to wrap a carton of cigarettes. To peddlers and shop keepers, it made no difference whether they were offered lira or American dollars. For easy figuring. f 600 lire to the dollar. haracters on lesson to a gave a fast then looked prices were translated at the rate o Sometimes higher rates were offered by furtive c street corners. One such deal, however, taught a whole busload of sailors. The curbstone broker count. 'Une thousand, two thousand, he said and both ways for the police. Four thousand, five, fifty-five hundredg sixty-five hundred, seven thousand, he Hnished off. The currency changed hands. W IC 6 the broker disappeared. So had so h'l th sailor recounted, me of the 7,000 lire. Most experiences on Sicily educated Oriksany sailors in more le may be happy cilian males smoked carved satisfying ways. The men learned that peop with few material possessions. Si First liberty in the med . pipes full of contentment. The brown-eyed young girls enjoyed dancing and simple pleasures. Traffic cops in Catania per- formed as dramatically as a major league pitcher winding up. History was real on the island. ln an open field on the road to Catania from Augusta, a monument recalled a bloody battle of the recent war. Where the wind now bent the growing wheat, German soldiers once retreated and died before power- ful American forces. Among the broken pillars and tumbled walls of ancient Syracuse, the glory that was Greece still haunted the ruins. Citizens of the Creek city of Corinth 2,800 years before had built a colonial outpost on the site. Centuries later-but still thousands of years ago, the Romans had imposed their more militarized civilization upon the colony. More centuries and more conquerors: dark-skinned Arabs, blue-eyed Normans, in- quisitive Spaniards, had left their mark on the island and its people, and then gone into history. Despite the centuries and tides of culture, the island re- mained physically little changed, except, perhaps, for the decrease in water supplies in wells and springs and river bot- toms. The high ridges, a reappearance of the Apennine spine of the ltalian boot just 20 miles away, were dominated by Mount Etna, 10,741 feet, the highest and most active volcano in Europe. Fairly regularly every six years, Etna sent its hot lava rolling down the steep slopes toward the fields and homes around its base. During the intervals, houses and fields crept back up again. To the people of Catania on the lower slopes of the volcano, the sleeping giant was more to be loved than feared, but mostly it was forgotten. Oriskany sailors felt differently. They passed and repassed Etna several times. To them it was a landmark, a natural aid to navigation, and always there for the wandering seaman to take his bearings from the strait or in memory. 'ff --Av 4 .1-sf' ww . ,. , ., ,. . . Fresh from the States, Oriskany sailors learn there have been many wars in Sicily.