Razorback (SS 394) - Naval Cruise Book

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SCENES FROM GUAM

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CAMP DEALE Pulling into Guam after our s-econd patrol, we tied up alongside the USS Sperry. We had ice cream and fresh fruit as soon as the gangway was over. All hands went for this in a big way, as they always did after a long war patrol. When everyone had just about all they could hold, our mail man began calling out mail. Everyone was very interested in this and gathered around close to him. Time to leave the ship came and two motor launches pulled up alongside. Everyone jumped into them bag and baggage, leaving the ship in the care of the relief crew for the next two weeks. When we reached the beach there were trucks waiting for us. We jumped out of the boat and into the trucks and were on our way to Camp Dealey. The scenery on the way was typical Pacific lsland scenery. Cocoanut trees on both sides of us as we wan- dered down the narrow dusty road. Occasionally we would pass through a small village. The natives would wave to us as if they were glad to see us, not consid- ering that their homes were practically all torn, down by gun fire not long before, or that the place where they now stood was but a few days before a place of bloody battle and cross-fire, As Awe neared Camp Dealey we could see Quonset Huts on both sides of the road, hidden from the sky by cocoanut trees. The trucks stopped and we all jumped out. We were told of the Japs still on the lsland, that had not been captured yet, that many of them were still armed and would kill for food. We were given four huts which were going to be our homes for the next two weeks. Ev-eryone scrambled to find the bunk he wanted and some would save the one next to him for his buddy, who was coming on the next trucks. The bunks were all covered with mosquito net to protect us from another very, sneaky enemy. Y, GUAM We did not get private rooms and bath, but there were about 25 men to a hut and our baths were out- side. However we never were crowded and never went dirty. The heads were outside also and very primitive, but were kept very sanitary by use of lye and every so often they would be moved to a new spot and the old ones covered. Our huts were so arranged that we could see, through the cocoanut trees, the blue Pacific and on the other side the green mountains. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from our hut was the beer garden. For a floor it had the earth and for a roof it had the blue Pacific sky. Adjoining this was the ball diamond in which almost everyone took an interest. The beer was rationed to us very freely. We got 22 cases a day, ll in the morning and ll in the after- noon. This was plenty and sometimes too much as most of the men took more interest in the ball diamond and could not play and drink at the same time, A typical day at camp was: Get up for breakfast, if you felt like it. After breakfast you could write letters, play ball, horseshoes, go swimming or go to bed again. There was also a later snack for late sleepers. Later in the morning you could go out for a few beers or con- tinue what you were doing. Lunch was down and then by the time that was over it was time to get our afternoon ration of beer. We could drink, p'ay ball, or write letters until dinner time. ln the eveningwhen there was no ball being plaved and no beer given out there was the movie house The camp had its own show. After the show, we would either retire or write some more letters. This wasn't like being home or staying at the 'Royal Hawaiian Hotel at Honolulu but it'was sure a rest after spending 60 days in a submarine. A

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HAWAll REST AND RECUPERATION AT THE ROYAL the When the submarine enters the channel and , hatches are opened, there is an air of anticipallofl throughout the boat, for the Df0SPeCf of two Weeks in civilization is a welcome thouQl1f- The band awaits at the dock to play a few welcom- ing numbers, the lines are passed and secured, alnd old friends call from one submarine to another, l'lOWCl you make out this trip? , We heard you went down, Pete, Loan me five till we get paid, eff?- While all this goes on, a welcoming committee Of station officers comes aboard, and for the next few minutes there is more handshaking and backslapping among the wearers of the gold than you would expect at a political rally the night before election. After long weeks at sea, fresh fruit and ice cream seem to hit the right spot, and there is plenty of it, so everybody digs right in. It sure tastes good! Most important of all is the arrival of the mail, several sacks of it. As there has been no mail service while at sea, distribution of the letters is impatiently awaited, For awhile there isn't much else being done, for the question uppermost in every man's mind is, How are things at home? Few of the fellows answer any mail immediately, for most of them have written while at sea, and their letters have gone off with the return trip of the mail truck. While waiting for pay line to be called, laundry is taken topside and last minute packing is done. After being paid, everyone is all set for the trucks that will take the crew to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in the morning. g Although first-timers will find that Waikiki and the Royal Hawaiian are not all they are cracked up to be, and the visions of hula girls and a beautiful beach sprinkled with a liberal number of wahines exist only in the minds of ambitious press agents and travel bureaus, submarine sailors are always glad to pull into Pearl Harbor for refit and recuperation. The rea- son is that there are only two places more like the life they left behind-the States or Australia-and as a substitute for these, Honolulu is preferable to a deso- late stretch of sand and coral. The Royal Hawaiian is well equipped as a rest Center. Some of the beds have Beauty Rest mattresses but the fellows who are not fortunate enough to sedure Such soft beds are satisfied to sleep in regulation double decker bunks. At least they do not roll. Laundry service is much too slow, so the bath tubs do double duty. During the day, most of them are utilized for soaking and scrubbing whites, and it is a common sight to see sailors making the rounds of their ship- mates' rooms in search of an empty bathtub- The beer garden is easily the most popular of the many attractions. With music from a popular Navy orchestra, tables and chairs for the weary a shelter to keep off the rain or hot sun, and a plentiful sup l of beer and sandwiches at regular prices, a patron uigfall has to sweat out a long line to reach the bar. Y The beach is discouraging. It has a fishy odor the water is dirty, and bits of rubbish and seaweed are Strung along the edge of the water. Sharp coral adds a further hazard, and makes the wearing of shoes in the water almost a necessity. However, sun bathing is popular, even though the crowds are overwhelmingly male Surf boarding is a sport for which Waikiki beach conditions are ideal, and many sailors become proficient at it. Other diversions, too numerous to recall, include archery, badminton, basketball, boxing, wrestling, weight lifting, and apparatus work, all under a staff of competent instructors, with the usual run of indoor sports, such as pool, ping pong, etc. The movies, shown twice a day, are well patronized, and occasional stage shows and smokers are featured. The grounds afford an unequalled opportunity for pictures with a tropical setting, and on Sundays the shutter fiends literally stop the Sunday Hula show in their mad hunt for pictures to make the folks back home sit up and take notice. The canteen is crowded with those who would rather have a coke than something stronger, those who slept too late for breakfast and want something to tide them over 'til the next meal, and those who are just killing time until the beer garden opens. Last, but not least, the ship's service store provides minor necessities, but many a sailor, sending home souvenirs of Hawaii, for- gets to remove the 'Made in Brooklyn' label from his hula skirt. lt might be said that the Royal has everything ex- cept a date bureau and social facilities. lt provides everything but what the submarine sailor desires most, a taste of civilian life. So, while visiting sailors from surface ships tax the entertainment facilities of the hotel, the vast majority of submarine sailors take in civilian movies, eat and drink at inflated prices in places like Lau Yee Chau's, P. Y. Chong's, Chicken Corner, The Wagon Wheel, and on down the line to Sad Sam's and the Seven Seas, for the same reason, they avoid the U.S.O. and other recreation centers. There may be a few girls, but there are a few hundred sailors, and the odds are too long, However, though few succeed in getting dates, every- one lexcepting married sailors, of coursel enjoys try- ing, and many a party is recalled time after time when the sub is at sea again, and the story grows each time it is retold. The island has its many beauty spots, and many of the fellows have spent a lot of time sightseeing, al- flf0UQl'l eVSry0ne says that it isn't even in the running with the scenery back home. At the end of the recuperation period, when we leave the hotel to return to the submarine, it is with a ,Vague feeling that we have been cheated of some- Tl'l WQ, fhaf it haSn't been up to expectations, and yet the trouble may be that we expected too much, and fllaf Dart of the fault may be our own, kl'lOWeV9V, it is with a feeling of reluctance that we tat e our leave of the place, and many hours at sea will be passed with tales, both real and imaginary, Of VY at we did on our last stay at the Royal, and ambi- tious plans of what to do next time.