Roanoke (CL 145) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 111 text:

X T A prisoner was taken during the battle, and for a while the ROANOKE's luxurious brig had a guest. Eventually he was returned to the BOXER under guard and all the Esther mementos were passed on to the victor. Looking back the bruises may have seemed hardly worthwhile, but unsuspected qualities of valor and loyalty had been uncovered. qi

Page 110 text:

A FAREWELL TO ESTHER Esther and the ROANOKE finally parted company in Yokosuka, but only after Ea rousing battle royal. On Sunday night, October 28, two officers from the USS BOXER came aboard, looking for a friend. One of them was escorted to the wardroom by the messenger, grabbed Esther, raced topside and threw her to his companion on the pier, but Esther went into her element-the water. She was retrieved by the brow sentry and returned aboard. Shortly thereafter, the Executive Officer of the BOXER, accompanied by several omcers, came aboard and claimed Esther on a technical foul-allegedly an enlisted man had participated in her defense. During the argument, he picked up Esther, walked out of the wardroom and dashed down the brow. An alert .l.0.0.D., ENS Willcott, cut him down with a flying tackle. ENS Cremo and LTJG Murphy joined in and Esther was once more rescued. The lines were drawn, however, and battle soon rejoined. The Exec. from the BOXER called out every officer aboard, and soon had mustered 80 on the quarterdeck! These 80, followed by T6 more, returned to the ROANOKE and launched an all-out frontal assualt. The undermanned duty section, numbering T2 officers, put up a magnificent struggle, but were soon over- whelmed by sheer weight of numbers, and Esther was carried off by brute force.

Page 112 text:

A last maior Replenishment exercise is con- ducted-and the ROANOKE prepares an attack on the previous time record The lines are over-here comes the food!! plenty of supervision xX.,. .Xi-N