Sierra (AD 18) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE CAPTAIN SPEAKS AT THE SHIPS DANCE MOTOR MINESWEEPER ALONGSIDE EOR REPAIRS THE COMMODORE AND CAPTAIN ENTERTAIN THE MAYOR OF SHANGHAI

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before many days had passed, we had all spent at least one evening in the c1ty..Cur most notable neighbors in the river were the USS Rocky Mount, later relieved by the USS Estes, the USS Nashville, later relieved in turn by the USS St. Paul and the USS Bremerton, the USS Dixie, which returned to the States in early December, and the USS Bepose, which had no relief. When the skipper of the Bepose ugot his points, he just tied her up to the dock and went home. Shanghai offered us the best liberty of any port we had visited since leaving the States. The American Bed Cross supervised a servicemen's club at the Foreign YMCA, which has a gymnasium, a swimming pool, handball courts, and bowling alleys. There was also a soda fountain, where we could buy coffee, pie, sandwiches, and ustateside Cokes for a nickel. Farther out Bubbling Well Road was the Enlisted Men's Club, where we spent many evenings, the officers congregated at the Shanghai Cfficers' Club in the Sun Sun Building. For those who wanted more atmosphere 'there were nightclubs and restaurants too numerous to mention. We often spent after- noons shopping for souvenirs at the Army PX or the Bazaar, and for a quiet evening's entertainment there were several modern theaters showing recent American movies. Following in the footsteps of our near sister, the USS Dixie, we soon be- came a part of many local activities. Ding-Dong Bell, steward second class, together with several other boxers, represented our ship in the ring and did an admirable job of it. Bell was considered the leading contender for the welterweight title of China, but we left Shanghai before the local boxing au- thorities could come to an agreement as to who was the present titleholder. The basketball team, led by loe and Ernie I-lecklinski, twin pharma- cist's mates, racked up 25 wins against four losses and finished second to the USS St. Paul in the U. S. Armed Forces l-loliday Basketball Tournament. loe l-lecklinski received awards for each member of the team from Lt. Gen- eral Wedemeyer, Commanding General of the China Theater. Bill Polczyn- ski, storekeeper third class, represented the Sierra in football and quarter- backed the victorious Navy team in the China Bowl game on December lst, just thirteen hours before the regular Army-Navy game in the States. And we had some social activities, too. Early in November we held a ship's dance at the Metropole Ballroom, the starboard watch attending the first night and the port watch the following night. Everyone had a good time, and the dance committee, headed by Lt. Cjgl Bed Spain and Mike Grejtak, machinist's mate second class, was highly commended. Cn Christ- mas Day fifty Chinese and Bussian orphans were the guests of the Sierra's crew. They received a huge turkey dinner and were then entertained by movies, a magician, and Santa Claus, in the person of Chief Boatswain's Mate A. E. Calvert. The last social event in Shanghai was the banquet in honor of the basketball team which had completed a highly successful sea- SOI'l. 1 Homeward bound Since our ship was acting both as a destroyer tender and a flagship, it was necessary for us to have two reliefs before we could leave. The USS San Clemente came alongside in early lanuary to receive ComServDiv lOl

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ENLISTED MEN 'S CLUB SHANGHAI IMICKEYH GUTI-IRIE, SIC 'DING-DONGH BELL, St2c MARCYH VICTORIA, SIC I'3-i3q.f::,4WON 25-LQST 4 7-I Y.-