Taconic (AGC 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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r In order to provide boat services for all the ships anchored in the bay, two boat runs were established. The boats had a schedule and a route, and were operated in a manner similar to a bus line. ' The trip to the beach or to another ship was much like catching a bus at the corner for a trip down town. - The designations of the two boat routes were quite fascinating and the words 'Wells Fargo' and 'Pony Express' passed over the general announcing system soon became familiar. Although known and understood soon enough, the names provided food for active imaginations throughout the operation. Before long it was not unusal to see coxswains wearing spurs and shouting 'Whoa' and 'Giddap' as they came alongside. It was 'Home on the Range' for our western shipmates. ' if ' J R-it . ' , 6 p I 5 'IWW r N f .? 5 j D fi - ww x ' 1 , 'Y-fx .1 ? ir- -J' K r-X j 'ss-Q ' 2 ' I -... 3'4- , N . b ' Y.. .Tb . X ' -gm Ji. I A, b ' -lea Y... TTT' ,Sw isx' i rJ X si n S X t NXXX' ,,'X -A. K r - I ,Tx XX, ' i ' a E . gT.'m, , is va ', wr . N sill Wwmm . F K A ,X , N r ' - ,jg r . ,CSX . - qstxws XXXQQQQQQEQQEII. xx TX. av- ' K Q v I x V X ,XXYIW R xx ' -- ' -'WEQE Y S 'za s XSL 525 1 , -. T a x 2 '-y XQTTM i X W fl Wklik S- U4

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recorded, the winning streak was held to one game, du When the Air Force lent us their ball field facilities, the TACONIC produced a softball team and in- itiated operation Babe Ruth. Operation Babe Ruth was designed to provide the opport- unity for teams to compete in a softball tournament. This ac- tion roduced the Ar- ctic feague which was by far the northern- most softball league ever organized. Although the TACO- NIC ball club, coach- ed and managed by LT. Dempseyi got off to a good start bf compl- etely outc assing their first opponent by a score which wou- ldn't be believed if e to the loss of the Zecond game by a close decision to the GORDIUS, who shaded our ball club 13't0 'Undaunted by a momentary setback, the TACDNIC ball club bounced back nicely and took their next game 26 to 0, soundly defeating the NIANTIC VICTORY. The TACONIC team continued to play ball ashore providing g d b't f - Eggige and a great deal of fun and beer for the members of thi tzgm abd apes:- Operation Babe Ruth wound up with the 'Top of the 'orl- d Series', a playoff to determine the cha- mpions of the Arctic League. The three series games were at- tended y all who co- uld get ashore, and a play by play desc- ription was broadcast from the ballfield over station NIEE. Although faced with stiff competitian, a lively team from the GORDIUS nosed out the opposition, and capt- ured the League Tro- phy- g

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Q t rovi- Various games and sports, some of which were P1BYed 3' tournamen 8' P ded sparetime amusement onboard ship. . I Y For those who liked a little more activity there were dart game! n ' ra s .. E1'lY corners of the ship one could find spots faintly fem1n1'cent of an ng 1. - l d pub, a dart board and a cleared space. It was usually qU1:5s3ti9:ggri 3E2i. space too, because there were very few dart throwing BXPC . ' thf Hot and heavy ace? deucy tournaments were held in the CPO mess and 10 in wardroom. - A very popular shipboard activity was ping PORK- The lE:l1::::igg1?uigs two serviceable ping pong tables, which were set ug imf 1 rd athletes provided a playing field or the more energetic of t e s 1P 95 ' A ping pong tournament was started Each division had P19Y0ff' to detef' mine its champion who would meet the other division champions in the final matches. V Th t t l ff f , th championship attracted a large number of spe:.ectoautronra:1et1o':ra:Z!h theolhotearfdegeavy play. f Q.C.D.Pl'8d0. of F1 Hg Division defeated A.E.Retti:, 'A' Divis on, to win the chamPi0h8 IP. BD Rettlg nosed out R.A.Burns, ' ' Division, to qualify for second place. Captain Richardson awarded prizes to the winners: a gold W8tCh for the first prize, and a camera set for the runner-up.