Taconic (AGC 17) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 24 text:

Even though we were spending time summer in Greenlan , saturday morn- ings still brought all hands out in their best uniforms for-Captain's inspection. These events provided a break in the usual routine of work and watches, and gave the Capt- ain a chance to take a careful look at all his officers and men. As the marked the end of eacg week, the inspections ser- ved to remind us all of various military facts of life, and the desirability of doing a job in a smart and snappy fashion. Inspections were usually followed by Commendation Mast, where the Captain would congratulate and commend men who had been promoted, and others whose efforts and achievements were worthy of particular no e.

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. JI, 'Z' I Y 7 A A x gl H f ' f 4 'Q XX gifgm xx 'gal ,ggS?9 g 93 fide XX 95 Q XX gisxx I -K f or X f NNXXX A Xfffffffffffffffffxxzxdx 4 N , of I xlibs i x A ,One of the highlifhts of our stay in North Star Bay and the highlight of the cruise for the A miral was his flight over the North Pole. One morning Admiral Huffman left the snip announcing as he left that he would be back that evening after seeing the North Pole. He flew over the pole in a Navy Privateer which was on an ice reconnaissance flight. When the Admiral got back from inspecting the pole and paying his respects to Santa Claus he was met on the quarterdeck by the Captain, an array of bearded sid- eboys and presented with an exact replica of the North Pole. A few days after his return the ship presented to the Admiral its version of the kind of personal flag a North Pole-soaring Admiral should fly. The Admiral accegted the flag and told us t at the North Pole was so desolate that it would probably be a year or two before any one but Santa Claus would want to establish a permanent home there.

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ff' ' J Shortly before our departure all of Thule was honored by the visit of Admiral Qvisgaard, R.D.N., who, with his staff, and Rear Admiral Kjoelsen, R.D.N., NATO Commander of Greenland, made a brief inspection of the activities at this Northern outpost. Admiral Qvisgaard, Chief of Defense, Denmark, called upon Rear Admiral Huffman, and was received on board with much ceremony at the quarterdeck. Upon the departure of the official party, a seventeen gun salute was fired in honor of the distinguished Danish Admiral. The national ensign of Denmark was broken at the fore during the gun salute. On the day following his arrival at Thule, the Admiral made a tour of the base, viewing the intense activities ashore, and in the afternoon, paid a return call to Admiral Huffman in the TACQNIC. A demonstration of amphibious ship to shore movement was conducted during the afternoon, with U.S.S. VERM- ILION boats participating and making a most satisfactory display of good seamanship. With the TACONIC providing control services for the exercise, events proceeded on schedule, and the boat waves beached on time and in position. ' Other hi h ranking officials came aboard ship during our stay in North Star Bay. In adhition to several military officials from the various services, two members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Long of Louisiana and Senator Morse of Oregon were received on board as guests o Rear Admiral Huffman. V ' A The TACONIC probably set a new Navy record for rendering honors at odd hours. The never setting sun of the Arctic summer made Prefer the firing of a gun salute at 11:30 p.m., and again, the rendering of ul arrival honors at 7:45 a.m.