Taconic (AGC 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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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.

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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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Eventually, the work of delivering supplies ashore was completed, and the problem faced became one of assembling and loading everyone and everything that was to go back to the United States with us. Willing hands and minds soon had the details under control, and the day came when the TACONIC, with the other Navy units still at Thule, started the long trip homeward. Greenland and Thule, King Boreas and his Polar Bears, icebergs and growlers and the sun that never set were not soon forgotten as COMPHIBGRU 4 in the away from the land of ice and mighty TACONIC led the formation southward, Eskimos. None the less with blue, ice-free water again around and a sun that behaved as a sun should, rising in the morning and setting at night, liberty and leave in Norfolk was in the forefront of ever yones thoughts. The job for the summer had been accomplished with the knowledge of all hands that it had been WELL DONE. e Pier 5 never looked better! t we-vm--oo-'TIT rmn,