Taconic (AGC 17) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 8 text:

- i i 1 1 w D ,I I N ll i 1 i 15 1. 1: x. L J As the convoy moved further north we crossed the famous Newfoundland Banks. Up until that time most of us considered that the Newfoundland Banks were famous for fishing. After having been there, most of us feel that the New- foundland Banks are simply fog banks. It was offcourse inevitable that we should see some icebergs. The first one was quite new to the ship. g Y. When the day came that the icebergs were so big that they began to dwarf the ship in size, the TACONIC decidered to show t ose icebergs that even if they were bigfer they didn't pack our punch. 'The gun covers were pulled off and the TACON C held target practice. As later events proved, that was an unfortunate thing to do. We were at that time gust south of the Artic Circle and King Boreas heard that the TACONIC ha been shooting up icebergs. Therefore when the TACONIC was to enter the Domain of the Po ar Bear. presided over b King Boreas and his loyal Blue Noses, there was need for a quite considerable amount of purification. ,,v-v --492, X , W ' -I 6 N1-s XX 0 2 -- . . -- 9-I ' , R nxxv- ., ,,,.. .fsiggx-N xiii L ' - -r is ' A Q--H ix -- me ,,,. 5 .. , X 1il. ' n iii' 'ei'rH Iifxsfjsi-as --:Q X 1 1-ff: - -V:--Q-:Ls If-.-es., . .. a - B- -as ...T--If f- ' ' ' Y 'B' 5 -Q '- 'fA fm 5. 'I Y 'Z HY' 7 'Bb 5' -- .. gr - 5 --- - 'g -' 1-'fe-lr-fi 5' ' 4'2 2'- .. '-' - --51 -!f ---- - -- '- ----- . : L- 7' ' ' - f-- 4 Y -E.-1: yllbllllfff,-A

Page 7 text:

After getting clear of the channel, the TACONIC joined with the other ships going on this Northern Cruise. Now that these ships were at sea again it was necessary to get the trigger fingers back in good form. For a few days all the Navy ships exercised at various drills including anti-aircraft firing at towed sleeves furnished by planes from Chincoteague. A few days afterwards, the TACONIC was given a chance to show off her seamanship by effecting a high line transfer from the oiler ENOREE. A Member of the ENOREE'S crew had gotten into a mixup with a mess bench and came off second best. The smashed finger result- ing required that he be shifted to the more complete Sick Bay on the TACONIC. 1 .li X 4. xl X sig xg-fb F f 4 X X 1711? X T W V e g, ev e Jigx- !rs ,Fda ' A., fir' 5-f ' 122' ,ff- 'Eyre ,j:7.. ,Y -1-JS, 'L-Y ,,r 'Tir' -is' GEF jizr ,.,---- '-527' f

Page 9 text:

'As soon as the TACONIC crossed the Arctic circle and headed north all hands started to watch for the arrival of King Boreas and his court. Boreas rules over that portion of the world located north of the Arctic Circle-north of 66 33'. This tremendous kingdom is called the Domain of the Polar Bear. King Boreas, as an absolute monarch, does not like to have just anyone in his domain. He requires some acts of good faith on the part of persons ent- ering his kingdom for the first time. Once a person has satisfactorily shown his pureness of heart to King Boreas, he is called a Blue Nose. f The Royal Order of Blue Nose is not lightly conferred. Persons crossing the circle by air are not permitted that honor, Only purified and initiated Blue Noses are awarded a certificate with which to identify themselves. Eventually the Royal Kayak was sighted and Boreas Rex and his court were received on board with appropriate honors. The Captain and the Admiral paid their respects to the royal court which had established itself in the mess hall, a place well suited for their future operations.