Tarawa (CV 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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nfgq w e if iw Q fate 6,-3 5 , I' ,l FA , f fi Ulf lriilli ' ei . ' ve L' new f ' it 451 a R L pills' mx 5 if-L .. . l' ' im a iii Pywiv M rs 2 ! 5ExH,.nc,1S 1 A AND THEY DID! Men returned from liberty sporting watches without mechanisms, lens-less cameras, and American-looking fountain pens inscribed P. Arker . Others came back de- cided losers in the struggle with local alcoholic specialties, or flat broke from a bargaining session with a street vendor, taxi driver, waiter, dancing girl, or all combined. as 6? ff 55' ., X if W fl ' ir : i ji Mjxszs 0 MARC-' THESE INCIDENTS made good stories and in most cases the victims enjoyed relating their mishaps. We were all taken a little here and thereg the strange part about it was that some individuals never learned. To these few chronic losers in their encounters with the unscrupulous, these pages are dedicated. ... om v rlearn!

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l diterranean i hap .. . Q i m WE CROSSED the Atlantic, visited seven different countries, discovered many strange customs, and came to know something of other ways of life. We learned that 3000 V l miles of salt water do not change human nature, that, on the contrary, people are basically alike the world over. For the most part, those whom we met were kind and hospitable, if sometimes a little bailled by our Americanisms. Often they went to considerable trouble to help us enjoy ourselves and to assureour understanding the justifiable pride they take in their cultural heritage. Courtesy Q and goodwill were the ruleg in most every port, however, there were exceptions. These con- sisted of a few individuals who seemed convinced that our sole mission in Europe was to buy E anything at any price, and it must be admitted that some of us gave them reason for thinking so. I I ! JOE? '2 x Q QPNGWQ 55 tl A VOON WL -L 50 xg' C Vi? QM Nik VJ? '38, as W ft Q X are Jw, wif f X W vw Q 'M Q G9 .4 Y N XX xi C- SJ Q! I L D f ,ft-ff NN Y- 7 i x , L- 1, ya .. QS! 5 f gy-WN L4 S .1 i Hifi!! K 1 L'f, Z! V- V J V ll ,T f i l st... ,M X, L il gag :W - i I A -LIL QQ7741 V f Q 42 assets: I 'effk MV V if C7 mmm: 1 X U 1 Q mme l pk Z EW-E iv X N. ts, up x W J R EJ' Q, S Q, i l X .,v-is--V-,,,,....-.- ,h ,,-w W X X Q' S if y H23 xg - c, 5 tb X y - x. ,SX-Q h ALL OF US had been cautioned against street peddlers, stores without marked prices, native drinks, and smiling women. Those who felt that these words to the wise were so much gobbledygook proceeded to learn for themselves. Y 11 4 1, , '- 5 1 1 souvenir a A 1 Q Q5 6X Q . X ' . 6? it ' Y J Q x 0 rx fx ' fl M165 H l

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The TARAWA resfs quiefly in Oran's -I000 year old porf. 0HA FRICA! .... lions, elephants, camels, jungles, oases, and Arabs. These are the things that Africa is made of. Our minds were filled with visions of these things, but the Arabs were all that we saw. As a matter of fact, instead of deserts we found snow just a few miles outside of the city. But there were other things of interest found on tours which were taken by many to the Arab city of Tlemcen and the city of Sidi-Bel-Abes, home of the famous French Foreign Legion. Oran is the chief port and capital of Western Algeria and was founded by the Arabs during the tenth century A. D. The last thousand years Shopping fours were a popular form of diversion, fez sales oufnumbering all ofhers. Downfown Oran, five minufes before the liberiy boats hif 'rhe beach. has found the city continuously either being captured or recaptured, pillaged or rebuilt, by various conquerors. It was one of the main Allied objectives during the North African landings and sunken ships in the harbor stand even today as grim reminders of the havoc wrought there.