Tarawa (CV 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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Tarawa boxers won six oui' of nine ma+cl1es a+ +l1e smoker. Royal Hellenic CPO's aid in The selecfion of Music, we always hacl. Some fhings you couldn'+ keep from buying a gift Q, Safe, bu+ oh, +omorrow!

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I fir: , ' M, IUFP f 7-rg. 5 bb 2 l Gfee Purely a case of mind over malrer. No one would ever call this work. DA B Y CR ET 9. . Seajln xook go pxejo east!! aevkheq V haal so W . SW Pavel eVer K kroffhtbdox prie 'I . S . g OME TIME AGO the newspapers reported that a shasnghaied mer- chant sailor was permitted his only liberty at Suda Bay, Crete. His captor knew that he would voluntarily return to his ship, which he did. It was, therefore, with somefmisgivings that the TARAWA learned that her next port-of-call was to be this large island south of Greece. The area was populated by about 300 hardy, strangely Mongoloid- featured inhabitants derivingatheir subsistence from the sea and the parched earth.. Recreational facilities were virtually non-existent. Iniview of the low libertyvpotential the Sixth Fleet held smokers on the beach, with a different ship each day acting as host by supplying the refreshments and the entertainment. Baseball games were in con- stant session in, all open areas up and down the coast and several aquatic- minded souls .attempted swimming in the cold water. Working parties were required each morning to cart away the moun- tains of empty beer cans, littered sandwich wrappers and boxing and entertainment programs scatterednknee deep upon the hillsides. Despite the thousands of men who went ashore and the havoc created by their trash-strewing presence, the entire- area was returned to the Cretans as neat as a pin. 'l i A few middle-Westerners attempted to prove their riding ability by mounting several stray-and decidedly reluctant-donkeys wandering too near the smoker area. With the Shore Patrol in hot pursuit these would-be equestrians were soon returned to terra firma none the worse for their experience. Goats fared better by serving as camera targets along with pup dogs, cactus and small boys. ' The only apparent means of transport appeared to be a few antiquated buses and taxis and the bicycle, all of which were used in local explora- tion. The inhabitants seemed accustomed to such invasions of their desolate domain and went about their affairs without comment other than an occasional smile at our antics.

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ARANC BY, ARDII 'J , A Mosi of +l1e wafer sport was confined +o wading or searching for crabs under the rocks along +he shore FTER SUDA BAY, we thought we had seen the last of beach-party liberties. It was not until Aranci Bay, Sardinia, loomed over the horizon that we realized how Wrong We Were. A surprisingly large and beautiful harbor stilled the waters of the Mediterranean and small fishing boats passed our anchorage with obvious unconcern. Because there was no liberty in the tiny village, beer parties and baseball games once again became the keynotes to relaxation and recreation. A hot sun began to tan our bodies and that early-summer swimming urge hit us all again. Those who took a dip, however, soon found that it was still a bit too early and chattering teeth played like castanets along the sandy beach. Despite the fine weather there were no regrets when we weighed anchor for more active ports. K Framed by a fish nei' and an Admiral's Barge anoiher beach party comes ashore. Beer passers worked fasf and furiously 'fo keep the swabs supplied wiih cold brew.