Toledo (CA 133) - Naval Cruise Book

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California, Here I Come! USS ROCHESTER lCA-l24l sfeams inlo Apra Harbor, Guam, lo relieve us En roufe CLUS, BOXER air operations were lhe center of formalion's aclivify. Af Waikiki ln Oahu, we had a one-day res? before the lasl leg And fha final scene - Families waiting on the dock yD.ll'l.q, Jlomn. As 20 May approached not even the heat, proposed operations or the coming Nlateriel Inspection could dampen the spirits of the men of the TOLEDO. We were going home. It seemed hard to believe, but became more of a realization each day as no orders were received to the contrary. During this wait- ing period, Admiral Struble came aboard to relieve Admiral Boone and we had gen- eral visiting on Armed Forces Day. T On the 20th, we headed out of Manila Bay for the last time of the cruise, the world had a rosy glow to it. E lation may have dimmed just a little as Air Defense was sounded, but the sight of the sun setting over the fantail was just compensation for whatever might have happened. When the HELENA joined up two days later, Task Force ZEBRA was complete and we steamed on to make war on the westward task force ABLE off Guam. We had the typical 'cout of sight battle and had our first look at carrier jet planes, the F9F's from the VALLEY FORGE. The morning of the 25th we steamed into Guam and even this example of Pacific deso- lation didnit look half bad. The best part came next day when through the break- water came CA-124, the ROCHESTER, our relief. For once the process of bringing a ship alongside was play rather than work, and the transfer of the SEVENTH Fleet staff commenced immediately. The next morning instead of reveille, the bugler gave forth with 'iCalifornia Here I Comei' and we were ready. At noon it was underway again for the next leg, this one to Pearl. On 5 .I une we again entered Pearl Harbor and everyone mentally checked of one more MOP Order, leaving just one more seige of just for drillv items between us and 'ACLUSY'

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No one was adverse to a little frolir- in Hmmlulu. so there was a great bustle to malfe really for the 1300 liberty the plan-of- the-clay quoted us. This inelurlerl removing all the riee urine from paelfages. but an- other a1lministrati1'e obstaele remained to be hurfllefl. flt 1300 instead of liberty, quar- ters was sounflerl and we again began the battle of paper work, making out our eus- toms declarations in triplieale-needless to say. they later wound up in the swell known eireular file. In Pearl ufe also began Operation VIP,' when twelife SeelVav guests eame aboarcl for the trip bael-c to Long Beaeh. They showefl a great interest in what was happening en- route and soon learned their way around to the main points on the ship, walking along the naleeka, and up the hladclerv to get utop- sidef' The main event of their trip was the rlay they spent on the BOXER. It wasnst actually the Flay on the BOXER itself, no goofl eruiser man would even mention this, but rather the four trips via the high line neces- sary to the eompletion of the round trip. Sentiments seemed somewhat mixed before, during and after their journeys across the briny deep, but all seemerl happy when onee again aboard the TULEDU. ra I ' f , , N hs 'Y as Some guys get all the breaks. Last-minute purchases in Honolulu. Rx M his. A www.. M How much does il cosl' fo Call Shady Oak, Indiana? Even with Aloha, we dldn'l regret leaving. 1 if! tl .l 4 . K Ng I .,-glv,.,hNuN V 4' FS. V -ef wi