High-resolution, full color images available online
Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
View college, high school, and military yearbooks
Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
Support the schools in our program by subscribing
Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information
Page 18 text:
“
classes, others went to Philadelphia, Little Creek, Norfolk and New London. By 20 December they were all back in Newport, however, ready to leave for the commissioning on the morning of the 23rd. Meanwhile, in Quincy, another group of engineers, tech- nicians and hull department men had been working aboard, the ship for several months. They were the first of the crew lo see the Topeka. What they saw was a Cleveland class cruiser, carrying 12 6 f41-7 cal. guns in four turrets, 12 5738 cal. guns in six mounts, 10 40MM mounts and 10 ZOMM mounts, with an overall length of 610 feet, and a beam of 61 feet, displacement of 10,000 tons and a top speed of 32 knots. Although work on the ship was far from completed, she was ready to be commissioned on 23 December 19441. For this ceremony the entire crew was to be brought together aboard the ship, and was to live aboard her thereafter. The pre-commissioning training was over, and those who thought that training had been rugged, obviously did not know what the future held. On the afternoon of Saturday, 23 December 1944, the Topeka became a part of the vast United States Fleet when she was put in commission at the South Boston Navy Yard with traditional pomp and ceremony. During the morning, the pre-commissioning detail ar- rived from Newport and was embarked along with a draft of men from the Fargo Barracks in Boston. For the ma- jority of the men, this was the first time they had ever been on board a U.S. Navy warship, and for a good many of them, it was the first timethey had ever been aboard any- thing more imposing than a flat-bottomed skiff. Due to a rigid time schedule, it was necessary for the men to be- come acquainted in very short order with the location of their living compartments, bunks, lockers, and the mess halls, and for a short time, a mild chaos was more or less the order of the day. Shortly after noon, the stage was set for the commission- ing. Under dull leaden skies, with a hint of snow in the air, the ofhcers and crew assembled by divisions on the main deck aft of turret four, where the long, graceful barrels of the after six-inch guns formed an ominous backdrop for the ceremony. The crack ,Marine color guard and the Navy band from the Boston Receiving Station completed the picture. Promptly at 1400, Bear Admiral Felix X. Gygax, U'.S.N., Commandant First Naval District, read the order of the Navy Department to commission the ship. Upon comple- tion, the band struck up the national anthem, and the Na- tional Ensign, the lack, and the Commission Pennant were hoisted, followed by the hoisting of the Commandant's per- sonal flag. Captain Wattles accepted command of the ship from Rear Admiral Gygax, and ordered the watch set. The Topeka was ofiicially in commission. Brief speeches by the Honorable Leverett Saltonstall, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Honorable Frank J. W'arren, Mayor of the City of Topeka. Kansas, followed. ln behalf of the people of Topeka, Mr. Warren presented the ship with a loud speaker system and an album of records. The final ceremony was the presenta- tion to the Captain by Rear Admiral Gygax of the Bronze Star Medal for an uimportant contribution to the war effort made when Captain Wattles was pre-commissioning officer for all types of vessels on the staff of the Commander, Operational Training Command, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. By 1600 all guests had left the ship and 15 minutes later the first of what was to be a long succession of general drills was held. The commissioning ceremonies had been impressive to the utmost, and the minds of officers and men had been opened to the full significance of what lay ahead. But it was the beginning of the Christmas weekend, and no one knew where the next Christmas would be spent. When lib- erty call sounded at 1700, the commissioning became a thing of the past, the most important matter of the moment was-HWhat kind of a liberty town is Boston?'l if- GC- -76 -P? W Life aboard the new ship began in earnest after the Christmas weekend. There was still a great deal of work to be done before the Topeka could be taken out to sea, and every day three shifts of workmen came aboard. It was vir- tually impossible to hold a real field day, but cleaning de- tails were busy every day trying to keep some semblance of order and cleanliness on the ship. Long days were spent loading equipment, stores, and ammunition. General drills were held nearly every day. And underscoring every activ- ity was thefcacophony of riveting, welding, drilling, and chipping, punctuated by the bells from the giant cranes and the hoarse whistles of ships in the harbor. lt wasn't all work, however. Liberty was on a two-out- of-three basis, and deaf as they might be to other calls, there was not a S2fc on the ship who couldn,t recognize liberty call when it was sounded at 1630. Boston was a good liberty town, and in some quarters Topeka men will not soon be forgotten. e The big event of the pre-shakedown period in Boston was the Topeka dance at the Hotel Statler on 8 January. ln the ballroom which was banked with huge floral decorations instead of the customary flags, more than 600 Topeka offi- cers and men danced until the small hours of the morning. Highlight of the affair was the Grand March led by Captain Wattles, at the conclusion of which Captain Wattles danced with Mrs. Mumford, pretty wife of the Topeka,s junior sea- man, William Mumford, and Commander Dodson danced with Mrs. Barba, the charming wife of Alex Barba, second junior man aboard. Presentation of the Battle Flag, purchased with the pen- nies of the school children of Topeka and presented to the ship by the City of Topeka, was another high spot of the evening. This flag will be returned to the city to be pre- served in its memorial library. ln the middle of the evening, the lights were dimmed, the music stopped, and a huge cake, adorned with a model of the ship was wheeled to the center of the floor. The three Y I I I l I 4 1 1 1 1 l r l I 1 - l r v i 4 l V l l l l lr ri 1 is 14 ls' ...al
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.
