Valley Forge (CV 45) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 16 text:

Just prior to the commencement of the cruise the crew and their guests gathered in festive mood to crown Miss Lorrain DePierro of Los Angeles MlSS VALLEY FORGE of 1947. In the after- noon the ship's first lady was met at the airport by an honor guard and was es? corted to the carrier. She was piped over the side in true Navy fashion and was taken on a tour to meet the crew and to have dinner with them aboard. That evening the charming young lady presided over the farewell dance at the Pacific Square Ballroom in San Diego. In a colorful ceremony the Commanding Officer made Miss De- Pierro an honorary member of the crew. Afterwards ship's company and their guests danced to the coruscating melo- dies of the VALLEY FORGE CONTI- NENTALS, under the direction of R. D. Clendenon, MUC.

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We f ,wil Alx l!F tw K 95 AW ' 2 A 04' !pL 4. A 3 if Z , X f A : t ,, 5 , . -V 'K Vw 2 49 1 K We M54 . , fx an Considerable planning was necessary to,coordi- nate the movements of the various units of the Task Force. Logistics, communications, and operations required a well organized staff. Q 3 :ff ffl X, ts, ,, 7' i 6 4,11 2 M , if i

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OIQOZMZM Exactly one week after bidding farewell to the U. S. the crew sighted the first land, the Hawaiian Islands. As the ship made its way toward Oahu, Diamond Head with its steep sides and sharply defined top came in sight. A soft, rich greenness characterized the entire scene from the low, rolling hills along the shore to the jagged moun- tain peaks which sprang sharply into the clouded sky. The clouds themselves were on review, raising their im- mense cumulous forms high into the ether and radiating their snowy whiteness on the bright but temperate day. The first glimpse was later found to be a revelation of the typical day in Hawaii, the land where the sky and weather perpetually form new combinations for an ideal climate and keep the land fresh and enchanting and the visitors charmed. v As the ship made its way through the narrow channel into Pearl Harbor, all hands were impressed with the extent of the huge Navy Base. All were reminded by the rusty projections of sunken battleships rising out of the calm and peaceful waters, of Pearl Harbor's great disaster. The peacetime activities around the harbor were in strik- ing contrast to the hustle and bustle some of the crew had seen there during the War Years. Continuing around Ford Island the HAPPY VALLEY moored to pier FOX I2 and l3. Then liberty was granted and the crew went ashore to get acquainted with Honolulu and the Hawaiians. Carrier Air Group ELEVEN was assigned to the VALLEY FORGE and operated as an integral part of it. A few days after arrival we started a heavy schedule of carrier aircraft qualification operations and ship's exercises and drills. During that period the ship operated at sea Monday through Friday every week. She moored at pier BAKER 24 in the Navy Yard for Navy Day and thousands of visitors came aboard. The heavy schedule continued until 5 December when the ship tied up for a period of leave and recreation. For a month there were well organized athletic activities, short leaves to Kilauea Rest Camp on the Island of Hawaii and to the Mainland, two successful parties at Nimitz Beach, a Smoker, and ample opportunity to get personally acquainted with the islands and the islanders.