Valley Forge (CV 45) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 36 text:

Soon the tugs were towing and pushing us into our berth. When the ship was moored, calls were made by Diplomatic, Government, and Military Officials . . . and the Band and Marine Detachment were kept busy rendering honors. Below decks those who rated liberty quicklyndressed for their first visit to Sydney. lt was an eager crowd of men who started down the ga ng4 way after liberty call. 4 Thus started VALLEY FORGE's first visit to a foreign country. Q A : ft - 1 f .if f ',l' i ff' l x , 2 Y 1.1.9 X w A

Page 35 text:

On the morning of 30 January, HAPPY VALLEY cautiously picked her way through thick fog and rain toward the mouth of Port Jackson. While all hands stood at attention at quarters for entering port, a twenty-one gun salute was fired to the Commonwealth of Australia. The salute was returned by the Coastal Defense Station on the Inner Southhead. As though doing it for dramatic effect, the sun broke out in full glory after the ship entered the harbor, to welcome VALLEY FORGE and give the crew a good view of the harbor-embracing city. Shortly, Sydney Bridge loomed up over the horizon and domi- nated the whole scene, as we later found, it dominates much of the conversation with many Sydneyites. Our ship fired a thirteen gun salute to RADM FARNSWORTH, RAN, in HMAS AUSTRALIA. The salute was returned as VALLEY FORGE moved silently toward her berth at the Wooloomooloo Docks. Rounding Garden Island, the Sydney skyline seemed to rise up out of the Botanic Gardens. The concentration of tall buildings made an impressive sight, and gave the feeling that this was a modern country like our own. All along the road opposite the dock, people were lined up to watch our carrier come in. We had heard much about the admiration of the Australians for Americans and were wondering just what our reception would be. , .v TX T5 ' ,,., ..1,-,..,,,.,', . I I-I fd 1'- 21f3':2-Ia'-1.11. ,. ..,4.,,I, v::,k.,V,.,.1Q.51fg. 52.23. l ,,.,,,,,..:,55 a ,.aa,. 1 ,,l,Q1 I' ff 'ifi'

Page 37 text:

Leaving the docks the liberty party scattered by various means to all parts of the city. Those inter- ested in historical things found Cook's Monument and other re- minders of the discovery and settlement of the Australian Con- tinent. Everyone enjoyed the beau- tiful floral displays at Hyde Park in the center of the City. After this first visit in the Park, small groups of American bluejackets could be seen there at any time during liberty hours.