PAGEs 54-63      PAGE 58 is missing PAGE #54 bo see the tracers ricoocheting wlien th.ey hit 1110 ‘bajbges We got in about six in the morning* The boat ran -the fastest oomong in that it has ever run we got 44 inches of manifold, pressure on <bne engine ancL 4r on the other two. Since we were one of the first two boats to pull into tke cLook we tied up there till we could get fuel ‘ and amDiunition as well as breakfast. There had been a movie the night before and Sinee our bu<ah had missed it we let all of them go In to idmBtoasactefaDCX that while the fuel *gang was getting the fuel in The fuel was -unusually dirty and kad lots of water in it. When they got all ths fuel out that they gould use which was a bout a third of a drum they poured out all the rest to keep the same thing from happening again. These drums are filled over and over and sent back.

Hot being able to enjoy the show because I had seen it and it was not so good. Captive Wild Woman, I came on back to the boat and started to getting the ammunition* Alpine joined KB and with Chief Conner’s assistance we got all that we were supposed to have and a little extra.

Soon as the show was over we headed back to tye berth. We finished fueling just as the men got tb the bofrb, I took a shower and went to sleep at once. I had not gotten as much sleep as ussual the night before. I did not wake up for noon chow Sut about two thirty there was the most ungodly noise going on  in the direation of the dosk th.-t I wokr up and ran out on the boat before I got any clothes on. The fuel was on fire.

There were two boats at the dock and only one of them managed to get away.  It seems that the pomp for the gaa has burst suflAenly into flames which had swept instantly all over the whole area. The two boats had cranked up and withoutwAtK:i,Hg:?cfcjigiasJsJLiLiffi&   untieing themselves from each other they had attemptec. to move away from the intence heat. They had failed to get one bow line off though and the fuel line. Only two men were on each boat. on the Two thirty eight was the torpedoraan Oison nd theguimers mate Foley. I do not know who was on the thirty nin but when the hose got tautanf the bowline was tight their engines w went dead. about that time the other boat had gotten loose from them.

The hose pilled them back into the flames like a rubber band. The whole side of the boat was butoing all this time so the men jumped off in thewater and swam across to the other side of the lagoon.

One Kiaii wound up on our boat he had wand red about a raile l’rom where he should have come out. He ms pretty upset so I gave him aa measure of brandy.  The rest of the boats am tlie .APC had all crowded dovm. to my end of tlie lagoon which was the fatthest froai the doot. It wouls have been almoa-b impossible to have r:one past all t, at fire and gotten out of ‘i;her&, Soon as I saw what was going on I got the gang to keeping the deck wet till the fire reached up or abided.

The boy that came to us said that he had no seen Chief Conner or Mitch-ellour Bosun get out of the gunnery shack so we were pretty sure that wehad not escaped without tragedy in the highest sense.

When the flames wrero at their highest the Captain sent out a nessage that we could .’nor carry out the orders tj.at night for wo were trapped in the lagoon.  Later he sent one that  he recormaended an abandonrient of the base. All our engine spares out electrical spares, out gunnery spares, our food, our aJimunition, our gasoline, our radio spares, our radar spares, ourtorpedo spares, our oil had gone up in smoke.

In l’acib we were swept clean except for w.’n’fc w~-‘.s on the boa-ts. ‘     PAGE 55 * Soon after five the fire got a little weaker* Fortunately the wind. had. “been “blowiDg the other way ancL the cLrms flaming like the cLevi that been hurled. out into the lagoon did. not d.rift toward, us,  one sfc started that way but gunfire sank it, We were to have reveille the next d.ay at Olr.00, breakfasjb at 0500 and. start dismantling “bhe bast. We were going to the Treasuries and. be under Comraand-er Kelly therie for a while then later go to Boganvi I got all the gang busy tearing down the shack and. getting .the boats gear on b6ard. soon as I got back to the boat from the meeting.

By nine we just about had it licked.

I got up the morning of the 15^th at four with the gang.  Still the ord-ers were for no one to go near the fire. There still were occasional explosions there tod. the two men that wered.ead. could, not be hurt by steying there for the night. men went in and found, tiem the evening before and. then they were charred.

We were thru loaded, with base gear by eleven. We haste all the base medical gear on board.. We went out of the harbor with the 21+8 the 235 @nd. 236 were about fifteen minuted behind, and. 60 and. 237 fifteen minutes behind thea. The others were to stay and. convoy the PC up and bring all the base force men with them. The Captain was to keep.  all the men that had. been hear enough to the fire to give hik any aid.  in writing up a report.

We were about an. hour out whenthe 248 on which It Cmdr wanness was ridine sud.d.enly found that they had. on board, the man that was at thepump when the acoid.erLt started..  tre had. to lie to, take him aboar and. then take him back to the base.

When we got back a lighter csrae back toaeet us and. gob him. One boat had gone after food. and. had. brought back the pad.re to have a fHHS funeral for the I’<JO nen. We Ei~w them tathered round, the two coffin8,, t that had been made with some of the mahogany lumber that we had bn hand.

We started out to catch the bunch that had last left but they had gotten out too far by that time so wre were to go bp: ourselves.

When we got to Treasury there was no boat out to show us the channel so we started, creeping in. The gang at the hot pool saw us going s owly and asked if we did not need assistance. We told them that we needed a pilot to the PT base.

vie got tffied up  in  the trees  at five  in the  afternoon. At once we sent the cook ashore to get us some food.. We d.id. not have any way of cooking and would, have to live on cold. food. for the night. Each boat here doe it’s mm cooking.  While he was gone the rest of us gbt a placeoleared off anfl gifa one tent up. By then it was getting d.ark so we stopped to eat.

The morning of the sixteenth we had. t o go over to the Torp~o dock to unload, all the gear that we had. brought up with us. wie left about half the srew at the berth to clean out a place for a galley Took about two hours to :’et ail fcha’G medicak gear off and get back to the terth-ourseives. Soon, as w:e gcfc back we started to get every thing off the boat.  We hung a line up in the tree and swung every thing over on that.  At noon there -was still no galley completed, so \ve ate K rations and. planned to have & big peal for  supper.

By night we had. two stoves. One inade fi?om a druM cut in hald. and the other a field range that is run by gas. ‘”e really had a good. meal boo.

PAGE 56             ‘.                           , We aisp got another tent up and. the beds set up in both tents.     “ By night we were all worn out and really hoped, to be a getting to       : get a good. night*s real but no we were to go on patrol We were-to      ; go to the TORO bay area. It tools: four hours to get up that far. It      I is a little over a hundred miles up there;  That patrol was negativeix and were we tired ~hen we got back to base, I slept till,noon. Alpine took the boat over for fuel and water the morning of the 17^th. But in “fee afternoon I got to work and built a deck in our tent up on thetop of ahill  Then I got three drums, out the heads out and painted them inside. There is no freshwater on th~T Treasuries and we have to catch rain water if we want to ge  a bath somewhere besides over the side.

That night wrgg got to bed at sUndown, There are to datr 53,000 marines on js~E Boganvil’.e and 11,000 here at Treas$trie<l The morning of the eighteenth we got started bright and warly on the new mess hall. We got a plaue all cleared off , a tent up and two tabled buil~ by  noon. It really was nine now. In the afterno we g<t a tin top up o-toer the two Badges SQ the cooks could do their wori in any kind of weather.  In the afternoon we @&so g<? a path trimmed’ down to the water so that we could have a plave to put the garbage so the ramp lighter that hauls away th4 garbage can pull right up to it.

That nmte we made out 21^st patroil.  They needed a first lieutenant for $he base here and since Alpine had done more o f that sort of thing th~n any of the other officers in ron nineteen he was elected by the Captain for the job. That is for as long as we are here which w’ill -py probably be another month.  I am to be the skipper of the 221.2 during that time.  He will have a house to live in and will not have any connection wlt.h the bot at all.

PAGE 56 bottom -                     -   -____-,-__  -.-. L LIIIIV w wU J.J.~ ltAO O.LCIJVBU.  Of  Tlile Uap-fcain for the job. Tha-fc is for as long as we are here which will EE protably be another month.  I am to be the skipper of the 242 during that liiae.  He will have a house to live in and. will not have any connection with the hot at all.

I had. Gaver for an exed: on .the night of the 18^th but will have a regular one form now on.  w<e hacL apple pie fixed, by our own cooks SOQZ3L  just before the patrol.

ie got in at six on the morning of the 19^th. The first four boats pulled over  tOa YOG that has just gotten here to fuel.  Before thev had. aboul,2t~.e seme set up that we had at LaJibu.  ~ stayed, there till eight thirty. They w.-ere only fUElling two boats at a time. The two that they were ‘.’orkirig on were not fUEled. by the.t tiin.e so they sent us back to the. berth’..0 get bro~fc*,o,-l,,,,,  About ten they casie aromid.

and sent us back to fuel. ~c,ff to the YOG. This time the coiratiand. r that is in charge of the wd’iole of Treasuries ~SSS there to see what the &Q&S.7 was. Wellwe had two fuel lined con-ing inib our tanks and.

then it took three hours “:” take on the fmel that w.’e neecLeo. which iaeant that we were taking it at the rate d’ four gallons a lainute per line. I was really tire  when we got back to dinner at two in the afternoon.

That afternoon when the electriciand. were working on the boat it was decided that we needed on overhaul on the generator. That would, take us about two day sand at the neeting that night I got perrdSBSsion to go out of oo~’lissio.’ for that long if \’: did not have a patrol ‘the foifelowing night, The noming of the 20^th we got theusual am.’unt of cleaning d.one got the caElp area clermea up K little nore but mose of all there was rail for ail the fellows. This was teh first that wo had. had in sorae tine and all the ~;ing seeded to ho in higher spirits thali usual.

That night w.’e weilt to the -licture show and now there will beone here every Pi?OllCi ~iii night :L’oi ‘che roilov;. to see.

PAGE 57 The night of the 21^st, we did not have a patrol ao next morning we got started, on the generator engine. It rained all night and “fias still going strong wdien we started to work on the engine but we put &p a tarpand workeci right on I got right in to the grease anfl did a bit of work on It myself. I lilee to wotek on engined once in a while. That night there was more mail. This time it was all  packages.  Just about every oneliere had beefa- expecting them for a long time and they helped the feelings of the gang as much as mail would have. The morning of the 22^nd we got the generator engine finished and running like a top but there was something wrong with the eledtrical system and we had to call in the electrical flept of -C;heh base. they finally got it all straightened out but in doing it they blew out the only hundred amp fuse that we had. At three in the afternoon we were to go over rmd get a new smoke tank. Ours had had a leak that oiuld not be stopped and was thrown overboard. When we wound up the engines there was gas all thru the oil system of the two wing engines. We weirnt over to the dook with the center efagine got the  smoke tank two new gas pumps and started to wrork on the gas. I want up to tell the necessary people about it abd did not knowwherther we would be thry and ready for the night operation or not. The engineers got two drums and started to ~70rk pumping out all the oil which \vas the only way to get rid og the gas and oil that had gotten i’lixed. At four thirty itiooked as if we would not be thru: so I got word out that we were inoperative. I really got a bawling out from Kelley because of iQ too but guess that was to be expected. The morning of the 23^rd all that was left to ge  the boat in shape as far as the engines were concerned was getting new oil in-bo the tanks. That was completed at ten in the morning and the rest of -the day I let all the gang get as mu~h rest as was possible I figured that we Yould ride for sure that night. At the meeting tno tl zre were only eico boats to go out.  It seems that they do not mix the B.WO different tgr‘ne boats here for patrols and it may be..-a good idea because of the difference in performance in the two boats.

The ~th I had all the gang get the whole boat cleaned and all the guns. Thet took the riOBt of the norning and in tb.e E.fternoon Th*eygot a bridge buil$ up to the boat from the banl. We tie up port side to the bank but habe to stay out about ten feet to keep off of the coral. The trees keep us pushed out. Up to now it had been a pretty big problem -bo get to and from the nank too. That night the word was that we go:fe to Toro “a7J on Boganville and have Bob Sweet at “bho section leader fiaing Y.ith us.  About sn hour out the raftar went dead arid he trensferred to emother boat that was in the sectihon. Our anninciators were also all fouled up and w.hen I mover over t lot him of.T the engineer put the engine aiead instead of astern and i hit the beat a pretty good lick. ‘Hie patrol was nil.  .iC did not even see a light. There were .i PAGE # 58    . eight B2A.S sigh-becL just befor~_dark going back -boward lun<3.aaffce th  da~ly assault on Boga3rril3.e~.                       We got In Christmas inorning pretty tir~Ltotthei~lE~L ‘been a ‘boat come IIP la-te the afternoon before and we lmev7tliat’tl3.ere was mail for us at. the oofirn shack so I took two fellows withAe to/bring that back I had to go to a meeting of all the boat captains that had feen out the nite ‘before/S’here is Ynhere the intelligence o officer clears up any talea that might conflict in thepotroll report. I had twelve letters and ~btvo packages which really made the day a happy one as far as I was concerned. That day we  E1S O had Turkey and all the trimningsfor dinner andnthat about made the day really a memorable one. Late in the afterno when we were not on the list of boats to go out for the nite we were issued two bottles of beer each. Since some of the gang had not had any in a pretty long time it made them pretty tight, The 26^th I got everything cleaned up nice by ten in the morning then took the boat and ~Pjjh I ~ssss outside the lagoon to check the Radar. It had been giving us a Tot of trouble for a long time.  I was all for getting it fixed or throwing it over the &ide, ft worked &ike a charm.

That nite we were in thegtoup to go to the Ghoiseui bay area Bud Trimblw was to be the section leadel on our boat and the 2~77 one of the Ron 29 boats was to go with us.  This was the 23dr patroll for the 21t2. ‘flie whole evening was as smoothe as c:ule be. The boats kept together and all EEK equiptment was working. Bofa inkers had gone with us too to see if the radar was wonking as it   rrrr should. ‘-iQ got in on the morning of the 27^th at six and after breakfast Henna took the boat over to fuel while I attended the intelligence meeting and gave them the stnzl-~ of thepatroll.  That was all over by nine and when I got in to bed I did not wake up till wo in the afternoon.  I spent the afternoon -writing letters that  - had been long ago due. that nite we did not have a patroll aid got Tioi’Q sleep.

The 2S th there were two sections goin~ to Toro aad we were in one of them. We had the same set up on this patroll as the last one with Bufi Trimble as the section leader with us and Warnock on the 2/1.7 Q-s  the  other boat  in  the  section.  All  wen t vrell  on  the way up end Ydien we c-ot on s. ation we divided the sections so we wer~r about a mile apart. We then proceed to patroll and lie toa: atthe same time for the rest of tye nite. At twelve there was a pip on the radar a.bout a mile and a half away. “.Veil we went over at once to investigate. Y7ith the men at general rmarters and the visibility about fourty yards we could not see the jap barges till we were right about fourty yards away. We opened up at once with all guns. The 2.-7 was in colursn with us. When we were about thirty yards from them we i-iaoLc a turn to the is right still firing v/ith the 37mni,20rari,and ~..’0 $0 cal guns. One barge cought fire end four F-en v;er-e r.een to JUjfap overboard. It was starting oown as we moved on’ ard the 247 caiae in firing. The  gor a few more shells ibn that one and shot at the  secone. Vie turned and  came back for a starboard run. This time we ,”ot the second one goo( fashioned. The 2~7 shot high this tine and aid no .”pparent aa.riage .. thira run was a port run. The one that wehad hit first was <iunk , aucL there ap-eared to be only one barge there. We ~ave it every tl-ing tli?’.t uo had. t started dov.n by the stern. The two barges were in an right echelon and the one th~t \;as faitnest av~ay and h”:d not

 PAGE # 59 “been seen oDenecL Tip at us with ~hat looked lik-fc two $1 oal.

maohine guns. Be tgen ‘blaste<:L avfay at it. As we pulledavay and. the 247 closed in we noticed a cloud of smoke all over the. “boat. we had felt a hi it amidships and went out to investi’gate. We knew theire were  - two down end another possibly damaged, The Captain with the oth er section ordered us on up the coast so thhey could get &t the last onfe-v;hile we were seeing what was wrong, we had faked five bullets in the engine room and one in the war head of the posr aft torpedo. The war head had had a low order explosion and had blown out the head for ten inxirhe~t,,,, The tube had been split open and TOT had been blown all over thedeck. We got a bucked and washed most allot theTUToief but when we got in there was still some mf it that we had missed. There was about a hundred and fifty pounds of the explosive still in the open ~rhead of the f-ieh. there wad no apparent burning of the TKT after the explosion.  I, theetigine rooi-a the battle lights had been out and the engineers had wrapped paper over the globe of one light, the first bullet had shot that light out. There were about all the electrical cables with holes in them, Two bullets had gone all the w,-ay t-hrpp the boat. The second section went in on radar ana fount the thirB, barge headed in for the beach about four hundred yards off shore. They mad e one run on  it scoring several hits. The bar~e was then intoo close to follow so the lc.~ to to see if it wouls coiae back out. After an hour it did not so the  pulieci up to the rondesvous point. There we talked the w”hole thing iver w>-ith them and the captain got the whole “tory.  he was amazed that there was no one hujbt’on the 2~.2 with that war head exploaded.   He thought that it would be a good idea for all hands to get on their knees end thank lod that we were still alive. At three thirty- we isft station 8-na headed back to the base at Treasuries. Got in about seven thirty on the morning of tlie29th. Tha- had been our S~th patrol.  the seas  coiaing back were al.out twelve feet high snd we sad water constantly pounding us as we came in. The captain h<:,& -.111 beat ce-ptains ~et off at the APo which is tied up near the Corn shack, he had tstie up there to have a-look at the damage. CoTO’ftan~er Kelley w..s really beaning tis time. We had all done exceptional good shooting and he wasplenty proud of the record.  Hehad Don take the boat t.o the torpedo dock and I “eant to the meeting.  They tool: all the TKT out of thewarhead a~d \: urli; ~UCTpe1itov8r the side then managed to ~et the fixh out far enough to take the remainder of the war head off.  That took till ten in -bhe morning. He had gi~en orders that w’e w.’QI-Q to ull out s0011 a-fter noon t.o get. repa-irs. I had Don go back to tl: Berth and get some sleep I:S: le i tfeok it over to fuel.  We iB.d orders -bo go aL.oad of any ooat 1110.1 i.d.c-ht be Yailinc, there since there was so little tmme.  the 2~1 w.’as tr.ailing behind as ‘.70 went over there and by ~oing aho we the ~LaxiT’rum allowed speed got ahead of us onu got lo the <ock first.  They Y-ould not give way either when I told thoni lh o ease orders “..’l:,out our fueling either. T:.t ~oLL L:.G pretty sore out there w;as nothing that ~ sould 60 but ws.it.

J    PAGE # 60           i J We finishecL fuelling a-b eleven thirtly and. I took -bhe boa-fc 138010 to ttlQ ‘berbll -to let -the men load up,   I had -bo go get, an order from Oaptain Smith to get the work done and was told that we were to le,ave at 22~$. I rushed “back to the boat got a cup of coffee, gotmy gear and pulled out.

We got to Kendova at six that night. I had radioed in for them to save chow for us since we had no way of doing any cooking.  They tokd us that work w.ould atart in*the morning* I got another cup of coffee and headed back to the “boat when coranander G-ibson who is in coiaraand of .Rendova hailed me. ffiTF 31 had intercepted the message of what we had done and the damage and I was orderedto Tulagi as soon as possible for aisrial torpedoes and racks. I did not like that idea at all for I reasoned that if thetorpedo tube had not been there to direct the explosion forward that the war hear would possible haite come out the side and killed every one in thecockpit of the boat.  GTF 31 is an admiral though. we pulled over to the BOw Island dock and tied up for the night. I let fche men all go to theshow there and  that night stand no watches, I woke up at five on the morning of the 30^th. Had reveille at five thirty saact so the men could all get to the six 0* clock .chow.  We pulled over t.o the lOG st six twenty and gassed up.  By seven we were ready to pull out  I checked out with Commander G-ibson and was underway at seven thirty.  It is a hundred and eighty five miles to j.’ulagiand that will take ab.utsix and a half hours. ‘I lost all my breakfast before w’e pulled away to the YOG-. It lad been fivs d-a:’s now since - have been able to keep anyt.hing iown I hate to go to. sich bay wi-c  if because I just got the boat and do not want to Fr~ <bo becT and give it UD. We arrivedat Tulagi about four thirty in the afternoon of the ,30^th. I remembered tii$t the duty officer was on the right as one entered a long ouancet hut. I had to report to him forst and ij I bargee. Here is a slightlu bald joe tothe ri~httt as -I enter. “ I am looking for the Duty officer. Are you Be?” S I  the Boss of all the PTs here. My name is Commaneer Warfield” “ Well I am Bnsign Raney Sir” *” I have just come in with the 242 as ordered”.

Well that was a pretty poor start for me  for though nest days that I was at Tulagi I was-at the engineering dock most of the’ time and that was between his office and the outhouse arid every tine he walkea by he stopped and gazed at the boat foe a long time to see if he could find anything wrong. It was a wery bad thing to ask a commander if he were the duty officer. I was direeted to Lt. Howell to -bell him all that was wrong and it was really a relief to have a note from the Captain of all that was w~ong so I could get them right to -i~ork on the boat.  I was assigned to a berth in the bushel for the night and told to be back in the morning at seven. At setnen they had >” boarding part:’ from ail denartments to look ove  the ‘boat and list evey thing that wasas wrong. I b.ad already made such a list by flepartmentsand that got then thru in a hurry. We were orde.red to the torpedo dock next to take off the tubes JL  had  another  run  in  wo.th  commander  Warfield  again  on  that.   I  wantea to keep the tubes and he had rae come in and told me that he wented It;tees put on and what he wanted he ~ottt anf that I aot “c~teee.  ~ !is “Yes sir. “                                             “    t-aci-i:  PAGE # 61 That morning they got aL I the tubes off anf got the starboard engine un’buokle<3. form the boat afad reafly to be taken out. They could not fix the oil leak at the base of No 6 cnlinfler wilyout hauling the engine. They did not have the port racks yet but gave us the two for the starboard side and the four pads that had to be put upder them, In the afternoon theyggot the engine out and started on the checks of the other twp.

The morning of the first I was back again at the engineering dosk, “rhey could not have the carpenters work on iae at all that day  so the engineering dpi continued thas~r work on theenginea.

That kept up all day. -L got chits for all the things that I needed on the boat and started to collect those.  By rlite I had aSiout every thing that I could think of too which included everything from tents to screw drivers, Thesecond they were to wait another day on the mats so I got to Mr Howell and had him get them on the boat to work; This wIG.S to be an emergency repair job and I did not want  to take any longer than was possible.

The electricians also started to worB: that morning and by night had all the things that were wrong in an electrical way repaired and ready to go. Still they did not have the engine “back or any others that would run so I had to be lowed to the berth that night, The third they finished with the racks and I got them painted slid the moving parts all greased. In fact by aite there were two coats of paint on them.  The 243 left too that day to go back up the line arid they got ail the gear off the decks that they had put on it. Khey could not get byt 1500 RPM so had taken every thing off the boat to see if they could go any faster. They could not.

That afternoon I  ran into Warfield again. He founfd onefender hanging over the side of the boat that was not doing any good and raited ise over for not taking enough responsibility about the boat.

I turneo. rcuiid sna asked him ii’ I could nave permission to have two extra OEi’likon guns for the boat. I wouici not. ho-ve time to go all over Guadalcanal looking foraddaptorc- for extra 50 oal guns and they did n1 have any here at the bo-se. lie said. that it would slow me u.’ too r~c$ . I told him that I could get 2000 HPH c oininr: in wJ-ith the enrines in poor shape and couls make 2200 after this. lie told me that I could have the guns if I could faake that speed. I felt sure that they were mine already.

The fourth they got the engine back in the boat but soon as they got it in the power crane had to  go else where and when it w~as all in it w.?as not in line hy .006 inches a.nd had to i:e pulled up again..

lasked theKl what they wan’fcecl to do a bout it and thev decided to work on the other engines and get 1;.at when the crane came back.

Blso that day the CL.rpenters pot t.r.e read;,r boUes for the 37rm gun retired ana remover lo anotJiGi’ location, ..’ith ljie racks they were in the Y.’ay.

By night t sy still ‘Jid not have the engines goi~g. By this tine I haa been thorou.’.hly convinced that they did. not intent to hurry onehit on getting ne hack in. o::-atios., Tile fifth i;Z deci”od to lift f-e engine’ ~i-bh .: boori tha-fc th i had hut in so doirg they n:d to ncaifriv close ofr the entr. nce -that the c’.>::u’.oore had to .-o a;:, to his .’i’.icc in his personal gig.

PAGE i 62  top        C” When noon came. they left. it that way. There was room enough to get the gig out alright “but not much to spare, Soon as I got, ‘b&ciL ‘E73 from lunch there was a message for me to report to CoiamancLer Warfiel<3- This tinaa he raised hell for leaving the “boat out over that slip and going to dinner. Then he raised the ‘devil because the man on watch had not been topside during the hoon hour and when the boat was moved up they had not put the fenders in the proper place. He warned me that the next lira  t-.at he and I crossed, that we would he a having trouble,  ha. We have been having it qalready.

The morning of the sixth we w~ere to get the engines all finished and were to leave the place the seventh but there was still that speed run to make. They had had to put in new rings on the pistons and tthe engine should be run for  ten hours before opening it up.  I got Mr. Bracket to worry over wavering the speed runs to get the guns.

He has been one hell of a help here the whole time.  I think that without him they would be still thinking about what to do with the boat.

;.The afternoon of the sixth at three they finally got the engine in and every thing to going again. I wanted to have the oil changed in the reworked engine before cranking it up. They had gotten it nice and clean when they overhauled it and there was not any sence in getting it dirty because of the dirty oil. I pulled out to KacambovBiere they haves the fuel dock and torpedoes. While the engineers were changing oil in all the engines I had part of the gang ta3-:e on fuel. At the same tirae they were getting the new aerial torps on the racks. The usual charge of the new type fish id four hund-red pounds of THT but the ones tha.t - got have six hundred in them. PAGE 62 bottom J-  naa  parT-or  rne  gall6cai:e  on  ruel,  AT.  trie   same  t3Lme  fclleyvfere getting the ne~ aerial torps on. the racks. Tlie  ua2. charge of the new type fish io- four hun<lre<3. poimoLs of ‘rN1’ 13-01 the ones that. i got have sixilutidred in them,                                  . Don took two of the boys -up to the -ware house arrd~o‘l;; all the extra oclds ana ends that wQ haa nt>t yet picked, up-there, When the four oclooh  launch left to coiae “back to Sessapi Icou~ht it ana left tLe hoat wath DQn l had the Duty that night and had to i~et “back in tibiae to let the regular duty officer catch the last boat to the willage. The duty -was not had atall. ‘J-‘here is a chief in each of the three w~ra ch sections o.na he tend s to all the inportant things that colue up arid w.lil call t-.e :t\lC?.r officer if e.nv thing needs his attention, I hda wonderful bunch too. I talked to then till after midnite then broke out a cot and slept till five.  They have all been in the regular navy for a J.oal~ tiBe ena have really had a lot of rich experiences.  We made -several -oofs of soffee too and they riake it so strong -fc.’at itv’ouais almost sto.nd uD il:$: j’ello if it were turned out of the cyp. The  morning of the seventh I got the engines to &-oin~ a little before seven, I w~anteciiiii to c.ot those hours on it uofore the speed run.,  he first tjaing t’--.at Y.-C did Y:as to c-t; the cor-.pass oaliterated. That took about an hour then w>’e cruised around out between Tulagi and Guadalcanal. This kept up till noon. i i ey decided that that -was enough ro the engines an’.. we “’ou~ ru~ke the run irmediately after innc:  ~ell tiie enincs 5;; .~ldd not :’;.ake but 1900 HPiii so that -cant that -we Y;oulo n~t ~et the runs. Th.at really J-vurt too for tjiere had been i-our convicts siince C ‘rere w.’it}.L tliQ outfit and once the r-1 were run out of  ‘oro ‘b~v by t.1e ~.Y~es, PAGE if 63 When we were rr-aking the speed run there was notices ahother oil leak. When it was closely examined it was  found to be a cracked cylinder.  That was not good either. I had promised one of the ojbherE officers who was going out to pump out his gas tanks a tow in. When we were ready to xrome in he had just started to pumping them  Well I waited for an hour and he was still not finished. I told him that I wanted to *tiE on and start in he could finish the piUmping as we went in Got the line secured to out stern and away we -want. -tie wanted to tie up alongside but the sea was pretty rough and thst would have torn the “boats apart. We finally got in to the dosk at four and there waiting for us WQ.S ii-r BrackedLt, Cosmiander wVarfield, and the head of the engineering dept. I had radioed in for them to wait that we had engine trouble. Warfield really did a bit of hell raising because the hot was not ready to leatee and there was not a thing that could have been done to have rushed it up any more than it was. Thedecision was made to pull the bank of cylinders out in the engineroma. i’hat had never been done before. They wanted to give me a reconditioned eggine but it was not 1550 IIP and I did ftot want that. I got my engineers to working on the engine at once &nd by eight they had cone ever$ thing ths.t they could do as hot aa the engine w?as.  They started again at six in the raorning. It tool till BOOH to cet the engine out o; the eighth.  T~Lat afternoon they got the bank of cylinders out in the “brkshop to give It agoing: over c’nci to put the new cylinder in.  It took till the afternoon of the nineth to get it in too.  The night of the eighth they wanted us to stay tied up at the engineering dOEk but I refused to 3.0 that. We had been here for two nites in a ro\” and thero has to be a full crew e.nd~onee offl-cer on the Boat wJhen the boat is over here. I arranged for a tow back in he i-orning. “-‘hey did not war-b lae to run over on the engines in the .boat fD that w:ouid he.ve the eiiginerooia all hot . Just as Y’e were pullir.g out oil one T.n-n6 engine i’ir Brackett hailed us. he want.eC us to tow one 6’ t. e other boats fro;”, the slip r.~ the engineering aock. ltolo- hiKi. that I had onl:” 03:i  engine but  e thought that i could 17;:. Z  it ohay.  I must- have i0:1 it perfect for he said  Damn Good. The norning of the nineth the boat Ct3%11e along .lust before seven to get us ba.ck over.  When we got here they notioned us av’ay froE the engineering doch and just as we -~ottt tied up -they haa us move to the cngineeririf dock. For the rest of the day we were moved around no less than three tines. . About  three they JecicLed to ::J.1 the bank ba.ok in bph han.d.  -he crane wa>.s nob  a.rouncl. QQ w’BEe to use all the boat engineers and. four base “ien ana wJ-orl: on it till w.e w7eree finished.  We st -in e. fpr supper but that ..as all. It w;a:’ estimated that it TOUIS be finished by ten that night. Th  job was completed at  two in the morning. My but the gang was tired. I took the boat over to the water hole then to fill up the water tanks and the engine. It all had to be drained out to fix the engine. insert PAGEs 63-80


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PAGE if 63
When we were rr-aking the speed run there was notices ahother oil leak. When it was closely examined it was  found to be a cracked cylinder.  That was not good either.


I had promised one of the ojbherE officers who was going out to pump out his gas tanks a tow in. When we were ready to xrome in he had just started to pumping them  Well I waited for an hour and he was still not finished.


I told him that I wanted to *tiE on and start in he could finish the piUmping as we went in Got the line secured to out stern and away we -want. -tie wanted to tie up alongside but the sea was pretty rough and thst would have torn the “boats apart.


We finally got in to the dosk at four and there waiting for us WQ.S ii-r BrackedLt, Cosmiander wV/arfield, and the head of the engineering dept. I had radioed in for them to wait that we had engine trouble.


Warfield really did a bit of hell raising because the hot was not ready to leatee and there was not a thing that could have been done to have rushed it up any more than it was.


Thedecision was made to pull the bank of cylinders out in the engineroma. i’hat had never been done before. They wanted to give me a reconditioned eggine but it was not 1550 IIP and I did ftot want that.


I got my engineers to working on the engine at once &nd by eight they had cone ever$ thing ths.t they could do as hot aa the engine v?as.  They started again at six in the raorning.


It tool till BOOH to cet the engine out o; the eighth.  T~Lat afternoon they got the bank of cylinders out in the “brkshop to give It agoing: over c’nci to put the new cylinder in.  It took till the afternoon of the nineth to get it in too.  The nite of the eighth they wanted us to stay tied up at the engineering dOEk but I refused to (3.0 that. We had been here for two nites in a ro\” and thero has to be a full crew e.nd~onee offl-cer on the Boat VJhen the boat is over here. I arranged for a tow back in he i-orning. “-‘hey did not war-b lae to run over on the engines in the .boat fD that v:ouid he.ve the eiiginerooia all hot .


Just as Y’e were pullir.g out oil one T.n-n6 engine i’ir Brackett hailed us. he want.eC us to tow one 6’ t. e other boats fro;”, the slip r.~ the engineering aock. ltolo- hiKi. that I had onl:” 03:i  engine but  e thought that i could 17;:. Z ( it ohay.  I must- have i0:1 it perfect for he said  Damn Good.


The norning of the nineth the boat Ct3%11e along .lust before seven to get us ba.ck over.  When v/e got here they notioned us av’ay froE the engineering doch and just as we -~ottt tied up -they haa us move to the cngineeririf dock. For the rest of the day we were moved around no less than three tines. . About  three they (JecicLed to ::J.1 the bank ba.ok in bph han.d.  -he crane v/a>.s nob  a.rouncl.


QQ v’BEe to use all the boat engineers and. four base “ien ana vJ-orl:
on it till v.e v7eree finished.  We st -in e. fpr supper but that ..as all. It v;a:’ estimated that it TOUIS be finished by ten that nite.


Th  job was completed at  two in the morning. My but the gang was tired. I took the boat over to the water hole then to fill up the water tanks and the engine. It all had to be drained out to fix the engine.


Fage~ 64 We wokE up next morning just at the chow boat was leaving.


I took the boat back to sessapi then to get breakfast there. We
were ready to leave before eight and I ifareBt in to see Gommander\
Warfield. He had me wait till I could take up a dispatch that
he was writing, i
~e also inform ed iae that he wanted me to take up a rearming boat with me, I had to furnish my ‘own lowing gear. I told him that I had a cable a new one that I had just gotten and did not want to unroll that.  He advised me that I would have to think up something. I told him that I had tried to get a cable there and that they had none and that I got it from the CBs. He said that it was a goofl thing traf he did not knowanything about it that he would have really raised he II about that for the base was supposed to proxmre everything and issue it out to us.


Well I took the rearming barge alongside and went by for fuel. They got the fuel in in about half an hour and off we went. I kept the rearming barge alongside till we were outside the faets to keep it from fouling up with the other boats that were anchored in the harbor.


When we got outsid- the nets there c~as an eight foot sea.  We pill the boat astern of us then and payed out line and took it in till it looked to be the right distance friroi us.


On one engine idling it looked as if the thing would swamp.  The water piled u” in front end broke over thebow. The same with two and three engines E.hes.d and idling.    I finally Stopped bailed it out then went at higher speeds to see if there was some speed at vdlich the boat v.-ould plane. 1200 seemed to be the best one.


All -was v.’ell for about an hour trhen the tow line broke.


We bailedit out a~ain and this time bent the cable onto the boat.  All was well till we were ab.ut two niles south of the easternmost island of the russelcL group. There we hit a c’ouple of big waves and the rearming boat juiaped coEipletely out of thewater. When it oarie riovm the cable was parted.


i had securer the tiller hard right to force the thing to ride to leaod the PT abd when that cable parted it made a turn right into another wave and. filled, to the runnels.


I rushed to .-et a line onto it but there -was no need for the hurry there seened to be no sighn of it sinking further.  Waves v/ere breaking over the boat continually and ths e vre.s no .  hope of bailing it out this time. JL tried toping it with a line to the b w to see if the water ~i;uld rush to the stern and out of the boat but the line parted again. Then we got another line over and i;ried to tow it alongside. That parted too. There was a necessity of keeping a :-.Lan in the  BO:-,T TOhandlethe lines but one i8f the lookc u ts reported shark fins about fifty yards away so -L had him :: t back aboard.


Then -too ‘bilGre v.’as C anger of one of the waves washing him over the side “and the n xt wave crushing him.


Finally after there was nothing left on the boat to pull with. vie had to leave it.  We got permission to go in to tlie Sussels and there v.’e secured the aid of an APc to go back to it and “;iok it up. They have a boom thr: t they can lift tlie v:hole boat out of the -v/a-cer.


 ~      PAGE # 65  top          i   I left I-bHowell who was repair of fiver at Tulagi and was coming -up to Send-ova with Kie there ao go out with the APo 830.0.  watch the operation. He was so come on up next day with another “boat that was <)o pass thru. I left there at six in the evening and came on up tofiendova. We got in at one in the morning.  They had moved everything from Lombardy to Bow island and we had to
move over there.                *                           
I go   he duty officer there to find a place ~or all the
passengers to sleep. I had thirteen new officers just fro~ the states and each one had about half a ton of gear.  The seas all the \Nay had constantly hit us and everyone ms pretty well teaten up.  They thought by the tine that we got to Rendova that PTs were pretty rough.


The eleventh i got to seeCoirmiander Specht  who was in charge here ard. told hir-i the stmry.  “e said that It could not have been helped and that I should virile out a report and give it to him.  I had expected to really catch hell because one of the boats costia aboub five thousand bucks.


The real of the day they repaired the ammunition box that
had been jerked off and worked on tlie engine generators. I took
the gang all over to the water hole late in the  fternoon to i- t
a good bath/
I let them all [Q to the show after ttu-t and came back to the boat to vn?ite afigu letters. The-;- h3.d  ordered Ke to stay here. All of squadron nineteen is to be here today or toiaorrov;
fora rest for a couple of nonths. we really have ueen getting laore i~one the tv/o ancl a half Eonths ‘chat v/e v.-ere up thajli any o other outfit out here.


 
65 bottom
 
I let theni all po t.o t-lie shov.” al’-cer cnsr ana came bacK to
the boat to \?rite afm: letters. The:.” had.  ordered, me to stay
here. All of sauacLron nineteen is to oe here today or toiaorrow
fora rest for c. couple of months, we really have been getting more done the two .n<3- a lialf Eonths thF-t WQ were up that any o other outfit out here.


The 12^th we got up ~t six in the morning and startea togtting
squared, away/ I got the inost of the gear all stowed. Belo~,,, She n    ‘
I h.ad-  themen get  out  all their personal   ear. ‘nd air  :Lt  out.  the
23$ had “brought ;il oiir gear aovm “but they had left the Torpoleon there and. ‘we had none. i rolled out the tents that we binmght vfith us planning to cut oils of tien up and have it for a torp.  We have to anchor here and right in the sun is pretty hot.  There were tvo torps Y.’.’th the tents, one for ea.Eh tent.  C~uess they were to be used as the flooring of the tent. I took both of fhri and v~en placed together covered the ‘”hole ‘bo&t from cockpit to sterraa* I had t’ilJo s~all torps that cc.n be used- for the bow.


At eleven vre had. every thing out airing c.nd the torps all uop and. were all setled to have it pretty nice til dinner “but up cones the electrical ae t hero to finish the job of fixing ny engecerators. l’hat neanithclt v/e had to take dovm the torps and get underway.  As we entered bl~ncl cc chennel v;e riet II of the ron 23 bo~ts coJlin,” 1_?;7  The:, -ill he rn5-sn ter,i;i1orarily too.  They really di look good in coluian C03,11_ul,: i in.


.after ...inner r.n  tko J:-at captain :;-coting :’.. took the ganp to t.i.e \yater hole. v.’e -.’ashed clothes tcbll four in te afternoon.  i think about’ everyone got CO‘Lt,C~hi;; up on that.


I planned to {oto t e v.ater hole only every oth-r day froci nov,? on.  ~e h~~ve ;;7:!00 dr~n’-s  on  board  that-, ill  hol~ enough  .ater  to take care of the C.ii”” thot v/e (io not -o.


PAGE # 66
The thirteentli we spent all morning get-bing every thing squared
away. There was a world of stuff tha-b we had, accumulated thinking that
we would “be going “back up the line and would need. Since we are
staying ,here tho we have to keep it all
In the afternoon there was a decision to have a lot of exercises between PTs and aDB,  The destroyer has  better radar on it and can send to us at quite a range courses and speeds to use to make contact with the enemy. There are “two boats from Ron 19 and four from Ron 23 to take part in all theoperations. The two from Ron 19 are the 242 and 238. ‘i’hey are the only ones that will run vath all the equiptment working right now.


We spent atf afternoon gomng over the exercises and renewing our acLQuaintance with a manovering board . nd plotting/. 

The’ fourteenth I spent all morning trying to get e i~orS: order thr to have the mounts and adapters that I collected fixed up so I could have two sets of twin fiftieth on the boatx. Thet took till nearly noon. then too that afte.rnoon we were to go on the first of the manovers with the destroyer and h d to have every thing working. About eleven tho engineer came up saying that the auxillery generator v?as not funfctioning properly and he did not know whether it would last a run or not.         2 told him to lhake every effort to ge  it fixed.         lifter dinner Don took the boat to the YOG- to take on fuel. ‘.7hile    he was there the bo~s worlrkoS feverishly on the generator and by- the time that it was finished ( the fueling) they had it running like a top.         l’hat made us hit the fiead line anyhow. The can did not get in however and we did not have to go out at all.     

It t Q late afternoon meeting there was a lot of excitement that came to a head. ‘..’e had feared losing Uapte.in sm&th for somo time and the faews broke definitely this time.. The new Gommanaer is to be Coim:iana.er Vanness v’ho is at present ooEL’s.iid”’r iSd? Rom 20. He is & swell fello\v t, o and I feel sure that we “.7111 all li’-e I’ in a lfl)t.

   The next item; The coira~ociore au-bhoriges operational leave    foe half the officers and men in the souadron. right nov? They are    to go to eithi’.’.r ~.wkland New Zealand or- to ...ustralia.  it v~s a    pretty ‘..ough job picking the men hat ~ould go. Tb.ev finally    deoidea that the officers v.’ould co:’tie fro.-:, the boots Y:ith the    best record in the ooJ.;bit zone. The “oest recor’s is the 237 with C1 la-f;rolls nest cone tJe2/;.2 and 231’ ;,it’ith 23  each.  (  vre virere out for tvJO weeks at ~ul~~i Ilollowinfi; the shooting). Then cajae the 23$ with 21 patrolls Gild the 236 with 20 the 3,, had 15 and the 243 f 9  The 2~ was considores as having had none tho tliey did have three before they had the accident. ~fal~K~SH~iixteoa5XlxiXKSCKE:=csxxsijaH  Captain Smith, told us that everyone iiad to have at least 5 nont. s in a coiabat zone and that v~e v/ere to go back intATO months thon cone down a~ain  When vie C :i:eeee back the rest of the fellows will get a hance to ?’:o Bg? for a leave and that this v.’ill in no way lengthen the stay out of the states.  I told him that I did not B;il~B it worth a damn here or angt v-here out sffide of the states and did not want to tak-  it if it were to keep ne here lon.’.er.

PAGE # 67  3 copies lh.e hard joh was that the boat Captains were to turn in a list of t;t~ee men that were to go at this time. I tolcL the gang on the boat everything incLetail and asked them if they -wanted to vrork it out, .They all said that they had rather I do it. I wish that I couSfad take them all for they really are the best gang in the world.

Well I took the men that xaa, been on the boat all the time.  There are only four now. The real have been transferred because of illness or have been hew additions to the crew in the way of inoreasw in number on the boat. There was one men that was transferred because of incompetance and a new man took his place.

They all se’Qw.Q. to think that the method was plentyfair.         Just as Vie got in to the movie thatnite there was a terrible    fctorm that came up. There were three boats at oul; buoy and that thing did notr.hold at all. All three boats had to pull out. The 2~2 and 235 came in to the doek and tied up while the 243 tied up alongside one of theships that is anchored out in the bay. The boys did a wonderful job of taking care of the boats because there was no officer at all in the nest.         Kext morning the 1$ th ghere were two boats to go to Tulagi,    The 235 and 237. There are to be all -D.QVT engines installed in fahe    baots while v~e are down the line and these two will get 811 fixed    up fch.ele. The 235 has only two screws and will takeall the freight    and creep along all the way. The 237 takes the personelle and .         v.lli “be s’bis -bo run right along and. get there in a hurry. Eight    or ten hours anyhov;.     

STen O’clock found us in the meeting v.ith the Skipper of the Tin Can Gh-t had come in and v/ith all the other tactiotians that were to  ave ChZTi:E: of the  operations between the PTs and Destroyer.

   We were to eat at ele en and get underway at eleyen fourty    five. Wsll I got &11 thecang into the chow s.t that time and as    soon 5.s bilQJ finished, out we da heg to get t-e boat in. The Captain    , Bob Sweet, Con;;aiia.er Westholn, and two visiting section leaders    fron Ron. 23 were -fco , o -with us. Well we got along fine all afternoon.         The Captain was t. e first plotting officer v.lth ri~ee as assistant.         The secoi.d Bxa. Bob Sweet v/a.s the plotting officer ana I -was the    ~ -issistant. All -bhis tjL~e it had been rough as the devil and Don had    been at thevdieel takinc; care of  all the courses and speeds. That    really ~iTTen him wuitea beating and so I got the captain to let me ts.         take over that phase of tl.e operation and let him set a little    practice.  Instead however He, Sweet,Westholm and one other crowded    into the chart house for the maneuver. Don did get to go below    ‘f*<~\r*   <’    I  ? “r~\ ~   o*r~l    Wmrtr   nril-    *~~-ir~     
PAGE # 6?            ‘.’
lh.e hard. job was -bhat the boat Cap-fcains were to turn in a list of t~e men that were to go at this time. I tolcL the gang on the boat everything incLetail and asked them if they -wanted, to work it out, .They all said that they had rather I do it .1 wish.  that I couM. take them all for they really are the best gang in the world.


Well I took the men that haa, been on the boat all the time.  There are only four now. The real have been transferred because of illness or have been hew additions to the crew in the way of inoreasw in number on the boat. There was one men that was transferred because of incompetance and a new man took his place.  They all se~m~ to think that the method was plentyfair.

Just as we got in to the movie thatnite there was a terrible
storm that came up. There were three boats at out buoy and that thing did notnhold at all. All three boats had to pull out. The 2~2 and 23~ came in to the doek and tied up while the 243 tied up alongside one of theships that is anchored out in the bay The boys did a wonderful job of taking care of the boats because there was no officer at all in the nest.

Kext morning the 1$ th ghere were two boats to go to Tulagi.      The 23$ and 237. There are to be all new engines installed in fahe    baots while we are down the line and these two will get all fixed    up fch.ele. The 235 has only two screws and will takeall the freight    and creep along all the vv’ay. The 237 takes the personelle and .         v.ili “be a’bis to r-un right along and get there in a hurry. Eight    or ten hours anyhov..     

S-‘en O’clock found us in the meeting \.ifch  the  Skipper of the Tin Can that haci come in and with. all the other tactiotians that vJere -bo  ave charge of the  operations between the PTs and Destroyer.

We were to eat at ele en and get underway at eleven fourty    five. Well I got &ii thecang into the chow s.~ that time and as    soon .s they finished out we da heei to get t-e boat in. The Captain    , Bob Sweet, Corr’.anaer Westholi’i, fmd two visiting section leaders    froH Roll 23 were -bo , o -with us. ‘..’ell we got along fine all afternoon.         The Captain wa.s t. e first plotting officer vith rl;e as assistant.         The secoi.d hma Boh Sweet v’a.s tkQ plotting officer ana I was the    assistant. All this ti~e it had been ro-agh as the devil and Don had    been of thev~l;eel takinc care of  all the courses and speeds. That    really ~iven him iguitea beating and so I got the captain to let me &    take over that phase of tLe operation and let him get a little    practice.  Instead however He, Sweet,Westhoirn and one other crowded    into the chart house for the maneuver. Don did get to go below    for a little and <Sry out tho.        

PAGE # 6?            ‘.’    Whe hard job was -bha-b the boat. Oap-fcains were to turn in a    list of t~e men that were to go at this time. I tolcL the gang on the boat everything incLetail and. asked them if they wanted to work it out. .They all said that they had rather I do it. I wish that I couibd take them all for they really are the best gang in the world. Well I took the men that haq been on the boat all the time.  There are only fomr now. The real teve been transferred because of illness or have been hew additions to the crew in the way of inoreasw in number on the boat. There was one men that was transferred because of incompetance and a new man took his place.  They all seeing to think that the method was plentyfair.

Just as we got in to the movie thatnite there was aterrible gtorm that came up. There were three boats at out buoy and that thing did notnhold at all. Ail three boats had to pull out. The 2~2 and 235 came in to the doek and tied up while the 243 tied up alongside one of theships that is anchored out in the bay. The boys did a wonderful job of taking care of the boats because there was no officer s.t all in the nest.

Eext morning the 15^th ghere were two boats to go to Tulagi.The 23$ and 237. There are to be all new engines installed in fahe baots while we are down the line and these two will get ell fixed
UT) -fchere.  The 235 lis-s only two  screws and will  takeall the freight
and creep e-loing all the way. The 237 takes the personelle and .         v.ali “be a’bis to run right along and. get there in a hurry. Eight    or ten hours anyhov..

 
Sbn O’clock found us in the meeting \.i-fch -the Skipper of the Tin Can thc.t had come in and with all the other tactiotians tliat wei-e to  ave chr~r;:c:: of the  operations between the PTs snd Destroyer.

We were to es-t at ele en and get underway at eleven fourty    five. Well J. got &li thecang into the obow 8.1 that time and as    soon 5.s bne~ finishecL out v:e aashes to get t_:e boat in. The Captain    , Bob Sweet, Co~-1: s.niier Westholii, and two visiting section leaders    froi:i Ron 23 were “bo , o -with us.  ‘.tfell we got along fine all afternoon.         The Captain wa.s t. e first plotting officer v’ith r:;e as assistant.  

The secor.d Omi Boh Sweet v’e.s thQ plotting officer 8.na I was the
assistant. All -bhis ti~e it had been rough as the devil and Don had
been :-it thev~ieel takinc care of  all the courses and speeds. That
really ~iTTen him vmitea beating wo. so I got tile captain to let me s.         take over ‘&ht phase of tLe operation and let him get a little    practice.  Instead however He, Sweet,V-esthoim and one other crowded    into the chart house for the maneuver. Don did get to go below    (“”11~   a    liT.T.Ie    and    &r’”.r   ont   “hho.            

 PAGE 67  bottom
J.IIQ  ~i;f’-~~J-nn vina  ou  J.-L.I.-ao  i””~’lsll~ttttt  L).I.J. C;~31  I:I rU .-10  t-.la  CIJ3;lijC~(WL~J    Tfae second Rin Bofa Sweet ‘.7e.s the plotting offi-cer .i1a I -~s the    assisfa~n.t.J~jLI -this tjL;?i-e it had 1)6011 3:’ou~lii as the devil and Don had    1)0011  of thevdieel teeing care of  .&11 the courses an<i speeds*  That    really r.:iven hini wuitea oeating and so I got tile captain to let iae ts.         take over that phase of tl-e o’.’iers.tion and let hin get a little    practice.  Instead however He, ~eet,Westholm and one other oDOWded    into thecliart house for the maneuver. Don did. get to go below    for a little and Sry out tho    

We C:dt -n :t scvontj’e.t nite aai of us lnmf.;ry as ‘beara.’l    tie’-‘  up  at the dock for tho nite I  thought  and off lwent~ith    all the bunch to supper G.n.fi the novio. Well about half way    thru the first reel the loud specc-er snnounoed t s.t all boats    e.t the dock Y.’ould ha”eto ]aove  out.  It \’-!Q.G- ds.rk as pitch and v/e    really had. & tine ettin.-“ to-a biloyl It v/as still a raining    end v.’e had to keep a seHrohlite on the v/hole trie between leavang    the dock and finuir.;?”; :?-;,,, buoy,    ‘-lie norning  or  the  o..::teonth.  i  found  out at Breakfast  that “:re v/ore  to-repeat  t~eop~ratioffi.  111.0  sanie  o.s  beforoand  this  ti..e Gua~ ~ut at nite. ‘.no of [,-.... boats tl’at YJasv~-f-l us. ‘i’iE llob Jack v~lich was CI1 ne~v FTtonG rv~as to fis ohov; anr’ pass it over tto us.      
‘     Yage jf- 68
The same conoucL ~rils to r.iake 1.116 -brip.  ~ell every-bhing went.off fine again this time but it was still rougher than the day    before. I was surely glad v/hen they called off the nite operation,    That nite when’ we carae in I decided that since we had been run out the day before that it would be a good idea to go on out to the buoy and let theiasen<t out a boat to get the ones that had stayed on after we put ogf all the visitors and &alf the crew.  At eight thirty the boat carae aro\oid.l really was disgusted by that tine. ‘C~e had managed to ,”:et a little coffee and some other nicknacks that we had on board but it was not much.  

The morning of the seventh l really had a rush in ge ting    on gas getting to theten o’clock meeting , getting groceries for    we were to stay out at nite this time and there was to be chow    cooped on each boat. Well v’e iaade it okay again. This time there    was BOb Sweet, and Bud Trimible and only one Bian from Ron 23 with    us. ‘i’he first two runs this time I was the plotting offiveer and    Don the assistant.  At nite however we went way outside the island.         wind breakers and it was so rough that I coula not stay below,    We really had a tough tilae ‘.-f ::t  The two boats that were with    as in the section were c.onstanti   getting lose. They had ne~err    been in a petroll before where t;e boats stayed together c.nd where    there was a possibility og getting thehell .shot out of the boat    if. it did  get  los8,     Yveil we had  to call theia over  the radio    to lie to then \’e picked one up o-nd had hiia fall in then the oilier    and off we “.01110. go for I?o-bher h~lf iiiie 1?:i repeat the    process. Tile first two davs the Destroyer would give us by radar    the distance anc. aireotion oi’ th.e jllCiliY  ~i‘hat vJas at minute    intervals an~ fron liiat , could, c.otenaine his course and speed    and the course JIQ- speed to ge  toe. position 5z-;i es 30degrees on    his bow then fron there v;e coulg ffigure hw: “-:o iet into ‘.:’ position    to fire our fish at hin. TO sinul6.te .firing v;e ~iouLdd co;:e up to a epeiEi~  the sane as  the  torpedo ~.Tid  on  -0’..3  course  tilat we figured.     
th~ti-i;;;  should  frivol.    The  i-afr  or. U’.G  ~ostrorel-----  is  stronger
than OL~S :.nu. can pick up I   at twelve 7 ‘uhat we would
lose at G, rango of rivorl, ‘!’.ct: fif.-r -hhfi ~QG-bro~er lic.d ut~n ‘clio target and \>G had
 
PAGE 68 bottom
to lie ‘bo then i-ie piol:e<3. one up and naa niia TBIL in ‘Gilon uiie u-caer ana off we ouLd go for ano-bher jiBlf ilile 5.11.1 repeat, -blie process. Tlie -first two c’.a7S the Destroyer ‘~ouia eive us by ra<3.o.r the distance c.i1a direction of ‘fahe anony,y, That v<’Q.s at minute intervals an’-i froi-i liiat v? could deterinine his course ana speecL Q.YI&.  the  co’arse  sno.  s~eeciii  to  ge    to  a  position  51~i  es  303degrees  on his bo~*’ then from there- vfe coulg fligure hov: to ~etinto e. position to fire our fish at hin. ‘ro s3Jaul8.te .firing v:e v~ould coriie up to a epe~i the {is~ie as the torpeclo c.nd on t’...3 course tho~t we fi.gui’ed.  theltit shoulcl travel.  The 1:: ~ar 021 .i.: -Sostrover is s,tronger than o~SSSS ::’ii can pick.u~ ~&rg~t~ at twelve i...iles i~at Y.re ,, lose at a rGngo of fiTo

This last <3.&y the (i- ;: be; ::n the target s.nd vfe liad had c.  pir.ne give us thet;j_r~et’cours, speea.,  bearing, and distance e.nd v~erefi~urir~ o~.~ttt  :--- to ao fro” thf:-t.   Tlie nite runv~e “Bere to C:o.s;j-tsii!e uliaaa ~assc.~3 i-j ~oerl .iendovs. and Eont?;OT1ery islands and v~ai-1;;;;; for the destroyer to laake & Gv.’e”p dOY.?ri the coast Well we T~ere out sone tv8lve lllanilo~  and on station v;~itin~ for the n~37.5 to ‘co:neoTor 2?o officer “,’fG.s ci .F;’ C v:ith hisstor.’Lao].>. c.nd the nen.did.notlaaoY~ hov: to do it.

Fin&lly Y/edid ~ot on a collission course cu~d. Y.TQre ~oi~g in    for the c.ttafk. .ihon ~la .refourr~iles ~’~~ ‘Lhe ~r-i;- t picked us    up ~.nd ~iO~L ‘bheroYJOS~. ?tK.r shell ‘bur3t richt over ~he1:’oat. ‘.JQ    la~- E~:?1): UU c’nd cot ‘the-.: oil  ut i - -b’ “re as fast as. ?-?os~rbie therl    ccse :. clss for another ~tt~ck. ..’-fc fo-ixr iii3.es they turne:’. on a search li~ light this ‘b.lile and wo had to I’:   Oi; ~ ain.         At last v’e got in E shot and st~rto.” ;_O ~ooo opch to uase as the d.’stroyer prooeoded on o’.T’. ‘.!~ oo st t~ “urvis Bay ~iich is at lUlagi.         It tool: till tVJo In ‘i ! rti---,o,_i0rn:~-- .o :””t tho section h-e~ LI; safely.      L  tied  or?  to  tile  dooh  .:.i~  re’iorted  ~o   ‘-  du.ty  r  the  fret.    I ~as’~ol that J- ‘”Ould “”: aion~?!i;”” the - : - n-?- “t “.irht p..~’:t morninf; to .et _”??airs tahon c:..ro of.  

Page 69
I woke up at sia as usual. I had started to sleep topside.  It v~as pretty out vriian we tied up but about two hours later it started to pour down rain and I had to move below. I went back up in th, S rain and got a bath tho.

The morning of the eighteenth the men on the mob jack mostly    got settled as to whet it would t\e like working on theboats,    He re they came with every tool unused and ready to go. They    did not get much clone the first day but we were eating aboard and    did not care if they never finished/ Tills ship being just from    the states had about everything that anyone could want.  The eqts were  ‘    really wonderful, for dinner we had had steak, The boys said that they    were getting g tired of stakes and my gang had had none in                 four months.  God that made them sore. S                                 I    The nineteenth though there came word’ that werad to be finished    “by ~116 21s-fc so L3ievrr really started to worry in a hurry.   About laidclie or the morning in ~j~lked Alpine he was “back from Treasuries but did. no t know for how long.   He was to resume his duties as 130001 captain for the time being. Captain Smith went down to Tulagi with the destroyer that last nit that we had worked with it and had not cone back yet.     
I more or less turned over everything to Alpine but everything has been done by no thus far end the folks here  still have al the business with me as yet. It will take a couple of days to get a   of days to ; everything straight.

   The items that we are getting done are odds and ends like fixing a crack in ‘the radar mast. Moving a speaker tube to another location, fix the engine rooia, glu~ate compass and battle lights, fix a loose hatch on the rope locker and  install a new antennae on the ABE unit.  

For noon meal on the nineteen th we had sirloin steak: and for dessert there was cake and strawberry ice” cream. G-Gosh it was good.  3 managed to get four fresh eggs and three pancakes eaten for breakfast before filling up too.  That nit there ‘.”as a night there was a movie in the afternoon for in the fir all the officers.

‘ The 20^th they about finished everything -fato: by laid afternoon pad    the SHICE repair officer told ;:e that I was to be  alongside the    dock again next morning to i:’ t two new opines. I .. the gang    to work on the toginod getting them ready to take out soon as he    told me that. Then since we had not been able L  ‘:;any water for several ‘”days, I managed to get some from I r “ to “et the ship.         I arranged to get the 2~0 boat; to tow us o-‘over in the morning, too in. “he.     
That nit I cot in some letters that had been a hanging for several days

 

The 21^st. S pulled away from the Sob Janb just after breakfast or at least we were pulled -? away. We were lowed over to the dock’) cock as ar ordered but when we cot got there, there was another boat there and we could not get in . t first they told us to lie too for ‘c; few minutes while they moved to make e place for us but :’.later sent us on out to fcgsTfcyr berth.  ‘ The z~oo went over to the water hole to fill u-n tl-1 .i_l t~n~s illlFI drums so I went with him. \ with-: ;:2.. After that I spent all the rest of the morning i~ hing clothes and getting the out to CirTT so *1- \~~l’) be I’es iTy for the trip.             ‘                  “     “ “
 
PAGE # 70.

   In the afternoon we were ordered “back “to the dock to  &? have the E    engine pulled, out.  When we got in it took about twenty minutes to do    that. The other branched of fixits started to work at once too    getting all the rest of the items that were still on the list taken    care of    That afternoon n at the meeting there was a lot else that went    on that was of especial interest. * -    The captain announced .that he was leaving in two days but that he had made the new boat assignment for us before leaving. I was to be skipper of the 24~ after we get back. They have it in dry dock now and it is to be ready to go back when we return from operational leave around the first of March.         I am to have Dick Dormelly as exec, Alpine will have Robinson, and Hanna as his execs, There are only three boats that will have only two officers the 235, 236, and 21., Guess the captain had a pretty good bit of faith in my way of doing things now.   The boat is in pretty rotten/ shape. There are even v~SSSSSS in the hull of it now and rats inside- it.         I thought best to ;”-et an all new crew to take over with. The fellows that are on it have been sitting around now for three months and will not get back into a hustle and bustle easily so I plan to oho.ngo them all up.         I also sat down and wrote out a list containing over a hundred    things!  T.n  ‘~f\n\.’ -fn-t  -~  rrr\r\  -?”  -I-l” -~  ‘” -  -.1.--- -  -   “     
PAGE 70  bottom
 
‘  JLciJ.aosa-c.c.oymanav<TOtQ out a list containing over a hundred         items ts ; 1 -- 1 0- L seelf-they have 13:16]~ oiL-bli- boats before    getting .c.Gte-rtea..os:FL; :: ‘J.’3ieylia7e proiaiaed tot~eoa.re of collecting    cay ~hing t..h.afc l.naod rl;\rl l ao not plan to stop this “    leave no~~t~lati ..baTe~it,     <\”.   -.        -~    -‘    The cite of blle.21stw.stayea.at the (loolc tlie~~epe to e-cmtiinie    v/orl: on -~9se 1)0~.1.10: .the r.oiiiing aiid Ira v.’ould l~cr r r to be lowed out    aJi<5.  ba.elc.j.a.  ~c-in* .  “.          -        .   “””            ;;    ‘                  ‘     -  ‘~’   :::::’ -:  

.Theaorair~or t.e22n<i. 1; st~.rta<i bright end eaily-gettiftgsl~ _  -“;    th..;-t  lie~;ea?~w lined, up  i’or-the-‘:8~tc:iiii  -Y - r -Yu-  rl~’but’    thero. ;-s*e few-really- G-ood 1~311 that. ci..e available. I an. tn.~iag   ‘ ‘    sevea 301(311 th~t~iRYPiioverb. en assigned to boats. In feob ‘they have beeii    iE,tHiebQlA3.d2on ‘only about &as v/eelfis. That rncans that   no ones Imo~s    their C:jc~U~;cr;rJ.   .     “’”’  -‘..’    -  --    .1 hc-ve eTer.thiiig sottl~d ~utaJ~ldioM’~ crid he  vn.ll have to    ueore~toR.~rolllllll_ll Eea~~an. ‘Fhere~re~n hhhhhh 7i:eP”ii _?t’ili;;le hi~3.rontl:.:.cv have    all oeen seiit-bo .clif~eront L~sesQUt here. I arranged for the S&G.io    Dep-:-.i?tHer.t  ‘:,o tahe esre  o.f tlie radioman and the  (-uarteri-iaster in    so f~r .5-the J~diosasK   andrfa<lar’GreoonoernGd,      -    All ‘thiG has ‘beGn nl proved “Mt~-.:; Bud Sri~lble \’ho is acting ‘    UIL ;_ ..i i r:iC1 preaent.  . “:. ‘”                     ‘  “’ ‘

In the afternoon vre haat.o’bet~l:efl. o”t front~e ubcl: ‘to’ let ~.iiother b-:.t ::eti.:t I_ \- I 3’- ‘-;,?il- r 32~.(i gotten v-hs fc7one~ enc’ines in cj.d-fah8 bo~t ~i-i~.il. r- i -citiL hit-eh t-hcn-ur -f;o run.         :    1’hs:”.or2iin~’ O the 23rcl I o”t aroun”  to --;1 ‘ciits -- .n of the    fei’.o’;.. that v/ex-c .o M ontheboat. I ~rransed for t~o cittart-ST~”‘”” ~”“    both  -to GO tot~BBB ~.dio shcp o- t~ fora ~onth 3~arning    all <-bout “radio CEcl~uar ~o~th~tthe~ YJOulft he oai’li’etsnt in those    line.. v.hen”-~-‘ a ~csP : i :o ‘-:=~n   

‘        PAGE ~71         ‘

 

The afternoon of the 23^rd. I spent catching up on the letters    that I -owe., We had j-just gotten in a bunch of :mail and. there were    fifteen for me and that made me have quite a “bit to virile about     The morning of the 2~th I spent the morning meeting all the rest of the proposed crew and. getting them all lined up. There were several changes that had to be made because I wanted the men to  e really want to be on a boat when they come to me and not a matter of it being just that they had Id-be somewhere and they may as well be on the boat as anywhere S:EB else.         I think:  now that JL really have got the best bunch possible to work -work with.     
Just after lunch there was a payday for all the lads that were    to make the trip down to -New Zealand. They took out all: out the month    allotments out of the first of the month though and that left    everyone with less money than they had. figured on, I had       drawn a hundred last month and did not expect but a hundred and fifty    though so was not bothered with it    The sailing date has not been set for the 27^th on the Jamestown.  We will take that to G-Guadalcanal and from there we will catch a boat on the rest of the way.     

At sunset on the 2/...th word -was passed that the 237 would be the tow boat next day They were to tow the 242 alongside the Mob Jack at 071$ but there was to be a special payday for the men on that boat who were going- on leave at eight O’clock and the paymaster is quite a horse here so I told them that I would take the first boat and come over to the 337 “-and take charge letting them go in(the officers). Alpine had the work orders in his pocket and there was no way of getting hose before taking the boat on over. I lowed the 242 alongside anyhow .

‘We were to get new J.-manifold pressure, gap.ues and get some gadgets repaired that had gotten knocked off when the new engines were put in, I left Hanna in charge and took the 237 back’ to the assigned buoy to wait for further lowing orders. At o73i! we lowed the 238 into the dock to get new engines put in that boat and at oSOO, Bryant and  Small were back to take care of their’ own host.

About ten thirty, I got- the mail which included several copies of the Jackson Daily news, a Time and several letters from the folks but none from <Jane. Mail without a letter from ~  her do not help the spirits too much. I finished the letters and Time by midafternoon”” by mid . on and went to a show t at night.

The 26^th we were back at the buoy. It rained, like the devil all morning but just at noon it cleared and I -of busy with the dirty cloths that had accumulated. Then too I liked  to p-.-b my .-mattress sunned every possible moment. It is so damp anyhow and the night before the.  rain had blown in under the tarp and gotten it wet.  We have to fight mildew all the time. By night a I the clothes were nearly dry and it look clear so I left them out

The 27^th word was passed t: at a boat ‘.’.-would be by to -pick us up from each boat at eleven o’clock to board the Jamestown to begin the trip to New Zealand, I got to work folding and T)packing all my things. I meant to take every thin?’ ;thing that I would really want to keep  always and take it with me.  Soon as that was done I took s. In tt minute shower. Just before we :’left the Kob Jack I had -often two buckets of fresh water and’(“. save  one for that purpose. t at.

We had noon chow ‘.’n. t-.on the Jamestown and the food . and the really was nice.

PAGE .: 72
After that we sat around the ward room reading,  I completed They Were Expendable in two hours flat. Commander Kelley is with us. Our Own Capt. Smith relieved him at Treasuries.

After supper we sat around for quite a while playing cards and its-f.  listening to the yarns that Kelley had to tell about his naval experience About ten O’clock Crawford and I decided to take a shower. It was black as pitch but somehow we managed to find a shower/ All the electric circuits had been secured except one in the Ward room. We first found a towel rack and hung our clothes on that then managed to find a nozzle to turn on the shower. After that was all over I came back to the ward room to get  the daily letter written.

When I started to turn in someone had already taken the cot tat had been fixed up for me so I started out looking for an empty bunk somewhere. Luck was with me for there was one left on the ship.  I got up at six in the morning of the 28^th.  We were just coming in to Tulagit harbor. The rest of the gang was up too. We were all pretty excited. Orders were for all hands to stay aboard the Jamestown for the time being but there were two trips ashore for the men to get clothes thi they had left there In the hot looker wbB we  were on the way up.  I was in charge of one of those.

I read two b ooks that day. The Moon and Sixpence and in the Days
of the King,                                                           ‘ ‘

The 29^th soon after breakfast I started H.M.Pullam esquire and just    as I closed the last PAGE after dinner word was passed that we were to    board the personnel barge to be taken to Purvis bay to the ships that ‘    were to be our home for the next month.  Mine w.-was to be to the Crescent City,    G-Gosh but it is a beautiful ship. They assigned the eight officers t’ two state rooms. There are two double deck beds in each the top one folding up into the wall like the upper on a train and  trie lowering—err  a seat. Three closets each with the door a solid mirror are in each room.  These closet doors can be opened in a manner that one can see how he looks all around with one g glance. Be quite the thing for a ladies dressing room. Then there is a private shower for each room.  

The officers have a plush leather upholstered ward room with; a lounge equally as swanky.  The latter is the hangout. In the midafter noon I got a whole quart of ice cream. Walnut was the dagrs flavor.  For dinner that night we had about the most delicious stepksever with iced cream for dessert.

The bed was the most comfortable that I have had since getting into    the Navy so I slept till eight next morning. When I looked out. we were underway. There were six large .ships and fourteen        x      cans escorting us on the trip. The first part of       x x    which was just to Noumea, I really did. feel good           to be getting all this without having to do any work myself,    Breakfast really was a dream compared to others that “.we have been usud to.

At ten O’clock there was church for Protestants- it was broadcast    throughout ::,lie ship too so that those that were on duty could hear it too.    After dinner I turned in  for & nap expecting to wake up in time for the afternoon ice cream but did not wake till four and they had sold out.  The ship’s s library was opened though so I got The Saga of Cimba and by bed time had finished it i; _ oe with going to the show. Yep they have a show every night in the ward room.                     ~    

PAGE # 73 

The morning of the 31^st I had a talk with the chaplain pretty; chaplain    soon after breakfast. He is the mess treasurer here and I was drafted    to be the go between for all our officers.  We are to have to pay $12    a day for out meals. He wanted us to pay for the meals that we had had in    Feb. and wait till we got off the ship for the rest,    I read See Here Private Hargrove and it took about all the spare    time that day. I have really been writing some long letters compared    to the usual ones too.           *-    The 1^st of February I spent about all day engrossed in We Took to 13    tto iftoods. All this leisure to read, bathe, and eat is one more wonderful    vacation for me,

 

Feb. 2^nd we sighted land in the early morning. There were several islands and on the very end of the last one was Noumea. I spent most of t] the time reading The Robe. It is truly the most wonderful book that I have ever read. I had finished less than half though jcrcfc ‘.by the time that they had dropped the hook and were lowering the boats. These transports carry some 32 personnel lighters and it is quite interesting to watch them lowered and I had to stop the reading to look..

 
At four, all the officers were allowed to go ashore and stay till six thirty. We went straight to the officers club that is there,  we saw four of the much publicized nurses that are so talked up in the papers. The first white women that I had seen in a heck of a time and I figured that those girls had better enjoy the attention that they are a getting out here for they will be left cold when they get back to the states. They were horrible looking. We had several drinks and a hamburger then headed back “to the dock to catch the boat back to the ship.]    Soon as we had had supper aboard I went straight to bed. alcohol    always did make me mighty sleepy,    I did not wake up till (9700 the 3^rd, 

All that day and stopping only    for meals I read away on the Robe. I read right thru the movie too    that night and finished with the thought that more of the preachers s,?    should try that method.-    About four in the afternoon-e noon we got underway for Wellington, He”.’    New Zealand.  At once every thing was battened down for foul weather. There    is supposed to be a hurricane in our path    Bre morning came o  the 4^th the ship had taken on quite a roll though the seas were only about ten feet. A PT would have a really tough time in that bho.  The weather  was cool enough to make us want a blanket’ at night.     

 

Also that morning I went down to sick bay to get some medicine for my athlete’s foot. There ‘-‘as just a tough of it but I really wanted to get that all cleared up and in a hurry. Feet are a really import.-important item out here.The Book of the day was The House of Exile  which was a was & story-  of a Chinese family and all about Chinese customs., I did not care for it too much for chore was too much minute detail.  After I had finished it I read a. c couple of Liberties’ that I had found.

‘The $fch the weather was cold and the seas pretty rough.-h. The ski S were cloudless: though. I got snugly hack in bed under  the blankets and spent,  quite a bit  -)f the day  sleeping.  I  figures I had  better take  the chance to be lazy while I had it.

That night after the movie several of us ‘went up on deck and watches the U’IOUSBMS of’ reflections from the moonbeams hitting waves. It was really s. beautiful sight.

PAGE 74
PAGE# 1*
The bth I spent the larger part of the day writing letters so that there will not bee too many pressing letters when I get back to the PTs and am busy getting that is shape to get back up to the combat area.                                                      .

The morning of the seventh we sighted land and we were all    pretty excited about getting packed up to move ashore. Then too    there was an eager expectancy about seeing people again and being    able to talk to them. Most of the gang wanted a date and a drink    first thing,    We arrived in Wellington harbor about 2 in the afternoon but    that was ahead of schedule an so we had to drop the hook and wait t    till the dock was cleared and the pilot got out to show. us the way    in It was four when the first line went over to the dock and we    could hardly wait, till tae lines were all over before jumping off,    When we did get off Bob Ankers and I waited there till all the rest of our squadron lads got off of the George Clymer., It was the flag ship of all the transports of here but we docked first so they could have a little better berth.     

 

Our first stop was at the Midland hotel. There were three single    rooms available there and I figured that It would just suit me as    well to go back to the ship) when we had finished out the evening,    Pretty soon after six of us had gotten settled in the lounge there    and had ordered drinks over came an old lady about sixty five, a    Mrs. Curlan. She -wanted to know in & poking manner what ships were    in.  She never did find that out but pretty soon another lady about    her age and one about fo rty joined our party. We sat there till supper    time and off we went to supper ( they with us)  I learned quite a lot    about the country that first night just watching the people and    talking to them.  The whole country seems sad and beaten. The old folks    do not smile very much. it seems that they have lost quite a bit    in having so much of t:-their youth gone.  The men that are left seem to    all just sitting and waiting till  the lads all get back before    going ahead with ~ “aril anything. When the war started the country    was bankrupt and to negotiate bonds to get the country sorts started    they had to guarantee two arriie~ over seas almost at once to get those    loans from England. Those IQ.&S have been hone gone now for three to    four years,    The town had about 1SO,OO0OO people in it -:and there is only one nice    place for the young folks to go and dance and that “GO dance closes at 10:30    each night. SDB    

The eighth I had steak  and eggs for breakfast with jerenoh fried    potatoes and worlds of tomatoes and a quart of milk. G-Gosh but a    breakfast like 1; ~t was wonderful,    I  had  a nap after breakfast then off I went to see about having some pictures made to send back to Jane.  Luckily I got an appointaent right away and the photographer was an exceptionally nice old fellow.         He has a son that has been fighting up in our neck of the woods.  I did- neck of.. I    not tell him much about what was going on though.    In the afternoon l net the f-‘e.ng for a few drinks at one of the hotels. ‘dQ had suriper there theii ei”’.’)-t of us went to & dance that was given for officers by a group of p-irld similar to our USO organization at home,   3 st a’h’u-.; everyone there was either married or engaged to some New T;: Zealand boy !:il= ~ST really v/ere swell to us, The dance “.?as over “b ten and I ~ot ‘i.G.ck ~’out ten thirty to the ship.     

 

J-he  9^th I  s-The 9^th, I spent all morning writing letters, then in the ”.  g  letter.”-;  t}:.en  in  the  afternoon

PAGE 75# ~.

ohased off to see the proofs 1301 it  was still too early to see    them so I went shopping. There are no cigarette cases in Wellington    nor lighters either. I also I looked for souvenirs but there are no    industries in New Zealand either. The people export farm products and    raw materials to England then pay- duty on the manufactured goods as    they come “back into the o country. I did find a nice nut “bowl though that  ‘    was made here. It is inlaid wood with a raised center piece to crack    the nuts on  There is a mallet to match,

Late in the afternoon I went ‘”back to see the  proofs and they were lousy. The old e-gent had forced MB to smile when I was not in the mood audit and it looks as if there was a sneer. He wanted to try again but I figured that they would not  be any good either. I let him try finishing two of them , Then I went around the corner and made an appointment at another photographers to have more made.That night Bob and I stayed aboard and Bud Trimble came over to see the movie with us.

The 10^th I went with Bob Ankers and a radar engineer who is a civilian working for western Electric oo but who is out here, up to see t ern tune up the ship’s radar. After  lunch I went to town to more or less aimlessly walk the streets and t-to bump elbows with the people there. I looked all over town for some fiction books to take back with me but there were none. All that they had were English histories, religious histories, and current religion. None of them suited my fancy.

I did find a place to get my cigarette lighter repaired. It will    be ready in three days. That appointment for pictures is tomorrow,    Then I went to see the picture Eattan. It is currently at one of t e theaters .It was a good picture but I’ve seen too much of that really happening.         That night I went to another dance. The ship had two for all it’s company and we were invited to go too. I left that about eleven and came back to the ship to bed.     

She The 11^th, I got the new pictures made in ‘the morning. This place is so rushed that I will not be able to see the proofs for several days though.         In the afternoon .~aj.~r~~i ;and I took a walk in the botanical gardens that the city has. They specialize in begonias and have developed flowers that are about five inched across and every color imaginable. They do not sell them at all b~-G they were about the “most beautiful imaginable.         The garden in situated in a big valley. We caught a cable car up) to the top of the.~ theaaander-ed down one side on the asphalt trail.  At t he b bottom were the GREENhouses and formal gardens. He and I took quite a few snapshots of each other all thru the place. We walked back up the other side.     

That night 1’ob had a date out to dinner aboard the ship. Bud Trimble and I -bLC there dateless and did ova-  our best to devil the live out of him. We pretty well did till about ten o’clock then \we got out of the picture and Let him have her the rest of the time.

The 12^th ‘”we spent a good bit of tie morning on the G-George Clyner    talking over all the 3.ntreGtin;”’ esoaadeel that the lads had had. The    society oroud  have planned a party for us tonight and we were all e    expected ‘to be there. If we had no dated ‘.’:e were to come anyhow-“’ they    would attend to it and. if we had them then bring them along. I told    them that I had a date. I was in no mood for a ‘arty or an thing    else that night. G-uess I was pretty homesick. I went back over to the    ship ror an afternoon along. All the feang had left just after lunch    PAGE # 76    

for -that party I called them about five and said that my date had     not” materialized and was not going to be an odd member in the party,    That night there were only two officers aboard for movies. That    was about the most exclusive I have ever seen, A movie for one office    besides myself and no one else. It was Andie Hardy’s private secretary    and though I had seen it I enjoyed it again,   

 The morning of the 13^th, one 3r the mess attendants woke me at    OA.I~ We were to have breakfast at five and then all leave the ship,    They were closing down everything to fumigate it. Just as I finished    in came Bob Ankers just getting in from his night ramble,    We went straight to breakfast then over to the George Clymer to see if there was & place to sleep there. We two and Russell G-rey e the Radar engineer.  We were lucky -found three empty bunks and believe it or not slept till twelve.         That night I got a room at the Midland hotel since There was no    going back t  the ship to sleep. About four in the morning in came    Fred Crewford. I had not looked the door so the first thing that       I    I knew he was telling me to move over.  Well we doubled up or_ that     I    single tied till morning,                                                  !    When one rents a hotel room here, they also pay for two meals       ‘    at the same time, ‘The meals are a lot better than the foorh too. The    third-rate hotels are fixed up nicer than the first class here though    these are spotlessly clean and they are free from vermin.,    

After Breakfast the Xth, we came back to the ship). I played    solitaire till noon losing every time. After lunch I wrote letters    age and read till dinner time  That night vie had the movie captain’s    Courageous and it was about the best that we have had the -whole trip,    I slept till eight on the 15^th and barely made breakfast. The ship was in dry dock. We had moved in the afternoon before. There was an adequate floating dry dock here and the lads were really going to town. The word had been passed that they would not get liberty till they had scraped it “and painted it one time”. Well they had finished that task by eleven o’clock.  When I toot a took a stroll-I out on deck there were two new ships.  One was about the rustiest old tanker that I had ever seen. -‘hey have really run those babies this war..; The other was a converted freighter.  One converted to be  a carrier, they can take care of 2:’- planes on one like that.

Just after dinner Bob dashed off to see the red ilead tna  he sems to be :;- ing mighty sir ng for. I told him that I would be in about three thirty that afternoon so I was to meet the two of them., I had a bit of business w attend to though, so asked them if they  would.  care to join me.  First I had to  get the finished Proofs that were riao at S.P.  Andrews. I did not figure that they w,-would look good bee-use the proofs had been so bed. They did turn out be be -‘as awful as I expected.  Next I went t’ l.iorrisons, a manufacturing Jeweler, He was the one t    that -was to fix up the cigarette lighter for ;Te Cost 30~.  By this    time Bob end the Red dead were at the height  of a squabble and they    decided to part company for the rest of the day, I figured she had a date w&’. someone else but kept out of it.      I got to Spencer Bigby’s at five. They were to  have  he proofs    ready there for me -that- t afternoon. Every one of them turned out    wonderfully. It was hard to pick out just one o”’ them to have the ret m    like. After I “.ad ‘had decided on it I proceeded to snitch the rest of the    proofs, they would just destroy”- them anyhow. They will also let me have    

PAGE # 77

all “the negatives, I plan <)o send the proofs and negatives on to    Jane so she can have others made if she likes,    That finished we came back to the ship to see Billie the Kid, The l6th we got up &t at eight and had brains and eggs for breakfast.         I went back to bed after breakfast and proceeded to sleep till    dinnertime.  Spent all afternoon writing letters. C-Got eight finished    by sup per time too     That night vie had Clark G-Gable and Spencer Tracy in Boom Town, It    really was a I,,O, picture,    

The 17^th I strted the proofs on to Jane, Sorta figured I    would give her an idea as to how the pictures would look. I plan TO    sent the negatives in separate letters one at a time o that if    some of them get lost that she will at least get a part of them and    be able to have pictures made form the,    That afternoon I got back the finished snaps that  Bob and I had    taken that afternoon in the formal  gardens. They turned “out fairly    well in spite of the film’s being old. I weighed  again and still    hit 160 that is 22 pounds more than it was when I left here too,    The

18^th I slept  right thru breakfast. Guess maybe the old ape appetite is not as sharp as I once was.  The-fc afternoon I played solitary wrote a few let-letters and had another nap, in the evening I went over to the George Clymer  and found a book that I liked I read right thru till I finished too at Three next morning. The Case of the Counterfeit eye was a blood curdling mystery.

 

The 19^th I slept till noon E; and then dashed out up town to get the finished pictures. I really was pleased with those.  Since I had to get the pictures between 12 and 1230 I missed dinner aboard and so ate up town. That afternoon Bob and I walked back out ~o the Botanical gardens. ‘That place is so pretty that I could stay there four hours and hours and never get tired of looking- at it.

The 20^th was the -last day out and also the men had  o  to be all checked in from their last 72 hour leave, ,I have a wonderful record, Not one of them had  over stayed. That night I had l-!Mrs. Kathryn Tillet aboard ford inner for dinner and the movie, her husband has been gone for eighteen months and has not seen the child that v/as born about a month after he was sent abroad. She was a very nice girl.

The 2th, I rushed to get the pictures “packed and o’-.off to    Jane before we pulled out. The post ‘ office had not “been  open the o.a    before for it was Sunday and I had not had time Sat afternoon to get    them all fixed up. Then I proceeded to catch up on the -back letters    to ~11 the folks again,    That afternoon we pulled away from the dock headed for Auckland.  Just as we were about to pull out there was a PT man held at the miarter deck by the shore patrol; he had tried to commit suicide. Well there was nothing to do but put him in the brig after that for fear that he might get the notion and try it again.  The Dr. said that he had a case of depression and would more than likely be over it in a few hours, but we could not take the chance.     
‘”he 22^nd  I spent most   of the morning lying in bed and thinking.  It seems necessary sometimes to drop everything and just  o a little meditation about the situation.  By late afternoon, we were in sight  of Indonesia but were not to ,-“st to..mckland till next morning.

   The 23^rd. we arrived in  -port about ten ~’”t stayed on boat’:.         till after dinner : then got off.  There wore about) fifteen transports    in the harbor and when we i”iu f--,et ashore as “.e expected o -fc-e streets    were quite full of servicemen. They had L,,, all the Army troops    

PAGE # 78    

that were to l)e be hauled out  out of there into a giant ware house -waiting    to be taken ashore.  That left the team to be navigator be<3., ‘ left the to but there were worlds    of them, that afternoon Bob and I did a bit of window shopping. Rode    one of the street oars to the e d of the line and back, then went to a movie, King’s hack “went to a     Row.  Got back to the ship about eleven after    gorging ourselves on ice cream. That is how we got rid of the last    of the Mew Zealand money that we had,    “

The 22th, I woke up at 0700 to find that we were about fifteen    miles out.  We had taken on 46  f)officers and 1200 men. At noon that    day I ran into <Tank Briscoe, one of the <lads that I had known in college.    . He is a captain in the Army now. We had quite a talk too    in the afternoon, He had been a fraternity brother in -Alpha Zeta.         with me    I spent the rest of the day reading Bartlemebt’s Treasure.        

On the 26^th I checked out the Nazarene from the Ship’s library.         l is similar in subject matter to the Robe but the prose is not    quite so interest holding. I covered 200

PAGEs

 of it and have $00    to go    The 26^th the chaplain came around and informed me that we were    to get off in Noumea next day and he would like to settle the accounts    before we left. Well I collected the money from all the fellows. I    had figures up a rough bill for everyone and knew about what it would    be. When I settled with him I had over charged everyone about 126!     I really went to town on the Nazarene that day but only covered 300

PAGEs.

 There were still 200 left and I was beginning to fear that I’d not get it finished.         The 27^th we sighted land pretty early in the morning. Soon as breakfast was over and all the mail censored I started to packing.         This was all completed at ten and I started again on the book but    when we had to get  off that afternoon at three I still had 50 to go    so turned the book back in.  

Both ships had tied up to the dock to get all the passengers off and of course the Army had to be a getting off first. That took quite a bit of time for they would not let them put up additional gangways for t hem to leave by and every man had to be checked three times for his ID card and outfit. Inefficiency My Gosh. No wonder they have to rush the marines in to take care of the army.

My spirits were really at rock bottom when we were carted off in that truck to the receiving station v>lth no hopes of getting out of there for about three ‘.’.’weeks.. I was plenty anxious to be a getting back not to be with the boats again but I wanted to get the mail that I  kls-~env  had  accumulated.

Well we ail got off in the mud<& at the receiving station. It is the lousiest place I have yet seen. our camps way up the line are better than this, and they are only temporary affairs.

They assigned us all to a Quonset hut and told us that our only duties there would be to censor mail for about an hour each morning.  We got  a shower and  sauntered over to the t .e mess hall ‘o wait for s supper. They had made us each donate w tae cause of a farm that they have up in the” hills that is to furnish cucumbers and tomatoes.

While we were standing, there up came the personnel officer    with the v-word that Raney, AB~S~S , Meyers, and Roberta would leave    on the Japara at 1900 that very evening. I was so happy ‘that  I    could have shouted. That made the feathers of the rest of the p-and ctro    drop. a little further.              

r”.     PAGE # 79

After supper Bob went to get all the particulars about the    leaving. Well they had not known that we were on those ships at all    but they evidently figured that we were all needed up the line so -    they got started at once to getting us  out. The other officers were    to leave next day on .the Tryon and come in up too,    Well we got out in the rain and got our things in the truck    at 1900 and then the thing was postponed till 0600 next morning,    Well I got over <o our hut again and wrote a letter,   

The 28^th I was so excited about getting out of -there that I was    up at five. We were fed, hauled down to the dock. loaded aboard    a barge with ‘ bout 300 negroes that were to be in a CB outfit    and moved out to the ship,    The Japars was a pretty nice ship but not nearly as nice as    the one that we had just left. All the officers were to have a ward    in the hospital to stay in. That was pretty cramping after all the s    apace that we had had before but it was getting back so we liked it,    Inhere were 3}800 passengers aboard and they were to bring back the sick and wounds. It really was a well equipped ship as far as an auxiliary hospital ship was concerned.  It is a Dutch ship given to the British and leased by the U.S.     ce they were just from the states though they h d a lot of new    magazines aboard and really went to town on those that afternoon    and night,    Vie had pulled out of the narrior at noon.  

The 29^th I did not wake up till eight thirty. I was sorta tired    when I turned in the night before and had slept like a log. Breakfast is served till nine though so I made it okay.         After breakfast I made a trip around to the ship’s library/it    rained about all  day so I stayed inside and read read read,    

The 1^st of March was a beautiful day.  The sun beamed out hot    as everything-g and the minute any of us got cut from under a fan    out clothes pot all wet with perspiration.  ~    I checked out -a second book that afternoon and also got hold of    a Feb. 7^th Time. It told of the fate of the lads that were left on the    .Philippines. I feel sure that if the totals for both us and the    Japs were figures that we nave killed a. lot more than they have,,    Our Marines have not tortured -them though they just shoot them and if    they do not completely kill them or ifftney So and liave time    the Jap gets his throat slit or his head cut all the way off,    We have strafed them in the water -when their ships were sank dropped depth charges on them and bombed them. ‘There have been few Survivor s anywhere.     
The 2^nd we arrived at Lunga Point off G-Guadalcanal’ about eleven O’clock. Word was massed that we would stay on the ship and be taken to Tulagiin the afternoon.  Just after dinner 1 I went below and -went to sleep figuring that Bob.”-. that .Hob or some of the others would wake v.- me up if ‘we “.e were to get to .’-et off b~T~v~heaaaa I .woke up ;:it four all the-other three officers v/ere below and sleeping too,.         I got up and looked outside to find that \,Q were still there and were not to move till next t.;- day. All the a;br corps boys that, were coming to L-Guadalcanal  canal were still aboard and the:’.” really had che willie-to be ~-,e;jeirig off but there had hot  been any way as yet.         .We had all  gone  thma such before  so got - quite  a kick out of fair    impatience.      

 

PAGE 80
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After supper I found, another book. Bells for the Dead and    by ten had finished it. There was no blackout regulations a-b all that night and there must have been a dozen big ships there all lit up like a Christmas tree.         They did get the pilots off just after supper.         After I had finished that boot I went out on deck inthe moonligh    and sat there for quite some time talking to Bgb,

 

The 3^rd we left there at 8600 for ‘rulagi~-cSoon as we got there    Bob got onthe Pilot boat  to go see what were to be done with the    1~ men that we had and the four of we officers. We had brought all    our men with us,    We were faked off on personeile  launches and takeA to the Village and given  quarters there. It seemed that we would be there for quite a while.  We were to go up on the Stratford and it would take two more days to load that. We figured that it would hurry things -up to use our men ir. that operation. They were divided into three eight hour shifts and the loading went on right thru the night.         There are quite a few oha.ngea here since we were here before.     

Commander Warfiela in now at Bougainville in charge of PTs there
and ldr Brackett ins the Big boy here now.  That afternoon we had quit
a chat ‘with him about all that had harvoened while we were on leave,
We also took a turn around Tilagi island in a Jeep.  It was note that all the heads that are built out over the water are now closed in. (1,, fo::;.nc7 out later that there are to i’e some nursed coming in to the big hospital that they- iiave there in about a v;eek and the men are oing to have to  et away from the primitive habits.


I was anazed at the amount of powder and projectiles that were piled all around the islanda too. ‘-i-‘hey have a dump about every hundre yp.ras and the island is abOLt four miles around.


There has t)esn a lot happening in the PT world too since we
were up. The 251 boat one of ron 20* s was chasing some  barges-
it got four and ran  n the reefs while after” the fifth. They tried to
pull it off till daylight but by that tirae thefe Japs had gotten some
guns pulled up to “.’There it was. They had one shel’l fall over and one
shore and with their third shell the boat disintegrated. It killed
nine men and two officers, Larry Pasterikpp oneof the fellows ibn
my class atlielville vas one of the -ffioei-s killed. There “.”ere
three men to get out ofittho.


In on 23 there weretwo boats to run to-‘-eti’er. They werere on TSS.


patroll and in the darkness one had gotten lost. The one that was
skippered by Bennings.  He hag changed ouarters with the lead boat and when the lead boat turned to come on station it hit Bennings* boat amidships. It knocked men off of both boats and the one boat san They must have not had the water ti~iht doors sll fastened. One man was lost in the v~ter . ~e Inist he-ce not had a life Jacket on.


The other boat sank by the bow till there was water lapping
out ~f the  chart h use onto the deck.  They F.ot 811 the men on to
it and tried -t.o bsok into bee. The  &ter had not gotten into the aas engine room, ‘The boat v.-ould n’t steer at all so they had to radio in fcr assistance.  They put a false bow on that boat end.  ran it down to Tuls.gi to bo re’airecl. Both boat captains were kicked out of t~e s~uaciron.


On another of thrie boets a oo b v-“.s clropped and  he boat captai got severv.l paini’ul pieces of RJ,.ro.?nel i  his sitter but it v’as nob s eri—us.


The action -ohot v.’e hear<? ahout :hile in ‘..’ellin tonwas from
PAGE ~ 81
Treasury t)oa-fcs They hadbloked up several pips on radar but never did get close enough to seethe enemy. When thy thought that they had the enemy range they opened up and all hell “broke loose. One boat got two engines knocked out and another got a 60ima dud to one torpedo warhead. The latter did not explode which -was a miracle, The PBY that was with them(Diok Donnelly) was aboard that .got one engine sgot out and had to go to Treasuried which was the nearest base. The PTs had set fire to th~eee  f the barges.


That evening ~r Brackett took Boh and I dourn to the officer’s
Elut) and gave us each a drink,
The ~thh we Wf M xm in iriring-xia HH~afaTa(&ftftrBr$xbfeYgt~yari~!~~afcHKyyj{y~c”
got up at five shirty to eat breakfast. This niaxe rises early and quits work at three in the afternoon. We still like to eat.  After breakfast we all sat dovm to do a bit of writing anti then there were a couple :-f magazines that I had ifound and wanted to get thru fore someone else borrowed them.


At nine that morning I gor a haircut. This one was pretty short for there is not any telling when I will have a chance to be a getting another one.


At 1800 that afternoon we all had ouj) gear on the dock to be t taken aboard the Stratford.  Soon as all the men got their gear aboard they were taken back to the village to see the movie but I (figured that one officer should sts-y there and elected to do so, I saw the movie that they had aboard and did a bit cf v>rit-ing This timE I started an autobiography. I ao not 1-ctiow v/uether I v.’ill have time enough t.o finish that or not.


The fifth we left for Lunga point about eight thirty. We were to pick up the rest of out officers there and also get an asoort to go up to Rendova with us.  That morning I washed all the dirty clothes that had accumulated not knowing when there wati be 8 chance to get any more fresh water.  The rest of the day I spent writing. I have quite an urge to do eomething creative. I just cannot sit still and writing seas to solve the problem.


That nite we were still there s. d v;ere told that vie wc~ld leave
next day at noon. Gosh but this is slow,
The 6^th the rest of out. officers had not come aboard so we shove off without them. There was a Yl~S leading us . The trip was enitrely uneventful. At sanset vie all v’ent out on the boat dock to watch the sunset. We were just off the Mussels -when that happened.


The 7^th we pulled in to Hendova about eight in the morning and at nine were ashore. I dumped my sea bag on the dock and headedxsfaee straight for the post office to get the mail. I got both mine and Bob Ankers. The other officers had gone over to Tulagi and had been sent up on two PTs that were coming up. They had n;-~tten in the night before.


I had about 1251etters,40 papers, 17 magazines, and the birthdgr present from Jane v.’hich v?as a foldr with two colored pictures of her, I read till dinner on the letters. I divided them out according “bo sender and according to date. I saved Janets tmll last. They are always the most interesting ansd  I like to keep them till ‘.ast.


At noon I found that Vanness had changed the whole ssquadr’on up and I had no boat as I hod planned and expected. All the men were scrambled too. Be I was to be third officer on the 236 but managed 150 get my old  job back as exec on the 2~2.   I moved out there and the rest of the afternoon read my letters. That nite I ~rote one letter to Jane planning to answer the letters next day.


 
PAGE ff 82
The 8^th I spent all morning tending to the request for travel
for Jane from New Port to Mew Orleans, It is all fixed up and mailed
baok to the bureau now (for anotertry this ia the third so maybe
somet ing will come of it this time.  In the afternoon I started
a letter that ended up with l?PAGEs to Jane. I read eaieh letter and
answered it then went to the next Then they were very inadequately
answered,
The 9tb was the last day thAt we were to be there. When we
had gotten back four of our boats had gone up to GREEN islands
and the rest were to go up the 10^th. We had to get the cams on
two guns so that the gAnners would not shoot each other or Alpine
and I, then there was one other gun to install. That took till
four in the afternoon then we topped off the fuel.  After that we wen
into .the dock to get the air pressure in out torpedoes boosted,
That took till about eight that nite so we just stayed there for the
rest of the nite,
The IOthwe were up at five and by five thirty we were already
to go but the word came t hat we would be ab hour and a half late
getting away from there. We went over to the water hole then and fill
yo all tanks as well as the drums that we had on deck to hold
fresh water. We fill up those drums every time we get a chance then
if vre miss a day at the water hole we can still take a bath,
The 238 boat left ruite a while ahead of us. If was to go by Treasuries to take some mail and some special geat there tea. Just as we got near there ~20miles was the elosest that we were to come)
Whe base requested one of the boats to come by there staling that it
was urgent.  Well the lead boat could not get any of the trensmission
and when we relayed it to them we were titld to go by.


That just suited me. We stayed there for snout an hour talking To GomniancLer Smith -nd Bob Sweet,,  They are a swell pair. I .hate.  like the devil that we cannot be with them. They both regretted that I had not gotten a boat ~rhen V!Q got back i’.oia leave but they figuted fch  t  nothing  could  get  this  squadron  of  men  down.


Vie picked up tfiDur pilots that were on the way to Bougainville They had gotten -bilst far by plane and couliS get no farther. We are always Rlad to help out the pilots for they help us out.


‘..’ell we  sailed  out  all  by  ourselves  from Treasuries.  The  238  had
1 ½ hours head start on us and we did not know where the formation .


was that we had been in. We missed the mark by a mile tho. We had
not been able toinake a speed run and the speeii that we figured was—
a guess and was about -ne knot slow. That was close enough tho to
see the boats i ,CC were around and the i’our cans that were patrolling
off shore. We arrived at the FT dock about four thirty. The three
boats that we had been with were not there yet. The 238 was at the
fuel dock and we v.’ero to follaw them there. Well we had supper,
fueled, came oaclk ana anchored by seven and just ab.ut thtat time the
three lost boats baiae in. They had go tten lost and spent, a couple ‘-of
hours finding out where they were,
The 11^th we got up at six thirty. We had no idea when we were
“to get undEway iRor GREEN islano.s. -Alpine went. in to the base and H
picked up a magazine for our 37mm gun and got us a VHF,  Then we sat
down to wait for further orders.  I atteiapted “bo type all tr.e things
that lha(?_ recorded in ink in this r:hile I was on -eave.






PAGEs 81-87
            81

The 19^th we left station at about four thirty to come back to best, The 241 la mighty slow now. The engineers have not had time yet to get it back to the old running speed that it had before. We got back to base about nine and were able to fuel almost immediately We had all the guns cleaned and all the cleaning stations fixed up by noon, I  think that  this whole bunch was completely worn out by that time. In the afternoon I let the gang all get out the cots and we ell had a nice nap,       ..             ~ That night there was mail for  us and every one got down to answering their letters at. once, ‘the morale was mighty high. The 20^th we spent all day getting: the boat spotless from stem to stern bilges and all. I really was mighty proud of the looks of things. That night we were in Bud  Tremble’s section. The patrol was the East coast of WPFJAX~lxisIxau. New Britain, -a-e -was on the 23$ with 241, 242, and 244 following.  On the way out there came up a down pour of rain. having been in them a lot of times when we were following other boats we did not -have any trouble at all. The 241 and 244 got lost though. The 241 found?? us soon as we Stopped for them but the 2...4 had to stop and let us go over to where they were.  We could see them on the Radar screen. There was one pip picked up that looked like a barge right next to the shore line but we could not see it from. a quarter of a mile and did not dare go any closer in. Then too about the time we were in there a big search light came on  just beyond a cape from us that was about the brightest one I have ever seen. The Japs knew we were there but could not r1eiress thot li~hee low enough to get us in the beam because of the trees that were between us and it. Gosh I’d hate to get caught in one of those. We got back on the 21^st ahead of the rest of the section, the $41 had engine trouble and could only make about twelve knots so Bud Trimble let us and the 244 cone on in alone while he stayed  with them on the 23$. We began at once to fuel and again frat sleep in  the afternoon liavin~. .”-ot.-ben ‘.ll the w-‘work ri ae in the morning. ‘That night I P.O’G   a copy of the Miss. State alumni magazine for Dec. It had all the where abouts of all the men that had been agronomy majors there. Dr. Andrews had checked up with all the men and had gotten it published there, e also sent us a note. The 22^nd we “ff~in h’ ~ every thing .”-ll. spotless by the time we were to set out for another “”patrol. This time we were in Lt. Slusser section, “He was on the ?.;.l with the 235, BL2 r-nfl 244 following. This atoll  was the east coast of  New Ireland. The wind had been blowing strongly  for about three hours and hr.~ t,,, u p the seas to about ten feet. It was wet as everything out,  It was calm on station. The station ~c:sss OK. The cae side of the island and we really s.?’;!reci~te’ the :~lm rpters. ‘.When we had gotten dry we were pretty w-here  the  salt had  crystallized: .  on our feces faces and”.  in our hair.                                        * About midnight the engineer on watch noticed that the fresh water was getting low on one of the engines.  We added water but it was evidently running out as fast as he put it in. We secured the  engine and an investigation showed, that there had been a hose olamt to slip off <’ worn out, the b r bottom of the engine ‘f -t c~ by the time that they had gotten it fixed every drop of water had run out. It was some jolt’ too ~f getting  the water C  bU~’,ner” .in-it If  our fresh water   
            82 We were the last boat that morning to get  fueled, they got sAw two RON 6 boats before us then shut down to let the tanker that had come in  unload the gas that it had onboard, I took the boat over to one of the LSTs then to see about getting some groceries for us.    We got a whole lamb, a case of fruit, juice ~e, a can of cocoa, a can of powdered milk, and a few other items. Then we sat around till eleven thirty waiting for the waruns our PT tender to stop so we could get some work done. We were to get the ABK checked. They were over to get water from one of the LSTs though and we finally had to give up. Meantime the 241 had gone out to see what the cans had that  he could get from them.  They  had wanted us to ‘take some secret and confidential papers from one of the cans to another. He did it for them and in turn they gave him several oases of beer, and quite a few eggs. Each boat was to get three dozen but three of the boats had gotten eggs from the LSTs so we got 12 dozen ourselves Those eggs tasted wonderful too, That night we were really wolfed out so we were happy that we did not have to go out. The 17^th we got the boat all immaculate again. We spent all day out at the Varuna: getting the .oil changed, some carpentering done and working on the engines.  We felt sure that there would be a trip for us that night but no we were getting a second night in again. This is fine to have two nights’ in between each patrol, The 18^th we got up at eight when the beach had sent the fuel detail. out to our boat. They had sent word for us to fuel;  the day before but we told them that we did not need any. Then this morning they send that detail out here to wake us up. We got another boat to come over and get them though; We got the everlasting cleaning done so that if Mr. wanes should pay us a visit things will look nice. That night from the intelligence meeting came news that another tragedy had occurred in the Pt world., At oaoe Torokina on Bougainville one of the RON 23 PTs was directing the fire ofs.& tin can that was knocking o”-b some br~es. The Tin can skipper decided to stop that procedure and use the ship’s radar fire control instead, well the first salvo plastered the PT, The boat “disintegrated. One man was killed, three are missing which means that they  will be killed by the Japs if they don’t get<” out,  Comdr. Irwing is not expected to ever be able to see  again because of burns about the  face.  We have still a greater loss of boats from American fire and American stupidness than we have from the Japs. That night the patrol was to the area between New Britain and New Ireland, This ETeC_ extend up from Russel/Rennel south to the Cape St. George area which is the southernmost tip of New Ireland. Our Exec, McMillan was the section leader. He was on the 2i.l with the 2J+2,  21,.3,  2U following in that order.   We went in to about one eighth of a mile from the coast and proceed to go all the way north to the iTiabal area. This was the New Ireland coast though and t there are no listed coast guns there. It is still too dern close to be going in though.  Looks like some people cannot learn the costly lessons that other squadrons have already learned.   
            83 fresh water tanks and into the engine tank. It took about two hours to do that. The engine holds thirty gallons, We left station at five thirty, at once, there was trouble. First the 2U could not keep up, then the 241 had trouble and we were going under more water than we were Frainrss over. Finally we got permission to proceed independently and then all boats opened up to wide open and came on in. We got to base about half an hour ahead of the rest. The engines are running faster then the ever have before. The patrol before we had often fifty inches of manifold pressure out of one engine and this time with almost 2000 gallons of gas which weigh 12,000 pounds we were setting forty three inches out of them which is better than forty knots, ;  We were s sent at once to fuel but they t Id us that the ranker would be unloading and w-e could not get any gas that day. There were a lot of boats here to ~hen rre .-“ot back. RON 6 and RON II were here They were scheduled to go to t” Kavieng but since there was an invasion further up they went to there Instead.     , In the intelligence notes today  was the story that  five battle ships had stood off Kavieng  for e little target practice.  The shore batteries objected at first but when  ere the exercise was over there was not a building, or any sigh of life  to be seen.  The shore batteries had long ceased to answer. The rest of the day we sent spent s- cleaning Guns that had  -gotten a salt a water bath. Tne:”- really no take P hes in ~ when there is -=!0 much spray. Rust seems to come out to meet “’he salt water when it is on the way to hit l-.. ..e rTTun. -e have them &11 in good shape though. The night of’ the 23^rd we were lucky again. We all got mail me- end got to stay In,                                 : The 22th we ?got up at up eight and soon as I looked toward the e signal tower they were signaling to fuel at once. We are also scheduled to C~77 {: the Varuna. to get a new carburetor too. When we—got to “o the fuel dock there were seven boats there waiting- there ahead of us to fuel. We tied up to s buoy end proceeded to get nil the cleaning done rw” “et t.het. carburetor un pitched. We had come over on one engine to keep the others cool to work on. Fueling \.R completed at 1300 and we went straight to the Varuna. They did not have any carburetors not give us any more water. We did get two fenders from them;  though. Soon as we got back to out buoy Alpine went in to the beach and told them they we were out of commission Unless they could get us sow? -safer.  Pretty soon up came 6 barge with eight, five gallon cans full. That night we did not have to go out after all, I wrote till about nine but even when I did get in to bed I could not sleep. Next morning I found that about everyone on the b-et had been in the same fix, we were all keyed up to ‘go and just could not relax.. The 25^th we spent the day working on oar’s and ends that t_ had accumulated .on the “boat. Then that night “.-e were in the group to go out. Bud Trimble was the s section leader ;on -the 236 with the 21c2   3-43,  and 2114 following. Fini is  only about forty miles from here and cp.n me made in an hour and a half G half. Soon as we were about five miles off shore the four boats split up. slit s- up. The 236 took the southern side of the harbor, the 21~lff though eastern side, the 253 though North end we were to the west.    I   
            84 follows
            Soon as we got In Alpine went in f<hr the intelligence meeting and I got busy getting all the guns cleaned up. That was all finished “by eleven thirty but about that time we were ordered to go over to the air strip to fuel. When ~e got there there were already two boats in  fueling so we tied- up to a buoy. While there there were two Elk boats to go in ahead of us and that made us sorta mad, They said that there was only one funnel in there that would fit a Higgins boat and they could get thru a lot faster. I got the 242 in at four thirty and really went t o town getting things all fixed up ‘There was some hose there that was just large enough to fit in to the inside of the delivery end of the strainer and by  getting that in then taping it up with rubber and friction tape we were able to have t-.three hoses going at once. We really & took on gas in a hurry after that, When we got back to anyhow we found that we would hot have to go out again that night. Hone of us had gotten any sleep during the day and that pleased us a lot. We got our cots all up and were sleeping soundly by six thirty and did not wake up till eight thirty the morning of the 14^th, All day the crew wie spent getting the boat spotless. Comdr. wanness says that the boats shall be immaculate  at all times, That night we were all set to go :?  Had all guns loaded and every thing all squared away. When Alpine got back though we were not going. I could not quite get it but we were staying in. I read till about nine then went to bed. It had been minus rain here every since we got here and we have had no .trouble at all sleeping out on deck every night.                , The 15^th we took care of all the cleaning again and then sat down in the afternoon.  The night before we had gotten mail but it had consisted, only of papers and packages. I had the “aokso papers from the middle of October   to the middle  of February to read.  I did not get more than about half of them -though. It was too hot to live. The sweat would run down in my eyed before I could wipe it out.  ‘ That night we were to be in the patrol to FINI island. It is about 45 miles west of here. We were the lead boat and Lt. Fairbrother was the section leader.  We ran round and round that island all night and did not see a thing. As we were leaving for the “~~011 intelligence radioed the fact that there -I-, re were fifteen barged leaving Cape St., George on Hew Ireland for Fini but neither of the patrols or the night fighters were able to locate them. We had the block Cats with us all night t o the moon was so bright that they were not needed to drop flares, “We had Tarbaby, Charcoal, and Sight Ball,  They kept-t us posted on the what and wherefore of the other patrol which was about a hundred miles away. As we were nearing our base on the 16^th we noticed that there was a new Echelon of boats in with supplies, The four Tin Cans that were outside the entrance steaming up and down kept trying to blink a message over to us but we never could, make out what it was and Fairbrother did not want to stop and see what they wanted, When we got inside the harbor all the ?Ts were cranking up and heading for the LSTs that were over at the air strip unloading, \We put Alpine  off c-for the briefing  ‘-:.’  for the clock.   
            She The island Is pretty-by small”. We could go up one side idling on one engine in about half an hour. We would make  -that round then lie low and make it again in about two hours. That kept up till day light which was at six thirty. Then we proceeded up to the Northern side. The zrc3 met us at the center, end went on around to the east while we doubled back the way that ‘we had come That gave a complete day light coverage.. of the island. We had onboard some old ammunition that we wished” to shoot up rather than just dump over the side so we started to looking for something to shoot at. There were 8. number of old houses on the shore that looked like they had once belonged to the natives but were now all deserted We attempted t  set them all afire with our guns. Observing the fire thru the binoculars the bullets seemed to be going right in ;the houses but they never did catch fire from all the bullets that we threw in, We left station about seven thirty. The two thirty six boat was the slowest one and they could draw about thirty seven, inches of manifold pressure which Is about thirty knots. They opened up and we really moved coming in. There was a photographer that wanted a s hot of a close formation so the 21+3 and we pulled up me” close on the quarter of the 236 for that then after they had gotten a distant shot we gave them one of us passing them. Each boat opened wide open. We were drawing forty four inches of pressure when we went by. The 21.3 and 2J+2 were right together when that took place-ht r when   that took and we were each about ten feet from the 2~, That is that far on either side. The 2U did not t’-‘;e n~rtt in that, When we got in I went in to the intelligence meeting and Alpine took the boat over to fuel, We had finished the meeting, I had arranged to get a new os.wl made, arranged to get our refrigerator fixed, and a new toggle SY.ritoh on the THF. that still gave me about an hour before the 2Z..2 was back from fueling, I went out to the 2~1 and read till they got back.  After dinner, I was so tired that when I went to sleep for a short nap that I did not wake up till four in the afternoon. That was almost time for supper, Alpine had been writing all afternoon and had n’t gotten a nap-D at all. He went in to the meeting and sent the mail out by Joe Butterworth, There was a party on the beach celebrating the opening of the new mess here. They had torpedo alcohol to drink and from all reports they all had a rowdy time, One lad fell in the drink and another went in after him then another went in to keep them in and pretty soon they all fell in in their clothes too. All that time I was sleeping fine. I had gotten two letters, one from Jane and one from my Mama. The latter was not to my pleasure, though, for it told of her accepting a job in Washington with the Navy Dept.  I am too old fashioned in nature to like it at all for any married woman to work anywhere for any reason                             ~ The 27^th ,we up et seven thirty. Alpine hg-d gotten in pretty late and was in pretty bad shape.  I went in for the meeting and. too’” care of the things fc.’.ere, The boats had hag a little luck the night before. The section had. split in to two boat groups and were about a rule c --I‘ w-hen P.T. 237 and 253 sighted a ha.r~e. They made three runs on it. The 3.r- t one L-..the whole thing burst into flames bounding fifteen  feet high and seen  ‘-o  dive over hut  it was  though .. sone ~ then “s”e ‘.cille~ n t.he c’ar~e. 86 T

One boy on the 253 named Baer got a shrapnel in his leg, He “bled a lot but this m morning he was able to limp on that leg a little. He had also gotten two small pieces in his chest but they were not much more than a couple of scratches, A.J. Nugon the Boat captain had started down the hatch for the first, aid kit and hit his head on the hatch causing a scalp wound that was pretty ~ painful. Both had to be taken to sick bay for e .a spell. The boat got a lot of holes In it, The life raft was chewed up and the port turret had five or six holes in it.  No one else was hurt though.                                                   ‘                           -    We spent all day getting things cleaned again. .-Word had been passed that there would be a water barge for all’ the boats at 1300, It-was to have 700 gallons aboard and was to give; a hundred gallons per boat to the first seven boats. When I found that they were not following that procedure I went in. to investigate and. they had a list of ten boats that were to get fifty gallons each .  We were not on that list, b’Jell I got us switched, with another boat.”, I had taken two men In w-with me to see what the score was and t. they filled up the water  r cane that are available and we had the. boat come in emptied the cans then left ship, There is still no dock here and e we cannot take the boat into  the beach for it will chew up our wooden bottom t’-o much, That night we were the lead boat to the area just west of the south of cape 6-b George on New Ireland. That night Lt. Harris was the section leader, there were three t boats in the section. The 238 and 263 the latter an Elco boat of RON 10.  The whole patrol area was only ten miles long but there are a lot of little islands there to be covered and it took quite a bit of looking to get at all covered by daylight,  ...’he patrol was negative however and we got in next morning at nine to find that no one hod se n a thing that night. The rest of the 28^th we got all the guns cleaned and boat fueled. That night we got to stay in and get all rested up again. The 29^th as usual   we had a field day in the bilges all morning and had them all nice and white by dinner  time.  Alpine came out to the b at just at noon saying that t the captain wanted to see me at one. He told me that he had a new jot for me. r was to be  he skipper of the PT 244 and would take over next day. He asked if I wanted to make Any changed in the personnel there but I thought best to take things as they were till I could be with them all for a while. He asked, if I wanted to keep n~nol :: on the boat, He was the boat captain at the time.  That would, make things a little harder and -L told him that J. had  rather not. That night we had. a patrol to -ceni again. This time as were again separated and had  he western sector of the-.-islands to cover. Well that place has always been negative but in the morning we started T-ne usual huts on the edge of the island. we got In on the morning of the 30^th about ten and tied up at once to the 244. I had spent most of the previous afternoon getting all my gear all packet again to move. I got it all over just before noon. while in for dinner J. got paid. and a few things to get all settled up because of the trip to new Zealand,             . J.   changed  up  s-ll.   the ills  on  the boat  right  at  the start  and  told  the gang that I figured that we should have the best, boat in the whole squadron in side of a week. T-hey seemed   really anxious to be  at it too.  page 87  

ARRIVAL IN THE GREEN ISLANDS: BASE BARAHAN