Easter on an LST 1945
From the WWII Diary of Richard A. Steele, Sr.
Sat. 3-31-45: Still underway – going around circles – Had an
“alky split” in sick bay with Jack Vincent the pharmacist mate last night.
Lemonade and a generous portion of 90% - went very good – 1st
hard drink I’ve had since the skipper broke out a couple weeks ago on the day
the boat got smashed – it’s getting warmer.
Skipper said we’d be in the “thick of it” in 4 to 6 weeks. Today at noon over the radio (Honolulu
station) I heard “Put on Your Easter Bonnet” and damn near cried right at the
chow table thinking of Ethel and the kids.
I hope they’ve been able to get new things. I don’t even know when it’s Sunday anymore –
they’re all alike. Thought of the Easter
Ethel & I and Geo. Brewer [?] and can’t think of her name – went over to
Nahant and heard Murphy’s outfit put on a show- had many laughs. This PM we beached twice on Green Beach
Island of Maui – good beachings – the 2nd time we towed the 896 off
the beach and the skipper congratulated us on the way we did the job – I
handled the stern anchor, wench, cable and tossing messengers as usual. The 208 got her cable tangled in the 218
screws and she had to be towed back to P.H.
We had explosions on the beach and everything – one more day of this
stuff and then firing again Monday then back to P.H.
Easter Sunday- 4-1-45 – Happy
Easter! Nuts! - we worked our asses off today! Hot and clear – did we sweat! – We towed the
LST 896 twice, we towed them once – they shot over a breeches buoy once and all
did was run lines, messengers, stern anchor & wench all day – I’m pooped –
started the day at 3:30 AM with the 4 – 8 watch and have the 12 – 4 tonight –
great! This is our last day of these
damn maneuvers and tomorrow AM we have a G.O. – fire and go back to P.H. for
the 3rd time – I hope that this time we get our load and go to the
real thing – we’ve got this far and might as well go the rest of the way. We are 7000 miles from home what the hell is
another 4 or 5000? Well we’d be on the
way back of we get that far.
Mon. 4-2-45: Had G.O. at 8 o’clock fired at sleeves until
noon - boys did some good shooting.
Started back for P.H. and tied up in West Lock at 5:30PM - saw the
wreckage of 6 LST’s blown up last summer – and what wreckage – we’re tied up
alongside it! It was sabotage – went
after mail at 6 – got 3 bags full – I got letters from Glen Talbot, Fred
Murphy, a card from mayor McLean and four from my homey – hers were written
March 21-23-25-27 – nothing much in them but swell to hear from her. I immediately answered because we are going
out on another goddam shakedown cruise!
Tuesday 4-3-45: Went after mail again at 9 AM – no mail. Picked up my shoes I had topped at the
sub-base ships service. Coming out of
the harbor a big Essex Class carrier (Ben Franklin) came limping in – what a mess –
after half of ship smashed to hell and burned, super-structure, radar, etc. all
shot up – the Japs still got some shells and no one is kidding us – I also saw the B.B. Miss., the heavy cruiser Quincy
and many subs and cans – also a greater number of A.P.A.’s then I’ve ever seen
before. Worked on some wire splicing and
painting in P.M. Knocked off at 4:30,
took a shower – looked at my honeys picture and here I am wishing I was home!
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| The Deck Crew |
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| West Lock Pier, Pearl Harbor - LST 899, 1011 and 530 |
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| "Big Ben" Aircraft Carrier USS Franklin CV-13 |
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| Breeches Buoy |
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| New-Mexico Class Battleship USS Mississippi BB-41 |
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| Baltimore Class Cruiser USS Quincy CA-71 |
