Fri – 3/9/45: Sub
scare still on us. We are alone and can
only do 11 knots – can’t run or fight as our 40 MM would be out-ranged by any
gun over 8” – great!
Sat 3/10/45: One
more day to Pearl Harbor. Weather has been fair the last 3 days. The crew is feeling better about
everything. I hope it all comes out OK –
expect to hit Pearl Harbor early tomorrow AM.
Sun 3/11/45: Off Diamond
Head at dawn – the most beautiful sight I ever saw. We cruised 2 miles to ½ mile offshore from Pearl
Harbor past Honolulu
to Waikiki Beach
until 10 o’clock. Then I went in a small boat 8 miles to Pearl
Harbor and picked up mail.
What a beautiful sight! Dark
blue, light blue, dark green and light was the water from offshore, to the
white coral beaches and lush green mountains rise almost from the beaches up
into the clouds – really awe inspiring. Pearl
Harbor is tremendous and hard to describe: a small opening into a
huge natural harbor. Ships of every
description were in. I drove the small
boat way into Fleet Landing and picked up mail.
I received letters from Swannie, Geo. Chase, Jr. and Agnes “Tommy”
Blanchard in Honolulu. After a wet trip (high wind and water – warm
though) back to Kewalo Basin
where the 899 was beached to let off our ducks.
I got three hours liberty and immediately went directly to 420
Pau St. and spent the entire 3 hours with her.
[Tommy Blanchard] She and I reminisced on
Beverly and she showed me pictures
(some of Ethel, myself and the kids) of a party in her honor taken by me 3
years ago at Bug Pickering’s. Also drank
a good portion of her rye – very good.
Back at ship at 6:30 P.M. She drove me back on her open top convertible
Dodge – a swell treat.
Mon. 3/12/45:
Nothing much except we moved from Kewalo
Basin, Honolulu
to Pearl Harbor and we got another view of the wonderful
shore line from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor
with Diamond Head just beyond Waikiki. What a sight!
We are anchored in the very back part of the harbor – there’s about 25 –
40 LST’s nested right here. We are tied
up with 3 others now. Went after mail
and received two letters from my honey, one March 5 and 7th – only 5
days from Beverly to Pearl
Harbor via air mail – not bad!
Swell letters – she referred to our last phone call from Los
Angeles to her.
Tues. 3/13/45: Still tied up. We had to move to let the 864 and 854
out. We moved inside and the 25 (an old
LST) moored outside us. She has Malta,
Anzio and Normandy
painted on her superstructure – been around!
I had no liberty but went in after mail at 4
P.M. We are scheduled to pull out at 6:30
AM for a week’s of maneuvers and then to come back here. Maybe I’ll get some liberty next time. I got a real deal on liberty this time. I drew $22 pay today.
Wed 3/14/45: I
meant to mention yesterday the beautiful rainbow that formed a complete arch
over the mountains and as we ran the small boat down the harbor toward the
hills it was as though we were going right under the rainbow itself. The hills were a riot of color. The spectrum seemed to be all over it. I’ll never forget it. Got under way at 5:30 A.M. with 4 other LST’s – 967, 17, 876 and
ourselves. We passed outside of Diamond
Head and proceeded up the coast about 10 miles. We tried to take aboard some ducks and LVT’s
but it was too rough. It was a clear
day, but very windy causing a rough sea.
I worked on the stern anchor all
day. We let it out and took it in 4
times and let out about 350 ft. each time.
The last time, the anchor brought in a large piece of coral. We’re underway for a point about 80 miles
from here. I have the 4-6 P.M. and 12-4
A.M. watches today.
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