Monday, May 7

Anchored all day. The squadron commander, Commodore McGovern of TransRon 16 and all his staff came on board for an inspection, rather unsuspected this morning. They looked at all the ship. Some say it means we are to be detached from this squadron, perhaps to go to England to pick up troops. The more sensible solution is that it is a routine semi year inspection. News is that Germany has given up, but nothing confirmed.

Tuesday, May 8

Had firing practice again today. All morning and afternoon. Same spot as before. However low weather cut it short both in the morning and afternoon. We returned to regular anchorage around 1300. Had a movie. On the way back from firing today we saw a few natives on one of the few islands they inhabit here. A couple of women were on the beach with nothing on but a skirt. A few were in swimming. They live in grass huts and their main source of food seems to be from fish. We see their fishing fleets come in ever so often. Just a little 10 ft. boat with a sail. You could see the nets drying on the rocks. The island is restricted to service men. Still no word or even scuttlebutt on our leaving or destination.

Wednesday through Saturday, May 9-12

Anchored.

Sunday, May 13

Church in the morning. Holiday routine all afternoon.

Monday, May 14

Had my teeth cleaned today, and found to have a small cavity. Will have it taken care of Wednesday. Tomorrow we go out to fire again. Heard we will be here another 3 weeks, no one seems to know a thing as to when or where we are going. One of the officers from the flag beach party who was wounded at Iwo Jima is back, he’s been at Pearl. Says there are lot of APA’s there waiting to come out here.

Tuesday, May 15

Anchored.

Wednesday, May 16

Went out to fire again, same procedure as before, both morning and afternoon. After we finished firing in the afternoon we went alongside an oil tanker to take on fuel. Just before we pulled alongside of them I happened to notice some fellows on a little island waving a shirt on a pole. The signalmen contacted them by light and they sent us a semaphore message saying they were stranded there and that one of the men was very sick or hurt. When we pulled alongside the tanker we found out that a man had swam to a ship from the island and gotten help. They then had the sick fellow taken to a ship and he was being operated on. After we fueled, which took about 2 hours, we went back and anchored in our regular berth.

Thursday, May 17

Anchored.

Friday, May 18

Fired again. The LCVP’s had 30 cal. machine guns mounted on them and they went in by an island, very small, and fired at targets. We had swimming over the side. A lot of the fellows have been fishing over the side and caught some beauties.

Saturday, May 19

Anchored.

Sunday, May 20

Received a Fox message last night in which we received our orders, to go to Manila in the Phillipines. They haven’t announced it as yet, probably won’t for a time. I found out from the steward’s mate who cleans up the captains cabin. He overheard the captain and the commodore. Suppose we’ll leave in a few days, but no can figure out why we are going there. About 15 other ships will be with us as far as we can figure.

Monday, May 21

We are to be under CTG 12.2, or rather we are CTG 12.2, which means we are now a part of the 1st fleet instead of the 5th fleet. The 1st fleet operates between Pearl and San Francisco. But it may be changed. Scuttlebutt has it we are to pick up troops at Manila and train them for another operation. Doesn’t sound right, but you never know what they will do out here. Also heard we are to leave in two days, also heard Thursday.

Tuesday, May 22

Quite a few of the ships of our squadron including the squadron leader, the Cecil, left today. We are all going to Leyete, Phillipines. We leave on the 24th, arrive Leyete the 27th, and wait for the rest of the squadron, who went to Guam today. Took on about 450 Naval Personnel today, most of them Negros who are stevedores and going to Leyete. No one seems to have any idea where we will go or do from there.

Wednesday, May 23

Anchored.

Thursday, May 24

Left Ulithi around 1600, destination Guam. We got rid of the troops around 1400 and put them on another APA going direct to the Phillipines. A lot say we are going to Guam then to the states. But the more accurate story is that we are to pick up a couple of new and bigger LCM’s in the place of the two we have. We are traveling alone, no escort. There are four ships going, but we’ll be at least 10 miles apart from each other.

Friday, May 25

Sailed all day by ourselves, arrived off Apra Harbor, Guam around 1700. We did not go in. Our two LC’s went in along with the officer who was to get our orders. They got back around 2000 and we set sail for Leyte. This harbor here has no APA’s in it, quite a few CVE’s and DD’s. We should arrive Leyte on noon, the 29th. We have no escorts and are traveling alone, the other three ships about 10 miles apart. About a week ago they spotted a sub in these waters, one DE reported a probably sub contact on its sound gear, and one merchant ship had a torpedo fired at it.

Saturday/Sunday, May 26-27

At sea.

Monday, May 28

At sea. Arrive Leyte tomorrow noon.

Tuesday, May 29

Arrived Leyte Gulf around 1100 and proceeded directly to a Coast Guard tanker to fuel. The squadron leader, the Cecil, pulled out just before we arrived, on its way to Subic Bay, Luzon. There are quite a few ships here. Also a big airfield of all transports. We received a message as we entered that we could have a USA or stage show, but we are to be here only a few hours. After refueling, at about 1300, we went to anchor, and pulled out for Subic Bay around 1600. We should arrive Thursday, around noon.

Wednesday, May 30

Passed by Negros and Panay Islands today. They are low mountainous, much like Hawaii. Passed a destroyer division, a couple of tugs towing barges and a native canoe. The water here is like glass. Lots of flying fish and quite a few black fish, which are similar to porpoise, only bigger. We are due in Subic Bay tomorrow around 1100. Quite a job of navigating here, they say there are 7,000 islands in the Phillipines. Once last night we passed in water 22 feet deep, we draw 19.

Thursday, May 31

Arrived Subic Bay, Luzon, around 1000. This is located right across Battan Peninsula from Manila and Manila Bay. Is a fairly sized bay, surrounded by mountains, which are covered with heavy foliage. Not many ships in here, perhaps 30. A couple of Australian ships, some destroyers, but we and our squadron are the only transports. Quite a few natives here, a village at the end of the bay. They have a small recreation island at the entrance of the bay. By the looks of things we will be here for several months. They say tours will be conducted to Manila later on.

Friday, June 1

Went on recreation party to Grande Is. It’s about 2 miles sq., not much there. A good swimming spot with boards off the pier and a float with boards. Water clean and warm. A few ball diamonds and a tennis court. We went back up in the hills, the old American Gun Batteries are up there, but they are roped off as the Japs left some booby traps and mines up there. Some of the quarters are open. They are mostly bombed and torn up. Doesn’t look like the Japs lived here, no signs of them. Some big coastal guns up there. We had a meal, 3 bottles of beer apiece, and came back around 1600.

Saturday, June 2 though Sunday, June 10

Subic Bay.

Monday, June 11

Subic Bay. We are scheduled to train troops for two months beginning July 1. Then back to the States for overhaul.

Tuesday, June 12

Went on liberty again today. This time it was to the Division beach, which they have built on one side of the bay. They are still cleaning it up, but only about 5 ships send recreation parties there so it isn’t so crowded. We ate dinner on the ship, then went to the beach. Had 2 cans of beer. We didn’t stay on the beach but went up the road about two miles and into a native village. We saw them washing their clothes in a stream, and how they live in huts with bamboo strips for floors up off the ground. Did a lot of bargaining with the natives, you can get practically anything for a package of cigarettes. They gave us a lot of Japanese invasion money and some coins. No Shore Patrol there so you can roam as you please. The army is camped right with the natives. We went back to the beach around 1600, went in swimming, then came back to the ship. We go to Manila Monday.

Wednesday/Thursday, June 13-14

Subic Bay.

Friday, June 15

Subic Bay. Below is a diagram of where we are and of the beach.

Saturday, June 16

Went ashore with a couple of fellows to get the staff jeep washed. We went into one of the cities, Olangapo, around 1300. Was supposed to go over to the division recreation beach to pick up an officer but the road doesn’t go all the way over there and we couldn’t get ahold of the ferry. So we came back to Olangapo and washed the jeep using a fire hose. Got finished around 1700 and went down to the dock to await the boat which was to arrive at 1800. Went in for a swim in the meantime, but the boat didn’t get there till about 1830. Ate late chow when we got back, then went to the movies. We heard on the beach that about 115 Japs came out of the hills last night and caused some trouble. They got 15 and are hunting them.

Sunday, June 17

Subic Bay. We go to Manila tomorrow.

Monday, June 18

Left for Manila around 0700. Had firing practice on the way, passed close by Corrigador and entered Manila Harbor around 1400. All kinds of wrecked ships laying around, mostly Jap. You can see the city pretty well from where we are anchored, lots of tall buildings but they are all bombed and shattered. I get liberty the last day, Friday.

Tuesday, June 19

First liberty party went ashore. When they came back some were really laid out cold. The whiskey they sell here is made by the natives and supposed to be government inspected, but it still is all green and some fellows have died from it.

Wednesday, June 20

Am going to go ashore tomorrow to try and find Alf Watson from Bad Axe (Michigan) and Jeanne Johnson from Ellis (Kansas), she’s in the Red Cross. A couple of fellows have looked up their address and I know where to look for them now.

Thursday, June 21

Went ashore with a couple of the fellows. We rented a cart with a little pony and driver and he took us all over the city. We drove for about 3 hours and cost us $3.00 a piece. Everything is high here. Their money is different then ours. A dollar in our money is 2 pesos in theirs. 1 peso is .50c, 10 pesos $5, and so on. All they know is a peso or up, no coins. When you dock at the pier there are natives waiting right there for you to sell stuff. The city itself is all bombed out and very few places that weren’t hit. I saw Alf Watson, he’s a second Lt. on McArthur’s staff. We went right by MacArthur’s office. Couldn’t find Jeanne Johnson as she is 50 miles south of Manila.

Friday, June 22

Went back in on liberty today, rented another cart and rode around. Had Kessy, Eisenhut and Gallegos with us. Kessy bought some of the cheap native liquor, and regretted it. We left on the 1700 boat, and LCVP, and it was really rough coming back. Both Kessy and I got sick. I filled up a brand new hat and had to throw it over the side. Scuttlebutt on the ship is that we are going to Subu on the 29th to pick up troops.

Saturday, June 23

Came back to Subu, got here about 1400. A little mail came on board. Now we wait for the troops.

Sunday, June 24

Anchored Subic Bay.

Monday, June 25

We leave for Cebu tomorrow. We are to train troops there from 1 July till 23 July, in six day periods for each group. Then up to Lucens, Luzon from 1 August till 23 August, then up to Lingayen Gulf from 1 Sept. to 23 Sept. After that we should go back to Subic Bay and then home.

Tuesday, June 26

Left Subic Bay early in the morning bound for Cebu City to train troops. We passed by Panay and then up to the island of Cebu. We’ll arrive there around 1700 tomorrow. We have the U.S.S. Missoula, APA 211, U.S.S. Dickens, APA 161, U.S.S. Lubbock, APA 197, and the U.S.S. Whiteside, AKA 90 with us.

Wednesday, June 27

Arrived off Cebu City and anchored in Cebu harbor around 1700. Very pretty here, with the low green mountains and all the native huts and boats. We are anchored in fairly close to the shore. A few old Jap ships sunk here and a few luggers broached on the beach. When we came in a lot of natives came out in boats all sold things over the side. You can by their cheap whiskey for .50c, that is a carton of cigarettes. They certainly seem glad to see us.

Thursday, June 28

Ancored in Cebu harbor. Liberty today from 1200--1730.

Friday, June 29

Went ashore in Cebu City. It is a fairly good sized place, in fact, the second largest city in the Phillipines, but nothing like Manila. Most of it is bombed out, both by us and the Japs. All the Americans that once lived in Cebu, before the Japs came, are up in the hills, but so are the Japs. We bought a few souvenirs. Sold a tea shirt for $2.50. The natives would rather have clothes than money.

Saturday, June 30

Left Cebu around 0600 and proceeded to Dano beach, which is about 30 miles north of Cebu. Small village there, we anchored about 500 yds. off the beach. Took on troops and equipment, however we only have about 300 troops on board. They are part of the American division and have seen no action out here as yet although they have been in the Pacific for some time. We also have 5 LSM’s with us which are filled with cargo. Around 1600 we left Dano beach and went back toward Cebu to Magellan Bay. It was here that Magellan was killed by the natives on his trip around the world. You can see the monument on the beach erected to him. This is the 152 Inf. Reg.