Sunday, July 1

Anchored in Magellan Bay all today. Had the troops make practice deembarkation. Quite a few conferences. We’ll probably go back to Dano beach tomorrow for landings. Got mail aboard last night but I had none. Also made 1st Class, as of today. $114.00 a month base pay.

Monday, July 2

Left Magellan bay at 0500, entered the transport area off Dano beach around 0700. Disembarked troops who formed up in waves and assaulted the beach at 0930. They returned around 1200, we hoisted in all boats, and proceeded to anchorage at Magellan Bay. Brought a little mail on board, none for me though.

Tuesday, July 3

Same as yesterday exactly, left Magellan Bay, went to transport area, unloaded troops, took back the troops, came back to Anchorage. Chief Staff Officer and Navigator for the flag got in our pool as to when the ship will go back home. We all have late October or early Nov. We don’t finish this training till Sept. 27, but we put down Sept. 10 as the date for home. There is rumors of us going back soon as this training period will be cut short.

Wednesday, July 4

Same proceed as yesterday.

Thursday, July 5

Today we stayed in Magellan Bay all day and had conferences aboard ship between Army and Navy big shots.

Friday, July 6

We landed all the troops on Dano beach and then proceeded back to Cebu City and anchored around 1700. Some DF came in and brought some mail with it which were all packages. I had one from home. Tomorrow is liberty.

Saturday, July 7

Liberty today for a quarter of the crew. I did not go. Also got few troops on board.

Sunday, July 8

Came down to Dano beach and took on our troops, about 278 men and quite a bit of cargo. This is the 182 Regiment Infantry of the Americal Division. Lot of the men have just newly arrived out here from the States.

Monday, July 9

Laid in anchor all day in Magellan Bay and the troops practiced embarking and reembarrking to and from the boats. Also had a drill, GQ and abandon ship. Tomorrow is 1-A again.

Tuesday, July 10

Landed all troops, same as last week.

Wednesday, July 11

Made routine landings as usual.

Thursday, July 12

Made landings again today and unloaded all cargo, then reloaded. Finished around 1930 and then went back to anchorage in Magellan Bay.

Friday, July 13

Anchored all day in Magellan Bay, conferences aboard.

Saturday, July 14

Landed all troops and went back to Cebu City. Lots of mail, mostly old packages.

Sunday, July 15

Went on Liberty in Cebu City.

Monday, July 16

Landed troops at Dano beach.

Tuesday, July 17

Anchored all day in Magellan Bay.

Wednesday, July 18

Landings

Thursday, Friday, July 19-20

Landings

Saturday, July 21

Anchored Magellan Bay all day, conferences aboard.

Sunday, July 22

Finished our landings, discharged all troops and headed for Subic Bay around 1700. There are five ships with us, two are going to Leyte for repairs. We take on supplies at Subic Bay, then proceed to Lucena for our next training period. A lot of rumors about when we are going home, but am afraid it is a long way off.

Monday, July 23

At sea. The weather is a little rough, but the sea fairly calm. Arrive Subic Bay tomorrow morning.

Tuesday, July 24

Arrived Subic Bay around 0600, went in and took fuel off a tanker, finished around 0900, then went to anchor. We then took on provisions. They called on all hands revolution to turn to and get the stores on board. An LST converted into an APA (Barracks Ship) came alongside and we took stores from them. Just after they said all hands turn to, they called off officers who desired to go to get in the boat for the officer’s club. We finished around 1800, then had a movie. Tomorrow we go to Lucena for our next training period.

Wednesday, July 25

Left for Lucena around 0600. Two other ships with us, the rest are in Leyte under going repairs. Passed Manila Bay and Verde Island, then into the bay near Lucena, arriving there around 2000. No town here, Lucena is 2 miles up a river. One big mountain about 4500 ft. high right back from the beach, a lot of coconut plantations and some native villages right on the beach. Won’t start our training till later, probably the 1st.

Thursday, July 26

Anchored as before. Sent an officer ashore to locate a suitable beach for recreation, no village here. Our hopes of returning to the states after this is over seem to be rapidly vanishing. Now, from what you pick up here and there, it looks as if we will go into another operation soon. With all the ships with us, plus two CVE’s soon to arrive, it looks like there can be no other answer.