Friday, July 27

Anchored as before. Recreation party went ashore, but there is nothing there, about all you can do is to go swimming. A few natives there, but it is about 8 miles to the nearest town, and no transportation. Japan was offered the peace terms severed in sn ultimadium, so perhaps it will be over soon.

Saturday, July 28

Anchored as before. Recreation party went ashore. News is that Japan has refused the peace offer, so that makes it look even more like we’ll be going into an operation soon, even before this training period is up. Would rather do that then train these troops.

Sunday, July 29

Took on a few troops, advanced units. No liberty today.

Monday, July 30

Left anchorage about 1600 and went to Lemery, about 70 miles west of our anchorage, just past Batangas Bay. Arrived there around 2000, had a movie. Passed through narrow straits and the island and Luzon are very pretty here, dark green and fields of sugar cane.

Tuesday, July 31

Left Lemery around 1400. Took on all our troops today, and then went back to the anchorage at Lucera. Still do not know where we’ll make the landings with these fellows. Probably around Lucena. Are training the 1st Cavalry Division this month.

Wednesday, August 1

Anchored as before, made landings. The BL-29 pilots out here think the war will be over in 40 days. That is the word we get. They are even laying money on it, hope they are right.

Thursday, August 2

Anchored as before, made landings.

Friday, August 3

Made landings as before, still anchored in same spot off Lucena. Had a letter from home and they said that Jean Johnson, a red cross worker I used to know in Kansas, is here at Lucena. Little do the know I’m right there at present. She’s at the 1st Cav. rest camp there. Talked with some Army boys the other day on board here and they said they thought she had gone back to Manila.

Saturday, August 4

No landings today, anchored as before. At noon 5 flag men and about 15 enlisted men plus officers went ashore to play ball with the Army. We went about six miles in a VP, landed on a beach, got into Army trucks, and then went inland about 10 miles. Passed through Lucena, and to the Division Headquarters of the 1st Cav. Div. Played the Army, got beat 8-2. We ate supper there, then 4 of us wandered off and down town. Not much there, but it hasn’t been touched by the Japs. The Red Cross worker I know has been sent to Manila. Bought some native whiskey and left there around 7:30 P.M.. Got back to the ship around 10:30.

Sunday, August 5

Made landings got rid of the troops, then took on new ones for the next training. They are cutting it shorter it seems. One of the officers says we are going into an operation soon, they say we have all the charts and plans now. Also that the flag will break up in 3 months, probably right after the operation. We are to leave for Lemery at 0200 in the morning to unload some cargo.

Monday, August 6

Arrived off Lemery around 0730, unloaded the cargo and remained at anchorage.

Tuesday, August 7

Remained in Lemery all day, took on new cargo. Left Lemey around 1600 and came back to Lucena, arriving there around 2000. News is tonight that they have a new atomic bomb out that is 2000 times as powerful as the most powerful bomb ever devised. Dropped one on Japan and it killed and destroyed everything in a radius of a mile or more. Truman says there may not be a need for an invasion.

Wednesday, August 8

Made landings in the afternoon at Lucena. This training period has been cut till Sept. 9. Looks as if we’ll be in on the next one.

Thursday, August 9

Russia declares war on Japan. With this and the new bomb this thing may be over in a few weeks, anyway, it can’t last long. Still anchored at Lucena and making landings.

Friday, August 10

Made landings as usual. Japan has sent peace offers, but we replied yes with certain provisions, so we await the answer.

Saturday, August 11

Had conference on board of all captains and group leaders. No landings today. Still no word from Japan.

Sunday, August 12

Got rid of the troops today and headed for Lemey about 0200 in the morning.

Monday, August 13

Arrived off Lemey around 0700. Unloaded some troops and equipment and took on some in their place. They gave half the ship liberty at 1500 till 1800. Said we could not go into the native village, but when we got on the beach the officers told us we could go as long as we were back at the boats at 1800. Went into town, saw a cock fight and wandered around. Got back about 1830. Still no word on the peace terms sent to Japan.

Tuesday, August 14

Came back to Canda beach today. Left Lemey at 0700, but the Missoula ran aground and we didn’t leave Lemey till she cleared around 0900. We have heard that on an unconfirmed report Japan has accepted the peace terms.