The Escalating Story, as told by a single reinforcement.
USS Catalapa
At Sea
Sunday May 24, 1942
This is the beginning of the war for me, the beginning of a "cruise". We are now standing out to sea. We do not know where we are going, or how long we shall be gone. There are many rumors and guesses - some say New Zealand. At any rate, it seems definitely below the equator wherever it is - probably some advance base from which we shall operate and lay submarine nets. It may be an out-of-the-way place, and a small place, as we are accompanied by a freighter which is apparently loaded with net-laying gear. The USS Ebony is also going with us. We are unescorted, we are not traveling with a convoy, and may run into difficultly, although none of the officers or crew show any apprehension...
Monday May 25, 1942
We saw the last lights of San Francisco last night at about 10 pm. From then on, until now (6:30 pm), it has been pretty rough going. It was difficult to sleep as there are many noises of sliding objects (food supplies and various kinds of gear which had not been properly secured due to our hurried departure), and in addition there was the sound of the engines, the tossing of the ship, and the movements of the crew, all of which was new to me as I had come aboard Sunday morning at Tiburon (the Naval Net Depot) and had not slept aboard before.
Water leaked into the forward compartment where I, and eight other petty officers are bunking, and ran around the deck following the movement of the ship. When I got up this morning I had the quaint pleasure of putting on a pair of wet shoes, and thought to myself: "so this is La Guerre!" Later, la guerre proved even more adventurous - we were all seasick! Yes, quite an adventure! We have taken our meals today standing up, holding on, with one hand to a mess table, and eating with the other when it seemed safe...
Tuesday May 26, 1942
8:30 pm. Just got back from General Quarters. The buzzer sounded at 7:30, so all hands were at their battle stations for 1 hour. This morning General Quarters stations were assumed at 4:30 am, and "secure" sounded at 5:30 am.
It has not been so rough today - the ground swells have been somewhat smaller, but the ship has bobbed, tossed, swayed, bucked as usual, and, as usual, we have taken our meals standing up.
There has been an indication of the presence of enemy ships. I relieved the Yeoman this evening for a while, and operated the submarine detection apparatus while he went to the topside to get some fresh air. He has heard nothing suspicious on any of his watches, he says. I suppose if you pick up an enemy sub you get the "jack pot", or perhaps the machine will play "America"...
Saturday May 30, 1942
The forward P.O.'s compartment is getting warmer everyday, and the sun is getting brighter and hotter. Couldn't use the blankets until the early morning hours. I don't believe we will use them at all any more, except maybe for sleeping on the topside. We should reach the equator in about two more days. Tomorrow will be one week since we left San Francisco...
Wednesday June 3, 1942
The "Liberty Ship" Frank Knox is having trouble with one of their guns - apparently a 3". They lowered a boat today, and rowed over to pick up our Gunner's Mate, Hurley, to see if he could repair the gun. It's 7:00 pm (after dark) and Hurley is still not back. We heard him firing some of their machine guns, so apparently they are on the fritz too. I certainly hope he can fix all their guns. It will make him feel pretty good. Come to think of it, I remember his saying before he left that he hoped he could fix the guns, and that he hoped their Gunner's Mate was "Regular Navy". Of course Hurley is a Reservist who was called to active duty after the war, or shortly before. I don't much blame him for feeling the way he does, not really, because the men of the regular navy, generally speaking, are rather bitter about the reserves, and refer to them as "Feathermerchants", and all sorts of un-complimentary terms are used. For instance, the day before we sailed I took my own car and drove to Mare Island to get some medical supplies from the Medical Supply Depot in the Navy Yard there. The ship did not have an allotment, and as it had been attached to, and operating from the Naval Net Depot, the officers at the Supply Depot felt that it was up to the Tiburon Dispensary to issue supplies to us. I had already been to Tiburon, and they were unable to give us half what we needed. But while I was there one of the lieutenants, who felt that Tiburon was completely at fault, said: "What have they got over there - a bunch of God-damned Reserves?" That is rather typical of the attitude of the "Regular Navy" towards the reserve...
Thursday June 4, 1942
The "news" today centers around Alaska. Dutch Harbor, where a Naval Air Station is located, is said to have been bombed three times today by the Japanese. So far, we have received none of the details.
Friday June 5, 1942
Now we have a rumor to the effect that Midway has been attacked by the Japs. Maybe we'll get the details when we get to Suva.
Some of the men on watch on the machine gun deck swear they saw a ship, and two planes last night at sunset. They must have been ours, or else they didn't see us, as we have had a very peaceful day.
We flew a kite today, and we all had a crack at firing at it with the 50 Cal. Machine guns but no one brought it down...
Sunday Evening (11:00 pm)
Just got back from a tour of Suva. The city is full of New Zealanders, plus the crew of a British Cruiser, and the Army transport President Coolidge. Apparently our Army and Navy is taking over, as the British and the New Zealanders expect to leave shortly. There is also two American destroyers here. I doubt very much if they will stay, however...
Monday June 29, 1942
The S.S. Coolidge is in again - brought in another load of soldiers and supplies. American soldiers, trucks, Jeeps are swarming all over the island. And another Liberty ship is laying-to in the harbor. The two American destroyers are back - they went to Auckland, New Zealand, and think they are now headed back home. I saw the Chief Pharmacist's Mate off the Cummings ashore, and when he told me where they had been, I asked him how it was. He replied" "terrible - Scotch costs $15 a quart - the liquor situation is much worse than here in Suva"...
June 5, 1943 - Suva
Things have seemed rather quiet lately - since the Germans were driven out of Africa, but I suppose it's the "quiet before the storm". Will the European Continent be invaded now? I shouldn't be at all surprised. Italy is reported as "tense", etc., but everything looks suspicious in connection with Spain. Recently the American ambassador praised Franco and his government... what does it mean? Does it mean we fear a Spanish attack through Morroco? Are we "playing ball" with them for that reason? Or could it mean we are trying to use Spain in connection with a Continental invasion of Europe? I don't know, but meanwhile Spain's "Blue Legion" is fighting with the Germans in Russia, and Joseph Stalin recently stated that Spain is an enemy of Russia, and called attention to the fact that Franco's soldiers are on Russian soil...
Most promising news just now I believe is the story out of China. We have long heard of the years of terror, retreat, and starvation for the Chinese, and now suddenly comes the glorious news that the Japanese are in full retreat along the upper Yangtze in Hupeh Province, and that the Chinese counter offensive is sweeping the Japs back. American Airmen are reported to be engaged in the offensive. This may prove to be just the shot in the arm the Chinese need, like Joan of Arc coming at the 11th hour in France. A few victories now may kindle China into a blazing fire of determination which will prove too hot for the Japanese...
Final entry...
Yesterday Jack Walsh, formerly of the Philadelphia Record, and now a Marine Corps Correspondent here, was out to dinner. I met him on the beach, and brought him back to the ship with me. Seems to be a nice fellow, I think he's coming out again Sunday, and is going to bring his partner, Neil Gilespie, who is the photographer who works with him.
This morning Mr. Heimer was down at the sick bay, and somehow the conversation touched on how much crumbier the ship used to be. He said he had nothing to do with discipline then, and that it was the fault of the chiefs! Wouldn't I like to hear him tell an admiral that!... I'm afraid his answer wouldn't satisfy an admiral. The admiral would say (unless he was so disgusted he'd just tear his hair out and leave the ship) that, if the chiefs are not on the job, it is the duty of an officer to see that they are. Every Naval Officer is responsible for discipline. I'm sure I've seen some pretty rotten officers but this crowd takes the cake. It would take 40 volumes to tell what's wrong with them.
Someday the war will be over! I hope it's before I have to fill up my second diary, which is just like this one. There are so many things I should have written here. Maybe the letters to Marian will add some details. RCR
