Page 127 - Mastheads Aug-Dec 1944

U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center

VOL. 111- No. 43 TREASURE ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. DECEMBER 9, 1944

Survivors of Carrier Sunk in P~i_lippines Reac~ Treasure lslan~

• II
"The Man With the Hollywood Stars Join "James S ess1on to Open Theatre Men in Sea 44-50
H orn "R . Hours;- Rescued by Our
ece,ves
Grand Welcome Forces on Leyte
New clothing issued at the Treas-
Featuring surprise visits from
Gloria DeHaven, rising young ure Island Receiving Ship often
singer-actr.ess from: MGM, and goes to men who possess not a
stitch more than they wear on their
Basil Rathbone, distinguished actor
backs, -as was the case with hun-
well-known for his role.s as Sher-
lock Holmes, in addition to the dreds of survivors of the carrier
scheduled Harry James appear- Gambier Bay who recently came
ance, the christening of Treasure aboard after being rescued from
the Philippine seas, where their
Island's new Theatre No.3 assumed ship went down on October 24 in
the air of a bona fide Hollywood the battle off Samar Island.
premiere on Tuesday, December 5.
The beautiful new showplace was The baby flattop was on-e of a unit
of six in that vicinity, protected
Jammed to the rafters as the Vic- by only three destroyers-one of
tory Parade of Spotlight Bands
them the now-famous Destroyer X.
sponsored by the Coca-Cola Com-
pany was aired this Bumping into •a major thrust of
Treasure Island. the Japanese fleet, the destroyers
laid a smokescreen around the car-
Harry James and his music- riers and gallantly headed out to
makers, veterans of a great many
intercept the enemy. For three
recordings and several movies, sent
hours they stood off overwhelming
their fans- lovers of both sweet odds in the form of four battle-
and hot music- into an ecstatic ships and four cruisers•.
frenzy with the solid-sending brass
The Garn bier Bay was in a cor-
section and the lyrical strings
ner of the carrier group nearest the
alternating in the spotlight.
foe. With the smoke beginning to
Kitty Kallen,. formerly with the
lift, the Nipponese warships closed
Jimmy Dorsey orchestra, sang her in for the kill. Standing abeam at
way into the hearts of the raptly
point-blank range, they hurled one
enthusiastic audience as she gave salvo after another at the six car-
her own sparkling interpretations
riers now seeking to zigzag their
of some of the hit songs of the day. way to safety.
Sharing vocal honors with Miss Eight of the Gambier Bay's
Kallen was Buddy DeVito, pop- planes had earlier been sent out to
ular young baritone.
assist our invading forces on Leyte.
In San Francisco on a bond sell- When the Jap fire began, eleven
ing tour, Miss DeHav,en and Mr. torpedo bombers •and ten fighters
Rathbone came to Treasure Island
left her deck- to take their toll of
immediately after getting off the
the enemy.
train from Los Angeles. The blonde It was 0810 when the Gambier
Miss DeHaven will be remembered
Bay suffered her first hit from a
for her performance in "Two Girls N,o newcomer to Treasure Island is Jackson Wheeler, "I'll Get By." At the lower right is pictured a por- 14-inch shell which shook her from
and a Sailor." genial wise-cracking ,emcee for the Spotlight Band tion -of the capacity audience witnessing the show.
program shown at upper left with pretty Kitty Note the beautifully appointed stage and the modern stem to stern. The Japanese ves-
Kallen chatting with our Commanding Officer. lighting and ventilating equipment. Inset is "the sels, smelling blood, drew closer, all
Upper right, •Gl-oria DeHaven takes over the mike man" and the horn with which he has climbed the the time pumping a stream of
to do some sweet and l,owdown v,ocalizing. Harry ladder ,of musical fame. James is scheduled to appear shells into the wounded carrier.
James is seen at lower left hitting a high n-ote i•n at Civic Auditorium in San Francisco December 10.
Within a few minutes the intership
phone went dead, and shortly aft-
erward her only heavy gun
Use of Overseas Cable Half in Navy Hostess House jammed. She drew so much water
that at 0850 Captain Vieweg gave
Or Radio Cancelled Will Want to .Stay Displays Work the command to abandon ship. At
During Christmas Season According to a recent survey con- Of Local Artist 0900 the Gambier Bay was no
more.
ducted by the Navy, about half of
Acceptance of all Expeditionary the Navy's reserve officers want to Marion Cunningham, noted San The Captain has to chuckle as
Force Messages and greeting mes- remain in service after the war. Francisco artist, whose charming he remembers how unexpectedly
he left his ship. Fully equipped
sages of the sender's own com.po- Questionnaires have been sent to studies of San Francisco are now with side arms and helmet, he.
sition will be suspended from De- all the 226,000 reserve officers and on display at Hostess House, is one stumbled out of a smoke-filled room
about 60 per cent have replied. Of of those whose great interest is in
cember 6 to 25, 1944, inclusive, to virtually blinded and walked OV(lr
........ course, 80 per cent, or about 48 making art available to as many
and from Army, Navy, Marine and the side.
per cent of the total have said that as possible. Noted for her small
Coast Guard personnel in the num- "All I knew was that I was fall-
they want to remain in the regular pastels which have been exhibited
Rathbone-De Haven Mow 'Em Down erous areas of operation outside the Navy. throughout this country, she ha:s ing. I couldn't see anything, and
continental United States. (Continued on page 2)
Navy sources said the survey was served as Director of the San Fran-
New Theatre Seats 1511 This restriction of Clloble or radio undertaken in connection with post- cisco Art Center and as artist for
Officially opening the new service is necessary because the war Navy plans and that it did not the "Coast" magazine. Being a
theatre was Commodore R. W. volume of Christmas messages in- indicate any immediate action on nativ-e Californian many of her sub- Donates 1000th Pint
,_.., Cary, Commande·r, U. S. Naval volved would overburden the lim- transfers of reservists to regular jects are familiar scenes.
Training and Distribution Center, ited overseas transmission facili- Navy rolls. Mrs. Cunningham · became inter- Of Whole Blood
who spoke briefly and introduced ties and hinder expeditious handling ested in the silk~screen process by
the evening's entertainers. of messages vital to the war effort. which many prints may be made Leonard D. Rich, Navy baker of
The new theatre, henceforth to The suspension does not pr-eclude Treasure Island War from one original. She studied with Treasure Island was the donor of
be known as Theatre No. 3, has a the acceptance of messages of the outstanding teachers in this coun- the thousandth pint of type "O"
seating capacity of 1511 and is sender's own composition other Bond FigQres Announced try to learn the process and then . whoie blood at San Francisco's Red
located in the Recreation Center than greetings nor will it prevent returned to this coast to put her Cross Blood Donor Center, 2415
opposite North Galley. Coliseum the transmission of messages filed As we go to press Thursday knowledge to practical use. Now Jones Street, it was announced last
styl-e seating arrangement has been prior to midnight, December 5. morning, War Bonds totaling $185,- on display at Hostess House are week. Late the same day his pint
used in arranging the blue uphol- Therefore, the only available 000 had been purchased by Treas- silk-scr-eenings made from her orig- of blood was en route to the South
stered chairs. Two entrances from m-eans for an exchange of Christ- ure Island personnel in the Pearl inal drawings of ,the familiar Pacific by Navy plane- perhaps to
the lobby are flanked on either mas greetings during the period Harbor Day War Bond Drive. The Powell Street trolley, Fisherman's save the life of one of 4is fighting
(Continued on page 7) December 6 to 25 will be by letter. quota was set at $759,000. Wharf and Chinatown. shipmates in the battle areas.
Whi,le One Enemy -Remai·ns Our Job Is Not Done!

WE MUST BUY MORE WAR. BONDS!