Page 113 - Mastheads Jan-June 1945

THE MASTHEAD, SATURDAY, APRll.. 7, 1945 PAGE 5
lwo a·ndc· Bonin Is. , Naval Training

Schools
I Commander J: H. Falge com- What was the most interesting ex-
mends NTSchs personnel for their perience you've had during your
support in Red Cross contributions naval career?
and in the war bond allotment
E. Willett, F1c, Operational
d~ive ... ~onations to the Red Cross
I represented 100 , .per cent of the Training School. Right off the bat,
I personnel, a worthy record for a I would say that the greatest ex-
good cause. Percentage for war perience I've had since being in
bond allotments at this activity the Navy was the time I missed a
has risen from 42 to 93 per cent. draft from Shoemaker to Australia.
Detached I guess that was also my worst
Jack T. Gibson, BM1c, has left experience because I was separated
his MAA post in Barracks I, hav- from my buddies. It wasn't any
ing been transferred to Receiving fun to watch a bunch of swell guys
Ship. Our good wishes for your like them leave the states without
next assignment. leaving with them.
Winter Sports Well, anyway, it couldn't be
Three Waves of NTSchs were helped. And now that I'm at Treas-
1.mong the thirty-five on the ski ure Island working as a part-time
trip last weekend. All lived to tell instructor and doing engine. main-
the enthusiastic tale of a wonder- tenance work, I think I've got a
ful excursion . into the beautiful good deal after all.
Sonora mountain country.
Ice hockey spectatorship h!l,S been
The Bonin (bo-nen') Islands lie * * *
along one of 2 routes to Japan from gaining steadily in popularity. A Geraldine D. Haynes, S1c (Y),
group of nearly 40 officers and in-
the south, the other being nearer Armed Guard Center. The highspot
the Asiatic coast running north- structors saw the final game at in my Navy life so far is my job
ward from the· Philippines through Winterland, to see the San Fran- in the Operations Office where men
Formosa and the Luchu Islands. cisco Shamrocks and the San Diego are assigned to merchant ships as
There are 97 islands- in all, but team in a whirlwind game. gunners, radiomen and signalmen.
the total area is less than 30 square The fishing gear is being lined up I've learned a lot about ships I
miles. They are of volcanic origin. for use again tomorrow. Several never knew before. This is more
The name Bonin is a corruption of members of our crew are making it like the Navy than iots of stations
the Japanese Munin, meaning a habit and are enjoying their where you live ashore and go to a
"empty of man," which was the weekly sea duty more and more
condition of the islands when as spring weather· comes. Navy job each morning.
sighted by a Japanese explorer in In the Pacific Yes, I think my job is the most
1593. Two popular officers who were interesting work I've ever done
Both Great Britain and America detached from the Gyro Compass either in or out of the Navy.
at one time advanced claims to the School several months ago report
islands-Corriinodore P erry estab- from the Pacific. We are wishing * * *
l~hed a coaling station there in them happy duty. Walter Seruby, S1c, Public Works ,
1853-but relinquished their rights Lt. (jg) James Hill is too far Service Station. The biggei::;t kick ---~~=~~~-!!::======--"'
in favor of the J apanese, under away to receive personally our I've got out of this outfit was the FUTURE SCHOOL TEACHER is the lovely Bernice Spence, 18-year-old
whose control the islands have been congratulations on his promotion- time I had MAA duty in boot camp from Vesper, Kans. Her aim is to become a kindergarten teacher, and
since 1861. but his many friends at NTSchs at Great Lakes. It's rather hard to to that end she is attending the teachers' college of her state. Teacher's
pet is J-ohn O'Toole, HA1c, -of Dispensary No. 2. He says he'll go back
The largest island, Chichi Jima are happy to hear about it. Mr. Hill put in words, but just the same, I to school after the war, and if it's kindergarten, we're thinking of joi-n-
(Father Island) is 12½ miles in has now embarked on his duties as enjoyed that part of my Navy ca- in g him.
circumference. Its harbor is an ex- electrical officer on a cruiser, and reer most.
tinct volcanic crater, now sur- reports that it is an assignment Course this job isn't so bad. Tp.e to their activity. Funny thing most interesting thing in my Navy
rounded by heavily forested hills much to his liking. thing I like most is observing the though, I never see any of them career.
rising more than· 800 feet, which Lt, (jg) -H~nry A. Redmond has expression on the face of customers
entirely obscures ships in the har- left these shores for a new assign- when I tell them there is no gas. pushing the car when they don't Going from my home in Montes-
bor from outside view. The English ment. His address is FPO, San Boy, you should get a load of the get the gas. ano, Wash., to New York for boot
name of Chichi Jima-is ·Peel Island Francisco, and he left us with a line that some of them hand me. Donna Freeman, -Y3c, Training training, from there to Stillwater,
and the harbor, on the west · shore, suggestion that he would appreci- They always want me to scrape up Office, o:rs. The traveling I've done Okla., for yeoman training, from
is called Port Lloyd. Stillwater to New Haven, Conn.,
ate news from his NTSchs friends. just enough gas to get them back since joining the Navy has been the
The Bonins consist . of 3 main ' for "personal" reasons and finally
groups, Muko-Jima; Chichi Jima terminating my travels in San
and <Haha Jima. Iwo Jima also is Francisco gave me a chance to get
included under the same. adminis- Snapshots From the Hospital Recreation Album a good look at the United States-
tration as the Bonins. Total popu- and all on the Navy, too!
lation of the 97 islands is about
5,700. The northernmost island is
about 500 miles from Yokohama. Hospital Recreatfon
Climate is semi-tropical. Plants
consist, of . .palms, ferns, banyan Sponsors Snow Trips
trees, wild beans and taros. Ani-
mals chiefly are · bats. Sharks and Recently conducted tripll to both
other varieties of .fish abound in the Yosemite and Donner Pass featured
waters, as welL.,as turtles. winter sports, in contrast _to our
"Sunny California" recreation pas-
times. The trip to Yosemite proved
of double significance, with our
Easter Bunny Hospital Waves serving as host-
esses to a party dance for the
Visits Verba patients in the hospital there.
Sea Biscuit, of yesteryear fame
BuenQ Island on the race track, was the feature
On Saturday, March 31, a chil- attraction at Howard 'Ranch, vis-
dren's Easter party was held in ited by staff members of the Hos-
the Recreation Building on Yerba pital.
Buena Island. Captain Elmer F. A second trip to Dqnner Pass
was enjoyed by staff memb_ers over
Helmkamp, Commanding Officer of
the last weekend. They:- were ac-
Receiving Ship, acted as host to the
children ·of Receiving Ship person- companied by Lt. (jg) Howard Jef-
nel. About 75 children and not a frey, Hospital Recreation Office1
few parents enjoyed the entertain- Experiences at the Pass were de-
clared by all to be plenty .of fun.
ment in the theater. Ice cream and
cookies were ~rved later in the Waves and Corpsmen alike en-
gym. An .E aster basket consisting joyed the thrills and spills of skiing
of a rabbit pulling a cart filled and it was unanimously declared by
with colored eggs and candy was all that sitting around the fireplace
at night would remain a long re-
the prized possession of each child
leaving the building. . membered part of the trip to Don-
Much credit for the success of ner Pass.
. the pa:.rty is due to Mrs. Helm- Singing and enjoying the scenery
. kamp's committee of ladies, who along the way on the bus. came in
filled the baskets and decorated for a share of the trip's pleasures.
the tables. Commander Hake and The return trip from the -Pass was
his crew provided and served the started late Sunday afternoon .
' 1!:astei: refreshments. . One group told of fun on a hike,
especf.ally when they had to pull
. one another out of a .shoulder high
1f everyone in the United States · · · . .,·· ' sn~W drift~at 'Don~er Pass the
FOND MEMORIES for the Waves and Corpsmen of braving the tricky staves· was Betty Skelly, · PhM3c
stopped saying "hello" at the be- the U. S. Naval Hospital on Treasure Island are (lower left). At upper right is· pictured beautiful snow is five feet deep.
ginning of every telephone conver- represented in these pictures taken on recent week- Yosemite Falls. A further attraction to the Howard Another trip to Donner Pass is
sation, enough man hours could be end trips. It was chills and spills for James Ryan, Ranch was Sea Biscuit (lower right), who won his being enjoyed over this current
PhM3c (upper left), on the tr.ip to Donner Pass . . glory on the race trac!<, Making friends with him
saved in a year to construct a bat- Sharing the fun are Margaret Williams, PhM3c is Lt. (jg) Cheldinas, ·while ·Dorothea -Bender (on weeke~d, . and others may be
tleship. (left), and Amelia Monico, PhM1c. Another Wave fence) looks on. planned before the thaw this June.