kwselke
Member
In case I get tied up at the Luau starting in a bit, I'm going to post earlier than usual Homer Bast's Captain's Diary for this date 1945, USS Yolo still off Okinawa.
June 25, 1945
What a great meal for lunch — the occasion was the ship's first year of departure from Pittsburg. The men thought that should be celebrated. Routine chores filled the morning and I com¬pleted the fitness reports. Mr. Davis came back to the ship with the news that Yolo was returning to the rear area in several days. Davis was discussing some problems at the command ship and the official said, "if you can unload in two days you will be on your way". Tonight we are open for business for 200 tons of provisions must be moved - it will be. It is an all hands evo¬lution with enthusiasm. The command supply officer complemented us on the job we did while here.
With the exception of one destroyer for illumination of night mopping-up operations, the fire support vessels have been disbanded. No more will the rumble of the big guns be heard by Yolo, as it has for all these many days. It was a relief not to listen to the bombardment group but there was security, too, in having them close at hand.
Additionally, I will post the entry for this date 1944 for the LST 677 at Pittsburgh, PA... U.S. of A.
June 25, 1944
The long anticipated day arrived! Ed Kinley and I said our good¬byes, boarded the gear truck at 0745 and rode to American Bridge. Here the last minute preparations for departure began. Heaps of publications and equipment were brought aboard. The well trained company personnel showed the men where some items were to be stowed. It seemed, however, that everyone wanted my signa¬ture, even though the ship was in the hands of the ferry people. By noon my crew reported aboard, and was shown their quarters, as were the officers. I have a single cabin - mine was usurped by the ferry skipper. Just before noon the yard personnel filed off with a little paint here, stenciling there, and a clean sweep down fore and aft. The construction crew's shavings were gone - their work was finished; ours was about to begin.
At 1200 on 25 June at the Ambridge Ship Yard, Pittsburg, the pre-commissioning order was read on board the vessel and the National Ensign was hoisted to the gaff. On board for the cere¬mony was the ferry crew of three officers, 2 men and a pilot, under orders to deliver the ship to the Naval Section Base in New Orleans, for commissioning.
Crew number 4466 stood smartly at attention during the formality of executing the pre-commissioning order. The crew consisted of seven officers and 104 enlisted men, only 15 of whom had previous sea experience. The crew was commanded by Lieutenant C. Homer Bast of Easton, Maryland. The other original officers assigned were: Ensign E. C. Kinley as Executive Officer, Ensign S. R. Kerr, First Lieutenant and Damage Control Officer, Ensign G. C. Bracken, Gunnery Officer, Ensign R. E. Ambrogi, Engineering Officer, Ensign R. C. Ries, Stores Officer, and Ensign A. V. Cardin, Communications Officer.
As the ceremony ended the 677 shoved off from the American Bridge Company's dock. It was anchors aweigh sure enough! As she swung with the current down stream, she was like any other LST with exceptions. Her mast lay on the deck to allow for passage under low bridges; she had six boat davits cradling six LCVPs, instead of the usual two. Four davits were aft, two forward. She was the first ship from this yard to be equipped with radar.
Ten hours later the throbbing of the engines continues to echo through the ship. As darkness falls the vessel slips by small Ohio towns. Night hides some of the unsightly landscape. Winding through the hills of West Virginia and the Ohio, the muddy river raced toward its juncture with the Mississippi. Since leaving Pittsburg, the 677 has steamed past locks, river boats, tugs and tows. Seemingly whole populations race to the banks to wave. Steel mills with their smoking stacks loom up and are gone to be replaced by a bridge and it, too, has passed. Always the ship is pushed along by the water's force. There is an open river all the way. As searchlights are needed for navigation the pilot called it a day. The ship was anchored and moored bow and stern "agin' the bank" at 2200. Captain Cope's "Command at Sea" was my reading this night. At 0100 I put the book of helpful hints for young officers away - and so to bed.
June 25, 1945
What a great meal for lunch — the occasion was the ship's first year of departure from Pittsburg. The men thought that should be celebrated. Routine chores filled the morning and I com¬pleted the fitness reports. Mr. Davis came back to the ship with the news that Yolo was returning to the rear area in several days. Davis was discussing some problems at the command ship and the official said, "if you can unload in two days you will be on your way". Tonight we are open for business for 200 tons of provisions must be moved - it will be. It is an all hands evo¬lution with enthusiasm. The command supply officer complemented us on the job we did while here.
With the exception of one destroyer for illumination of night mopping-up operations, the fire support vessels have been disbanded. No more will the rumble of the big guns be heard by Yolo, as it has for all these many days. It was a relief not to listen to the bombardment group but there was security, too, in having them close at hand.
Additionally, I will post the entry for this date 1944 for the LST 677 at Pittsburgh, PA... U.S. of A.
June 25, 1944
The long anticipated day arrived! Ed Kinley and I said our good¬byes, boarded the gear truck at 0745 and rode to American Bridge. Here the last minute preparations for departure began. Heaps of publications and equipment were brought aboard. The well trained company personnel showed the men where some items were to be stowed. It seemed, however, that everyone wanted my signa¬ture, even though the ship was in the hands of the ferry people. By noon my crew reported aboard, and was shown their quarters, as were the officers. I have a single cabin - mine was usurped by the ferry skipper. Just before noon the yard personnel filed off with a little paint here, stenciling there, and a clean sweep down fore and aft. The construction crew's shavings were gone - their work was finished; ours was about to begin.
At 1200 on 25 June at the Ambridge Ship Yard, Pittsburg, the pre-commissioning order was read on board the vessel and the National Ensign was hoisted to the gaff. On board for the cere¬mony was the ferry crew of three officers, 2 men and a pilot, under orders to deliver the ship to the Naval Section Base in New Orleans, for commissioning.
Crew number 4466 stood smartly at attention during the formality of executing the pre-commissioning order. The crew consisted of seven officers and 104 enlisted men, only 15 of whom had previous sea experience. The crew was commanded by Lieutenant C. Homer Bast of Easton, Maryland. The other original officers assigned were: Ensign E. C. Kinley as Executive Officer, Ensign S. R. Kerr, First Lieutenant and Damage Control Officer, Ensign G. C. Bracken, Gunnery Officer, Ensign R. E. Ambrogi, Engineering Officer, Ensign R. C. Ries, Stores Officer, and Ensign A. V. Cardin, Communications Officer.
As the ceremony ended the 677 shoved off from the American Bridge Company's dock. It was anchors aweigh sure enough! As she swung with the current down stream, she was like any other LST with exceptions. Her mast lay on the deck to allow for passage under low bridges; she had six boat davits cradling six LCVPs, instead of the usual two. Four davits were aft, two forward. She was the first ship from this yard to be equipped with radar.
Ten hours later the throbbing of the engines continues to echo through the ship. As darkness falls the vessel slips by small Ohio towns. Night hides some of the unsightly landscape. Winding through the hills of West Virginia and the Ohio, the muddy river raced toward its juncture with the Mississippi. Since leaving Pittsburg, the 677 has steamed past locks, river boats, tugs and tows. Seemingly whole populations race to the banks to wave. Steel mills with their smoking stacks loom up and are gone to be replaced by a bridge and it, too, has passed. Always the ship is pushed along by the water's force. There is an open river all the way. As searchlights are needed for navigation the pilot called it a day. The ship was anchored and moored bow and stern "agin' the bank" at 2200. Captain Cope's "Command at Sea" was my reading this night. At 0100 I put the book of helpful hints for young officers away - and so to bed.
