me...the same to the rest of the family

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I found the EASTLAND to be a darn nice ship! Quarters are comfortable;
the food excellent. With a well-provisioned canteen, a library and record
collection of both popular and classical stuff, you can see that it isn't bad
duty. We also have our own movies aboard, shown in the messhall when the ship
is blacked out and underway. When in port, the Chaplain shows the flicks out
on deck, where a screen has been rigged up on No. 2 hatch. Todate, I've seen
a number of good Hollywood releases, including "Wilson," "Going My Way," and
other feature productions, .

I'm- getting a wee bit ahead of myself, so perhaps I should say that I was
named Personnel Officer when I reported aboard. This collateral duty also
included work as the Ship's Secretary and also the editor of the ship's news
paper....and just recently, the Captain appointed me as the Public Relations
Officer for the ship. So, you see, a guy is kept rather busy in the Navy.

Well, we spent two months in the "states," engaging in advance amphibious
operations, a "shakeedown" curise, designed to determine if the ship was sea- |
worthy, and an availability period, during which minor repairs and alterations
were made to prepare us for our initial trip across. On the 23rd of December
we received orders to sail. Boy, was morale low because all believed we would
be spending Christmas at sea. Instead of heading due West, we hugged the
coast and returned to our "shake-down" port.

I spent “hristmas with an editor-friend of mine, who works on the Los
Angeles Times. Christmas, however, just wasn't the same again this season,
The spirit just wasn't in me, All in all, however, I think I had as merry
a Christmas as anyone could possibly anticipate under such conditions, So,
I guess I shouldn't bitch! But that's every man's vrivilege in the Navy and
don't think they don't take advantage of it.

We left the states on the 26th. With anchors aweigh and setting a course
for the blue Facific, we were off. The trip was a pleasant one and unevent-
ful, though reports that Jap subs were operating off the West coast, kept us
all on edge. We made the voyage without mishap, I'm happy to say, however,
Upon arriving at the islands, after celebrating New Year's Eve both soberly
and quietly at sea, the captain granted liberty. I was among the first to
go ashore. . ;

Since this was my first trip to the Pacific, I must confess that I was
quite thrilled. I made a tour of one of the islands near which we were an-
chored. Felt just like a tourist as I absorbed the natural beauty of the
scenic spots that I visited. Unfortunately, 1 left my camera aboard, so I
didn't take any pictures. Without them to offer in evidence, you'll just have
to take my word that this iste is truly a tropical paradise. If there was
some way in which to earn an income, I do believe I'de seriously consider re-
turning here to live. That's how much i'm sold on this place.

Out here, summer is perpetual, The days are bright and sunny...the water
cool, clean and inviting. The inhabitants are healthfully lazy. The effect
is the same on all visitors. After a few days in this climate, it's no wonder]
that you begin to think that the life of a beachcomber would be just verfect.

I don't know how long we'll be anchored in this lagoon. In due time,
I guess, we'll join a task force, participate in an amphibious operation with
the aim of knocking the h..1 out of those d..m Japs and returning home to
stay when the job is done, Well, Doc, I believe I've just about exhausted
all the available news and information that I can get past the censor, So AIR }@
I'll close for now, Thanks again for that issue of the "Rebounds." Will

kine forward to your next. Extend my best wishes to Mrs, Allen for
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