PENNANT PARADE
Vol. II, No. 1
Oct.
27,
1945 3rd day at sea.
THIS IS IT!
At long last we can say unfalteringly and without that uncertain lump in the back of the
throat---'THIS IS IT.'
There's just no two ways about
it, men, we're homeward bound. It's hard to believe...almost. inconceivable to some of us vets with
30 months and over, but, dammit
it's true...go ahead and pinch
yourself. But, be sure and pinch
good and hard, because no doubt
the hide is already numbed and
calloused from the cold and ungentle North Pacific breezes. (You
might have known that the men of
the SWPA would go home via the
Aleutians.)
But, the meals alone, aboard
the Pennant, should be convincing
proof that we are anywhere but on
some "half A" maiden-forsaken
island or stuck in some stinkin' concentration..er, no...
I mean
Replacement Center, where they
bend over backwards to induce reenlistment by acts of starvation,
et al.
On board the Pennant is quite a
galaxy of men and outfits, all of
which helped toss Japan around
like so much scrap paper. Amongst the elite are the 81st Infantry,
5th Air Force, 11th Airborne (which the 3rd Airdrome Squadron beat
into Japan by two days) and the
1st (of course, famous
for being first in Manila and Tokyo).
But, now we are no more soldiers at heart than kidneys. We have one
goal in mind and that is to become
solid citizens of [the] USA. Our biggest
concern now is how and the hell
to get along in the Old Country...
how far to carry fraternization,
especially with the native female,
and how and where to spend and
change the stuff the American calls
lettuce, two-bits...and ten cents...Did you say ten cents (10˘)?
The first ten
years will be
the hardest - then comes the revolution.
EDITOR
ATOMIC BOMB
The idea that there is any
counter weapon against the atomic
bomb is "nonsense." That was the
opinion expressed by Marcus Oliphant,
British scientist [actually Australian - Ed.] who aided in the
production of the devastating bomb.
Demanding that the secrets of the atomic bomb be given to all nations, Oliphant declared that the problem
is so big "that it can't be discussed as a national affair, but
only as an international one." He
said that in future wars it is certain a single bomb falling
near London, for instance, would
wipe out the city completely.
NOTICE ******** NOTICE
Due to a limited supply of
paper, a copy of this news sheet
cannot be distributed to each man,
so pass it on to your buddy.
YANKS HURT IN YOKOHAMA BLAST
In an ammunition dump just
south of Yokohama Thursday morning
many men were injured and some said
to have been killed when an explosion occurred. American forces
were removing mines and high explosives from the ammo dump and
transporting them to deep sea and
sinking them when this explosion
set off other high explosives and
injured many American soldiers
and wounded some natives.
UNREST IN FAR EAST
Ernest Bevin announced to the
British embassy today that violence in India and Batavia [now called Jakarta - Ed.] as well
as Java and other East Indian Islands is still very much in progress. British re-enforcements
have been sent to Batavia and Java
to help to quiet these uproars.
The United States objects to the
use of Lend-Lease arms and ammunition for political purposes such
as they are and asked that all U.S.
markings be removed from any arms
or weapons of any sort that might
be used in helping to quell these
outbursts under British and Netherlands rule.
38th ARRIVES IN L.A.
The 38th Division will arrive in
L.A. in the course of three or
four days aboard different transports. Tomorrow the Uruguay
arrives with 4,800 men of this fighting division, which took over Bataan.
JOE E. BROWN GETS BRONZE STAR - (5 POINTS!)
Joe E. Brown was awarded the Bronze Star at a banquet at which
he was Master of Ceremonies. Joe
knew nothing about the award
until it was given him, and he was
at a loss for words. Only one other
civilian has ever been awarded
this medal, the late Ernie Pyle,
and Joe E. Brown received it for
meritorious work in almost unlivable
weather when he entertained the "boys" in many of the ports all
over the South and West Pacific,
including New Guinea, Australia
and the many other outposts in the West Pacific area.
[The "5 POINTS" mentioned in the headline is referring to the point system which determined a soldier's priority for going home. Points were awarded according to time spent overseas, etc. A Bronze Star was worth 5 points. - Ed.]
STRIKERS BACK TO WORK
Strikers in movie production
companies will go back to work on Monday, it was announced today. Many of the workers will again
return to their jobs after being idle for almost eight months.
Now they have reached agreements
and are going back to work once
again. [See Wikipedia article for background on the strike and its aftermath. - Ed.]
JEEPS, JEEPS, JEEPS!
It was announced today that
ten thousand jeeps are now on
sale and Army men are being given
first and highest priorities for
the purchase of 1 jeep. They are
selling just "as is"; in other
words, whether they have been in
combat or not, or whether they
look new or not, they are still
for sale.
[cartoon caption: "This makes me lonesome for me jeep!!"]
STAFF
Editor...........Len Stringfield
Artist...........R.E. Doyle
Sports Editor....William O'Brien
Feature Writers
& Typists....John A. Polomski
Roy K. Dumas
Richard Berlow
Transport Service
Officer....Lt. Leonard Miskit
MOVIE SCHEDULE
Now playing: The More the Merrier
w/ Jean Arthur
Joel McCrea
Charles Coburn
Due to limited space, the following schedule will be adhered to and
admission will be by meal ticket
only. Men will enter and leave mess
hall in same
manner as for chow.
| Sat. |
- |
|
7:30 PM |
|
Co. A |
|
|
|
9:30 PM |
|
Co. B |
| Sun. |
- |
|
7:30 PM |
|
Co. #1 |
|
|
|
9:30 PM |
|
Co. #2 |
| Mon. |
- |
|
7:30 PM |
|
Co. #3 |
|
|
|
9:30 PM |
|
Cos. #4 & #16 |
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
| Daily |
- |
|
Catholic
Protestant |
|
9:15 AM
9:45 AM |
| Friday |
- |
|
Jewish |
|
7:30 PM |
| Saturday |
- |
|
Jewish |
|
9:30 AM |
| Sunday |
- |
|
Catholic
Protestant |
|
9:15 AM
10:00 AM |
All troops, permanent staff and
merchant crew are urged to attend
the religious services of their
faith.
Those desiring to see the
Chaplain may call at his quarters,
off Salon A, Bridgehouse,
daily at
the following hours:
1500-1700
1900-2100
THE PENNANT'S PROGRESS
"When the devil will we get
to Seattle?" That is the $64
question.
To spike the rumors and
speculation, we decided to get what
information we could and pass it
on to you.
Even with this information, we
can still make only a guesstimate.
But with continuing good weather,
we should hit Seattle by Nov 7th.
Under adverse weather conditions,
a day or at the most two days
longer. This date takes advantage
of the day gained going from West to East or approximately 35
minutes each day.
By adverse weather conditions
we mean fog or a very choppy sea,
which necessitates the slowing
down of the ship. A calm with a slight tail wind
makes ideal
conditions. (Any stronger than a
slight tail wind would cause a
choppy sea.)
The
speed of the "PENNANT" is
14 knots per hour [about 16 mph - Ed.], which is considered a moderately fast ship.
You could figure our exact
position if a great circle course was
followed, which would be the
shortest distance, but would take
the ship into bad weather off the
Aleutian Islands. Sea lanes set
down by the Navy have to be
followed. These lanes were strictly adhered to while the war was
still on, but now the Navy will
listen to reason and tolerate
small deviations that will save
time.
We
asked the "Pennant's" command for a daily position report
so we could keep you posted as to
where you were. They will go us
one better and promised to keep
two large charts, one in the
officer's quarters and one below
No. 3 hatch showing our exact
position at sea. The position
marker, we were told, will be
changed every afternoon.
So far, we have been making good
time and our guess right now is
Nov. 7th, just in time for you to
vote.
Incidentally, there are quite a few
fellows from the 3rd Air
Commando Group on board who pulled out of Frisco last year on the
7th.
SPORTS
A boxing program is being
inaugurated under the direction
of Captain Lappin, ship's athletic
officer. The bouts will be scheduled in the afternoon. Three-round exhibitions with the big gloves. Winners will receive two
cartons of cigarettes; loser one
carton. All those interested in
participating as boxers, referees
and seconds, report to Lt. Miskit,
special service officer, at his
office located 'aft' and starboard, topside. It will be of
interest to see where the 'men'
are. Cavalry, paratroopers, infantry, or Air Corps?
SIGN UP TODAY
FLOTSAM
Don't be a droop! Keep posted
on the latest crop of latrine rumors that sweep ye goode ol' ship
PENNANT from stem to stern. We
are indebted to our ace reporter "Beagle Snoophound" (the man with
a nose for news) for this current
and up-to-date list - hot off the
third seat.
"Each man upon discharge will
be presented with $150.00. With
this dinero, he will purchase
that long-desired civilian suit."
"Before being discharged, each
and every returnee will be given
a 45-day furlough."
"Orders have been changed. The PENNANT
is now proceeding to San
Francisco."
"The PENNANT is now proceeding to Manila."
"The PENNANT is now proceeding."
"There is a Geisha girl stowaway on board."
"Hot water showers will be available for EM in a few days."
"The PENNANT will dock in: Nine
days - twelve days
- sixteen
days."
(Our ace reporter questioned the skipper regarding this
important event. The skipper replied, quote: "Barring unforeseen
difficulties such as bad weather,
mechanical failure, etc., the PENNANT
will dock." Unquote.)
Potential "Misters" aboard the PENNANT,
after bathing in the unhealthy tepid waters of the
tropics, in the unbearable hot
and steaming waters of Japanese
bathing houses, and in the meager
accommodations of the 4th Ruffle
Duffle, are over-enthusiastic
about the cool, invigorating and
stimulating ice-cold saltwater
bathing facilities aboard ship. ["4th Ruffle Duffle" probably refers to the Fourth Replacement Depot, which is mentioned in Pennant Parade issue number 4. A ruffle duffle bag is a sort of travel bag. The phrase “ruffle duffle” (or “ruffle-duffle”) was also used to indicate some kind of confusion or mix-up. - Ed.]
Typical comments overheard by
reporter "Beagle Snoophound" are
hereon recorded for posterity:
11th AB Rifleman:
"After I get numb, I don't mind it a bit."
81st Div. Clerk: "
Someday I'm
going to try one."
1st Cav. Div. Cook:
"Wonderful! Great! Now how in the hell do
I get the dirt off?"
Ark
Hillbilly: "Naw, not for
me, I just sprinkle myself with
DDT."
Unidentified frozen body found
in "portside" shower (just revived): "KEERIST." [Christ - Ed.]
STATESIDE
[cartoon caption: "He says he wants to make it clear he was no 4-F!"]
DON'T
Listed below are a few "Don'ts"
that the returnee should observe and follow before purchasing that
first quart of Stateside whiskey
we have been talking about for the
past 30 months and more.
DON'T when you see your first store
make a mad rush as though you were
pulling a dawn attack on Hill 405,
because you might hurt yourself
or trip over an incendiary blonde,
and they say the heat from those
babies is terrific.
DON'T sneak in the door and slide
up to the counter like a sheep-killing dog and whisper, "Whiskey, Joe," or mutter, "Sake," and
point
towards your mouth, for the man
can probably talk better English
than you can. After all, you have
been talking Army lingo for some
time, Mac. Anyway, it's legal.
DON'T, by all means, soldier, DON'T
say give me quart of _______
whiskey, you know the old Army by-word, for
it is possible they have a whiskey
of that type on the market, and
you have been away from "stuff like
that there" so long, that it might
prove fatal.
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