9/2/34 Guantanamo

For the week ending October 20, 1934

Went ashore at Fleet landing, saw a baseball game and had three bottles of beer, tramped all over the hills taking pictures, awful hot.

At anchor, Guantanamo: Stayed aboard and worked in powder magazine, was transferred from Group 2 to Group 3. No let up in heat.

At anchor, Guantanamo: Boy, it's sure hot today. Went on a diving party, diving 60 feet, qualified six divers.

At anchor, Guantanamo: Took a few pictures on ship. Capt. Dillen relieved Capt. Stark of command of ship. Sorry to see Capt. Stark go, he's a swell guy.

Started to rain at midnight last night. Never saw it rain so hard in my life. No let up let. Cool on topside. Hell in magazines.

Still raining hard, had lower decks inspection by new Captain. Everybody is still guessing when we will get back to San Pedro, California. Chance for some good bets.

Gonaives, Haiti 9/21/34 Still raining hard, underway at 1400.Saw a good movie, slept on third deck. Hot as hell.

No inspection today, got payed instead.

October 27, Haiti Lot of Negro men around ship in makeshift boats, trying to sell rum and bananas and diving for pennies. Got some pictures of them.

Gonaives Haito to Christobal, Panama Got under way at 0002 sailing under sealed orders. Darken ship at sunset and General Quarters. Entire fleet out, bright moon. Good pictures.

At anchor, Christobal, anchored at 0200, put out _ _ _ _ patrol boat, stationed heavy guard on all parts of ship, especially magazines, can't even go down to work. Put pictures in album.

Cristobal, CZ to Balboa, CZ: Revellee at 0230 underway at 0300. Passed Gatun locks at daybrek, 16 knots at Gatun Lake, took pictures all day, showers, beautiful trip, arrived at 1500.

At anchor, Balboa, CZ: Sure feels good to be on the Pacific again, ship started rolling immediately, guess she knew she was home. No liberty today, loafed all day. Will go ashore to-morrow.

9/25/34Captain's Inspection. Went ashore at 1230, bought a lot of stuff. Rained all day got pretty muddy. Made a trip to a cocoanut grove, had a few bottles of Wo__ Br___.

November 3, 1934 At anchor, Balboa Went ashore at 1220 borrowed 5 bucks bought a lot more stuff had some more Hof Brau with Tiney. Was pretty tired when I got home.

Balboa CZ to San Pedro, Calif. Got underway at 0400, worked in magazine, sure a long day, went to movies, "Dames" but it rained so we didn't have them.I hear we are spending Armistice Day in Santa Barbara, Worked and played war all day. Got my laundry, sure lot of it. Saw movie "The Girl from Missouri." Getting nice programs from New York.

San Pedro: Worked all day below, pretty hot, lots of General Quarers, darken ship tonight. Getting a nice program from Cincinnatti, Ohio.I put infor 5 days leave, second party, I and Tiny Collins together, darken ship again tonight, got hot program from Hollywood.

Field day, now lower deck inspection. Plane crashed off our stern at about 300 MPH, went down, no bodies recovered, I guess. Darken ship.

Refueled two destroyers at speed 7 knots, Pretty day, but hot, no inspection. Worked instead, went to movies, saw movie "Dames" not so hot.

November 10, 1934: San Pe "fish harbor" Held church services, holiday routine. Beautiful day, it'sa little cooler, slept in the sun on frcatle (?) this afternoon, radios all stronger. Saw movie "Romance in the Sun" pretty good.

Worked in magazines, tested. Chipped paint in the Gunner's room this afternoon, he gave me some cigarettes. 880 miles from Pedro this morning, 200 miles offshore, darken ship.

Two blankets, cold last night worked in magazines today. You can tell the difference in the weather, darken ship movies afterward, darken ship.

Got a hair cut today, worked below again, painting magazines. Got Gunner's third mate on my record. Changed to blues at 1600, must be close.

San Pedro: Got paid yesterday, spent most of it. Taking five days' leave, getting a shack in Shanty Towne. Too cold, will sleep below tonight. Have ______ on and still freezing.

End of log entries. U.S.S. West Virginia sunk, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec., 1941