Plan of theDay                                                                                       Saturday, 25 Dec 1943

Duty Watch II

General - Uniform of the Day: CLEAN dungarees with blue hats.

0600 - Reveille.
0615 - Turn to, clean ship. Wash down weather docks.
0715 - Send 10 men, two each from 1,2,3,4,5, divisions to recreation field with lunch and canteens.
          Report to Chief WESTCOTT.
          Pick them up at 1700.
          Send 6 men, one each 1,2,3,4,5,6 divisions to recreation landing with lunch and canteens.
          Report to CSK FISHER.
          Pick them up at 1600.
0730 - Secure from condition Yoke, set condition X-ray.
0750 - Recreation party of 100 men plus 20 men each from PF and A divisions and boxing squad
           leaves ship for recreation center. Ensign GRIFFITH in charge.
           Men carry own drinking water and swimming trunks. Send beer from ship.
0800 - Muster on stations, submit reports to the Executive Officer's Office.
          Rig for church on main deck aft, weather permitting.
0830 - Send mail orderly to Fleet landing, boat to wait for him.
0845 - Catholic Services.
0900 - Send Ship's Service personnel to Coconut Grove for picnic. Send beer, lunch and canteens.
          Return with afternoon recreation party. Utility boat to other ships in harbor.
          Send S division to recreation center. Send beer, chits, lunch and canteens.
          Return with liberty party.
1000 - Protestant Services. Hold Communion.
          Send CPO party to Colorado Beach. Use MWB. Send ice.
1115 - Send boats for morning recreation party and boxing squad.
1230 - Liberty party leaves ship. Send patrol and baseball team in first boat.
          Band to play ashore. Issue beer chits(Tokens for Beer).
1245 - Guard mail trip to SOPA(Senior Officer Present afloat).
1315 - Recreation party of 200 men leaves ship for Coconut Grove. Ensign PATCH in charge.
          Men carry own drinking water and swimming trunks. Send beer from ship.
1400 - Baseball game at Fenway Park with SOUTH DAKOTA.
1500 - Boat trip to officers' landing. Send two steward's mates and one man.
          Send mail orderly for mail, boat to wait for him. Swimming call.
1600 - Send first boat to pick up liberty party;. Shuttle boats until party and shore partol are on board.
          Return 6 hand working party. Band returns. S division party returns.
1630 - (about) Boar trip to officers' landing. Send boats to pick up recreation party at Coconut Grove.
          Return Ship's Service personnel.
1645 - Send MWB to Colorado Beach for CPOs. Send boat to return 10 hand working party.
1750 - First mess in wardroom.

One quarter hour before sunset - Set condition Yoke, Prepare to darken ship.

1810 - Officers' boat leaves dock. Steward's mates and one man return. Use both MWBs.

Sunset Darken ship.

1830 - Second mess in wardroom. Smoker on fantail with WASHINGTON.
2000 - Movies on fantail, weather permitting.

NOTE #1      All Ship's Service activities will be closed today except for the issue of laundry from 0700
                     to 0830. No laundry will be accepted today.
NOTE #2      Police Petty officers of each division report to the crew's reading room between 1530 and
                     1630 this afternoon to draw the Christmas Supplement of the Hoosier Herald for the men
                     of their division.
NOTE #3      LOST: Black wallet, two gold stripes running down the center. Finder please return same
                     to KRUDOP, E, S2c, 4th division.
NOTE #4      The following message has been received from Admiral HALSEY:
                    "HALSEY sends best wishes for a Merry Christmas to all hands in the South Pacific sea
                    sweeping, sky blazing, jungle smashing crew. You may take pride in the knowledge that
                    your magnificent performance is hastening the brighter days that lie ahead for us all
                    although your hardships and sturdy efforts may be required on that day as on all others.
                    Let us pay homage with due reverence on this day to those stout hearts who have made
                    the supreme sacrifice that our cause may march on victoriously."
NOTE #5      This following message has been received from Admiral LEE:
                    "The Task Force Commander, Rear Admiral LEE wishes all hands a Merry Christmas
                    and looks forward to the New Year with a confidence founded in his knowledge of the
                    capabilities of this force as demonstrated by its fine performance in the year now passing."
 

                                                    Signed  W. A. HAMMOND
                                                          for  F. S. WITHINGTON
                                                                Commander, U.S. Navy
                                                                Executive Officer

Last Updated 05 August 2000