Marshall_Islands

Marshall Islands 3

Thursday, January 1, 1953: New Year's, reportedly an entry by Gene Merrill, QMC (Pearl Harbor Survivor) at the final stroke of midnight:

Commencing a new year, usually a sight to behold,
Finds us without celebration, at Eniwetok Atoll,
At anchor in water twenty-three fathoms deep,
With seventy-five fathoms of the bow chain,
Our position to keep.

The anchor bearings are true, and will not vary,
041 to the tower on Parry.
Merely by looking from ship to shore,
We see Eniwetok water tower bearing 164.
These bearings taken regularly as shown by the clock,
Show an azimuth of 207 to Radio Tower Eniwetok.

The normal anchor watch is set,
And the starboard section, with duty will sweat.
Number three ship's generator is on the line,
Material condition BAKER is considered set fine.
No other ships are present in a place so remote,
And Lt. J. H. MEHUS, our Captain, Is Senior Officer Present Afloat.

Also, as of January 1, 1953, Ensign A. V. Palmer was advanced in rank to become Allan V. Palmer, Lieutenant, JG, serving as 1st Lieutenant of the LST 1126.

Friday-Sunday, January 2-4, 1953: No unusual entries in log. At each four-hour watch "Anchored as before."

Monday, January 5, 1953: At 6:22 "Lit off the main engines." Hoisted bow anchor, got stern anchor at the ready, and by 7:00 was on the way to the Parry Island pier. By 8:00 the ship was tied to the pier, radar secured, bow doors open, and ramp down on the beach for dry entrance and exit.

Log entries report that George E. Keeling, SD3 was transferred from the ship and enroute to Bremerton, Washington. Also, the stern anchor was kedged out 330 feet by small boat and the ship was taking on stores and fresh water in preparation for the next voyage. Similar activity continued on Tuesday, January 6.

Wednesday, January 7, 1953: Ship finished loading, took on eight civilian passengers, named in the log, and was underway to Bikini Atoll by noon with the engines making 280 RPM and a speed of 10.75 knots.

Thursday, January 8, 1953: Arrived at Bikini Atoll, set special sea detail at 9:02, beached and tied to pier at Eninman Island (new spelling for Enieman Island) with aid of two LSMs, and was unloading passengers and cargo by 9:50 AM. By late afternoon, the ship was ready to return to Eniwetok and, after clearing the entrance channel, secured from condition 1-A at 17:24. Base course was 268 degrees, true. Speed was flank, with engines each turning at 300 RPM, producing movement at 11.3 knots per hour.

Friday, January 9, 1953: Arrived at deep passage into Eniwetok Atoll at 8:24. Passed into lagoon with Parry Island on the port side and Japtan Island on the starboard. Anchored. 9:30 set special sea detail. Hoisted anchor, and by 9:51 was alongside freight pier at Parry Island with bow doors open, ramp down on dry beach. On Saturday, the ship remained at the freight pier with little activity. Stern anchor was in place on floor of lagoon with 475 feet of wire out. Ship remained at this station through Tuesday, January 20 with only routine activity reported.

Wednesday, January 21, 1953: Ship preparing to get underway. Fifteen civilian and military passengers come aboard about 8:05 for transportation to Bikini Atoll. By 10:31 ship had cleared Deep Pass, secured the special sea detail, and was underway to Bikini at 10.50 knots.

Thursday, January 22, 1953: Arrived at Bikini Atoll, came through the Enirikku Pass, and by 8:36 had tied up to the pier on Eninman, with the stern anchor out, and was unloading passengers and cargo. LCU 214 came along side for 3224 gallons of diesel fuel and 700 gallons of fresh water. At 15:00, eighteen passengers, most of them men who had come from Eniwetok on the trip over, were aboard.

Took departure from Bikini Atoll at 16:50 and set out for Eniwetok Atoll at flank speed -- 300 RPM and 11.3 knots. Starboard engine went out of operation at 18:22, but was restarted and operating under manual control by 18:23. At 18:40 the port engine stopped. Governor on that engine was repaired and by 19:20 hours the ship was again operating at flank speed.

Friday, January 23, 1953: Ship still at flank speed, but reduced to 280 RPM and 10.75 knots when Eniwetok Atoll sighted at 5:40.

The ship beached at Parry Island pier, off-loaded passengers and cargo, took on 2072 gallons of fresh water, and, at 10:58 got underway and tied to buoy #69 off Eniwetok Island. Special sea detail secured at 12:05. Remained there Saturday and stayed at buoy for more than one week.

Only notable events seemed to be opening of bow doors and lowering of ramp at 8:42 on Sunday, January 25 (by happenstance Jack Miller's birthday) -- probably for swimming by crew members. And, on Saturday, January 31, the USS Leo, AKA 60 arrived and SOPA for the Navy became its Captain, R. F. Walker.