For instance, Unrep. (read more about underway replenishments click) This was a time of clutter, confusion, and wholesale hurrying about. And yet out of all this was a sense of order. We were resupplied by an oiler, USS Tolovana, AO-64, followed by a reefer vessel, fresh milk, veggies, meat. Every thing came aboard by "high-line" as the ships steamed alongside each other at a respectable 10 knots or so. This was followed by a stores vessel. Dry goods, canned goods, cigarettes, candy, everything you could wish for. I was attached to V-4 at this time and I remember that the division had a penchant for Welch's grape juice- quart cases, canned tuna and fruit cocktail. Consequently several cases of each were "five- finger" requisitioned for themselves. We stored it in the overheads, lockers, pumprooms, any where it was accessible and out of sight, but known only to the division personnel. Following this, you wouldn't see a V-4 person on the mess deck, in the chow line for days, unless it was to get more bread or mayo.I also remember those nights in the Philippine s when it was just too hot to even consider sleeping in the compartment. It was located under the flight deck, over the fantail. That flight deck made for an excellent heater in those climates. So we took to sleeping in the port and starboard catwalks just catch a cool breeze. The prime location was the LSO platform, as it was not on the flight deck but wasn't in the catwalk either. It was kind of between the two, and was a choice place to be. Of course, you had to be up and gone by reveille, lest the OD catch you there.
Eventually I was assigned as J2 talker to flight deck control. It was quite a thing to watch as during flight quarters, every aircraft was launched, recovered and spotted on the flight deck and hangar deck was represented by an aluminum cutout and was shifted about the table to correspond to it's actual location on the ship. I was supposed to notify the division talkers what aircraft to fuel and where it was. And when it was completed, I was to let someone know so the word got passed.
I also remember that on this cruise we had three, or was it four, sailboats. They were Newport "Kites". 11 ft. 6 inches long with a beam of 3' 6". catboat rigged and were capable of planning in a 10 knot breeze. I learned to sail in boat #32 and held a chit permitting me to check one out when they were available. I saw a lot of Subic Bay in one, even went to Grande Island. The upshot is that after I got out of the service, I went and bought one. Even got invited by the Newport Balboa Yacht Club to participate in the annual "Flight of the Kites". I wound up owning a total five sailboats during the next 25 years, and its all due to the fact that I learned to sail on the Yorktown.
Nowadays, just the memories of those long ago times, Yokosuka, Hong Kong, Subic Bay, Osaka, Manila, (liberty by "mike-boat"), and all the others brings back a flood of memories and a sea of faces marches past my minds eye as I remember the men and boys I served with. We weren't in any action on this cruise, but we were out there showing the flag to the world and maintaining the presence of the world's mightiest Navy. And for that I'm grateful, and proud to have been the infinitesimal part that I was.
