June 17, 1944 - Sat-Noon-Leaving New Orleans and the Mississippi behind and heading for a long journey to the Southwest Pacific. The Mississippi sure is muddy now. All the land along this lower part of it is level and just the levee keeps the water out. This is a pretty day to be starting on a voyage with the sun shining and everything. –Sat-Evening-Sighted the Gulf. It sure is a pretty sight with the pretty green water along the shore line and the deep blue on out in the ocean.