February 13 - Morning - Moored about 25 yards off the beach. We couldn’t beach because of coral reefs. I met a boy who went to radio school with me on the ship tied up to us. This is a pretty beach. There is a native village just down the beach with a river coming out behind it. In front of us is a hill covered in coconut palms. A whole swarm of natives were out all day in their dugout canoes talking and trying to sell souvenirs. Noon - Started raising small boat (LCVP) when cable snapped, leaving small boat hanging by its bow from the Davits. The stern was in the water up to the motor. The coxswain and seamen in the boat hung on to their lifelines, but the motormac (Brummer) was thrown into the water. They had to bring him aboard in a stretcher, but he is ok now. They fastened a line to the stern of the boat to keep it from going on down and lowered the bow slowly. The boat is pretty banged up, but they got it down ok.

January 22, 1945 - Morning - Beached at Catmon Hill Beach to take on a load. The Army camp on the beach is in the middle of a native village of about 50 or 60 houses. Noon - Retracted from the beach and moved further down the beach. There is still a lot of native huts on the beach. We are about 30 miles from Tacloban. There are some coconut trees on the beach with some hills in the background, making it look a lot better than that jungle of New Guinea. Night - loading cargo.

October 5, 1944 - Went ashore to get some radio spare parts. First went to an island then went to the mainland. Had to wade ashore in water up to our hips. The island had a lot of coconut trees on it but I never saw one on New Guinea. We walked about three miles to the landing strip and saw some planes. Had another air raid that night, but saw no enemy planes.

August 5, 1944 - Went ashore and played softball and football again. I’m still sore from playing last time. We brought our dinner with us this time and eat it under the palms. I peeled some coconuts (which is a big job when you don’t know how, and I didn’t) and brought them back to the ship with me. I eat more coconuts down here than a monkey. I saw another movie that night.

August 3, 1944 - Went ashore on Aore Island. It is really a tropical island all right. They have big coconut plantations here set out. We went down to Paradise Beach. The road to the beach led through the heart of the coconut plantation and the jungle around it. After we got to the beach we walked around picking up coral and looking the place over. We saw one native hut made out of grass. The natives are small dark skinned people. After we left the beach we went back to the recreation center and played ball until I could hardly wiggle because I wasn’t used to it and we played so long and hard.

July 21, 1944 - Still at Borabora. I went ashore and wandered around over the island looking it over. Coconut palms are as thick here as pines are at home in the US. I looked for banana trees, but they say they were all back in the mountains further. Noon-Left Borabora headed for Esprito Santos in the New Hebredies.

June 25, 1944 - Morning-Docked in Cristobal. We are close to the seaplane dock where the Marniers and Coranadas are landing and taking off. There are a couple of subs here you can just see the black tops of them sticking out of the water. There is a lot of coconut trees and it really looks like a tropical country. Going through Gatun Locks at noon. It is really an experience; it seems funny to go over a hill in a ship, but that’s what you do. They get two LST’s in a lock at a time. Evening-Anchored in Gatun Lake above the dock.