Editors Note

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Memorial Day is Monday May 31, 2004. This is a day for special memories of those who gave their lives for the freedom of this great nation. We make no political statements here, and are not a forum for discontent. My wish at this moment in time is that not only do we take a moment to remember those who served and paid the ultimate price for freedom in all of our nations conflicts, but also take a moment to say a prayer for our nations leaders in the hope that they have the wisdom and the courage to make the decisions that will continue to make this great nation secure in peace.

The "greatest" spectacle in sports, the 88th running of the Indianapolis 500 is moments from starting. Smarty Jones is weeks away from attempting to win the coveted and elusive "Triple Crown" in horse racing. Smarty is a Pennsylvania bred horse, and has captured the hearts and minds of the Philadelphia region, if not the nation, and may be the closest Philadelphia gets to a championship in a while. Calgary is beating up on Tampa Bay for the Stanley Cup of hockey, and the NBA draft is a few weeks away. Baseball is already two month's into their season, and by the time the World Series is underway, we will be having our 4th reunion of the USS McMorris. Who knows if the "Fight'n Phillies" will be in the series at that time, but regardless, the celebration will go on in Philly when we hold our reunion from October 7th to the 10th, 2004. We hope to see you there.

The weather in this region is turning warm. We will soon be past the rainy season and should experience a great summer season. By the time we gather for the reunion, the green leaves of summer will be turning to their brilliant fall colors of reds and orange, giving us a glimpse of the beauty of Pennsylvania and all it haves to offer. My other wish is that all of you have a safe and great summer with family and friends. We look forward to seeing all of you in Philadelphia in October. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call or email your liaison, James Pike, James Cirillo, Al Bittenbender, or myself concerning details about registration.

See you in Philly!

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All information is posted at www.ussmcmorris.org/reun_2004.html. The following is a brief outline of important dates and Itinerary information.

Official dates: October 7th to the 10th, 2004
Location: Hilton Philadelphia International Airport (Reservations 215-365-4150) No later than September 7th, 2004 to insure room availability.
Check-in time: 3:00 PM
Room rate: $85.00 single/double occupancy plus 14% Phila city tax.
Group Registration: On-line form available at www.ussmcmorris.org/off_reg.html.
Group Activities: All package tour events and meal plan payments must be received by me no later than September 10th, 2004.

Note: For those who are last minute planners, or didn't hear about the reunion until the last minute, please understand we will take your registration up to the day of the reunion, however, room availability is not guaranteed, and last minute space on planned tours and food requirements cannot be guaranteed. Do not let this deter you if you fall into this situation. We want you to come and enjoy the reunion.

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$25.00 per year donation to support all reunion efforts. Payment information can be found here

Enjoy the rest of your summer. Stay in touch with us and if you know where another shipmate is at, tell them to get in touch with us. Hope to see you in 2004 in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, PA.

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Our navy is full of rich tradition, interesting events, and people from all walks of life. In an attempt to capture the flavor and saltiness of our navy, the "Log" will attempt to bring you interesting and unusual notes for your reading enjoyment. If you have offerings that will capture the essence and heart of our navy, please do not hesitate to send it along.

Note: The following items were offered from the March 1939 edition of "Our Navy" magazine. If anyone has copies of this magazine offered to the fleet, and published between 1897 and 1966, please forward the items of interest along with edition and credits.

Traditions of the Navy -

Did you ever wonder where naval terms originated? Here are a few that give meaning to familiar terms:

Gun Salutes…were first fired as an act of good faith. In the days when it took so long to reload a gun, it was proof of friendly intention when ships cannons were thus discharged upon entering a port.

Captain…This naval officer receives his title from the old word CAPUT (meaning Chief), a name of great honor among ancient Thanes.

Half-Mast…Flags flown at half-mast for mourning, are a survival of the old custom which decreed that slovenliness was a mark of respect for the dead. Sails and rigging were slacked off, yards cock-billed, flags part lowered, etc; in fact, anything to give the ship a dejected appearance.

What was being offered in Advertisement to men and women of the fleet in 1939? -

The following ads were published in the March 1939 edition of Our Navy Vol. XXXIII No. 19.

"You Can't Get 'em Cute When You're Puffin' on Jute." Switch to the brand of grand Aroma - Sir Walter Raleigh, the largest selling pipe tobacco in the Navy.

W.H. Friesell, Jr Famous football coach offers that "Granger" keeps the smoker happy. A cooler smoke in a drier pipe.

Ingrams KICK is very welcome. You need no Lotion, Scent, or Talcum! Save your face and save your pay with Ingrams soothing, cooling lather. Ingrams shaving cream. Cool and concentrated.

There's Time to Shine! Just take it from the Navyman and several hundred more. This crew steers clear of extra work when we get ahore. Why should we sweat to scrub our shoes and swab our time away - When using GRIFFIN ABC we save this time - for you to play. "The Shine that Lasts!" 10 cents at your ships store. Griffin ABC Shoe Polish.

"When I clean my teeth, I don't want a peppermint stick. I don't want a lipstick. I want KOLYNOS, a he-man's tooth paste." Antiseptic Dental Cream. Most economical - lasts twice as long.

Sailor Sal says - "kissing a man who needs a shave is like petting a scrubbing brush. To clean up with the girls, clean up with Gem." GEM micromatic Razor and Blades.

"A whiskered gent at a bazaar paid for a kiss but hot a jar!" Burma Shave. No brush, no lather.

"We're in the Navy now!" Garcia Grande Cigars, 5 cents. Wrapped in "Armour-clad" individual humidors Taste-Protected. Sealed as tightly as the hull of a ship.

About the ships and the men in 1939 -

Squadron 40-T is homeported in Villefranche, France about two month's out of each quarter. USS Omaha CL-4 (Class leader and commissioned 1923), relieved USS Raleigh CL-7 (Damaged severely at Pearl Harbor Dec 7th, 1941), as "Flagship" of the Mediterranean fleet. The "Village" as it is called, Villefranche, France is a 10 minute bus ride east of Nice, France. Considered an excellent liberty port. Americanized bars line the waterfront, where for a very few francs, "a parched-soul can quaff any number of plain and fancies which in a state side bar would cost a pay day." "Two and three piece orchestras "enliven a rusty evening no end and furnish a bit of rhythm for ankle shaking operations with local mademoiselles."

Division and ship softball tournaments are played "up the hill, back of the waterfront." Liberty is given at 1630 to 0700 each day plus the regular weekend "48." In Italy, Algiers, Gibraltar and French Morocco liberty ordinarily expires at 2300 for lower ratings and at 2400 for C.P.O.'s. Where liberty expires at 2300, however, it commences at 1300.

No civilian clothes are allowed to be worn, with one exception, the casino at Monte Carlo. Whites are the uniform to wear from about 10 June to the first week in October. ("Dress whites for liberty except in two of the North African ports when undress whites are the liberty uniform.) Exchange rate is 38 francs to the dollar. A franc covers about as much territory as a nickel does in the States. Fresh provisions are easily obtainable and of good quality, except fresh milk. The general mess has fed better here than Stateside in Norfolk.

About once a month the ships run down the coast to Marseille to refuel and pick up provisions from the States. No liberty is granted. Other ports visited include: Mentone, France; Rapallo and Naples, Italy; Algiers, Algeria; Tangiers and Casablanca in French Morocco; and Gibraltar, B.P. Lot's of official calls, receptions, honors and ceremonies that require full guard, band, and 8 side-boys.

The article notes that with all that, "it would still be most enjoyable to be climbing into a Long Beach shore boat tonight and heading to for the Pike to exchange a few light pleasantries with some gals who could talk English.

From Deep Sea Soundings by Sinbad

Odds and Ends

One-sided loyalty…Sailors who complain about the fickleness of modern maids often overlook their own shortcomings. They are like the Bluejacket from the fleet who was out on a "heavy date" with a Norfolk maid, when he strated voicing the age-old complaint. "Take me, for example," he said. "Right now I'm engaged to three dames in San Diego, and there isn't one of them, not one, that I can trust."

USS Benham DD397 Commissioned, 2 February 1939 at the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY. Lieutenant Commander Thomas F Darden, JR USN Commanding. Executive Officer, Lieutenant R.C. Johnson.

Note: Benham was escorting Enterprise CV-6 during delivery of Marine planes to Midway, missing the attack on Pearl Harbor. Benham served as escort to Enterprise and Saratoga CV-3 off Hawaii with TF 16 during the Doolittle raid on Tokyo, and operated with TF 16 throught the battle of Midway. Benham picked up 720 survivors from Yorktown CV-5 and 188 from Hammann DD412. Benham continued with TF 16 during the landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi, and the Battle of the Eastern Solomom Islands in 1942. Joining TF 64, Benham took part in the naval covering force off Guadalcanal. During the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 15 November, 1942 Benham was torpedoed and lost her bow. Crippled and withdrawing, the crew had to abandon the ship. Gwin DD433 picked up the crew and sunk Benham with gunfire. Benham earned 5 battle stars for WWII service. (History from Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Vol. I, P.116 (from hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd397txt.htm )

More to come in future newsletters,

Skip Reynolds

Reunion Coordinator

May 30, 2004