A Log of Dale Ritchie Rogers during WWII
My Darling :
Left Admirality Islands, to carry out assignment.
T ask Force with is composed of;
6 Battleships 12 Destroyers
6 Cruisers (heavy) 15 A.P.D’s. (Approx.)
12 Carriers
Leyte Invasion Fleet at Seeadler Harbor, Manus Island
Weather was fine today, water calm, lots of sunshine. approx. 100 (degrees).
Read MoreKay Dearest:
Friday the 13th (ouch).
Weather is fine, calm water, weather about 100 (degrees). Scuttlebut is that MCArthur, is on the Cruiser Nashville.
The scuttlebutt proved to be correct.
Listened to Tokyo Rose’s scuttlebut, she still claims we are doomed. She dedicated the song “Good Bye Now” to our Task Force. How Nice.
Carriers had a few planes up today. They practiced attacking our ship. Boy! Do those planes travel.
TBF Avenger, the most common type of attack plane used during this time in the pacific.
Always my love.
Action Ahead!
My Darling:
Water is choppy, there is an overcast but no rain.
Typhoons can be Seen forming aft our beam, navigator is avoiding typhoons. We must not be in a hurry to get anywhere, avoiding a storm in a Battle Wagon.
Listened to Tokyo Rose’s scuttlebutt, reception poor due to rain. I wonder where Tokyo Rose gets her records she has the latest tunes by Glen Miller, Harry James etc.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfthhdvbSDw
Our scuttlebut now is we are going to Samar, Phillipines. I wonder???
The world “scuttlebutt” has been used a few times, and the word has an interesting source. The scuttlebutt on a wooden sailing ship was the large cask where water was stored. Men would often congregate around the ancient water cooler and trade gossip. Therefore, “scuttlebutt” = “water cooler chat”.
Action Ahead!
Read MoreMy Darling :
Weather bad. Squalls and more squalls.
Carriers and six destroyers left our Task Force, to go ahead and soften up our opposition. Good luck guys.
I guess I’ll never get seasick again. The ship is taking quite a bit of water over the decks.
The WeeVee in rough waters
Darling Kay:
Weather worse, a real tropical storm, spray over the entire superstructure, the ship is really rolling and pitching. Stayed below decks most of the day and ate gedunks. Pretty dull day. Played a few games of checkers.
The Gedunk Stand on the USS West Virginia
“Gedunk” is the snack bar room of the ship. There were often vending machines in the gedunk, or other snack items. A love of snacks seems to be quite common among the Rogers, even today.
