Reading this Blog

Since I can't reverse the order of the entries themselves, I suggest to anyone wanting to read the story from the beginning to use the Blog Archive in the column to the right, which lists the blogs in the correct order.  Then read them scrolling from the bottom up.

Thanks for visiting,

E.A. Santangelo

December 1, 1945

Dec
1 _____ The gang being transferred from the ship are all packing _ well get in tomorrow afternoon at 1600 so tonight well be my last night at sea. Its been a long cruise but its been a lot of fun _ If every thing goes alright I alto be heading home in 14 days.
_________

Photo shows part of the Mobile's Welcome Home festivities.

This is Joe's final entry. In the phrase "its been a lot of fun" above, a word is crossed out after "been." I've always wondered exactly what he started to write instead. I honestly don't think this was said in sarcasm. I think by "fun" he meant the friendships he made on board and the exotic places he'd seen. Still, an odd thing to write at the end of a war.

November 30, 1945

30 _____ time went ahead another hour at 1900 _ we now only have one day & a half left _ this alto be my last trip _ Ill be off by the 15 of Dec.
_____ At 0830 this morning they passed out souvanirs _ All the crew got Jap rifles & about 200 got knife also. Not much work being done on the ship _ weather is getting very nice _ we must be pertty far south.
______

alto = ought to

souvanirs = souvenirs. Joe didn't bring home rifle, but he did bring home 2 Japanese swords, so possibly he swapped his rifle for them. His family disposed of the swords when his Post-Traumatic Stress became acute, because they were afraid he'd hurt himself or someone else.

pertty = pretty

Photo is of the Mobile docking in San Diego.

November 29, 1945

29 _____ We found out today the ship is really going to San Diago & well get into port on the second of Dec. at 1600 _ the passengers will be transferred as soon as we get in. Not much else doing today _ weather getting a little warmer _ We seem to be heading south east.
________

Photo is of a tug guiding the Mobile into port in Long Beach, CA.

November 28, 1945

28 _____ time went ahead at 1900 we haven't done much work because of bade weather _ Movies in after messing space at 1300 & again at 1900.
_______

Photo shows a portion of the Mobile's final crew.

November 27, 1945

27 _____ We got back into our compartment today only a few cases of disinterry left on ship _ weather very nice but ship is rolling a lot because of heavy seas.
_________

Photo shows signal flags blowing in the breeze above the Mobile. This particular configuration meant an admiral was visiting. The admiral's staff carries the flags with them and runs them aloft so the rest of the fleet will know which ship the admiral is on.

November 26, 1945

26 _____ today we had movie in after messing space at 1300 & again at 1830 _ we changed time ahead another hour so its now ___ hours dif then west coast. Orders were changed _ were not going to San Francisco _ well most likely go to San Diego & we alto get there the 2nd which is Sun. Not much going work going on _ its pertty hard sleeping at night because we sleep most of the day. Ship was soupose to be 2000 miles from San Francisco at 800 but were behind time because of storm & heavy wind. Ship rolling a lot because of heavy seas. Ship 47°N at 173 M at 800
_________

alto = ought to
pertty = pretty

Photo shows the crew's public relations staff. These were the men who sent press releases about the ship's campaigns to hometown papers. For a crew of 1300 men (and no such thing as "group email"), that was a big job.