June 7, 1945

7- _____ Were along side USS Jason _ had recreation today
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Photo shows a bazaar on Samar visited by the sailors on recreation days.

June 6, 1945

6- _____ We went along side USS Jason a repair ship for new 6" gun barrles. Mobile is the first ship to have its guns changed out here so there not sure its going to work. Tirrit four is the first to have them changed.
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Mobile's Official War Record states: "The main battery six-inch barrels were renewed alongside the repair ship Jason (ARH-1), in 12 days."

The USS Jason was the first heavy-hull repair ship, commissioned in June, 1944. In the photo, you can see the big cranes used to switch Mobile's guns. She continued service after the war, was redesignated the AR-8 in the 1950s, and remained in service until 1995. Her crew called her "The Jolly J."

June 5, 1945

5-
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Although Joe wrote the number 5, he made no entry that day.

June 4, 1945

4- _____ One large carr[ier] came in today _ We carried on stores till 5.00 this morning & again from 11.00 AM till 1800 (6 PM).

June 3, 1945

3rd- _____ not much happen. all the ships are getting a new pa[i]nt job. We carried some stores on from 20.00 till rest of night.
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Photo shows sailors painting the outside hull of the Mobile.

June 2, 1945

2nd _____ a small task force came in today _ consist of BB USS South Dakota and some DDs. LCT 681 took recreation party off.
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Photo: USS South Dakota

June 1, 1945

1st _____ A small task force came in _ it consist of One large carrier Esc _ (BB Wash. & 3 CL & 1 CA _ we loaded Amm from Amm ship. LCT 681 took recreation party off. We got back at about 20.00 _ we went to Sam[a]r.
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Esc = Escort carrier (CVE): a small aircraft carrier with a single catapult system for launching. Many times these ships had no tower like regular carriers, so they were called "baby flat tops." The photo shows the CVE USS Guadalcanal.

BB Wash. = Battleship USS Washington

CL = light cruiser
CA = heavy cruiser
LCT = Tank landing craft
Samar is the province across the gulf from Leyte Island in the Phillipines.