September 7, 1945

7- _____ Today we had lower deck inspection _ two CL came in _ both were of the Nashville class. Ber___ left today.
___________

Nashville class = Joe probably means Brooklyn-class, of which the USS Nashville was one. Photo shows the Nashville in December 1944, after being hit by a Kamikaze.

Ber = probably the USS Birmingham, one of the Mobile's sister ships (Cleveland-class cruisers).

September 6, 1945

6- ______ Same as yesterday.
____________

Meaning probably "Still in Port _ not much doing _ Movies on main deck aft after recreation."

Photo: Joe never mentions the reason they were in port at Okinawa, probably because he wasn't involved. The senior officers, at least, of each vessel were likely there to attend the formal surrender of the Ryukyus Islands, marking the official end of the Battle of Okinawa. The ceremony in the photo took place the next day, September 7th.

September 5, 1945

5- _____ Still in Port _ not much doing _ Movies on main deck aft after recreation.
_____________

Photo: In port in Okinawa in September 1945, the USS Ajax (large repair ship) and the ATR-13 (a small rescue tug).

September 4, 1945

4- _____ This morning we pulled in the anchor at about 800. We had recreation _ movies on the main deck aft.
_____________

Picture shows map of southern end of Okinawa with Nakagusuku Bay.

September 3, 1945

3rd _____ There was no recreation because of bade weather. This morning in quarters we were told were going out tomorrow for one day of firing.
_____ This morning at 11.00 we started to holleystone the deck. Tonight all ships in N_____ Bay didn't darken ship _ this is the first time weve been in any port outside of the states or Pearl Harbor. It was really a beautiful sight seeing all ships lighted up again.
______________

Holystone: a soft sandstone used to scrub and whiten the decks. I've seen references to the US banning holystoning on their ships in 1931 because it wore out the decks, but this reference and the photo of Mobile sailors holystoning, and several other photos on the Internet from other ships, shows that the practice was still in use through the war.

N____ Bay = Nakagusuku Bay

port outside of the states: I think what Joe meant was that this was the first time the ships could be lighted in a port outside the states or Pearl Harbor.

September 2, 1945

2- _____ Today is sunday _ we had Mass on the focastal this morning at 900. This morning on the 12 to 4 watch I heard that a typhoon was heading this way _ its only 180 miles North West of Naha, Naha is only a few miles from hear _ our two boats were put away & the planes were sent below, & anchor...to get the ship underway in a few minutes notice. it rained this afternoon. We had movies in Mess hall because it was raining. There was no recreation
___________

focastal = Fo'c'sle or forecastle: the upper deck forward of the guns. Photo is of mass there, right under the big guns.

hear = here, which was Nakagusuku Bay, Okinawa. Naha was only about 10 miles away.

September 1, 1945

1 _____ We fueled from tanker 73 this morning. This afternoon there wasnt much to do. Recreation for port side today. Movies on main deck aft. the two large carriers left hear this morning
______

"Tanker 73" was AO-73, the USS Millicoma (photo).