August 21, 1945

21- _____ This morning we hit the Ass end of the typhoon _ it only lasted an hour but it was mostly wind.  We had quarter[s] at 815.  We don't expect to stay in Okinawa very long.  Tonight on the 6 to 8 we were only 90 miles from Okinawa.  We going in tomorrow morning.

_______________

Photo shows navigation crew "shooting the sun" to find out the ship's position.

August 20, 1945

20- _____ At sea today _ quarters at 815 _ movies on after messing space. (Today is my birthday _ I'm 23 years old)

_____ We were told we might hit a typhoon late tonight.

___________
 

When crew members had birthdays, an announcement would order them to "lay down to the bakeshop" for their cake and ice cream. Photos show Mobile's sailors enjoying their birthdays.

Editor's Note: Happy Birthday, Uncle Joe.

August 19, 1945

19- _____ Ship got underway at 800 this morning _ we left the harbor & waited outside of bay for the four BBs who joined up with us about 1100. they are the

_____ BB ________ No _ APDs No
USS Nevada ______ 36 _ 103
__"_ Texas _______ 35 _ 45
__"_ Ark. ________ 33 _ 31
__"_ Calif. ________ 44 _ 51

____ CL- USS B ___ 80 _ 37

____ Also with us was one can & two DEs.
____ We were told in quarter that were headed for Okinawa & it is expected to take us from three to four days to get there _ USS Nevad is the leader of the task group.
_____ (Movies in after messing space)
169
______

BB = battleship. "Ark." was the USS Arkansas.
CL = light cruiser. #80 was the USS Biloxi.
can = destroyers were called "tin cans".
DEs = destroyer escorts (small destroyers).
Nevad = USS Nevada (pictured with USS Texas in background)
169 = 169 days out of the states

August 18, 1945

18- _____ We heard in quarters this morning ship was going to pull out tomorrow morning. There was recreation today & movies on the main deck aft.

_________

Photo shows the Executive Officers' administrative staff.

August 17, 1945

17 _____ we stood in port but theres dope going around were going to Okinawa in a few days. There was recreation during the past three days.

________

Photo shows the Mobile's dentist.

Summer 1943

Note: For this month, in Joe's "Data" section -- my words will be in black, his in blue.
_________________
The Mobile participated in a month of training exercises in and around the Hawaiian islands, until the last week of August. Then, as part of a carrier task force, they sailed west, toward Marcus Island, to participate in their first air strike.

Air strikes were made in advance of landing assaults for the purpose of feeling out enemy defenses and for taking aerial reconnaissance photos of enemy installations and island topography. In these early strikes, the Mobile mainly provided defense against air attack with her smaller guns.

The task force returned to Pearl to regroup. Less than a week later, they headed for Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, crossing the equator for the first time on September 18. In hazing ceremonies as old as seafaring, the new sailors (called Pollywogs, and this included Joe) were turned into "Shellbacks." Photo at right shows part of the ceremony.

That same day at Tarawa, they supported another air strike, followed by more regrouping and enlarging of the task force, before they were sent off to raid Wake Island.
______________________________

From the "Data" section of Joe's Journal:

1 - Marcus Is. _____________ Aug. 31, 1943

Air Strike Bombed & Strafed. 66 planes destroyed


2 - Gilberts Is. ___________ Sept. 18, 1943
Tarawa air strike
50% of the island was destroyed. We also crossed the equator for the first time.