"Dont scoff at me, you inexperienced fool, for I speak to you
now through a heart filled with love. Yes, I speak now for the
mission of men that has created a soul within the catacombs of my
callous hulk. I speak only to those who have experienced the throbbing
of my heart and the crying moan of my straining seams. For within
me they have created an eternal feeling of pride. Of course I'm proud.
I'm proud of every thought that produced me. I'm proud of every dirt
laden drop of sweat that has fallen to my tread worn decks. But that
leads into a story that devotion that began at Philadelphia in the early
forties. During those few long hard months I was transformed from
square sheets of steel into a solid body of graceful lines that suggest
majesty, yet speak strength. And I served my country well during
those long years of international struggle. I am proud of every fearful
blood soaked minute. But then it came-the time I feared, yet longed
for, the day of my retirement in 1947 when I was buried in a rocking
bay of preserved monsters of war. Sealed, like a tomb of posterity,
waiting for the wrath of nature.
"But late in the year of 1951 I was rudely awakened from my
deadly slumber by the crackling of steel and the strain of shocked
mortality, crying, 'get up, you ugly old beast!' Yes, I was old and ugly
by then. But the fear of universal destruction caused mankind to hack
at my side in hope of finding hidden strength. And it was there, wait-
ing for the searching probe of a chipping hammer and the life-giving
blood of freshly mixed paint. It was there when my crew arrived in
trickles and throngs until I was filled with a mixture of emotions un-
believably cruel from surprise and bewilderment. For those men had
long ago retired from war. Many had grayed with the comfort of
security. Then a new group arrived, a group too young to understand
my labor, yet filled with anxiety and courage. But there were a few
who knew and understood my sufferings. A few like the man who was
to command me, who understood how to handle the bewilderment of
youth and the misapprehension of maturity. And it was in these few I
confided. On August 1st 1951 the men raised my commission pennant
and ensign, they praised my glory, and promised valor from a com-
bination that seemed doomed from the first moment of its wearied
creation.
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"When the time finally came for me to stir the fire of my
emotions and test the rambling anxiety of my shuddering screws,
the men hesitated and listened to the vibrating challenge I cried out.
As if it were one thought, the entire crew paused and wondered if
this awkward combination of mind and steel could be transformed into
an efficient unison of strength. It was a challenge too tempting not to
be accepted. Around the clock worked my proud complement-scraping,
painting, polishing and drilling until I glistened with fresh vitality
and bristled with effeciency. I was filled with fuel, ammunition and all
the equipment necessary for battle. For my men realized that restful
retirement was satisfying, but with the thrust of aggression we dared
not relax nor ever forget that our release was impossible."
Then started a cruise that may not have shattered history, but one
that will never be forgotten. We had hardly arrived at the base of
training operations when my men found themselves unhesitatingly
rushing forth to rescue the injured crew of a crashed seaplane. We
breezed through the training problems with stimulating results, taking
time to act as a communications center for the largest training
exercise ever exploited. During this operation, my flock of tendered
warbirds tracked down a threatening monster of the undersea world,
endagering the security of our nation. While returning to our home
base, we paused long enough to receive a sick comrade from another
ship at sea, and my proficient medical staff saved him from the pain of
death. After a few days at home we returned to Carribean waters to
teach more squadrons the intricacies of tending at advanced areas.
While on this cruise, we found a friendly nations merchant vessel
bursting with flames. My valiant warriors rushed forth, in the very
face of disaster and quenched the most feared peril of the sea. We
have now steamed back to our home base to be analyzed by the under-
estimating notations of an inspection blank. We have shown our
strength and we know we are ready for the greatest test of all if, and
when needed.
"Yes, I'm proud. I'm as proud of my crew as they are of me. For
the transformation of my destiny has proven to the world that no task
is too great for those unpredictable warriors of democracy, the armed
forces of the United States."
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