Though combat operations were very intense, there were down times for rest and recreation aboard ship. The deck could become football or baseball fields, an opportunity to soak in the sun, a place to stretch your legs or just some time to shoot the bull. In the center elevators basketball and volleyball tournaments were regular events. In calm water diving into the sea from the ship and swimming was another diversion. Religious services in good weather would be held on deck. |
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| Below deck you could find a card game of shoot craps. Reading mail, old magazines and newspapers, and books helped pass the time. The C.I.C. crew circulated a copy of Studs Lonigan, the popular novel of a young Irish man growing up in the southside of Chicago. One of the characters, Weary Reilly, tended to be always sleepy. Because of his regular desire to hit the sack, the C.I.C. gang gave Jack the nickname Weary. Sleeping quarters aboard ship were quite cramped with no privacy. |
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| Sept. 6 | Launch VF1 sweep on Palau. | * 265 miles SE of Palau Islands - (04-53 N 136-25 E) 1. VF - U.S. Navy Fighter |
| Sept. 7 | Launched strikes on Palau VF1, VB-VT2. | * 65 miles SSW of Palau Islands - (06-05 N 134-15 E) 1. VF - U.S. Navy Fighter 2. VB-VT - U.S. Navy Bomber-Trainer |
| Sept. 8 | Strikes on Palau. Departed for Mindanao. | |
| Sept. 9 | Hit Mindanao - no evening opposition | * 50 miles E of Mindanoa - (07-38 N 127-33 E) |
| Sept. 12 | Hit central Philippines Cebu, Negros - land opposition encountered. | * 50 miles E of Surigao Strait - (10-45 N 126-38 E) |
| Sept. 13 | Launched strikes on central Philippines. | |
| Sept. 14 | Strikes on Philippines. | |
| Sept. 15, 16, 17 | Refueled. Cruised off coast of Palau. | * Battle of Palau Sept. 15, 1944 * 115 miles SW of Palau Islands - (07-55 N 131-09 E) |
| Sept. 18 | Enroute to Luzon. | * 60 miles SW of Palau Islands - (11-29 N 132-46 E) |
| Sept. 19 | Refueled | |
| Sept. 20 | 554 miles from target. | |
| Sept. 21 | Launched strikes on Luzon. Nicholas Field our target. 58.2 hit Clark1. Many planes airborne over Clark. None over Nicholas but AA2 fire heavy. Part of strike also hit Manilla Bay. Knocked off convoy 5 AK3 100 - 38 forced down 110 planes. Got 95 on ground. | * 175 miles NE of Manila - (15-14 N 123-32 E) 1. Nicholas Field and Clark Air Base - Former U.S. airfields held by the Japanese in the Philippines. 2. AA - Anti-aircraft gunnery 3. AK - Cargo ship |
| Sept. 22 | Had few bogies1. Lex.2 VFN3 got a Judy4. Some AA5 fire. Launched strikes on Luzon. Same schedules as yesterday.Few bogies showed up about 0530 and stayed around till 0130. 4 planes made several runs on 58.3. Lex. VFN forced down a Judy. Launched strikes on Luzon. We are leaving this area to refuel. | 1. bogies - enemy aircraft 2. Lex. - U.S.S. Lexington CV-16 3. Judy - Japanese Navy Dive Bomber |
| Sept. 23 | Refueled. | * 350 miles SW of San Bernadino Straits. (11-19 N 130-19 E) |
| Sept. 24 | Launched strikes on Luzon and central Philippines. Leaving area to rebomb and refuel. | * 90 miles SW of San Bernadino Straits (12-49 N 125-57 E) |
| Sept. 25 | Enroute to Palau. | |
| Sept. 27 | Arrived at Palau. | * Center of Berths 3, 9, 10 at Kassal Passage, Palau Island. |
| Sept. 28, 29, 30 | Anchored at Kassal Passage. (Palau) We are loading bombs during the day and staying out at night. | |
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