I can not say the exact date that we did get the orders to return to the states but it was just prior to another typhoon approaching our area. The crew started to make preparations for a grand exit of this area. A giant pennant was made and was supposed to be flown from the mast, to trail aft as we sailed eastward. I have to report that this was a big failure. It was too large and not enough forward motion to make it fly. It had to be cut down, but this did not quell the high spirits of the exit.

The trip home seemed to be a very long one. You could tell that the wartime navy was gone. All hands were required to turn to clean and spruce up the battle weary LAWS. Deck crews got to chipping and painting. I will add that this chore had sadly lacked upkeep during our trials. Our division had to inventory all spare parts and make sure we had what was needed and no more. If we had too many they had to be "DEEP SIXED." There was no other way to account for parts that were in inventory that we had ordered and received duplicates. The duplicates were caused due to long delays between shipments.

We finally arrived at port in Washington, and sailed down the river to the shipyards in Bremerton, WA. It seemed like it took us an entire day to get in and tied up to a pier. The trip up the river was a very beautiful sight and not just because we were state side. Most of us were thinking of that upcoming leave we were promised so that we could get home.

I did not have seniority so I did not rate the first leave span. I did see liberty in Seattle and it was hard to get used to walking on land again. This was a very odd feeling to walk and not have the deck come up to meet your foot on the next step. This was the first solid ground under my feet since a shore party on Maug Maug Island many months before.

I did not relate this earlier as I have not kept a diary and recalling all these details from 53 years ago is not easy. It was June 26th 1945 that this party took place. I know this as my military record show I was admitted aboard the hospital ship USS CASCADE on the 27th. I had severe dysentery brought on by my foolish exploration of a cave on Maug Maug.

We were put ashore with some green beer and a little recreation equipment to try and relax for an afternoon. There were coconut trees on this island that had some nuts on when we got there. I guess I had one and drank the milk, which could have been a cause of my problem alone. Then a few of my buddies and I went exploring some Japanese caves looking for souvenirs. This was a very stupid thing for us to do but I suppose we just did not think. The things we gathered were probably contaminated, as there were remains of dead people in this cave. I am sure they were killed when explosives were thrown in to get them.

Some of the other ships had also sent men ashore for an afternoon. A lot of gambling was going on when I got back to the group. In a short time our boat came to pick us up. There was a sunken small boat that served as stepping place to board the whaleboat. I missed the boat and was really dunked in salt water over my head. I was promptly pulled out and was soaking wet when I set foot on the LAWS deck again.

The next day I was so sick that I was transferred to the hospital ship for a period of three days, what an experience. The hospital ship was very white and very uncomfortable, especially when I had none of my clothes or personal items. The treatment as I recall was just a lot of fluids! The return to the LAWS was a great relief, just about like coming home.

Getting back to Seattle and the states. I finally did get leave and took the train to the good old Midwest and real HOME for two weeks. The return back to the LAWS was very sad as I was still some months before I was discharged from the Navy.

The LAWS was in dry-dock and had no power of its own. All systems were shut down for a complete overhaul. The entire crew was berthed on a barge tied up some distance from the LAWS. It was very crude quarters; just sleeping bunks is about all. The temperature seemed to be very cold and raw. Lots of rain. I also remember that the rain froze on the streets and with Seattle being very hilly, all traffic came to a halt.

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