CREW'S STORIES
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CAPTAIN YOUNG'S MESSAGE TO THE CREW
THE CAPTAIN'S MESSAGE TO THE CREW
This is the day that we have all been waiting for. It is the culmination of weeks and months and in some cases years of hard work and skillful planning. It is the day in which we can all be justifiably proud, for now our ship joins the fleet and becomes part of the greatest Navy in the world. From now on our duties and responsibilities will be many. The free world looks to us for comfort and support and it will be a part of our job not to let her down.
Now, as we look back on the days before re-commissioning, we can see that the important work that we did then was really only the beginning of our job. The real task lies ahead of us. Out of this mass of machinery a smoothly efficient fighting ship is going to emerge. We are going to build an organization, a combination of men and machines, which not only we and the Navy can be proud of, but the whole free world as well.
It will take initiative, constant drill and exercise and long hours of hard work to accomplish this. I feel confident that every man will not only do his part, but will do it in an exemplary fashion. In the months to come there may be inconvenience and there may be some small disappointment at times. These will pass as we learn to do our jobs and grow into our new responsibilities.
Before long we will be taking our place among the first line fighting ships of the fleet. We will have to share the duties and responsibilities of a great Navy. The long months of training and preparation will have made us ready and equal to the task. We will be doing our part and earning the satisfaction of performing a job well.
D.B. YOUNG
Captain, U.S. Navy
Commanding
NOTE:
Provided by:
Joe Pires
USS BENNINGTON HISTORIAN,
retyped article for inclusion.
(The information was supplied by Ted Storb a former crewmember)
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