August 20, 1943 found a group of officers and men leaving Jacksonville,

Florida - starting on new careers and missions........

August 20, 1944 finds a group of seasoned sailors who have gone through more than mere words could describe, still sweeping in enemy territory........

August 20, 1945 may that date find ever-lasting peace all over the world

and all of us just "kids" again, home with our loved ones.  To those who are

making the Navy their career and who will still be in uniform when the rest of

us are home enjoying American Freedom -MAY GOD BE WITH THEM ALWAYS.

                                                        - Yeoman Meyer H. Leavitt (1944)