Page:My 1102 days of wwii.djvu/36

 We had a wonderful view of Waikiki Beach and the well known Diamond Head Mountain on leaving Oahu Island, as we sailed around the southern side. After nine days of sailing, the seagulls began to show up and we began to weave our way through and around the rugged Farallon Islands which are offshore from San Francisco. We knew then that we were getting close to the States. With the help of the Coast Guard we had no problem. Some of these protruding rocks in the water reminded me of huge cypress knees, that could wreck a ship if it did hit one. Oahu Island had the same type of huge boulders sticking out of the water on the southern side.

On 7-3-45, we arrived in San Francisco harbor after a long, long ride, and went into temporary quarters in Oakland. Of course, we were all anxious to be on our way home, but first I had to make arrangements to take my footlocker to the express office and make a train reservation. Before departing there we were given a 30-day leave plus travel time and then report to the Washington D.C. Navy Yard.

The earliest reservation we could make was on 7-5-45, leaving on a six P.M. train. This gave us (those traveling together) a chance to purchase our dress uniforms, have them fitted and time to take a bus across the Golden Gate BridgeSan Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge [sic] into San Francisco to look the town over.

According to my ticket, the "San Francisco Limited", a very plush train, was to take me to Chicago. Arriving at the station to board the train, the conductor informed me, "This is not your train. Your ticket indicates that you must belong on the second section." Within an hour it was loading and