1952 ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN ACCOUNT OF A SAILOR ON THE USS ‘NOA’ (DD-841) AS IT SAILED FROM AMERICA TO UNDERTAKE A WHIRLWIND TOUR OF VARIOUS EUROPEAN PORTS, EXERCISING DRILLS AND PROTECTING AMERICAN INTERESTS

On offer is a short, but fascinating account of the 1st-class Military ship, a destroyer, the USS Noa. The USS Noa (DD-841) was a Gearing-class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I. She was named for Midshipman Loveman Noa. This diary contains only 15 handwritten pages, yet it still manages to provide a thoroughly interesting and detailed look into a member of the USS Noa. The year the diary was written is not apparent, but but it can reasonably be believed to be 1952. One of the entries states that the writer made calls to Brigadier General E. J. McGaw, Commander of the Iceland Defence Force, which came into being in 1951. Another search revealed another book from a sailor on the USS Noa, which corroborated the places/dates and put it as the year 1952. The entries are incredibly interesting to say the least. The author’s name and position on the ship are unknown. Judging by the content of the book, I believe the author is some kind of radio operator, as he writes often of sending communications throughout the diary. However, there are instances of him going to lunch with higher ranked officials, attending a Garden Party at the Royal Barracks in England, and generally meeting with people of higher Naval ranks. There is a chance he is was a Non-Commissioned Officer. During the course of the diary, the ship's goes through a number of different Ports of Call: Reykjavik, Iceland, Londonderry, Ireland, Plymouth and Newcastle, England, Hamburg, and finally, Bremerhaven, Germany. The diary ends on June 25th while in the port of Bremerhaven. This diary presents a fantastic amount of information about the duties of this particular sailor on the USS Noa. His entries are thorough and detailed and fascinating for anyone interested in WW2 and post-WW2 life on a destroyer. The book is in very good condition. The covers and spine are free of any major aesthetic or structural problems. The diary measures about 5 1/4” x 8”. The book itself is probably close to 75 pages in length, with 15 of those pages having writing in them. The pages are in good condition with no discoloration or rips/tears. The handwriting is legible throughout in black ink. TEXT: “April 22nd & 23rd, Benham with K/V with Noa at 1730 R and formed 1350 relative. TE set course for Argentina Newfoundland.”; “April 23. Ships exercised at general drills and division tactics sizing ACP175 and ATP1. AF-16-CC tracking exercise and more tactics were held in the afternoon. A daily routine of communications drills in flashing light, voice radio, CW and Nancy Light was established. Messages to be sent every watch. Weather messages were sent every six hours.”; “May 2nd, Arrived Reykjavik, Iceland. Ship met by American Consul, Mr. Gibbons, and Naval representatives of NCSO, Lt. Kelly, Made official calls on American minister to Iceland, Hon. E. B. Lawson and Commander Iceland Defense Force, Brig. Gen. E. J. McGaw USA. Returned call to Mr. Gibbons, Consul.”; “May 3rd & 4th, American Minister to Iceland made an official call on Commander Destroyer Division six two. Had lunch with US Minister…..Attended a party for ranking Naval officers of Iceland Defense Force.” “May 5th, Two Noa sailors AWOL since 2330 May 3 were not on board when ship got underway. Noa underway to scout Western shore line of Iceland to Camp Horn; Benham to scout southern shore line. Both ships to return to Keflavik by 2000 on 6 May.” “May 16th -18th, Made official calls at Com. Nav. Est Lant. Hdqts for briefing by heads of each section of Com. Nav. East Lant. Returned to Plymouth on 18 May.” “May 20th – 22nd, Competitive exercises continued. British Navy sent a Mosquito out to unit for tracking purposes in morning and afternoon….Exercised two ships until arrival at Plymouth. Moored at 1600. At 1900 Adm. Leybourne (S.C.) and Mrs. Leybourne came aboard Noa for evening meal in my cabin. Later attended movie in wardroom of Noa….Attended Royal Naval Barracks annual Garden Party which included tea. Several events by R.N. personnel and later a cocktail party in the Wardroom.” “May 31st, From 1000 to 1200 the City council and other guests were invited to visit the ships. At 1900, the Lord Mayor, (Mrs. Grantham) Mr. Justice and Lady Oliver and Mrs. Mould-Graham were dinner guests aboard the Noa. The Sheriff (Alderman Wm. Temple) and Mrs. Temple and Vice Consul and Mrs. Sulser dined aboard the Benham.” “June 7th, Met at Karlskrona light buoy by Capt. F. D. Tibbits WSN and L. Cdr. L. Opiel USN (The US Naval and assistant Naval Attaches’ in Sweden) and Cdr. Svedelius (Swedish Navy) the Swedish Liaison officer. A Swedish band played the American National Anthem as ships entered. Ships moored at 0900 A. “June 8th, The Karlskrona Coast Artillery Regiment celebrated its 50 year jubilee. This was attended by a group of officers and petty officers. Enlisted men were again entertained at a dance by the borough.”“June 19th, At 1000 Brigadier Holmes made return call. At 1100 Dr. Drexeluis, Chief of the Senate Chancellery and Dr. Kuinemund, Chief of Protocol, made return call on behalf of Burgomaster Braxer. At 1300 lunched with CO’s at residence of Dr. J. K. Dunlap, British Land Commissioner in Hamburg. Combined as official call. 1515 Dr. Dunlap made return call. At 1900 had cocktails at Vice Consuls J. Swing with group of 10 officers. At 2030 attended a buffet dance given by American Business Men’s Club of Hamburg.” OVERALL: VG.; Manuscript; 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, USS NOA, DD-841, GEARING-CLASS DESTROYER, U.S. AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS, LOVEMAN NOA, COMMANDER R. L. NOLAN, ICELAND DEFENSE FORCE, BRIGADIER GENERAL E. J. 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