Christmas 1944 found our ship, a small minesweeper, at anchor in Kossol Roads, Palau Islands, Western Pacific.
Our outlook for the holiday was dim, to say the least.
Spirits were lifted when we received an invitation for dinner aboard the battleship Pennsylvania. We had a great time for a few hours until an air alert was sounded.
We quickly cast off not wanting to be alongside such a large target.
When “all clear” was sounded, we returned, and I met several other quartermasters I had been in school with in 1943.
This Christmas was extra special to me as it is my birthday and I turned 19 that day.
Moore writes from Erma.
