Upon leaving Honolulu 
we sailed across the Pacific.

When we crossed 
the international dateline 
we had a ceremony 
and were presented
with a certificate.

After our first crossing 
we soon learned 
that when crossing this line 
going east we lost a day 
but coming back 
or traveling west 
one gained a day.

So we could have two Tuesdays 
or no Tuesday depending 
on where we were.

In Manila the
“Milne”
anchored out in the harbor.

Small boats took 
the personnel from ship
to shore.

As they went at certain times 
we made sure we were not late
for the last to the ship.

Our stay here,
was generally a long one 
so we had plenty of opportunity
to do some sightseeing.

We were taken
to see the islands 
of Corregador and Baaton.

It was on one of trips 
that Lt. Dearborn jumped 
from the boat
(knowing it might be
too shallow to dive)
and injured her back so she had
to be hospitalized.

She was sent back
to the States in a body cast.

After that we all made quite sure 
we swam in a safe area.

One day some of the nurses 
met some Navy men 
who worked in the Navy boat pool.

They wanted to show us 
some of the rural parts 
of Manila.

They would pick us up 
at the ship.

The ship’s steward would fix us 
a basket of bread,
spreads and cold cuts.

Some of the corpsmen 
would go with us.

We would ride up the Pasig River 
until we found a good spot
for a picnic.

One time we found a monkey.

It became quite a pet 
but we had to leave it there 
when we started back.

One day we decided 
it would be fun
to cook a chicken over a fire.

So we started trying
to talk to the natives.

One gave us a bundle 
of Japanese invasion money 
and gave me a ride 
in his dugout.

We got our chicken later 
by giving some 
apples and oranges.

It ended up in a black pot 
over an open fire;
one of the natives offered
to cook it for us.

But when we saw her spit 
in the pot we told her
to keep the chicken
for her family.

Besides 
she appeared to be 
in her last month of pregnancy 
and we didn’t want
to get involved 
so made a rapid exit.

Of all the foreign ports 
we docked,
I believe we knew 
Manila the best.

We got to know just about 
where all the sunken ships 
in the harbor were.

We tried to ride a carabao;
we got caught in one 
of their downpours which
to us seemed like a monsoon.

We got to know how
to treat the taxi drivers 
so they didn’t boost 
the fare up at the end 
of the ride.

We did avoid 
their food and water.

If we ate out at the Army Px.

I forgot earlier to mention 
about the bread on the ship. 

In the early morning 
(about 2 or 3A.M.) 
we would smell the aroma 
of fresh baked bread. 

Often it was enough 
to wake us up. 

Then the steward would 
send us up a loaf 
with some pats of butter. 

Did we enjoy it! 

We looked forward to it!