The first real test of any warship is the shakedown cruise. Here, the mechanics of the ship are tested, along with the crew's ability to work with their new equipment. Exercises included towing and re-fueling to gunnery and dropping depth charges. Day and night maneuvers were also executed.

Drilling on the quad 40mm guns

However, the Bureau of Personnel's report shows a near obsession with one aspect of the ship above all others -- cleanliness. More space is attributed to the ship's appearance than her actual performance. This would also be the case during her convoy service.

Ironically, some of the untidiness was traced to white chief petty officers on board who were not performing their duties well.

Their behavior was excused according to the official report because they:

"... were not volunteers for the duty ... there was evidence that the white petty officers in general did not like the duty and apparently accepted it primarily with hope that it meant a more rapid advancement in ratings."

Signalman Second Class Lorenzo DuFau describes it this way: "You had these people, observers, come aboard; they were personnel officers. And we were fully aware that we would be under the microscope, and we realized the load was on us. And looking back, I'm glad I didn't know as much then as I know now, because I would have been shaken up a bit to know what weight we had to carry.

But it was a puzzle why we had to be studied like something in a laboratory. We were human beings, blood running in our veins, loyal American citizens doing everything that was required. But when it came to working in the service, all of a sudden we were only qualified to serve meals or do just menial stuff.

The weight of proving our ability was upon us and opening the doors for those who would come behind. It was really a double front we were up against."

"After the shakedown we were in port at Norfolk, I think. On the Chesapeake Bay Ferry they had a snack bar. I was sitting with a shipmate who was white. I ordered something, and the woman served me. but then a man came out and told me I had to get up and leave.  At that point, some of my shipmates who were white, were ready to turn the place out. But I asked them not to do it. Because see, coming from the South, I knew what would happen. They wouldn't care whether you were white, black, purple, or green -- something would happen. And so I just left it there." -- Benjamin Garrison

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