Today is the fourth birthday of the WASHINGTON. Not merely to perpetuate a custom established by her previous Captains, but from my own great pride in being her present Captain, I wish to extend my congratulations to each and every one who is so fortunate as to serve in her. To these words, when the history of our ship can be freely told, will be added the thanks of a victorious United States, and, what will probably rest even nearer your hearts in years to come, the respect and admiration of your own folks at home.

To the impressive record of her first three years, our ship has added in this, her fourth year in commission, participation is the Marianas Campaign, the battles of the Philippine Sea and the liberation of the Philippine, the South China Sea sweep, the first Formosa and Tokyo strikes, the capture of Iwo Jima and the invasion of Okinawa. In accomplishing these things, she has steamed an almost unbelievable number of miles and more than once defiantly emptied her magazines through the muzzles of her guns. She has upheld proudly the heritage of her illustrious name.

But the end is not yet; there remains work - the WASHINGTON'S kind of work - to be done. So my birthday wish for the WASHINGTON is that she may continue with stout heart and blazing guns to do her part to win the war - and, with dignity and glory in her prodigious strength, to enforce the peace to follow.