This note printed on onion skin paper was given to the men of the USS PRIDE when they left Orange, Texas on their shakedown cruise.
NOTICE
THE SHIP WILL SAIL SOMETIME TODAY. WHEN WE LEAVE, THE SHIP WILL BE UNDER BLACKOUT CONDITIONS AND ALL MEN ARE CAUTIONED ABOUT SMOKING ON DECK OR OTHERWISE SHOWING LIGHT. NEVER THROW ANYTHING OVER THE SIDE, NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR TRIVIAL WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORITY TO DO SO. THINGS THROWN OVER THE SIDE, SUCH AS CANDY WRAPPERS, ETC., WILL LEAVE A TRAIL AND MAY DIVULGE OUR PRESENCE TO THE ENEMY. DO NOT TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT EXPECTED ACTIVITY OR MOVEMENT OF THE THE SHIP.
AFTER THE SHIP SAILS, THE WATER HOURS WILL BE SET AND ALL MEN ARE CAUTIONED TO USE ONLY THE AMOUNT OF WATER ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. VEGETABLE PEELER WILL BE FURNISHED WITH SALT WATER ONLY. NO MATTER HOW MUCH WATER THERE SEEMS TO BE ON HAND, IN THE EVENT OF EVAPORATOR FAILURE, THE SHIP MAY BE SHORT OF WATER BEFORE REACHING PORT. TODAY WILL BE THE LAST DAY OF UNLIMITED WATER SUPPLY SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND GET YOUR GEAR AND PERSON CLEANED UP.
THE COMING SHAKEDOWN CRUISE IS FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF EACH MAN LEANING HIS JOB AND LEARNING IT WELL, THE BETTER EACH MAN KNOWS HIS JOB THE BETTER FIGHTING UNIT WE WILL BE AS A WHOLE AND THE BETTER CHANCE WE WILL ALL HAVE IN COMBAT.
ALL ELECTRIC RAZORS WILL BE TURNED IN TODAY TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. AN ELECTRIC RAZOR IN USE CAN BE PICKED UP BY ENEMY SHIPS AND YOU MIGHT BE INTERRUPTED IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR SHAVE WITH A BOMB OR TORPEDO. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY MAN BE EXCUSED IF FOUND TO HAVE AN ELECTRIC RAZOR IN HIS POSSESSION. IT IS KNOWN THAT SEVERAL SHIPS OF A CONVOY WERE LOST DUE TO A SMALL RADIO PLAYING WHICH WAS PICKED UP BY A ENEMY SUBMARINE. ANY ELECTRIC APPLIANCE, NOT AUTHORIZED, PUT IN USE IS A DETRIMENT TO THE SAFETY OF YOUR SHIP.
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