10-8-15
After months of shakedown cruises up and down the east coast, the Boston was finally ready to go. On November 14, 1943, the heavy cruiser and her crew left Boston for the last time during the war.
From Frank Studenski’s War Diary: November 14, 1943: This snowy morning we cast off all lines and eased out from the pier with the help of tugs and headed out to sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Our departure was saddened by an accident, one man was killed while handling lines and was buried at sea the next day. Cruising off the east coast we spent hours at anti-aircraft drills every day. Our second day at sea was one looking forward to the combat zone. The weather is getting warmer everyday as we cruise south.