WINNERS-OF-THE STATION ESSAY CONTEST IN CONNECTION WITH NATIONAL.
LIBRARY WEEK ANNOUNCED BY SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICER, LT SIMPSON
The winners of the Special Services Essay Contest held in connection with
National Library-Week were announced Friday by the Special Services Officer, LT
W.Hw SIMPSON. Awards will be presented by the Commanding Officer, Captain S.M.
SHELTON on Monday, 16 April 1962.
1st place award goes to Harold Thomas DAVIS, YN1, of the Administration Dep
artment' and 2nd Place was. won by Mrs. Mary E. LEWIS, Supervisor at the Telephone
Exchange. An Honorable Mention 'went to Susan BEGG, daughter of Chief Warranj;
Officer R. W. BEGG attached to the Naval Communications-Station#
Here is-the winning entry submitted by DAVISs
"WHY I LIKE TO READ”. ‘ ... '
“I remember when I was a boy I had neither patience or inclination to ^egd.
When I read, I did so because it was a school assignment that, had,to .be done, -to
escape the birch switches that too many low marks brought into., being*..
I came into the Navy and still my reading habits encompassed only- wh^'b. X ha.d
to read,.-when I had to read it, for one reason or the other* ... ,.. A
I don’t remember when it was that I made. the. discovery, it could have been the ™
visit to the Ship’s Library in search of something tc read to pass the hours at
sea away. It could have been the visits to the station, library in Hawaii, between
liberties that were few and far'betwee.n on a Seaman 2nd’.s pay. The 1st discovery
was simply this a’ good book was cheap entertainment and I found that it gave me
much more lasting pleasure., - • .
I made use of the station and;ships libraries often from that time on. I read
good books and some of the bad. I made reflections on what I read and drew curious
conclusions at times but I found that most of the time when a book was in hand I
forgot many of my small troubles. * While -I was learning.to like to read I learned
to accustom my mind to keep the best company by introducing it tp the knowledge
within some of the best books.
I was 3rd Class and on another ship following shore duty when I .made the 2nd
discovery. We took- our exams for higher rate in the library aboard ship and I
must confess that shore duty had taken my mind away from reading somewhat. I had
reported aboard with the added responsibility of a wife and baby girl.
As I took the examination, it took me no time at all to find out how much I j
didn’t know. ; As I looked up and saw the countless array of books I heard a voice
within my.conscience says "Corne back again, and study here, read my books and you
will dcrbetter-*" \ '
-I failed the exam but lost no time in accepting the invitation and books and I
re-discovered each other* This time it was my Navy Training Course and textbooks
on related subjects that could help me and when I learned that I had passed the
exam and'.'"was advanced to 2nd Class I had long since discovered that for general
improvement a-man should read whatever his inclination prompts him to, but to
advance in rate he must regularly and resolutely, read with inclination those books
that will impart the knowledge necessary for his advancement.
■The 3rd discovery was perhaps a result of the 1st two having found pleasure and
profit in reading. The Korean war, the global aspects that our peacetime Navy
had undertaken by preparation of defenses against the onslaught of Communism
brought a manner of wanting to know, needing to know, the current events of the
world* My old friend, the service library provided me with a multitude of news
papers, news magazines and pamphlets which keep me informed, so that I as an Amer
ican serving my country* know where we stand*
I like to read for these three things* 1st - because of the lasting pleasure I
can receive from a good book* 2nd - for the knowledge that I specifically want
and need in my work and 3rd - to know what the world has done in the past few days
and what it is about to do in the next.
USN