38 – US Navy Homeward Bound

USS New York, Texas, Wyoming, Florida and Delaware leaving the Forth – by Burnell Poole

On Friday 22nd November 1918, the order was received that the Ninth Division Atlantic Fleet should take on stores and sail home to New York.

Before sailing home, they had one last duty to perform: to escort President Wilson to the peace talks in Paris.

On 1st December 1918 they set sail from the Forth, accompanied to May Island by the 5th Battle Squadron and destroyers of the Grand Fleet. They headed to Portland, England – sailing round the north coast of Scotland, to avoid the North Sea mine fields.

At Portland, they joined up with USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma and USS Utah.

On 12th December, the eight ships rendezvoused with USS Pennsylvania and USS George Washington which was carrying President Wilson, and escorted them to arrive in Brest on 13th December. President Wilson went on to Paris by train.

On 14th December the five ships set sail intending to reach New York on 24th December.

En route they were ordered to delay their arrival till 26th December 1918, when they were greeted by a Heroes’ Welcome Parade in the streets of New York.