Aucilla (AO 56) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 62 of the 1957 volume:

fi an myMI X i . ' — J!, ' -• — nmmrrcD Mr- tn. . m iii w ii a ii mWBW Utfj smvxa 5i M r tg mMMt n utr at MKDITKKRANEAN SKA vvwvan. ' J ' . z - ... ...-iri r • I r • t. ? St- ■•HHU UM i — • ■ I ' M .ti a ' J ' V k— A T _ r i( K i: Y, A N A I n I, - ya -. ■ :. - V Ky:-; ' -v;iT I. runt UMtn ••imrr •■-■ ■ - L f ' rr-i rtiTimrB ni ' - ' - -T ' WMi T -- uauuuM ' U.S.S. AUCILLA AO-56 MED CRUISE 55-57 COMMANDING OFFICER A native of Macon, Georgia who delights in flying the Confederate stars and bars during fuel- ing, Captain Brown TAYLOR graduated from the Naval Academy in 1934. An experienced tin can man , Captain Taylor commanded the USS SCHENCK (DD-157) and USS CONYINGHAM (DD- 371) as well as Destroyer Division 142. Duty in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations, the staff of Commander Second Fleet and as Chief of Staff, Commander Middle East Force, were among Captain Taylor ' s assignments before taking over AUCILLA. An avid athletic fan, the captain de- lights in a few sets of tennis as well as mid-day strolls around the 02 level. Captain Taylor was twice awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL in World War II while commanding CONYINGHAM. CAPTAIN B. TAYLOR 56-57 CAPTAIN J. H. BESSON, JR. 55-56 Captain John H. BESSON Jr., served as Com- manding Officer, USS AUCILLA from 28 January 1955 until 8 September, 1956. A native of Port- land, Oregon, Captain Besson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1935. Under Captain Bes- son ' s leadership, AUCILLA won the Navy E , as the outstanding vessel of her class in the Atlan- tic Fleet in 1956. His pre-World War II experi- ence included duty aboard destroyers, cruisers, and an AO. December 7, 1941 found him aboard the PENSACOLA (CA-24) in which he participated in several major battles of the war. Prior to as- suming command of AUCILLA, Captain Besson commanded several destroyers and had a variety of staff assignments throughout the world. EXECUTIVE OFFICER Taking over as Executive Officer in October of 1956 after a year as First Lieutenant was Lt. Commander Robert J. Stankowski. A vet- eran of both World War II and the Korean Con- flict, Mr. Stankowski was born in Syracuse, New York but spent most of his life in Scranton, Pa. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State College and entered the Navy in January 1944. During WWII, he served as Communication Officer aboard CIMARRON, the first of the AO class to which AUCILLA belongs, participating in the Iwo Jima, Luzon, and Okinawa landings. When recalled to active duty in 1950, the exec served on MSTS PAC vessels, 1950-1952 before going to shore duty at the Office of Naval Inspector of Ordnance in his hometown of Scranton. Following this assignment, he reported aboard AIXILLA. LCDR B. O. FURNARI 55-56 LCDR R. J. STANKOWSKI 56-57 z i  Reporting aboard as Executive Officer in March 1955, Commander Biagoio O. Furnari, brought to the position 25 years experience as both an enlisted man and officer. While a sig- nalman prior to World War II, Commander Fur- nari served aboard the battleships NEW YORK, TENNESSEE, and ARIZONA. He was at the Cavite Navy Yard when the Japanese attacked and was wounded slightly. He then reported to the USS TANAGER and served there until the ship was sunk in Manila Harbor. Escaping to Corregidorhe participated in its defense until he was taken prisoner in May 1942. After his release from prison camp. Commander Furnari served at the Receiving Station, Washington as Seaman Guard Officer and Security Officer. He then served aboard HYADES and ADIA prior to assuming the number two spot on AUCILLA. Promoted to Commander in August 1956 he is now recorder and a member of the Navy Dis- charge Review Board. Ve vm:. iJ!r .l served -c We earnestly dedicate this book in memorium to HARDING ELLIS FULBRIGHT who served his country and his service faithfully and whose memory will remain with all who served with him. FIRST DIVISION (Front) Hall, A. C, Stamper , R. D., Omar, J. R., Carrol, T. M., (2nd row) Strouse, C. R., Olson, R. P., Johnson, C. H., Cunninghani, B. L., Caila, G. M., Dickerson, D. P., (3rd row) Gelinas, L. M., Achenbach, E. E., Moore, B. L., Headlee, C. D., Beal, M. V., Shickle, K. W., (4th row) Bernard, W. E., Guess, C, Cirino, R., Gibson, W., Simms, T. K., Henry, C. S., Cook, A. J., Menger, N. B., Griram, E., Foster, H., Sandella, R. v; - --f .. -f - -r tmt - The Bos ' n Locker Over the Side The First Division will assure you, a little defensively, that they have to work just as hard as the Second Division - and maybe a little harder. There are those long windy hours on the forecastle waiting to anchor, sending over AvGas, now port, now starboard, now port again and the ever present rush, to get that GIG in the water ' . But, life in the First Divi- sion has its compensations. There is the Boat- swain ' s Locker, abode of the coffee cup philos- ophers, with many a genial - and sometimes not so genial - session presided over by such kindly old sea dogs as Beall and Hasselberger. Here you will always find a member of the Gig crew skillfully weaving fancy work for the Gig, a sailor sharpening his knife, and even, it is al- leged occasionally, a member of the riggers team parceling and serving wire. Here too you will find, as often as not at three in the morning, someone frantically looking for the right size block, pin or shackle, to cope with the routine emerge. iCy at the moment. And once in a while, dear to the heart of every old hand, a fresh recruit from back in the Second Division will poke his head into inquire seriously if there are any Connifling Pins available. Gravely Beall will tell him that they just ran out but that the Engineers are pretty sure to have some. May- be two hours later the same harrassed recruit will find himself down in the pumproom, still seeking amongst the hissing steam, the elusive Connifling Pin . The First Division offers at no extra charge the following: Boat Pool - On loading and off loading during hours of darkness Cargo Deck Car Park - Operated 24 hours a day Free Consultation - Information concerning rust prevention and preservation from our seasoned veterans. This has been a non-paid, non-profit advertise- ment. A Never Ending Battle SECOND DIVISION (Front) Polka, D. T., Browner, A. J., Quail, M. P., Malo, J., Maxwell, J., Anderson, L., Lindsey, W., (2nd row) Lewis, J. C, Callier, H. O., Skelly, R., Caporin, R., Shaw, J. L., Leach, C. T., Stukes, G., (Rear) Lefebver, J., Williams, J. O., Bielkiewicz, E., Querin, J., Supplita, T., Santo, P., Szydlak, R., Gunkleman, W., Ikonnikow, V., Ott, G.,. Phillips, M. .- ft- 4. . %. t r ♦ fi By moonlight and in total darkness, in rain and once in a great while - in sunshine, you will find the Second Division on the Cargo Deck, busy at the hundred and one tasks they are called upon to perform. The Cargo Deck is its kingdom and, as every kingdom must have its king, there is Mr. Manning, unruffled in the face of recurrent crises, directing things. His lieutenants are Headlee and Caporin who manage somehow, in the chaos that seems always about to engulf us, to keep the sup- plies coming and the fuel flowing with a smooth- ness which later, when it ' s all over, astonishes us. To the marines, the Shores of Tripwli means one thing, but to the Second Division it means a different kind of battleground. The Med-Moor at Wheelus is the most difficult task the deck force must perform. On the fantail, to the accompani- ment of squeaking winches and straining lines, the groaning of fairleads and the shouts of Boat- swain Mates, the massive bulk of the. hipis slowly heaved into position. There are many parted lines and bruises before the job is done, but the pride of accomplishment overcomes all the weariness when at last the ship is snugly moored and the gasoline in flowing. But more than the excitement and the great jobs, the central feature of life is the struggle against rust. Day after day is heard the clinking of chipping hammers and the noisy rasp of the bumblebee. You feel you are making progress, the ship seems to grow spruce and trim, and then the Med turns foul and for days the well deck is feet deep in roaring white water, and when we look again - that we try to forget. Sea Bat? Face Lifting for Nr. 2 Let ' s Try Again Splicing a 10 inch !£ if UGD ii7n FOX DIVISION I Think It Goes Here Quite a few months have passed since our ship left the States and a lot of old shipmates have left us, either for discharge or duty. We ' ll always remember such fellows as Skud, who could never keep track of his false teeth, Roberts, who gave us the Wax Works , Ross- borough, who was always pressing a mattress cover, Rudy and his celebrated nose, McSpad- den, who always stuck up for the gun gang, and Chief Holt, who did a wonderful job keeping the gun logs and helping us obtain a high score in gunnery. There was Ballard, who was always wondering when the ship was returning to France. We ' ll always remember VonDeck, with his col- lection of reading matter and pipes, and Willis (1 wonder if he ever found his way home?). Remember Bowen, who always managed to keep his hands clean? How did you do it George? It ' s been a good cruise, and before too long some of us will be leaving for other jxjrts. Later in life we can look back at the liberties in Barcelona, Powell the taxi-stopper and GUNS Hyer, and be able to say with a chuckle, It was fun being a gunner . (Front) Swonger, K. D., McKinney, D. R., Hyer, H. E., Weiler. E. R., ConneU, F. J.. Elliott, D. C, (Rear) Riopelle, C. A., Powell, G. W. , Krauter, R. H., Powell, J. C, Riley, W. H., Nace, L. H. fSf ff.S H WATItn Bilge Bunnys FOURTH DIVISION (Front) Prendergast, E. W., Taylor, C. A., Hester, A. D., (Rear) Norwood, A. G., Furlong, G. E., Rose, R. L., Egner, W. B. The Engineering Department aboard AUCILLA consists of five divisions whose primary responsibility is to provide electricity, heat, refrigeration, repairs, propulsion, and the know-how to carry out our fun- damental task of fueling. B Division is one of the two components of the Main Propulsion Section, and has as its responsibility the operation and maintenanceof the ship ' s boilers, the boiler feed system and the fuel oil transfer systems. It seems that a boilerman ' s life is one of continual watch standing. Not only at sea, but also in pxart the never ending vigil continues. In addition to his watches, the boilerman is faced with the monumental task of maintaining the various units of equipment in the foreroom and the job of keeping the boilers and associ- ated equipment clean and in top operating condition. Any BT will verify that it takes a lot of ingenuity, per- severence, and sweat to keep AUCILLA on the move. M Division is the second component of the Main Propulsion Section. Their primary job is to keep the ship ' s propellers rotating in answer to any maneuvering or tactical command. In direct support of this duty is the maintenance of all machinery and equipment related to propulsion. A casual inspection of the Engineer ' s Bell Book shows that the M Division must be on their toes to effectively regulate the ship speed in answer to the bridge commands. The A Division is responsible, with few exceptions, for the proper maintenance and operation of all auxiliary machinery outside the machinery spaces. Numerous compressors, refrigeration units, ice ma- chines and internal conbustion engines receive regular overhaul by the A Division. They keep in top condi- tion, the emergency diesel generator and maintain the engines in the ship ' s boats. They keep the evaporator plant running at maximum capacity of 12000 gallons per day to keep the feed water and fresh water tanks filled. No wonder the A Division is always busyl The Easy Division does everything but take it easy. These men repair and maintain any equipment which generates electricity, whether it be a 1 l 2volt dry cell or a 440 volt circuit. In addition, the IC gang main- tains AUCILLA ' S interior communications system. The gyro compass receives regular cleaning and main- tenance from the electricians and, of course, the nightly movies are shown by the E Division. Whether the simplicity of an ordinary light switch or the complexity of the IC circuit is involved, E Division stands ready to get the job done. The last division, and by no means the least, which is included in the Engineering Department, is the C R (Construction and Repair) Division. Personnel from C R can be found throughout the ship at work welding or cutting, repairing or overhauling hatches, valves and pipes. Their job is construction and repair of everything from lockers to damage control fittings. Being the experts of AUCILLA ' S piping system, C R works around the clock when fueling or cleaning tanks. For all their hard work C R has lived up to it ' s reputation as being the can do Division. (Front) Glavan, F. F., Adams, H. M., Russel, W. H., Parkin, R. L., Merrltt, K. D., (Rear) Swigris, D. J., Olivarra, R. J., Cole, F. N., Johnson, R. D., Wescott, L. R., Dagen, C. E. I - ' ■ J ? ' 2?3flC jm- t ifs- . ' ■■■l ' ■- I. ■rn. =- _ .i i. - LTT5Tf - -MnE„aL£_ CeI- r. F- r, T. K. .z ' z:: Shipfitters (Front) LeGrande, N., Vanderift, T. S., Block, G. C, Hadden, H. A., Kardell, J. S., Smith, W. W., (Rear) Nolan, R. L., Spinneweber, T. K., Fodor, P., Ott, P. J., Stogdill, R. H., Smith, M. M. «.- A -. h.-« I- Jj -1 17 r ■l.- ROGER - OUT OPERATIONS DIVISION (Front) Rosier, D. L., McKnight, R. D., Adams, T. R., Pusateri, J. A., (Rear) Streich, S., Worth, C. W., Ginther, D. H., Bouchard, A. D., Gunderman, R., Frederick, R. J. ,J f ' ' - ' - : ?i -, Mail Call Some Guy This Marconi Working in conjunction with the signal gang, the radiomen are responsible for all external communications to and from the ship. The old adage that the Navy floats on paper was born out by Radio Central, which used 20,000 mes- sage blanks during our Med cruise. And although communications is primarily the voice of com- mand, Radio also performs a myriad of other functions: radiomen publish the AUCILLA daily newspaper and provide the crew with sports programs and soothing music (I ' m in the Jail- house Now) on the ship ' s system. Radio also serves as a link between t he sailor and his family - sending messages through the Red Cross in times of need, and through Western Union for timely Christmas greetings. The telemen, though perhaps the smallest- staffed single rate on the ship, are undoubtedly among the most popular on board, for their realm is the post office. Occasionally, during the long at-sea periods when mail delivery is poor, they become the subject of many anony- mous threats, but all bitterness and anxiety is forgotten when those magic words are passed: MAIL CALL . Everyone aboard ship must, at some time, come in contact with the personnel office. The check-in and check-out slips, the Plan of the Day, leave papers, liberty cards and special requests all funnel through this office. Most transfer orders and all notices for advance- ment come through this office. The captain ' s office is located on the 02 level under a pile of files, carbon paper, official mail, records and instructions. In fact, a yeoman, not pre- viously known to be aboard, was recently found under a binder of Servlant Instructions, thereby bolstering the yeoman staff by one. ' NOW ADAMS, ETl, REPORT TO CIC . This is a familiar call to the electronic tech- nicians who keep in working order all com- munications equipment and other electronic gear. These jack-of-all-trades even get in- volved in fixing the coke machine. AHA ! Bad Cathode Swab, Sweat and Sinew 19 N UIVI5IUN In case you didn ' t know what a squared-away lot we are: we don ' t smoke, we never touch a drop and we ' re always back on time. Well, almost always. We ' re members of the honorary club known as the High Order of Sciveywavers and Bogie Boobs and our in- terests center around counting our remaining days of obligated service on a celestial calendar. We indulge only m cultural discussions and we hold daily train- ing lectures (check our logs). We take an unprece- dented delight in shining our shoes and wearmg dress blues. And when it comes to work, we can catch a flaghoist before it ' s out of the bag and accurately plot the courses of a sinuating, zig-zagging destroyer at SO miles. The next time you are up on the bridge (wipe your feet, please) observe us at work and see for yourselves. Looks Like Collision Course Two- Block it (Front) May, C, Medina, R. A., Mims, H. M., Johnson, R. L., O ' Donnell, J. R., (Rear) Heatlie, R. C, McCullocii, R. F., Shelby, A. W., White, A. G., Wilson, T. E. V«t •«S ).- y y: 21 II SUPPLY DIVISION (Front) Peterson Crumbo, R. A., Stoudt, L. M. J. F., Hannah Glasser, E. J., J. R., lafoUa, G. V., Murray, J. F., Trajano, A., Dav Rosado, G., Cusworth, E. T., Barone, H. E., Burn, R. IS, C. To J., Rose (Rear) C. G., C: t rJ 1 k m M V4k C HL K JM J 1 c H fll iTF iJ 1 - B r HJIk 1 u f y h! H F..t. H K y y VI B I ' ■f: H |H . . Wi Bl 3K ' 1 1 1 IBp ■ -- - . ' Qv «l 5 41 , • .-.--ft Cutting Up Jack o ' the Dust (Front) Rose, D. R., Demont, R. D., DeLeon, F. P., Alaman, A. U., Riggs, T. L., (Center) Gaborni, Z. M., Sheppard, G. W., Pobst, R. A., Kiser, J. W., Harman, G. H., (Rear) Mulder, W. V., Zanetto, F. A., Mos- queda, D. G., Faircloth, R. H , Ne nick, E. J., Smith, E. C, Ryder, L. L., Malari, N. S., Tenchara, J., Davis, O. E. ■r«k - ' H l |n n t p- fc ' flP Pf 23 ■ ' MESS GhAR. MHSS GliAK ' . blGK UAi.L. , MAN STATION 7 . PAY DAY FOR THE CRFW NOW COMMENCE THE MORNING COFFEE BREAK . CONDITION RE! CON- DITION RED ; they all mean that the Supply Department is keeping the daily routine running smoothly. Whether it ' s a cresent wrench for C R, boiler compound for the Fire Room, a new part for the five-inch, or night rations for the boat crew, the Supply Department is ready to deliver. ITie life-line of the Navy someone has called them, and on a tanker this is always apparent. The millions of barrels of fuel oil we ' ve pumped to the fleet and the tons of stores we ' ve taken aboard exemplify our importance. Everything taken for granted in the Navy is supplied from our store-rooms. We furnish toothpaste, cigarettes, your favorite candy, size 9E shoes and the many bars of soap used each week. For those you love, ship ' s store features clocks, watches, linen, china and scores of other gifts. Pills by the hundreds have been issued in the Sick Bay for every possible type of ailment, whether it be an aspirin for a head- ache, or a minor operation, the medical branch of the Supply Department is forever ready. Across the mess line have gone thousands of pounds of beef and potatoes and all the tons of chow it takes to feed 200 men a day. The coffee that has been consumed in our MED Cruise could more than fill all our fuel tanks. From Gibraltar to Izmir, and Salonika to Libya, the currency came to you from the Supply Office, pesetas, lire, drachmas or francs, were all converted for your convenience, as another Supply function. And for inspection came hair- cuts, and clean blues, and starched whites, and thousands of pairs of socks and dungarees, and linen, etc. Yes, to keep the Aucilla going for two years was quite a job, and everyone had to give something. We of the Supply De- partment were proud to play a part. What Else? Anyone for a Gedunk? r ;. The Barber of Aucil. Only 150 Days to Go Letters from Home kmrn- ( i 1 FORE AND AFT Navigation Office Bore ' s Clear 25 i J i - I ■. L MAKING FRIENDS . NAPLES . CASABLANCA . PALMA . GIBRALTAR . GOLFE JUAN . BEIRUT . ATHENS . TOULON . AUGUSTA . RHODES . ISKENDERUN . TRIPOLI . PALERMO . TARANTO . IZMIR . BARCELONA 27 . fttBJk nmf im   ■ r ■ ■ ■ ! ■■  — r i fe t r— - T A NAPLES. Out of the ruins of war has risen one of the truly great Italian cities. Brightly colored buildings crowd each other for space in this city of hills. The harbor is dominated by a centuries-old fortress, while immediately behind it rise towering new structures, as a busy people cover the scars of war. We were here several times, none of them for any lengthy period. Perhaps the most interesting occurrence each time was the tour to Pompeii to visit the ancient Roman city that died so quickly under the lava of Vesuvius that day in 79 A.D. To walk the streets where Roman chariots last rode is indeed awe inspiring. ■1; SiaCrocc ir Masiiico C  n8 nJ ' ' 3 } Plaza Plebiscito Mt. Vesuvius 28 r ' •Cj S; tsr The Ancient Bellringer LIVORNO. Say, where is this place Leghorn, anyway? I donno. Somewheres in Italy 1 think. Well, we soon found out - twice just to make sure. No sooner had we left Leghorn (also known as Livor- no) than we again returned. Someone must have thrown ' v.v.-- i. ...■ ' ' -Xi } ' .!, a coin in the wrong fountain in Rome. For this second ' . ..?.{ ' •• ' ci i V- • ' visit, it took a great deal of imagination to find sofne- - ' ■ - ' •■•■■ ■ thing interesting to do. We tried a meal ashore: Say, Mac, where can we get some chow? Scuse ' ? Eat - you know. Yum, Yum. Ah, Gapisco - Chiamate Gina Lolabrigida, ROMA 6931. Let ' s scram. He must be telling us the way to Rome. We fought our way past the vendors: Hey Joe, you wanna buy Barra glove? Borsolino Hat? Ver nice. Let ' s get back to the ship before they try to sell us the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Okay J.B. ' Livorno Harbor T 64 56 46 ■ ' -ty 12- q Seoche di Vadah ■ 9 ■■•32 ■ ii.a 8_ S- Mi-e 35 ,h ' ' lO 60 17 131- ■ T 6 7 ,-iO- O T M a mu r a Highway Scene CASABLANCA. It was in Casablanca that we first saw the nature of the Arab world and the mores and attitudes of an emerging colonial state. Having just recently won its independ- ence from France, Morocco was still in the throes of wild political rivalry between pro and anti French factions, resulting in an enforced curfew in the city of Casablanca. Although our Liberty hours were cramped by the ten o ' clock curfew, we still managed to get a good look at one of the most fascinating cities in the Arab world. Casablanca (meaning white house) lives up to its name, most of the homes and buildings beingconstructedof white masonry which appear snow white in the intense sun- shine of west Africa. It was quite impressive to walk through the wide, palm- lined avenues leading to the center of the remarkably modern city. Unfortunately, the native section of Medina was out of bounds, but we caught glimpses of this area with its labyrinth of narrow streets lined with European as well as native shops. We found the Grand Mosque in the center of the city breathtakingly beautiful and the native flea market an unforgettable sight. However, our liberties were not solely dedicated to sight seeing and 1 think it is safe to say there are those who never got past the MOULIN ROUGE. We found few beaches in the Mediterranean as beautiful as those of Casablanca and we spent many hours just lying in the sun on the white coral sand. ITie local Seamans Club and USO provided us with milk shakes which we hadn ' t tasted in many months. And most of us came back to the ship loaded down with camel saddles, hassocks, or a native fez purchased from one of the many street vendors. As we finished the last chapter in our Arab- ian Nights adventure and headed out to sea, we all agreed that, be it ever so humble, there ' s no place like Casablanca. ?l«-y ft. 2la Penae 26 U del S«li , , , Cola de Portals ( t 26 f ' ta Cala Figuera ■ -;c(?) ;0s«cU5flll M PALMA. The first time I stepped out of the liberty launch at Palma, the scene sort of daz- zled me - a beautiful cathedral outlining the sky, palm trees everywhere, rows of taxi cabs, narrow, steep walks, sidewalk cafes, and brightly colored yachts anchored in the gin-clear water of the bay. Many men aboard AUCILLA regarded Palma as the most beautiful port we visited, which is justified since Palma is a famous Med- iterranean tourist attraction. Several of the brown-baggers had their families make the short overnight trip from Barcelona to Palma and enjoy the scenery with them. For some reason, the wine tasted better, the girls looked prettier and it was harder getting back on time in Palma than in other ports we had recently visited. And this was curious since we were already accustomed to the inexpensive wines and the beautiful senoritas - but nevertheless it was true. The city of Palma gave us a brief look at the past. The well preserved ramparts in the old section of the city were, in some cases, built in the thirteenth century by the Moors. The cathedral, with its graceful spires, brought out a mixture of the old and new Spain. In the restaurants and night clubs our mouths were agape at the 75 cent filet dinners, beer for a nickel a glass, and fine champagne for a dollar a bottle. Home was never like thisi We hated to get back to the routine of fleet exercises (which were by now pretty routine), and we hated to leave Palma where every night was like a Saturday night back home and offered new things to do and places to go. 28 l( mtmr Native Dancers Cork Merchants 31 the Mediterranean world. Known to most of us as the symbol of a life insurance company, this small but very vital British possession played an important role in the AUCILLA ' S Mediterranean cruise. It was here that we came for repairs after an at- sea collision while refueling. The time we spent here was noted for several events. A tour to Granada, and the Palace of Al- hambra, as well as Seville, helped the time pass quickly. And the tours to the Rock itself; to see the centuries-old fort- ifications, along with the latest in modern defenses, was most interesting. The Rock Apes, guardians of the English reign on this Gateway to the Mediterranean , were always good for a laugh and ready to pose for their pictures. For the sports minded, we had many soccer games, as well as Softball and basketball. Invariably, our Eng- lish allies won, but it was an excellent opportunity to let off excess energy. For the souvenir minded, it was a paradise of shops and stores, filled with tax-free im- ports from English colonies all over the world. Silver and silks blended with clocks and china from a dozen different lands. While it certainly wasn ' t our best liberty port, it can definitely be said there were quite a few that couldn ' t compare with Gi- braltar. ■ Jtx,, ' OlliRALTAIi ' ' l-M jj ' - Gibraltar Shipyard Changing of the Guard i-: , •ziw Napoiile 94 vr- L-y L St. Honural C! J5 j, Gp Fl (2) lOsec 338fl 25 pj, 24(RBn) 3? 6i,p ' 9 S sT 23 ' OS . ' 127 ' 8V 2c ' f)f7 i s:; 85 -o- ' - ' ' j 91 . -if iou 146 loillon iSie. Marguerite 21 1 ' (LSSIre ■• ' ■ Bn.lTr). 115 ' lies de 3 Lerjns .25 „, 69 78 91,. 146 227 645 426 GOLFE JUAN. The Miami Beach of Europe ' s aristocracy. Playground of a hundred kings, as well as the favored vacation land of thousands of middle class Frenchmen. World reknown for its excellent beaches, beautiful women, excellent wines and famous gambling houses, the French Riviera sets the scene for some very attractive liberties. The beaches of southern France rank among the finest in the world, and after looking over the Bikini-clad bathing beauties, and their escorts, we are ready to agree. Daring is an apt descrip- tion of some of the latest fashions modeled on the Riviera. For those few who may prefer something besides the beach scene, there were many places of interest to visit. The Admiral will long be remembered by the Aucilla. And tours to the beautiful French Alps, as well as Monte Carlo and Monaco, made famous by Grace Kelly ' s mar- riage, were an everyday event in this summer playground. The Palace at Monaco is truly one of the last of its kind that is still in use by a royal couple. And the skiing trips to the snow-clad Pyrenees resulted in a lot of laughs, as well as a lot of bruises, for many of us amateurs. For athletic-minded men, there was water skiing, boat- ing, fishing, or a score of otherequallystrenuous sports. The nearby cities of Cannes and Nice were within easy walking distance, and they cer- tainly didn ' t lack in entertainment. The most un- fortunate part of our visits to Golfe Juan was the fact that they ended all too soon for most of us How ' bout a Ride? J99 483 • a ■ 33 34 BEIRUT. Our Home Port of the Eastern Med was perhaps the most Americanized port we hit during the cruise. Boasting an American Univer- sity, and an American community, U.S. ships and sailors were always welcome in this capital city of Lebanon. And welcome to the sailors were the warm sandy beaches of St. Simon and St. George, with their back home atmospheres. Tlie most vivid memory for some of us, though, were the several fine tours to the surrounding districts. Baalbek, the old temple-city dating back to the early Roman times, with the remnants of the world-famous Cedars of Lebanon, was one unforgettable experience. Another tour was the trip to Jerusalem, birthplace of Christianity. This trip included a side-track to Damascus, flying below sealevcl over the Dead Sea, a full day in Bethlehem, and a visit to the Garden of Geth- semane. Although Jerusalem was a disappointment to some, with its fierce racial rivalries, nobody could help but wonder at the Shepherd ' s Field, the ancient wall of the city, and the Mount of Cal- vary. Lebanon itself, smallest country in the Med- iterranean, is as old as the East. It was the home of the Phoenicians, who set their stamp on the whole Mediterranean world, and whose cities of Tyre and Sidon were famous ports of commerce at the dawn of civilized time. Lebanon was the Bib- lical ' Land of Milk and Honey , throughout the Greek and Macedonian and Roman eras, and later in the struggle between Arabs and Crusaders, Lebanon was always a prize of the first impor- tance. Perhaps our most enduring memory of Beirut, besides the warm hospitality of the American community, will be our near-drydocking on our last visit, which would undoubtedly have led to several more-enduring, less-endearing memories. 29 ISO -. Ce K Ras Ma ' amelteiii Bate de Djounic ' _ • 630 , ' ' ' ' 143 ' 35 I, ' .100 30, ' -; Ra lievroutli (Be.r„,) 230 290 ' ,81 88% ■ II 3tO mk 250 el IDA(siooN) , ' ■ Mar Elias ,._ Mnimiyfh Salieh T Marus •• • Rummiet Rui VGinsemia .■ Rum 390 i O 56 ' j,: ■ fS Akr. ■ • ' Khalkl ' s Piraievs )■ ' 48 ' ) ,37 53 Heves ' Ai ' yina t ' ' j ' .■ ■ ■ Mnvrovouni ATHENS. Birthplace of Civilization , Mother of Culture and Learning . This, and much more, could be said for this queen city of the Aegean Sea. From ancient Athens flowed the laws and writings that were destined to influence every succeeding civilization through the ages. Today, modern Athens stands as a living monument to the glories of a great nation. Dominating the entire city is the Acropolis, a collection of temples and palaces on a fortified hill. The ruins of these magnificent structures still justify their position as being perfect examples of architecture at its zenith. The Parthenon, mas- terpiece of masterpieces located on this hill, has been termed the most perfect building ever erected by man. Even today, some twenty four centuries after her construction, and despite numerous sub- sequent attempts at destruction, this marvel in marble still lifts her graceful pillars toward the sky. The Athens we saw was a bright, clean, modern metropolis of a million or so people surrounding its treasured ruins. The Greeks are a clean race, outstandingly clean. Of all the ports of call the Aucilla visited during our Med cruise, it can be honestly stated that Athens was the cleanest. A well-run city, amidst a beautiful setting. Unfortunately, our stay here was a short one. Perhaps the most important thing we did here was tour the ruins of antiquity. But Athens was more than just ruined temples of a bygone glory. She is a busy seaport, a thriving city, and the capital of the indomitable Greeks. Our stay here will be remembered by some men for the frequent liber- ties we pulled at the John Bull in Piraeus. Cer- tainly there was plenty to do in this crowded Greek port, and those of us who took the time to see Athens will long remember the magnificence of this city. We can ' t help but agree with those who say The West was born in Athens . 35 TOULON. Toulon has had a varied and colored history among the naval ports of the Mediterran- ean. It is the oldest naval base in France and, at one time, the principal Mediterranean naval base. We were reminded of the total devastation Toulon suffered during World War II by the half-submerged hulks of French ships scuttled during the war and never raised. On 27 November 1942. three battle- ships (DUNKIRK, STRASBOURG and PROVENCE), seven cruisers, 25 destroyers, ten submarines and various auxiliary craft, totalling more than sixty ships, were scuttled in this harbor to keep them from falling into German hands. Post war recon- struction has raised the port of Toulon to a percentage of its once great eminence, but the scars of war have badly healed. In the city of Toulon we encountered more French sailors than civilians. The town itself was interesting and old and the populace showed little of the vivacity common to the Riviera area. Many of us traveled to Marseille in search of the ex- citement which Toulon did not offer, and in most cases we found it. For those young men who fol- lowed the advice of Horace Greeley and went west Marseille offered the night-lifeing, free spending mecca most enjoy. Others of us took a few days leave and traveled to Paris on one of the local tours. The less adventurous (including those who were broke) were content to amble into town for one of the famous French submarine sandwiches (which would make even Dagwood sick) and stop by at the corner bar to discuss just how the bar- maid got into that tight fitting skirt. So, with our bottles of SHAI.IMAR perfume stowed carefully in our lockers we left Toulon, smelling no the more sweeter, but thankful that Toulon left none of the malodorousness in our nos- trils that we have exp . ' rienced before. % %J 53 -%o 67 sm; .;138. 136 ' 164 224 391 451 41 6Q 62 SSA 43 38 333 5: 62 ---V.e« 52 , ■ 6 WW 374 19 „ . . - GlENS 13 ' :3i 21 Hade U 1 1 l . !2 ■ C- ' 3L;-23{ :- 3, , ' 188 . ' 508 First Liberty Party 36 (veri) 2f i 20 ; ' 7 Pe 20 • Augusta ' s Unknown Soldier J AUGUSTA. They say that all the roads lead to Rome... well, that ' s been slightly modified since the Aucilla went over to the Med. Now they ' re saying. . .All the roads lead to AUGUSTA BAY. We won ' t elaborate on how many times we ' ve been to this little Sicilian seaport, but we will say that we ' ve seen so much of it that the navigator doesn ' t use a chart to get us there. Primarily, the Aucilla has gone to Augusta to lift JP-5 from the Rasione Refinery. However, it seems that the petroleum people always want to give away this precious fluid whenever we are on our way to Barcelona. Oh well, one can get awfully tired of Spain(??) In addition to our fuel lifts there, we have also visited Augusta with the rest of the Sixth Fleet and have pulled liberty there with the best of the big boys. . .RANDOLPH, SALEM, CORAL SEA, POCONO, etc, etc. No, there weren ' t any tours of Augusta although some of us managed to make it up to Mt. Etna. By and large, the crew took their liberty time in Augusta to consume some of that fine Messina Beer, which everyone knows is what made the Straits famous. For some of us tliere was shopping to be done in Augusta with the in- evitable bargaining and wrangeling over prices. Of course, this was mostly for those brown baggers and you know, this is a brown bagger ' s Navy (Belter, QMl). If you really want to talk to an ex- pert on Augusta Bay, J. D. Lemerlin, TE2, is your man. He has traveled the road from Augusta to the Airport and back ' looking for our mail ' so often that he is a qualified expert on the Sicilian countryside. Yes, we ' ll never forget Augusta, but if we do, it ' s a cinch we ' ll return there on our next Med Cruise. Fl R3seca p iO 20 9, 37 ai.- Akra Lardhoe s K6lpott Apolakhidg ■WSteJCj.-;, ' - -. to -I Big Wheels RHODES. In the year 224B.C., the mighty Colossus of Rhodes came tumbling down, never to be for- gotten by the people of this ancient isle. In the year 1956, the mighty AUCILLA visited the Grecian city and added another landmark to the history of Rhodes. Rhodes, the tiny island in the Aegean Sea, was to our crew a tourista paradise. Tours galore were held from Rhodes. . .foremost of which was the one to LINDOS, the ancient city of ruins. It turned out to be a shutter-bug ' s paradise for everyone from the Captain on down. Then again, there were the ball games in the form of beer parties (or is it beer parties in the form of ball games?) that were held by the Supply Division. In reality, we hit Rhodes twice. Once for a ren- dezvous with the fleet where the only man who got ashore was our mailman, which was good enough for us, considering he brought back some of that infrequent, but most valuable, cargo. But, the sec- ond trip was well worth it. Everyone got into the liberty act. In addition to being a place in which to see some of the most famous ruins in the world, Rhodes was noted to the AO-56 for its beaches and beer. (What was the name of that Greek stuff? It was pretty good.) The island itself we found breathtakingly beauti- ful as did the hundreds of tourists who were also enjoying the balmy climate of Rhodes with us. It was fun to rent a bicycle and pedal around the city, taking in such sights as the ancient windmills which lined the water, and the beautiful gardens which were everywhere. It seemed good to sink our teeth into American- style hot dogs and ham- burg at the USO, and few of us passed up this chance. When we weighed anchor at Rhodes, we left behind one of our most enjoyable liberty ports and we hoped we would return soon. 38 ' Sharkamijsman umulua Kara-hiaar n ISKENDERUN. It wasn ' t much, but it was home! To the Turks, that is. But to the crew of the Mighty A , Iskenderun, Turkey, meant another port in the Eastern Med. . .not much in the way of liberty, but another job to do. It was in places like this, when the job was to offload or lift fuel, that we saw the real significance of our mission. We only spent two days in Iskenderun and many considered that too long, if not just long enough. For some, though, there were tours. Many humorous memories were brought back to the States concerning the tours to Antioch. When it was first announced. . . A TOUR FOR FIFTY CENTS, including LUNCH ... the tickets sold like hot cakes. (Why, Howard was kept so busy that he hardly had time to get his pictures developed that day). The second day ' s tour tickets didn ' t go so fast, probably because those who stayed behind did not hear the glowing accounts of their shipmate ' s experiences. There was the fifty mile bus ride. . .the guide who couldn ' t speak English . . .the warm beer. . .and for Klusak, at least, a brush with adventure in the form of a crawling reptile. . .but then again, who else but Big Klu could have found the tour so lively? However, we did get to see the oldest Church in the world and for the shutter bugs among us (and who wasn ' t?) it was a real treat. On the work side, it seems we went to special sea and anchor detail more times in the harbor at Iskenderun than we ever did in sunny Spain. Our products were so valuable to the Turks that they wouldn ' t let us go. Between the Socony Company and the Turkish Navy, we really kept hopping. However, in two days w e had worked hard enough and long enough to get underway. . .and were we glad I After all, the next port was none other than SUDA BAY. 30 29 24 22 26 32 34 24 i 29 ' ' - . ' 4,J ' Ofc«( ' -«i939)P. ! 30 33 27 28 25 •Guruahli Ka Fleet Landing 39 TRIPOLI. PROCEED ARRIVE TRIPOLI X OFFLOAD 20M BBLS. ... And so wl- went... and went... and went. Yes, the same Tripoli immortalized in song. One of the leading cities of the Arab world held a strange fascination for the men of the ALICILLA. It has a P.X. Count- less hours were sp)ent by crew members at the Wheelus Ex- change. After all, how often did we get near the closest thing to the corner drug store? Four times AUCILLA journeyed to Iripoli to deliver AVGAS to the Air Force, and four times we got the job done, despite the odds. And who will ever forget the odds? Tying up at Wheelus was one job that stumped the most expert of Boatswain Mates. Every line aboard was used in the process, but sooner or later (much later) we pumped. No, there were no tours of Tripoli, but in some ways it will be remembered as well as Barcelona. National Bank of Libya 38 V % 66 82 73 64 39 5 94 77 70 33 1 32 I,  ?4 (cons Yacht Club 3? 53 c , VGasr knu PALERMO. Probably of all the obscure ports the AUCILLA visited during the cruise, none was more of a pleasant surprise than Palermo. Maybe it was the time of the year (summer) or perhaps it was because we had learned to adapt ourselves to anything . . . but we found enough to occupy our time in Palermo. This city, the largest in Sicily, offered some excel- lent beaches, bars, and eating establishments. It was here that the skin divers club was or- ganized . . . Caporin, Johnson, Hock and whoever else was cur- ious enough to brave the Sicil- ian waters. We didn ' t expect much out of Palermo (after all, weren ' t we supposed to be in Barcey?) but our boat crews can testify that the boys went over on the beach in this port. Of course there was the inevit- able 0300 boat run for Chief Kinard, but he wasn ' t alone. Palermo Bay TARANTO. Awright already. So where ' sTaranto? Yeah, that ' s lower Slobbovia aint it? Yeah, them Commies got the place sewed up. 1 hear they got these people to say nuttin ' to nobody - ' specially no sailor. Scuttlebutt gleanings from the deck? Truth or fantasy? When the Sixth Fleet operations placed us in Taranto we found the average person friendly. Not voluable or outgoing, but responsive to friendly overtures. Of course, it was with some regret that wc pointed our bow away from Barcelona and headed to Taranto, but the friendly hospitality of the Italian Navy made us tend to forget. It was here in Taranto that our ball team got underway wit! daily inter-divisional games. Even the Captain got into the act by soundly whipping all comers on the tennis court. Most of us were too busy gun-decking for the coming administrative inspection to get bored and spare hours could be spent at the Jolly Hotel, which offered the best atmosphere (the only, the delicate might say) for an evening drink. The brown-baggers were not to be outdone either. We were pleasantly surprised to see five wives con e alongside in the Captain ' s Gig, after a ted- ious journey from Barcelona. Several of us packed our ditty bags and returned to Rome for a few days rest and relaxation. We did not leave Taranto with tears in our eyes, but instead we left with a feeling that we were welcome to return. And wc did! tf- Officer ' s Club Swans b V ga i IZMIR. Fabled Izmir! Its very name breathing mysterious scents of the East. Visions of mosques and minarets, veiled women, and camels plodding through dusty streets. So what did we find? What do we always find? Though antiquity surrounds us, though we wander through history-haunted streets, we seek and unerringly find the bar that pleases us, where we can sit and think about the present and the future, and think no long thoughts about the past. One of the highlights of our visit was a wild boar hunt in the Anatolian Mountains. For those of us who participated in the hunt, our fondest memory is of the hunt ' s ending when, after fifteen miles of scrambling up and down rocky mountains we collapsed in the village square where kindly Turks revived us with pleasing liquors. Were there any boars? Well, that is a matter of some dispute. We had envisioned a placid hog-like crea- ture who would wander up to us and allow himself to be shot at in proper fashion. Instead, there were only intimations of a dark phantom hurtling through underbrush with the speed of a horse. The guides got one anyway - a three hundred pounder - and if the pictures we took imply that we shot it, well, just put it down to artistic license. There were numerous night clubs in Izmir and the memory lingers long of a snake dance in which the charmer musically coaxed a very tooth- some lass out of a wicker basket. She was already spoken for, I fear. zun All ■ ..•;:—. ' ' i: , Excavations of Ephesus 43 OUK BAKltLUNA HUMt 4 Plaza Cataluna Gothic Cathedral r Tt f} fr ' ■■■ « I Kvf i ' - ' i{ I 44 Barcelona is our alleged home port, we say, and it is rumored that sooner or later we may put in there for a visit. What with the routine crises which periodically inflame the Near East, our Barcelona visits are too few and too brief, but what they lack in duration they com- pensate for in fun. Because to us Barcey is the Queen City of the Med, the best of liberty ports, and, in its way, our hometown. The focus of our social life - and life there is exceedingly sociable - is the Ramblas and Plaza Real, the locale of Brindis and Cosmos and the Cadiz Bar and the girls there who wait for us during those long absences. TTie tall Columbus Monument with the figure of the old mariner pointing eternally west, the wild traffic down Via Layetana, the luxurious Paseo de Gracia, the Baviera, the tree lined Ramblas, are the familiar features of life in our town which we remember when away. For the culture minded (though most of us save our cultural instincts for other Med towns which are less enticing socially) there are many things to see. There is the great Gothic Cathedral, the Barrio Gotico, excursions to the monastery of Montserrat, trips up the rugged and beautiful Costa Brava, and occasional tours to the white and golden and less energetically Spanish towns of Andalusia, Seville and Granada and Ronda. But however far we may go, we ' ll never be too far to return occasionally, in our thoughts, to the fun and the fights, the dancing and the drinking, the bullfights and the parties - all of which made Barcelona truly our home away from home. M ■ ai 1 r pf Flamenco Dancer Mt. Tibidabo from Montjuich Park N?r. Christmas 1955 Gothic Quarter Columbus Statue OLE! OLE! n BARCELONA Fountain at Montjuich Park Pueblo Espanul The Ramblas Santa Maria Hey, Muscles 1 Familiar Landmark The Good Ship AUCILLA Her bow running proud, a floating grey cloud The pride of the men who man hc-r As with wondering eye, when dhe passes them by The rest of the fleet they scan her Aye, she ' s a ship - but she ' s more than a ship Like a woman, she has emotions galore She ' s sadness ' n laughter - ' n if it ' s sweating your after well, none could accomodate more For, with chipping and scraping, and painting and pumping And sweeping and swabbing her deck We kick her and curse her; we love her and nurse her She ' s home and our ship, by heck Despite all the taunts in the taverns we haunt Of the sailors from tin-cans and subs 13eing tankermen of ServFor, who always will know more We laugh at their jibes and their rubs How clearly we view with each passing brew The jealousy, plain on their faces So they slop up their beer, then all disappear With Aucilla men taking their places From Izmir ' s strict mores to Spain ' s sunny shores The Riviera, bright, in between The fight ' nest, lovin ' st, heavens above ' nest Bunch of guys you ' ve ever seen Are the ranks and the rates, the strikers and mates All dressed in their sharply pressed blues Of Aucilla the Queen, as they appear on the scene Yep, it shows from their hats to their shoes Now some may be fighters - and some may be lovers And some may be neither, you know But, the smart. Jolly swagger, with never a stagger Is the sign of a Aucilla matlow The spirit they show, wherever they go Envied by many and few Bonds ' most unbreakable, friendship unshakeable All men - one ship, one crew So take your CV ' s, your DD ' s and T ' s And any other which may be familya Wherever you go, no ship you could show Could top our old gal, the Aucilla 49 yr ny f HERE AND THERE 1. Security Watch, Conditions Normal. 2. That ' s Using Your Head 1 3. Gee, That Sun Feels Good. 4. Hey, Boats! 5. Fantail Folly. 6. Go Get Him, Shaw. 50 ■ : -5 i - jT I (■■■■■MHHHBMBHSIi ' £% P ' ' 1 Tl B 3i w« i -O.K. ' . j ; i Ci III ■ea i as A am 1. Now, Turn To. 2. Skin Divers, Inc. 3. Beach Bums. 4. Diver at Work. 5. . . .And He Looked Like a Peaddler Just Opening His Pack. 6. Start Pumping. 7. Flying High. 8. Standby to Receive Northampton to Port. 9. What We Need Is a Can of Worms. 51 We have visited many lands during this memorable Med- iterranean cruise. In each new port the AUCILLA has floivn our country ' s flag with credit, and we have made friends in the process. Your enthusiastic, efficient and faithful performance of duty has made the A UCILLA an outstanding unit of the Fleet and the proud wearer of the Navy ' E ' . lam proud to have been your Commanding Officer. I extend to all hands a hearty ' Well Done ' and my best wishes for many happy sailings. B. TAYLOR Captain, U.S. Navy 52 mm y 5 I • « iJ • H  H o I r o suatiirrcD ar- in. STtMMB 3t lUkrtt imMHIt IXT 3t - .■ Z- . • — ::::. z MEDITEKRANEA.N HEX rf i I MM I mm lULUIlllHtlTI 1 1 11 ■ ' A N I A I - • •• -l I ' ■ ' -f ' II I ' I. c. PI I A ' r r = ' I ' a — - - ' ' 3K. A r v — a • - . :- H I- -1 C A ,s A .1 r r R K r V _; ' ' : V . - - - X rv ..V ' .•- ..y- i-«v.. - r- ' - .. - 4W-V I