Aucilla (AO 56) - Naval Cruise Book

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!£ 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.

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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

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