Baltimore (CA 68) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 109 text:

EX DIVISION Known boza Peoria to poetic Pakistan, from Portland ' co the political banks of the Potomoc, as the poor paper and pencil-pushing Tjersons of the BALTIMORE, the punchy and profane partisans of the EX Division, perturbed only by the paucity of petty ofiBcers, participate punctually in pouring through and palpitatingly processing preposterous piles, packs, and pyramids of peculiar paper sand prosaic pamphlets, propelled by the paradigm propinquity of our pragmatical officers. It is well-known that each division thinks it is the best, hardest-working division of martyrs aboard. Not so the EX Division. It KNOWS it is. Fending off taunts of Rackets- from our ever-lovin ' shipmates, the EX Di -ision goes about the business of administering the BALTIMORE, despite a dire shortage of rated men in the di- ision. Of the original division which gathered on the fantail that memorable, rainy, cold, recommissioning day in Bremerton, oidy jix men remain - Chief Nelson, Rich Richardson, Al Hendricks, George Burck, Leo Thomas, and Al Shapiro, the rest going their individual ways of either ' ransfer or discharge. Besides miming the Captain ' s, Esecutives Officer ' s, Training and Education, Legal, Chaplain ' s, and Public Informa- tion 3ffices, as well as the Print Shop and Photography Lab, the EX Division mans the key circuits not only for GQ but for Special Sea Detail, Condition watches, and all special datails such as refueling and personnel transfer. ' Were it noi. for the labors of the EX Division, there would be no leaves, no liberty, no advancements, no schools, B 30 transfers, no pay, and sad to relate, no masts or courts-martials. Shortage of men, long hours, and all, the EX Division has nevertheless performed an outstanding job in helping to recommission the BALTIMORE and taking it on its Med cruise. Lord knows, we would have preferred to have remained in Boston for these six months, but since we did come over, vre are forced to admit that we enjoyed the cruise tremendously, as did everyone else aboard. We were slightly bewildered by most of the places, but it was love at first sight with fascinating France. It wmi a fine cruise, and a lot of places are no longer just names to us, but living and lasting memories. • m sr- ' tveryonrN goc a record

Page 111 text:

SIXTH DIVISION and 20,000 iiiili-s. « ■ liave pnivi-ii imrM-lves an oulstamliiif; (livi ii)ii. Vie have seen many changes - impossihh- iDoking knots were finally tied, and now it isn ' t a major project to splice a line. Fueling at sea (at first, a horrihle thought) is now one of our specialties. Yes, we have come a long wav. Oiniputed in brooms and swabs, it seems even further. But now that we ' re part of the BALTIMORE, it was worth it. We man our GQ stations with gusto and success (c en when GQ comes at 0200). and we ' re not too bad at l-AA either. We haven ' t been able to turn the crew ' s lounge into a chrome-and-glass wonder, but at least it ' s clean and comfortable now. We ' ve learned a lot of things on this cruise - and our liberty has been good. We have talked with Communists on llit -1rc.l Mtid with the little marvels who own the sidewalk cafes. We have wonilcnil uli iiiericans drink beer in the land of wine and cognac, and have come to ifu- cone hision that American women are still ■•better than e er. In Naples, the spaghetti and meatballs (of which the Italians never heard) were good even though the meatballs turned out be cut-up hot dogs. But the one lesson we have all learned through experience or observation is that, on shipboard or ashore, the iruli%idual is onlv part of ibe whole. And th - whole for us is the B AI.TI MOB K, for whom we ' ll take on :ill comers.