Baltimore (CA 68) - Naval Cruise Book

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■M X ■ A W The i,u. l.r-. loiidi

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FIRST DIVISION Other divisions may brag and boast. About their own exploits, they all raise a toast; We ' re bigger, we ' re better, we ' re sharper, they claim. But what are the facts that make up their fame ? From the First Division there is no such noise, ' Cause it ' s a good way to tell the men from the boys. But behind Sandy and Steely and Beebe and Tom, We ' ve come a long way from boots and the farm. So a little self praise won ' t be too wrong. If we ' ve got the facts to back up our song. We ' re fighters and lovers and workers, for sure. All this has been shown on our Medi- terranean tour. In St. Jean and Toulon, and Sicily shores. We ' ve had plenty to drink and kept out of troiible. Barrels of cognac we ' ve consumed with the rest. The dollies they claim were best by taste test. Lest one get the opinion we only have fun. Let them sweat out G. Q. in old turret one. Or see team work unequaled, that ' s really a sight. When we all pull together and rep- lenish at night. Just to be sure you know who we be. We ' ll muster by names that we use while at sea. There ' s Lex and Andy and Atencio Joe, Ayers and Beebe, the old man you know. Chick Beeman and Bennett and Bledsoe, K. E., Brady and Bucci and Buckley you see. Chandler short timer and iiBlue Eyes» Qark, Blinky Croson and Dainty, they ' ve all made their mark. Then Demoss and Evans they call Lefty Dell Max Flynn and Foreman, and Foret as well. Fowler I ' ve heard came back in his shorts, Gettle and Gregory, gunners of sorts, Sandy Hanes and Harding, and Hodges, D. G., Holmes and two Johnsons, C. H. and D., Knut Knutson, Frenchy LaFortune both really swell, Mahon and McGuigan with muscles as well. Then Mohr and Partin and Pate each a striver. And T. A. D. Perry, our pickup driver, Roberts and Roney and Sandy a leader, Sharlock and Sharpe the beaver so eager. Shoemaker and Silva and Stelly, turret boss, Strickland, Dick Swisher, and Neal Szabados, Miss Jo Templeton, Thomas our leading P. O., Trawick and Vannote first class you know, Doc Vice, Vigenski, and Weber no fakers, Carl Williams the boy called Billy Goat Acres , Funny WilUams and to my relief. We wind up the list with Yardley, The Chief. Templrlon. BniHy.

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B DIVISION The Baker Division is composed of volunteers. Better known as the Black Gang ' of the Snypes, it is, from the lowest rate to the highest rank, an excellent division of men. Our specific job is operating the boilers which are the backbone of all power aboard the Baltimore. Without such a division, this ship, or any other man o war, would be lifeless. Some of the other duties we have are rather dirty, such as cleaning firesides and diving bilges. But this does not prevent us from having clean living and working spaces. We are also known as the Sunshine Division, mainly because of all the sun and fresh air we never get. When not on watch, we turn to. But all this is taken in stride. In our compartment we have Jelly Belly Geiman, who is P. P. O. He is good at keeping other men out of their racks but sneaks in himself. There ' s a regulation first class who is in charge of No. 2 fire hose and who never gives his men a minute ' s rest. We have two barbers who will cut anyone ' s hair - for a price: Dappen and Peruchetti. A hillbilly, Kennedy, is the proud owner of three guitars. Nevers gives the boys a minute of silence. Last but not least, we have LaDuke. The cruise was not completed by all of us and all are disappointed. We hope we will all meet again on another pleasure cruise here in the Med.