Belle Grove (LSD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 88 of the 1960 volume:

v FEBRUARY-JULY 196£) HISTORY OF BELLE B iiilt by the Moore Drydock (lonipany of Oaklaiul California, the U. S. S. Belle Grove was launched 17 February 1943. Following the Navy ' s policy of naming Landing Ship Docks for homes of past presidents and places of historical interest. Belle named in honor of the Grove was birthplace of James Madison, fourth President of the United States. During World War 1! Belle earned six battle stars for participation in the following operations : Gilbert Islands, November 1943... Marshall Islands, occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro atolls, February 1944 . . . Marianas, capture and occupation of Saipan, Summer 1944 . . . Tinian capture and occupation . . . Leyte landings, November 1944 ... Iwo Jima assault and occupation, March 1945. She also earned the Navy Occupation Service Medal, Pacific, for service in occupied Japanese waters during the Fall of 1945 and the China Service Medal for the same period. Before sailing for Western Pacific waters in February, Belle spent four months in the San Francisco Naval Shipyard getting painted outside and inside, having some of her guns removed, her ribs strengthened and her bottom cleaned. She was burned and patched, given a whaleboat and hifi, her port engine was lighted and the bearings replaced, her cranes were tested and her welldeck planking was renewed. And then she had seatrials. The San Francisco lightship was circled and recircled. Finally after eight seatrials the engine knocks and bumps were quieted enough for her to leave the Golden Gate behind enroute to Christmas in Long Beach and a January session of underway training in San Diego. Belle is 72 feet in the beam and 458 feet long. She displaces 4, 490 tons and can do fifteen knots on a good day. THE PORTSIDE BEARING EATER NAVY TIMES 21 MARCH . . . BELLE GROVE - 1st OF AMPHIBS - STILL DOING HER SHARE ON LINE CORONADO. Calif. - When the nation ' s military leaders decided that amphibious warfare definitely had a place during World War II, they authorized the building of a new class of ships. One of the oldest still in use is the dock landing ship, designed to carry troops and equipment and the craft needed to put them ashore on invasion beaches. The Belle Grove was the first of the Pacific Fleet ' s amphibious arsenal. She was authorized late in 1Q41. her keel was laid in Oakland Oct. 27, 191-2, and she was launched Feb. 17, 1943, just one year after the Amphibious Force became part of the Navy ' s war. When onlv 27 months old, the ship had already undergone her baptism of fire. Her first campaign was that of the Gilbert Islands, when her landing craft carried ashore the Marines that took the islands in bitter fighting. Participation in eight successful invasions of enemy-held territory during those 27 months earned the Belle Grove six battle stars. On New Year ' s Eve of 1945, a weary Belle Grove steamed into San Francisco. She had logged 67.000 miles in the battle-torn Pacific. After the war the amphibious pioneer was decommissioned and filed away in the mothball fleet. Korea and the shadow of hostilities there brought about her recommissioning, and she was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet. While on Mediterranean deployment in 1952, she participated in Operation Grand Slam, the first of the NATO exercises. A yard overhaul in Charleston, S.C, came for the Belle upon her return from the Mediterranean, and a transfer back to the Pacific Fleet followed. Since that time, she has been on several operational tours of the Western Pacific. Now. as the Amphibious Forces enter their 19th year, the aging warhorse is still with them. Outfitted with a landing platform, she combines her original ship-to-shore movements with vertical envelopment. Ihis capability, a modern concept, adds to her invasion effectiveness. NO MORE BLIMP DEFENSE AFT COMMANDER JOHNSTON Coniiiiander Johnston was commissioned Ensign USNR at U.S. Navy Midshipman School. New York. New York in January 1942 and served as a Radar Plot (CIC) officer on hoard the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE iCV-6) through July 1944 seeing action in the battles of Guadalcanal, (iilherts. Marshalls. Truck. Palau. Holiandia, and the Marianas. He attended U.S. Navy Post Graduate School 1946 - 1948 and was commis- sioned in tlie rejiular Na vv in 1946. He has served on board the USS OAKLAND, USS WRIGHT and the USS LOS ANGELES. He was also assigned to duty with the Armed Forces Special W ' eajHins Project in 1952 and again in 1958. Commander Johnston assumed command of the U.S.S. BELLE GROVE (LSD-2) in July 1959. LCDR ROTHWELL LCDR James G. Rothwell, USN is the Kxecutive Officer. Iff joined the l?Kf.I.E GROVE in November 1959 after workinf for two years with NAV SEC, MAAG, Japan. Tfie Commander fias served as Naval Gunfire Eiaison Officer for flie First Marine Division, operations officer on tlie USS GUADALUPE, Executive Officer and Navigator on I ST-1 123, and as a division officer alx.anl the USS DULUTH, USS PASADENA, and the USS HORNET. ECDR Rotliwell has also had the benefit of eleven months at the General Line School, U. S. Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California. He is married, has two children and has his home in Coronado. California. PART OF THE WORK LOAD PEAS FOR THE PEASHOOTERS EMBARKATION OF NUTRITION, MILES SDl IN CHARGE FINAL PREPARATIONS f • ' ■-v GRRRR With a great flurry of activity Belle readied herself for an extensive period of operation. All hands brought shells and stores aboard and COMPHIBRON 7 arrived to insure that she was ready to sail. UNDERWAY WESTPAC TUESDAY 16 FEBRUARY THE STEAMING ROUTINE . . . m. f.w n - A Mm ' On 16 February we departei Long Beach leaving the smal groups of well -wishers standin on the dock to get smalle before disappearing for six months We sortied out the east breakwate as part of Task Unit 32. 9. 1 am commenced our steaming routine The Navigator sacked out in th wardroom. Tiampo increased hi geedunk sales and the pay lin formed as usual. FIRST STOP... WE PAY HOMAGE TO THE U. S. S. ARIZONA, THE WATERY MASS GRAVE OF A GREW, AND SENSE THE STUPIDITY AND FUTILITY OF MAN ' S INHUMANITY TO MAN CANADIAN AMERICAN ACCORD IT ' S A BARGAIN ... HAWAII... After seven days of formation steaming through cahii seas. Diamond Head loomed into view. The initial short leg of our trip to Westpac had been accomplished. The crew donned their dress canvas and hit the beach to mingle with the natives for a dav and a half of relaxation. They went to the beach, had a cooler or two and met the Canadians who had formed our Destroyer screen on the voyage to Hawaii. J,V-- :.,v._ - Up PSmBI BHI V B K s B B jn ' hE - ; jini, . -v A : H ; ll ' ' ' ' i ' SB.- ij L ■ i d ' fiiKif . — — — i Early on the morning of the 25th we steamed out of Pearl Harhor and proceeded independent of the Task Unit in order to lessen the strain on our refurhished old uniflow engines. We left the palms and cliffs of the Hawaian Islands and set sail into the vast emptiness of the Pacific Ocean. .f . ' SIeSS kSnS I h y fl B HpMJ H Ul 1 . - .j4[ T— - i g jH i M Ei B B ' i l RLTO OKINAWA ■ feis Steaming independently enroute from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to Buckner Bay, Okinawa Ryukyup Islands in accordance with COMPHIBPAC movement order 1-60 as modified by COM PHIBRON SEVEN message 22 2247Z of February 1960, on course 274°T. The ship settles into a routine that includes such activities as watch standing, boxing, loafing about the decks with a guitar or deck of cards... and watching such outstanding flicks as THE GIANT SPIDERS or THE GIANT CLAW . . . watches are relieved, chow is served, hair is cut, and the Belle steams on with only a few strav birds to break the monotony of sky and water. ME WORRY? ROPE YARN SUNDAY MAHAN CARVING HIS BOSS i i - 1 ll !v l 1 I r i4 4. esr ' ' ' Ail-)-! ' ■■ l B5 VW., U ) glf -- -•■$ «e 6S . vfvy - ■% . A ;i • SB«i ■: i«3: OKINAWA 9 March . . . 1949 Anchored in anchorage B 173 Buckner Bay, Okinawa, in 9 fathoms of water, fine sand bottom, with 45 fathoms of chain on deck to the port anchor . . . the 4200 mile trip from Hawaii makes Okinawa a welcome sight and towns One, Two, Three, etc. are rapidly invaded by a crew seeking various forms of entertainment and a res[iite from the steaming routine. ON DECK THE LIBERTY PARTY LIGHTEN THE BILLFOLD TIME THE WESTPAC BARGAIN III NTERS BEGLX THE 111 T Vncliorcil ill ]iiiil mean? (liftei ' eiit tluiii: tn ilitteitMil jk ' i | lie. de|icndini; on what section %() ' l1 are ill. Part oi t!ie liberl -•■I ' limi j ne a-hine !■) see the countr .-ide spotted with llie :-lran2:e hea il constructed tomli-. ami to take iiictuifv ol the Teahouse of The August Mdon anil ot the streets lined sith wooden shacks. Other? get no further than the first source ot liquid retreshment or native companionship. COOLERS FOR THE TOURISTS IN THE TEAHOUSE FROM CLIPPERS TO GUITAR COXSWAIN CARRY OUT YOUR ORDERS Meanwhile the long - suffering duty section is left on board restore AC power, repair the libertv boat engine, and stand watches ... in radio, on the quarterdeck, on the foc ' sle and But wait til nn the wingwa tomorrow night. OME REMAIN ABOARD... TO STAND WATCHES, REPAIR ENGINES, SAVE MONEY AND RECOVER V j X N ll MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK OKINAWA CAN BE BEAUTIFUL OPERATION BLUESTAR ll T his operation will l)e re- membered more as a battle against the elements than as a war agamst any ag- gressive force real or simulated. Rain, high winds and choppy seas caused delays, anchor dragging, hairy night steaming and anchorage approaches, and an expanding square search for five UDT personnel adrift if k in a rubber raft. The operation required a great amount of ballasting and deballasting, loading and unloading from both the superdeck and welldeck by the First and Second Divisions, and a full measure of coopera- tion with the 130 Marines embarked for the two week period. Operation Bluestar began at 1300 on the 17th of March as the E.G. sortied out of Buckner Bay with Task Unit 74.1.3 composed primarily of Transron 7. Except for two crewmembers who suffered injuries during recreation fighting on the beach and had to be left behind in casts, the ship was fully prepared for an operation that proved to be one of the largest and most successful amphibious invasions in recent years. While steaming in forma- tion enroute to the operating area off the southwest ti[) of Taiwan we were constantly harrassed by enemy submarines and [)lanes and all hands frequently found tiiemselves hustling to their general quar- ters stations, while the B. G. zig-zagged and made emergency turns. V EMBARKATION MEANS LABOR ON THE WINGWALLS ... ASHWORTH BM2 IN CHARGE MARINES COME ABOARD On the morning of the 18th our Engine- ering Officer earned the title of the human cam when the Belle was required to do some sinua- tintr without the use of her sinuous course clock which was suddenly found to be inope- rative. Lt. Hunt who had the conn and Weller j QMS who had the helm managed to dodge ' the rest of the formation for over an hour and did an admirable job of remaining within the general vicinity of assigned station. On ttie 28th at 0245 we (ir()[);)P l tlic hodk about 1000 yards off the heach after weaving throiii h heavy tiaflii- without the heneCit of runninj lii ' hts and with a rniniriiuin of reliahle navigational aids. Within a few hours our 130 Marines and all their vehicles, plus hundreds of troops from other ships were on the beaches of Taiwan proving once again the capabilities of a strong amphibious force. ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS EVERYONE HAS A JOB AND DOES A JOB r The t reatest threat to an amphibious force as it sits off the beach debarking the men and material necessary to wage war on the hind is from the air. Although we may assume air supremacy there is still an urgent need for remaining constantly alert and pre- pared to defend the ship at general (]uarters. THE CLIMAX OF WEEKS OF I.AROUR AND MONTHS OF PLANNING OCCURS WHEN THE SURF LINE IS PASSED AND THE BEACHHEAD ESTABLISHED The Marine Landinf Vehicle Tank (LVT) is an extraordinary low silhouette vehicle designed to carry troops from ship to shore in a concentrated armored assault upon enemy beaches. They are capable of providing limited fire power and can swiftly carry the assault inland with true amphibian efficiency. _ - The overall view of an amphibious operation is provided in the above picture. In the fores;round are the first waves of troop carrying LVT ' S. In the background are the supporting ships of the amphibious task force. There are Cruisers and Dest- royers on hand to jirovide shore bombardment and fleet air defense, amphibious ships for transporting and debarking the necessities of land v arfare, and th re are the hundreds of small boats to accomplish the ship to shore movement. The Skid Tango II [lictured at the right, manned by LTJG Hill, ENS Hubbard, Sauls SMSN, Thompson SN, and Ownby RMSN, served as cowboy to the herds of boats gathered round the beach area. ■3. This time there were no shells whinning overhead, no demolished vehicles slipping; away with the tide, and no bloody men to be bandaged or buried. Instead there was a small boy, full of both shyness and curiosity, wondering what we were doing on the beach that is usually his peaceful front yard. There were also official observers on hand from the Chinese Nationalist Army possibly imagining how the beach could have been defended against a different invader at a different time. And we all snapped pictures and strolled about as tourists weighted with the feeling that on some other day, at some other time this beach might be running red under our feet. Except for a one day expanding square search for five UDT men adrift in a raft who were finally located safe on a small island about fifty miles from the landing beaches the B. G. remained at anchor, swept by high winds and rain. We dragged the starboard anchor and put out the port. And then the Marines came down out ot the hills and we loaded them back aboani. On Tuesday 29 March at 14.50 we happily got under way on our first backloading trip leaving Taiwan and some miserable weather behind. EMBARKATION A smooth job of embarkation requir es planning, good timing, expeditious handling of materials by deck department personnel, and competent management of ballast control equipment by engineering people. For example the ship must be ballasted down to the sill upon arrival in the anchorage area, communications between ship and shore must be established and the shore to ship movement properly timed. LCU ' S are unloaded, their cargo placed upon the superdeck by crane at the same time that small craft, tanks, trucks or LVT ' S are cautiously maneuvered into their parking spaces in the welldeck. The same story is true for debarkation except that the whole process is reversed. During the backloading; phase the Belle Grove visited KAOHSUING. Buckner Bay. and Iwakuni and steamed continuously for two weeks carrying various Marine equipment and personnel home from the operation. The weather was generally fine and the card games, guitar sessions and sleeping routine about the decks that is characteristic of independent steaming off-hours began again. The above picture describes the Sunday morning scene during good weather, when LTJG Thomas and ENS Hubbard move their personal battle against religious apathy above decks into the fresh air and sunshine. Depicted below is the foc ' sle taking a wave on one of those gray days when the wind blows, the spray flies, and we catch our meal as it slides up and down the table. TAPS. TAPS. LIGHTS OUT, ALL HANDS MAINTAIN SILENCE ABOUT THE DECKS . . . STEAMING INDEPENDENTLY OFF THE COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN, ' ENROUTE IWAKUNI FROM KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN X FISHNETS, DISCOLORED WATER, SHIPS, BOATS, GARBAGE, PORPOISE, FISH, LAND, AND WATER, WATER, WATER, . . . BETWEEN LONG BEACH AND THE RETURN TO LONG BEACH ARE SIX MONTHS AND 25,000 MILES OF WATER. DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT TWO HUNDRED « pj , PREPAREDNESS REQUIRES DRILLS AND MORE DRILLS i MAN OVERBOARD . . PORTSIDE . . . The ship IS brought sharply to port and begins backin. down. The uhaleboat is quickly manned bv a runners rf ' T ' !l ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' corpsman. en,inee; bow- hook and OOD. The engine is started as ..on as the boat hits the water and a course is set for the man called U car. Lach time we trv to complete the exercise with increased speed and efficiency. Meanwhile the crew musters at quarters and we find out who was hidden this time omeday no one might be hidden. BINGO!!! A FAMILIAR CRY THAT MEANS THE PASSENGERS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN APAN ir Ik. -I?;;s - THE HITCH - HIKERS Belle arrived in Yokosuka, Japan for a ten day period of minor repairs and overhaul and some greatly anticipated liberty on the 15th of March. The sale of binoculars, pearls, kimonos and dishes increased 100% throughout Yokosuka and in the shipstore ashore as the hoarded money of Belle Grove people came back into circulation. Some of the more adventureous proceeded to take bicycle trips into the remote Japanese country- side where the more culturally pure segment of society was seen at work and at play. MOORING STARBOARD SIDE TO THE U. S. S. POINT DEFIANCE AT BERTH 5 -r. Others found enjoyment in the train ride to Tokyo, and in a self stvled tour of the city. The usual schedule of activi- ties included climbing Tokyo tower, wandering about the Imperial Palace grounds, and enjoying the varied nightlife of the city. Meanwhile, back on the ship, the chinaware and kimonos continued to pile up. •  .. ' V. T m 7ii . It- I -J Here are three scenes cliaracteristic of he Tokyo area. The U.S.O. is located on he Ginza which is the Japanese equivelant )f Broadway, located in the heart of Tokyo. The Great Buddha or Daibutsu at Kama- cura is an impressive Japanese shrine that is symbolic of a culture based upon thousands of years of suffering, experience, and learning. The scene below is taken from the Kabuki theatre where the shows are staged with great pageantry and color. 2 _ 2 2 ■ H a 13 fas ■■■BBB ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■1 IB ■ ■ ■1 ■1 ■ sff i tm M .n-1,; 2 i .i- When we shift the scene to Yokosuka we think of a few streets of blazing neon rivalling Coney Island for the greatest number of bizarre impressions. There are plenty of wine, women and songs for everyone, or at least that is what the signs say. If you go to the right place you can get tattooed with an elephant while you are fitted for a suit. On 25 March we com- menced steaming 1,650 miles to the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. • WAR IS HELL. PROMOTION OF THE PEOPLE TO - PEOPLE PROGRAM YOUTH AND EDUCATION. THE FUTURE OF JAPAN Hf -T - THE ART OF EATING RELEARNED BY VITULLI, ET3 i ff« . . G !; r- M. i9. HONG KONG BCC HONG KONG IS A GOSMOPOLITAN BLEND OF EASTERN AND WESTERN CIVILIZATION COMBINING THE OLD AND THE NEW, THE BAD AND THE GOOD OF BOTH PREARRIVAL HONG KONG ACTIVITIES M ' -i l MILITARY REQUIREMENTS FOR PO 3 2 ? THE CAPTAIN AND THE BEATNIK FIVE DAYS OF RECREATION KEEP THE BOATS FLOWING STEADILY BETWEEN THE SHIP AND FENWICK PIER. WE ALL GOT A MAXIMUM OF RECREATION AND A MINIMUM OF REST. H - iawpUr- - - : i ' ■ ' ' ' • ' ■ ' ' - ' ' ■ ' ■ ' ' •■: ■ ; . j; - .-w —a . E.- -«_i hi ' V IJ . r-4.,- ' - , .  O. m. ., , 5 w i ' ' B I i:-, ' ' -iX ' - - - ' i ' - i i jio •- r li « Jii ' •-4 11- rrs ' T§ IKjtK bALfVl GARDENS THE LARGE ESTATE OF A HICH CURE-ALL MANUFACTURER IS ONE OF HONG KONG ' S MOST VISITED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. some coolers for the pho- to(;raphers n -• ' -■: BELLE SMOKING WHITE WITH KOWLOON AND THE MOUNTAINS OF THE NEW TERRIT ORIES IN THE BACKGROUND I CHIEF WILLIAMS DOES SOME SHOPPING WHILE BUCK DOES SOME EXAMINING Chiefs to be. Hodgdon BTl. Pena GMl, Hudson CSl. and Spurgeon QMl, found Hong Kong ideal for fullfilling tlieir uniform require- ments economically. Hong Kong is also ideal for the amateur photographer who can spend davs wandering down the crowded streets shooting the strange signs, cluttered shops, and people, people, people. DON ' [ BliV IT . . . TUKKLS NO MORE ROOM ON THE SHIP t % ONE EAMII.Y AMONG THOISANDS WHO DEFEND ON THE WATER EOR THEIR [,1VIN(; AND THEIR HOME WE DEPART HONG KONG 15 MAY... FOR YOKOSUKA VIA KAOHSIUNG M lii-iUlil VICTORY BMl, DISMUKB:S EN1,ELLI0T MRl, PRINGLE MMl, AND DAY MMl, ARE INSTRUCTED BY PEN A GMl  «WB. J. I ' 1 --- SSS. m9 .}:iM. READY ON THE RIGHT, READY ON THE LEET . . . mmxK_ PEN A GiMC GK ' IS IMIIATED I ' AI KEH EM.i AND HURT DCS W AI.KIW; THEIR HEAT hnl . Fri rwn, Ol RIST EYE VIEW OF TOKYO TOWER EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IS WELCOME AND FREE We hired a Ini.s and toured Tokyo tor a tlay. On 29 Mav e left okosuka for operation Seahawk nfT tlie east coast of Korea. We loaded at Buckner Bav Okinawa and managed to get the men and e jLiipment ashore at the right place at tlie riuht time. The Belle Grove pulled into Yokosuka upon the completion of operation Seahawk in order to make preparations lor tlie lon : haul back to Long Beach. Stores came aboard and last minute minor repairs were ac- complished while we enjoyed our last Japanese liberty. Ensign Surr met vith the Jajianese W orld Federalists for the last time alter having shared in some ol llieii- meetings and activities. Our disbursing officer is an active member of this world wide organizatioi world law. organization whose goal is enforceable HOMEWARD BOUND The six thousand mile trip home began on the fifth of July. The bingo and movies helped the tin to pass more quickly as we all iegan to feel the excitement of the anticipated reunion with our friem and loved ones. Another successful Western Pacific cruise by the U.S.S. Belle Grove, the oldest dog in the Navy w completed as Long Beach light and the breakwater broke into view. NGINEERING After a major overhaul of the boilers, main propulsion and auxiliary machinery at the U.S. Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, we commenced a four week training period in San Diego. The Fleet Training Group put the engineering personnel through numerous engineering and casualty control drills. This training, a necessary refresher for experienced personnel, was invaluable for indoctrinating new personnel that had reported aboard for duty during the overhaul period. Mid-February we departed CONUS for the WestPac Cruise. During this cruise our ancient Skinner Jniflo ' s recorded approximately 29,000 engine miles steamed. For the engineering department personnel the ;ruise was an enjovable one with no major machinery casualties. Only the routine maintenance of the main and auxiliary machinery has been the necessary work for he MM ' s, BT ' s and EM ' s to assist the USS BELLE GROVE in meeting her assigned commitments. The A md R Divisions are perfectionists when it comes to flooding and deballasting the well deck, and this cruise jave them added experience and many opportunities to display their abilites. The MR ' s kept the lathes and nilling machine squealing and whinning and the EN ' s kept the small boats running during operations and iberty hours. Standing watces in the main and auxiliary machinery spaces, in temperatures above 100°F has been he greatest and most disagreeable task required of engineering personnel. However, the SNIPES are ready o answer all bells when the Captain ' s orders are UNDERWAY. PRODUCTION IN THE SHIPFITTER SHOP BY COLE SFl, FANNING FN, KIEL SFM2, YCOY FN, AND HUFFMAN FN. MURPHY MRFN AND YCOY FN ON THE MILLING MACHINE AND GRINDER RESPECTIVELY. - ff CHMACH LEONARD. WILLIAMS ETC, OLSON MMC, PRINGLE MMl, DAY MMl, LADELL MMl, HENDERSON MM2, STEPP MM3, AT QUARTERS FOR MAN OVERBOARD. CHCARP MILLER SUPERVISES FUELING OF THE LVT ' S IN THE WELLDECK PRIOR TO OPERATION BLUESTAR. WILDER SFP3 WIELDS THE HOSE. GRIER FA. INSIDE THE SHIPS ' TRANSPORTATION VANDERWARKER EMFN. AND FORREST EMS CHECK A BATTERY McLEMORE EMS, NEWTON EMS, CRANE EMI, ENJOYING THEIR WORK WILSON FN, PLAYS WITH THE PITLOG IN THE STARBOARD ENGINEROOM Engineering personnel can be :ound any place on the ship repair- ing and maintaining all manner of jquipment from light bulbs to bear- ings in the main engines. On this oage we have Clark ICl aloft re- oairing the annemometer. Groover FA, cleaning the firesides inside J ♦ J mL n the boiler. Clark. Wilder. Vanderwarker and estbrook rigging lights on the superdeck for the night evacuation of Bolin SN, bv helicopter after his leg was broken while offloading the superdeck at Numazu, CHCARP Miller on watch with Dillim MM3 and Gillaspv FN in main control, and Hodgdon. King and Keith BTFN completing the hookup in preparation underwav fueling. HENDERSON MM2 AND WESTBROOK FN MAKE AN ENTRY BYRUM SFP3 AND CHRllSTANSEN SFM 3 AT THE CONTROLS PERATIONS H H Proper mention of the operations department must include a word about the H H personnel and their activities. The department is composed of four independent L m crroups: Signal gang, Radiomen, Radarmen, and last but not least the electronic technicians. k| r Whenever the signal gang gets untangled from their flaghoists, their fearless little boss. with lights blinking and flags raised on high, leads them into mortal combat with the U.S.S. Cabildo. Second, there are the men of the radio gang who have foresaken the English language for a rinkydink tongue of dits and dahs . Since the beginning of the cruise they have been known to suffer from peculiar nightmares in which they are pursued by thousands of angry green pencil marks. The words most often heard from the walking dead of the radar gang were THE $ - ' C ' f RADAR IS OUT AGAIN . . . and ONLY 439 DAYS LEET . These knights of the square-table (DRT) consisted of seven short-timers and one. lifer. In a furious gallant charge against the enemy, the Navigation Department, the battle cries were: These mountain peaks do cut sometimes ... An E. P. is better than nothing ... They ' ve changed tracks again . . . Go up and see where we are . . . Finally there were the gang of electronic technicians, who hide out in the 0 division lounge, otherwise known as the E.T. shack. Their leader, a not so widely read poet-author could be found guiding his men up the main mast or through the mysterious maze that is the radar. These amateur detectives could find every- thing but their tools. What these groups of men have accomplished through combined effort is worthy of note. During this last year their antics have survived two Depart- ment Heads, three Communication Officers and two division officers. Thev have guided two search and rescue missions without losing a man themselves, they have plotted rocks advancing at twelve knots and during operation Blue Star they reached their peak of achievement when they successfully flew a kite of broom poles, baling wire, and bed sheets from the superdeck. Lt. Johnston is the man at the helm of the department. He relieved Lt Marsh who left for destroyer dutv in April. LtJG Good is the Com- munications Officer bavins relieved LtJG Hanna in January when the latter left for duty with an LCU Division in San Diego. ENS Hubbard is the division officer whose special responsibility is Combat. LT JOHNSTON AND LTJG GOOD •I HAVE THE DECK AND THE CONN . RADARGANG ■m% JMm u  n wiw WATERS RD2, KLOTZ RDSN, BARBER SN, AND WRIGHT RD3 WORKING WITH THEIR RUBBER RULER AND WEEGIE BOARD ON THE SQUARE TABLE Mathis RD3, cuts some mountain peaks while Mace RD2 plots a Bogey. These are typical scenes in the radar den where everyone makes a special effort to keep smiiino;. while the voice keeps saying. Range and bearing to the guide . . . course speed and CPA on ' Skunk ' echo through papa ... and while you ' re at it turn up the gain . . . THE SIGNALGANO AMES SMI BROOKS SM2, DEXTER SMSN AND AMES ON THE SIGNAL BRIDGE SAULS SMSN TALKS TO THE BEACH WHILE AMES READS AT THE LEFT 50YER ET2, JOHNSON RDSN AND PLUMMER TSN PLAY WITH THEIR TUBES AND VIRES . . . VITULLI ET3 WAS LAST SEEN :LIMBING INSIDE THE RADAR. HUNNEMEYER RM3 OWNBY RMSN The ships ' office gang, ably led by the aiddha (who never did get his orders) ontinuously assaulted and conquered lountainous piles of paper work. To their redit is the ships ' library, the fact tliat 10 one ever did know who their division fficer was. and that they were able to )lacate the whims ot fifteen part-time lepartment heads and three full-time ships ' lecretaries. ASHTON PN2 AND LANGER YNSN KEEP THE PAPERS SHUFFLING UPPLY TIh ' Mi|ipK l i ' |uiliii. ' iil I- kcM-.l lo ill. ' lii ' ll. ' linne sli. an, Th. ' Tim. Can Dii ' I.eailing llie .lf|)arl- nl ' hi.li I rale-J hi,,- ,,I iIi,- l,e,l ,ui.|)K .le|,ar(i.i. ' iil- iii I ' IIIMPM:. i- I.P William li Di. key. L S . I.T Dakin laine lo llii- Belle- l.nne in July nl ' ' i H afler lia in;; -.eryeil liiitli at -ea aii l j liore Miice l ' ) ' i2. llfi (nni|)lelmg ihi rriiisp. lie i-, scheduleil tii atlerni the StanfnnJ Business Scliiiul lor liirlher Iraininji in -ii|t|)lv mailer- Mr r)i.ke a---isLiiii Inr ili-lmr-infi dml slii] s service activities as LTJC Hill !lO was relieved iiM(h IV llirmigli ihe .rinse In KNS Surr. Mr. Hill nas ordered to shore duty at USNTC. Bainbridge. . lar land. I ' lu- Su]i[ l l). ' |.ai liiM ' iil III. hides hranches fur disbursing, ship ' s service, stores, coniniissarv. and stewards. Mhlial. ' .l -Mill ill.- .li-|MrIiii.-iili- llie Meiliial or H Divisi.in tl.iiidlin a hew ildi-nng jrrav ol liillerenl currencies. c.uii|uitiiig cvervb.KK - |ia . and -cllliiig -linii- p.ili.d and Mjvel .laiiii- I- all [larl of a dav ' - «ork l.u Wailli Ukl, ulio. ii i|iiii. I m|Ii Mr Siiii. i- ihe disbursing bran.li Wai.li is aU.i ihe leading |.cll otiicer lor S ' Dnisioii. The stores bran, h is led liv Abad Ski. an.l in.lu.ies ihe hdl.iuing men: l.are SK2. M. Iiilosi, Ski. Kickhusch SK.3. Burns SkSN. Buck SN. McCloiid . ' sN. and Schner SN, riiesi- are the men ulio Imiiid ihal spare part m time of ni-ed. and ordereil llic b.iling wire an.l glu.- ne.-essar lo ki-r|i ihc ol.lcsi 1 I) m the M v -Hcni. I LT DICKEY CONFERS WITH ABAD SKI WHILE BURNS SKSN AND LAREZ SK2 CONTINUE SHIP ' S WORK . The Commissary Branch led by Hudson CSl, includes Perso CSI, Hansen CS2, Froh witter CS2, Varon CSSN, Shropshire SN, Jones SN, and eleven messcooks led by Ashworth BM2. These were the men respon- sible for making the Belle Grove one of the best feeding ships in PHIBPAC. and one of the nominees for the Ney award. iiven to the Navy ' s best general mess afloat each year. The Ship ' s Service Branch includes Tiampo SH2, in charge of the ship ' s store ; Mahan SH2, the barber ; Escejeda CSS, Men- diola SHSN, Boyter, SHSN, and Barthelow SN, in the laundry. From clean socks to eeedunk these are the men who serve the crew. The stewards, with Miles SDl. in charge, include Lubag SD2, Taylor SD3, Scott TN, Green TN, Novera TN, Deguzman TN, Rivera TN, and Augustin TN. These men take care of the officers on board in such things as squared away staterooms and well prepared wardroom meals. The corpsmen, consisting of Mayhew HMl. Turk HM2, and French HM3, are always on the spot to render assistance in emergencies and to keep the crew and officers in the best of health. rV ENS SURR MAYHEW HMl PREPARES A NEEDLE WARTH DKl KEEPS THE ALLOTMENTS FLOWING VARON CSSN WORKS THE TURKEY OVER HANSEN CS2 AND McNLTT SA, AT CHOW TIME McCLOUD SKSN AND SCHRIER SN WHITE CS3 AND LAREZ SK2 ARE JUST TWO OF THE MANY SUPPLY PEOPLE WHO FIND THEMSELVES TOPSIDE DURING GENERAL QUARTERS. 4m- i ESCAJEDA SH3, MENDIOLA SHSN AND HOYTER SN ON STATION SERVICE ' ' WHAT DO YOU WANT? LUBAG SD2 DISHES OUT SOME STEAKS SCOTT TN AND CREEN TN WORK IN THE PANTRY ECK NOW, SET CONDITION ONE ALFA ; MAN THE FORWARD HIGHLINE STATION; STANDBY TO RECEIVE LCU TO PORT ; FLIGHT QUARTERS. STANDBY TO RECEIVE HELICOPTERS ; MAN ALL DOCKING STA- TIONS. All familiar words - - and all words that mean the Deck Department will be swinging into action again. The tasks which fall to the Belle Grove Deck Department are as varied as the roles assigned the ship herself. And whether Deck is the star or a mere bit player, she always strives for the critic ' s acclaim : A job well done. WESTPAC 1960 presented ample opportunity for the boatswains and gunners to strut their stuff. From BLUE STAR to SEA HAWK it was an endless chain of load-unload, embark-debark, anchor-get underway, and, during our spare time, vs  that never ending chip-scrape-paint. We loaded Marines and LVT ' s at Okinawa for Taiwan - - and then at Taiwan for Okinawa ; Marines and 17 LCU loads of vehicles at Taiwan for Iwakuni ; a i i%- DISPATCH SERIAL 523 FUELING ALONGSIDE THE U.S.S. PLATTE SOUTH OF TAIWAN MEANS WORK FOR THE DEGK DEPARTMENT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT •; Beachmaster Unit and warping tugs at Taiwan for Yokosuka ; boats at Yokosuka for Numazu ; Marines and tanks at Okinawa for Numazu - - and then at Numazu for Okinawa ; Sailors at Taiwan for Yokosuka ; Marines and equipment at Okinawa for Korea ; and even a piano and rattan furniture at Hong Kong for Yokosuka. And more than once it was a sunset to sunri e evolution. - The Belle Grove has been called a workhorse of the amphibious fleet, and the strong back of that horse is the men of the Deck Force. Working under the overall supervision of the First Lieutenant, LT R.E. PEDIGO, was number one strongman, ship ' s Boatswain, J. F. HEENEY. For his strong right and left arms he had WEA- THERMAN, BM2, First Division Honcho, and VICTORY, BMl, Second Division, Honcho. To complete the team were the boatswain mates and seamen who were always on station wlien the word was passed. Not to be forgotten by any means was the contribution of the gunners to a successful cruise. Aside from keeping the information flowing, during seamanship evolutions, over the IJV circuit, they spent many long hours keeping the BG ' s big 40 ' s ready for action. The 40MM may be old and obsolete, but it ' s all we got ! And you feel just a little bit safer knowing that the Third Division, led by PENA, GMC, and McGILL, GM2, will have them ready when, and if, they ' re needed. KEEP COOL WHILE YOU WORK FUELING, CHIPFINC; AND PAINTING, SPLI- CING WIRE AND HELICOPTER OPERATIONS ARE ALL PART OK A DAY ' S WORK ON DECK LAYMONS GM3, PENA GMl, AND POE SN AT WORK IN THE ARMORY KOEHLEH SN AND McGILL GM2 KEEP THEM OILED AND CLEANED LTJG THOMAS PREPARING TO SHOOT DOWN A DRONE f ' ' -i A]:: ' ' ' ' h MAIN BATTERIES BELLE GROVE STYLE BOSN HEENEY AND BALLARD BM2 ON THE FOC SLE AVIGATIO I ' loiii the W illuii Hotel to French I ' li ate hoal. and from Kannon Saki to ( araii I5i the avijjatioii Department kept water umler the keel nd cart wlieel jewels on the plotting sheets. Thev lanaued to keep (iond)at inlornied nt the ship ' s osition an(J a coffee and rain water l)lotter on le bridge. They managed to supply all of the ;sser navigators with cliarts, j)eneiLs. and hino- jlars. and kept some small amount of self introl when the charts mysteriously departed id returned to the chart house or bridge. Spurgeon QMl, who has been known to go toes up on occasion is soon to become Spurgeon QMC. When this happens it is rumored that a loran set will be installed on the overhead in Chiefs quarters and all sextants will be removed from the ship. ENS Depp, who was Navigator until early May, departed for duty with AOTU PAC in San Diego. He was relieved by LTJG Thomas a refugee from the Merchant Marine and the Deck Department who can take an azimuth with the best. Stein QMS. departed the Belle Grove for CONUS in April and his position as second in command under Spurgeon is now filled by McNutt QMS. Except for an occasional early sunset and a ship full of clocks that are erratic on their better days, the Navigation Department is squared away and ready at all times to insure safe navigation to any destination in Western Pacific waters. ' DON ' T LOSE THE BOAT JIM WELLER QM.S AND MAUDLIN SN TACKLE THE NEVER-ENDING PILE OF CORRECTIONS n SHOOT SPURG. ' ' THE BRIGHT JEWEL BEARS 315... MUSH ONE 210... HIGHEST OF THE HIGH BEARS 112.3... BEST EYES IN THE HARBOR THE CREW TT DICK FY I.T I SRH LT HUNT IT PEDIGO LTJG HILL LUG GOOD LTJG THOMAS ENS DEPP ENS HLBBA RD ENS SURR CWO REED CWO MILLER WO HEENEY P X J JONES MMCFR ROMANO SFC WILLIAMS BTCA OLSON MMCA ABAD SKI ABLES BTl AGUSTIN TN AMES SMI ANDERSON EN3 ANDERSON MRS APPLETON FN C r O Jpii ' kmik A zt,. i ARMSTROiNG BM3 ASHTON PN2 ASHWORTH BM2 BAKER BT3 BALLARD BM2 BALLARD, J. L. FN BARBER KDSN - Jim .4 i BARTHOLOW SA BARTLETT SN BERGESON SN BLAKENSHIP MMFN BOERNER FA BOJARSKY SN BOLIN SN BOYD, G. E. MMFN BOYD FN BOYTER SN BRINLEE BT3 BROOKS SM2 BRUCKNER FN BL ;K K N is = BURNS SKSN BURT DC3 BUTLER FN BYRUM SFP3 CALDWELI, SN CANADY MM3 CARPER BM2 CHAPMAN EM3 CHRISTANSEN DCl COLE -SFl COLLINS SFl COOLEY SA CORBETT FN ll - m t C YM .H CORDER FA COX SA CRADDOCK FN CRANE EMI CRUTCHFIELD SA DANFORTH SN DANSBY BT2 MM DAVIS SN DAY l ll DE GUZMAN SD3 DEXTER SMSN DILLON MMi DISMUKES ENI DUNK! H I DUNN SN EGGMAN GM3 ELKINS RMSA ELLIOT MR 1 ERICKSON DCS ESCAJEDA SII3 ESCANUELAS SN FANNING FN FLOYD FN FOOSHEE RM2 FORBES SMSN FORREST EM3 FOX SN FRANK SN FRANKLIN EN3 FRENCH IIM2 FROHWITTER CS2 FRY FA FULLER liMI GADE FN GARDNER FN AlL .GATES MM3 GEE SN GEIGER SN GEORGE SN GIBBS SN GILLEN EM2 GII.I.ASI ' Y FA GOLZ SN GRAHAM SN GRAND MMFN GREEN FN GREEN S. TN GREENE YN3 CRIER FA GROOVER FA GRUNDHAUSER FN HADLEY EN2 HANCOCK MRFN HANSEN SMSA HANSEN R. L. CS2 HELFONT FN HENDERSON MM2 HILI. FA HILLKN SN HODGDON BTl HOFSTETTER EMI HOWELL SA HUCKINS BT2 HUDSON CSl HUFFMAN FA HUNNEMEYER RMS HUNTING SN HYSON FN JOHN BT3 JOHNSON RDSN JOHNSTON FN JONES SN KEITH BTFN KICKBUSCH SK3 KING L. L. BT3 KING BT2 KIRKLAND S A ■ ' ll KITTERMAN BM3 KLEIK KM3 KLOTZ RDSN KOEHLER SN KURNAT SN LADELL MMl LANGER SN LAREZ SK3 LAYMONS GM3 LUBAG SD2 MACE RD2 MAHAN SH2 MARDEN RM3 AL ' VSSEY 1M3 MATHEWS SN MATHIS RD3 MAUDLIN SN MAYHEW HMl MARTINEZ MM3 Mc CLOUD SN Mc DERMOTT SFl Jk l h M Mc GILL GM2 Mc INTOSH SKI 1. ELMORE EM3 Mc MURTRAY SN Mc NUTT SA MENDIOLA SN MILES SDl M()NT(;() lh;KY S MdHCAN SA |{l(il{l K I.N MLllil ' llllY 1HF1. NKIII. SA NKI.SON KMl v f r NEWTON EM.i NIKI.SKA 1 1 i NOIUSK SN N()VKRAr NYgUIST FN NKI ' lIKH Y MM 1 Ol.lllll N OLSON SN OWNBY RMSN PADDELKOKD FA I ' AKKER EM3 PENA CMC PERSO CSl PIERCE FN I ' lLklNTON SN PIITMAN SN PLANTK BM3 PLUMMER ETSN PRl.NCLE MMl POE SN PUWFIJ. MM: m JT 1 k ' M MM.m M m RADDATZ EM2 KA EN SN K ECTOR SA RIEL SFN.i HI1J|N(;SF.N RIUINCS FT.i KITCHEN:: - RIVERA TN ROBERTS EMFN ROBINSON SFP;5 R()lll ON. I.. H SN KOMKKODC; K(IL I:FN SAI.TZ SN SAULS SMSN SCHAFFER SMi SCHREIR SN SCOTT TN SERIO EMFN SCHINALL SN SHROPSHIRE CSSN SMITH, B. R. BM3 SMITH S SPURGEON QMC STEIN 0M2 STEPHENS FA STEPHENS RMSN STEPP MM3 STUBENBORDT MM2 SWEET SN SWIRCEK FN TAYLOR SD3 THOMPSON SN THOMPSON, R. M. MM3 TIAMPO SH pi iB TRUEBLOOD RM3 TURK I1M- ' TYSON ENS VANDERWAKKER EMFN VANWAES RMSR VICTORY BMl VINLOVE SN ' f 1 mm VIGUE EM3 VITUMJ ET3 WAGER RD3 WARTH DKl WATERS RD2 WEATHERM B i2 WEBSTER MM2 m - Jli -i f Ip, C k . - 1 WESTBROOK FN WHITE CS3 WILDER SFP3 WILLIAMS SN WILSON, A. L. SN WILSON. C. J. FN WILSON, R. F. FN Q 1 WILSON. W. R. FTM3 WRIGHT RD3 YAP ICFN YCOY FN YEAGER YN3 THE FOLLOWING NAMED MEN WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PICTURES: BOYER ET2. CAR- DENIS EN2. CAULFIELD FN, CHAMBERS SN, CLARK ICI. COSTA DCS. DUNNING MMFA, GARMESON SA. GOODWIN SA. LEMMON PN2, PAGEOT YNl, PIERCE, MM2, STANFORD FN. TOWNSEND FA, VARON CSSN, WELLER QM3. MC NUTT QM3, LT. .lOHNSTON. CWO LEONARD