Mauna Loa (AE 8) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 104 of the 1965 volume:

PA FRAINC STRAIT QlQR ALTAR emcELom CARTAQ NA % h ' PAllM AFRii A CORSICA i ,J w ;f ' o mLT A L CERMAINIY 7 -7 -P X ' S ' - TV Ci nt cypf?iis EGYP-L,|, rWMO . r vjru-i Lisbon, Portugal 21-24 May Rota, Sapiu - 26 May Marseille, France - 29 May Naples, Italy - 18 - 28 June Aranci Bay, Sardinia - 4 - 5 July Naples, Italy - 18 ■ 28 July Pollensa Bay, Sardinia - 23 - 25 July Valencia, Spain - 26 J uly 2 August Asinara Bay, Sardinia - 6 - 11 August Palermo, Sicily, - 12 - 14 August Marseille, France -20-30 August Istanbul, Turkey - 6 - 13 September Palermo, Sicily - 29 September 4 October Naples, Italy - 5 October Messina, Sicily - 6 - 8 October Palma, Mallorca - 16 - 25 October Pollensa Bay, Sardinia - 26 - 27 October Augusta Bay, Sicily - 29 October - 2 Novembc Golfo di Palmas, Sardinia - 6 - 8 November Barcelona, Spain -rl2j- 22 November Cartagena, Spain f?- 28 November i ' 1tv-i v United States Ship MA UNA LOA Two Decades of Ammo Trades USS MAUNA LOA is a Lassen Class AE, built as an ammunition ship from modified maritime com- mission C-2 plans. Named after the largest volcano on the island of Hawaii, she is 459 feet in overall length, with a 63 feet beam width, and a 13,876 ton full load displacement. She is a single screw ship of 6220 shaft horsepower and is powered by two 9 cylinder Nordberg Diesel Engines. April 1943 witnessed the launching of MAUNA LOA from the ways of the Tampa Shipbuilding Com- pany, Tampa, Florida under the sponsorship of Mrs. Robert E. Friend, wife of the President of the Nord- berg Manufacturing Company. The ammunition ship was placed into commissioned service 27 October 1943 at the command of George D. Martin, Comman- der, U.S.N, who was the first a list that now totals 14 Commanding officers. After completing shakedown exercises in the Chesapeake Bay, MAUNA LOA pulled into Naval Operating Base at Norfolk, Virginia and took aboard her first cargo of ammunition. Her holds full and her crew eager for the open sea, MAUNA LOA set sail for the West Coast and ultimately Pearl Harbor. On 1 February, 1944, MAUNA LOA departed Pearl Harbor for the Marshall Islands, and her first mission into enemy waters. In the space of a few days she was able to replenish the COLORADO, TENNESSEE, PENNSYLVANIA, NEW MEXICO, IDAHO, MISSISSIPPI, PENSACOLA, INDIANAPOLIS , SALT LAKE CITY, LOUISVILLE, CHESTER, PHELPS, BILOXI, THRATEN, and several others. A few days later a near disaster almost terminated the MAUNA LOA ' s career as well as that of the cruiser INDIANAPOLIS and the battleship PENN- SYLVANIA. ThePENNSYLVANL was taking aboard fourteen inch powder from MAUNA LOA ' s No. 3 hold; at 1653 one of the many powder cans stacked on deck exploded and started to burn showering grains of burning powder over the ammunition stacked deck and into the open No. 3 hold of the nearby MAUNA LOA. Without a moments hesitation Chief Boats- wain F.B. Wilson grabbed a fire hose and played it on the burning can, checking the progress of the fire and enabling one of the PENNSYLVANIA ' S men to throw it overboard. MAUNA LOA ' s second mission into enemy wa- ters Started on 10 April when she set sail from San Francisco bound for Espiritu Santo in the New Hebri- des. She was there for a month and then proceeded to Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands where she supplied the fleet with ammunition for the Marianas operation. August found MAUNA LOA in San Francisco for what proved to be her last wartime visit to the United States. On 28 August 1944, she passed under the Golden Gate enroute to Manus Islands. On arri- val there she was ordered to proceed to the Palau Group in company with SHASTA (AE-6) and the de- stroyer escort MCCOY REYNOLDS. Upon entering the Kossol Passage on 18 September she anchored and immediately started rearming the cruisers USS HONOLULU and USS PORTLAND on a round the clock basis. The anchorage was less than 6 miles off the strongly held Japanese Island of Babelthuap which permitted many night raids over the area by Jap planes. Nevertheless the Third Fleet was re- armed on schedule even though night operations were suspended. MAUNA LOA reloaded in Pearl Harbor and in mid-November 1944 set sail for Ulithi in the Western Carolines. During the late winter MAUNA LOA made pre- parations for attempting the new experiment of re- armed underway. This had never been assayed be- fore and men of the MAUNA LOA saw the familiar shores of Ulithi slip below the horizon as the Logis- tic Support Group put to sea on ISMarch 1945. The first rendezvous with Task Force 58 for rearming was made on 22 March and the MAUNA LOA entered upon what soon became a familiar routine: Replen- ishment at Se a. MAUNA LOA replenished the 3rd Fleet at sea until its return to port in Mid June 1945. On 8 July 1945, MAUNA LOA was off again with four of her sister ships to resume her servicing of the fleet during the final campaign off the Japa- nese mainland. After nearly a month on the line, she was sent back to start loading for the next op- eration. The Japanese surrender found the MAUNA LOA loaded and ready for sea once again. During the course of the rearming at sea opera- tions MAUNA LOA ammunitioned 99 ships with a total of 5,257 tons. From commissioning to the end of the war, she steamed 69,093 miles, was at sea 236 days, rearmed 201 vessels and handled a total of 58,733 tons of ammunition. Rearming is hard, monotonous, hazardous work but every man on board knew that the bombs and shells and rockets that MAUNA LOA provided the fleet were not among the least potent factors in bringing the enemy to uncon- ditional surrender. 1947 brought about a new life for MAUNA LOA - on 2 June of that year she was decommissioned and berthed in San Diego. Her life was not to come to a close berthed in a shipyard as a decommissioned ship. Eight years later on 31 January 1955 she was recommissioned in San Diego and proceeded to the East Coast. After visiting the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for alterations she conducted refresher training opera- tions out of Newport, Rhode Island. During the course of the next two years MAUNA LOA was a frequent visitor to the Mediterranean and the East Coast Naval Shipyards for routine repairs. In December of 1958 the Navy once again placed MAUNA LOA on the decommissioned at Orange, Texas and assigned to the Texas Group of the U.S. Atlantic Reserve Fleet. After temporarily joining the National Defense Reserve Fleet on 12 November 1960, she was again reactivated and recommissioned on 27 November 1961 under the command of Captain V.P. O ' NEIL. MAUNA LOA has spent the time since her re- commissioning conducting various type operations, and making a Mediterranean cruises. As we can readily see, MAUNA LOA has been through quite a bit and has had a very full and use- ful life in the Service Force of the United States Navy. She is a good ship but any ship is only as good as the men who sail her. The men who are serving on MAUNA LOA have made her one of the best in the FLEET, as evidenced by the awards she has ceived and the work she has accomplished. Captain James H, Aldrich Captain Aldrich is a native of Savannah, Geor- gia. He was born there on 25 September 1920, and attended Savannah schools. In June 1940, he en- tered the U.S. Naval Academy and was graduated three years later. From July to September of 1943 Captain Al- drich was assigned to the Naval Air Station, Jackson- ville, Florida as an aviation technical observer. He then served 18 months aboard the USS AMMEN (DD-527) seeing service in the Pacific Theater. In 1945 Captain Aldrich reported aboard the USS ERBEN (DD-631) for duty. He had subsequent tours of duty in the USS O ' HARE (DD-889) and the USS JOHNSTON (DD-821). In July of 1948 he re- ported to Commander Destroyer Squadron FOUR for staff duty. In August of 1949 Captain Aldrich went to Fort Bliss, Texas for instruction of the Army, Navy, and Air Force Guided Missile School. Upon completion of this course he reported to Washington. D.C. for duty with the Guided Missile Division of Naval Operations. In July of 1952 Captain Aldrich was trasnferred to the USS MACON (CA-132) for duty as Gunnery Officer. Then, in the latter part of 1954, he reported to China Lake, California as Assistant Experimental Officer with the Naval Ordnance Test Station. He returned to sea again in August of 1956 serving as Executive Officer on the USS MURR. Y (DnE-576 and in February of 1958 he took command of the USS BASII.ONE (DDE-824). Captain Aldrich returned ashore in August 1959 to attend the Armed Forces Staff College. And early in 1960 he reported to the Bureau of Weapons as Assistant Director of the Military Personnel Divi- sion, and later, as Head of the Polaris Missile Pro- duction and Fleet Readiness Section of the Special project Office. In September 1963 he was trans- ferred to Roosevelt Roads, P.R. as Commanding Officer of the Caribbean Test and Evaluation De- tachment of the Operational Test and Evaluation Force, Atlanti c Fleet. In January 1965 Captain Aldrich returned to sea to take command of the USS MAUNA LOA (AE-8). His campaigns and service medals include the Pacific Theater with five stars, American Theater, Philippine Liberation with two stars. Navy Occupa- tion, World War Two Victory, National Defense, and Armed Forces Expeditionary. Captain .-Mdrich and his wife, the former Vir- ginia Cornell of Savannah, Georgia, with two of their children make their home in Mountainside, New Jersey. Their elder son, James Jr., is presently attending the Naval Academy as a member of the Class of 1967. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER THOMAS J. HERBERT Thomas J. Herbert is a native of Bangor, Maine. In June 1947, he graduated from John Baptist High School in that city, and in August 1947 entered the Maine Maritime Academy at Castine, Maine. After graduating from the Maine Maritime Aca- demy in 1950, LCDR Herbert spent four years as a licensed engineer serving in U.S. Merchant Marine ships. During this period, he made several trips to Pusan and Inchon, Korea, in addition to numerous trips to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and other Far eastern ports. In 1954 LCDR Herbert left the Merchant Marine and entered the Navy on active duty. It was also during this year that he married Miss Anna Curley of East Millinocket, Maine. Since 1954 LCDR Herbert has been engineering officer aboard USS KANKAKEE homeported in Nor- folk and engineering officer aboard USS INTER- CEPTOR homeported in San Francisco. He has also served for two years as executive officer and navigator on USS PREVAIL homeported in New York. Shore duty assignments for LCDR Herbert have consisted of two years on the staff for COMTHREE and two years in the underseas warfare section of the Naval Oceanographic Office in Washington, D.C. On 7 May 1963, LCDR Herbert relieved LCDR Harry B. Wagner as executive officer aboard MAUNA LOA. Parents of four children, LCDR and Mrs. Herbert now make their home in East Hartford, Connecticut. Clayton J Conn is a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho. In June 1948, he graduated from Idaho Falls Senior High and in September of that year entered Idaho State College at Pocatello, Idaho. In 1949 he married Miss Marcia Ann Herbert of Rigby, Idaho. After graduating from Idaho State College in June 1953 LCDR Conn entered Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. Upon graduating and com- missioning in November he was ordered to his first duty station at the Military Sea Transport Service Office in Long Beach, Calif. Since 1955 when LCDR Conn was detached from MSTSO Long Beach he has served as Assistant Communications officer CTG 7.3, Personnel Officer Naval Station Receiving Station, Seattle, Washing- ton, and Assistant Professor of Naval Science at the University of Kansas. His sea duty assignments have been Operations Officer for 1 year on board the USS PICTOR homeported in San Francisco and Da- mage Control Assistant on USS HELENA for two and one half years homeported in San Diego. On 9 August 1965, LCDR Conn relieved LCDR Thomas J. Herbert as executive officer abaord USS MAUNA LOA. Parents of three children LCDR and Mrs. Conn now make their home at 221 Goldsborough Village, Bayonne, New Jersey. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER CLAYTON J CONN MAUNA LOA OFFICERS D. C. KERBY Operations R. D. ROBERTSON Assistant Operations G.CRANE Supply R. K. LEIS DCA E. T. SZABO d Division p. J. ALLISON CIC R. L. DAGROSA Communications J. E. FERRIS Navigator T. J. McFADDEN Disbursing W. K. GRAINGER 1st Division P. H. YAWGER 2nd Division R. D. THOMPSON Personnel operations Department . - ' .V £3 Top row, left to right: Diaz, A.W. ETR3; Hook, P.N. SMSN; Roth. G.R. RDSN Walden, A.D. PCS; Johnson, R.L. RMS; Ogle, P.J. SMS; Rodriguez; P. (N) SN2 Lavin, J.L. RDSN; Clark, J.F. RDSN, bottom row, left to right: Lee, R.N. RDSN Turnage, J.E. ETNS; Dagrosa, R.L. ENS; Ocasio, W. RD2; Schellenbach, S.R RMS. Personnel missing from picture: Kerby, D.C. LT; Allison, P.E. LTJG Mathner, J. P. RMl; Whitehead, C.J. RM2; Tubbs, N.E. RD2; Reiche, G.W. RMS Lilly, L.K. RMS; Felton, R.E. ETRS; Bouler, H.B. ETSN; Bouchard, DP. RDSN Burton, R.H. RMSN; Fallon, J.F. RMSN; Trahan, G.O. SMSN. The task of understanding and interpreting the or- ders which tell us the happy news of where we are and what we are going to do when we get there is the job of the Operations Department. Whatever problems may arise the Operations Department in- variably pulls through with the correct understand- ing of the situation, as we have never failed to make a commitment. We may have met an empty sea at a rendezvous point, but the Mauna Loa was there. The Operations Departments understanding of the orders as printed in the Plan of the Day coupl- ed with its interpretation by all hands provided for stimulating speculation as to what was the next episode in the adventures of the Mauna Loa (AE-8). Navigation left to right (top row, bottom row) Smith. L. J. SA; Waiters, T. QM3; Patz, V. P. SN; Ferris, J. E. LTJG; Radford, J. C. QMl Quo Summus or Where are we is the Latin motto of the Navigation Department. Operations may tell us where we have to go, but Navigation tells us where we are and how we will go about getting to a predetermined point. Predetermined by the Navigators rubber dividers Although we have never had an epic problem, like that of Columbus, and we have never had to worry about friendly or unfriendly natives at the shout of land llo , Navi- gation could always tell us within a matter of miles? where we were located. First Division 1. Lett to right (top row) Ellsworth, J.J. SN, Clark, T.E. SN, Barber, T.B. SN., Pierson, L.S. SN, McAllister, R.R. SN, Pearlstein, O.D. SN, Bratichak, M.P. SN Mileto, V. SA. Dowling, T.S. SN; Wilson, L.A- SN, Robinson, P.C. SN; Ven- ezia, G.M. SN; Roberts, T.K. SN; Bennett, J.D. SN (bottom rowL Liebler, V.J. BM2, Radford, P.M. SN; Steele, D. SN; Murray, J.F. BMSN; Coco, J.T. BMl; ENS W.K. Grainger; Clayton, C.A. BMCS; Baptist, D.B. BM3; Brock, G.R. BM3; Wells, J. A. SN; Limoli, J.R. SN (not present) Diggs, R.D. SA; Doepke, T.M. SN. First and Second Divisions: By getting the bolos over when they could, setting up the rigs, lowering the boats, and exhorting the crews of the other ships alongside, by various encouraging remarks to get on the ball . The Mauna Loa performs its major function through these divisions: to keep the ships qualified and armed insuring their mobility. This is a primary role of the United States Navy in fulfilling its commitments throughout the Mediter- ranean. Second Division Left to right (top row) McLuckers, L. SN; Fitzgerald, L.M., SN; Perez, F., EMS; Bade, D.H. SN; Swain, D.W. SN; Ferguson, H.S., BMSN; McCullough, T.E. YNSN ; Roye, J. A. BMSN; Polednak, R.A. SN; Bowen, M.D. SA; Mohsinger, C.G. SN; Van Echuate, M, SA; Christensen, CM. SN (bottom roA ;) Sites, R.E. SN; Ciprich; C. SN; Humerickhouse, J.L. SN; Pate, W.R. SN; Adams, L. BM3; LTJG Szabo, Simpson, R. BM2; Sereci, C.J. SN; Batts, J.B. SN; Rogers, A. SN. V Third Division Left to right (top row) Morgan, R.L. SN; Bollenbacher, R.A. SN; Horaces, T. FTG2; Henry, J.R. SN; Gamble, L.R. SN; Trentham, W.D. GNG2; Cotton, T.J. SN; Taylor, M.L. SN; (bottom row) Taianao J.Y. GNG2; Brislan, T.J. SN; Dillashaw, V.L. GMGl; Wagner, GC. LTJG; White, C.A. GMGl; Burkey, W.B. GMG3; Ragucci, M. W. SN (not present) Mathews, H. GMGl; Cutler, W.C. GMGl. The most Gungho group of men on the ship often seemed to be Third Division especially when they were racing toward the gunmounts during general quarters. They moved pretty quickly at other times too, as when they performed drag-racing heats on the quarterdeck and through the passageways with their transporters or when liberty call went down. But very capably and efficiently were they able to fire the bullets, whenever called upon to do so. fi H If ff M ' ' Division M Division (top row left to right) Stewart, R. ENS; Eisenman, W. FN; Hurt, L.E. ENS; Dowdy, J.E. PNSN; Phillips, R.L. EN2; Gauthier, R.A. ENS; Wolf, J. FN; Clearwater, B. FN; Shuman, E. E. EN2; Dors, R. ENS; Groves, D.D. FN; Cart- wright, CO. ENS. Bottom row, left to right: Davis, L. . ENS; May, P. FA; Pride, R.ENl;White, J.STJG; Stanley, W.T. ENl; Griffin. S. FN; Soden, G. ENS. It ' s M Division ' s job to keep the engines on.. or try to. Their persistent, courageous man-against-the elements efforts seemed reminiscent of another great struggle between Captain Ahab and Moby Dick. We were glad, however, that our show had a different ending. . . (AMEN) ' imM rij tt - 1 kll M| ! HI ■kik 1 Hi ' B ' ttt P 4 R W - ... B W S F 2k m 1 ■ 9 t. ' l w 1 Ks ' M W ' ff A ff A ' ' Division Top row, left to right-Reizenman, J. MM2; Chase, G. MR2; Bullington, S. FN; Konrad, N. MRS; Fritz, J. FN; McQueen, R. FN; Smith, R.L. ENS; Scott, R. FN; Chestnut, M. ENS; Bolger, R.W. MM2; Daley, J.H. FN; Casper, N.C. ENS; bottom row left to right-Beach, F.E. BTl; Stacey, J.C. ENl; White, J. A. LTJG; Pearson, H. ENl; Caliguiro, H. FA; Fischetti, T.A. BTS. A Division ' s formula for water; six parts oil, four parts rust, and the rest salt ---or so it seemed. But besides really making old salts out of us, they also gave us a hot time on the old ship. It may have been 90 degrees out in the sunny Mediter- ranean but A Division kept the heat on. Bravo Zulu to a good group of men. -jisc. --1 i ffntf E ' ' Division Top row, left to right: Merry man, L.C. EM2; Van Sickle, W.S. FN; Leis, R.K. LTJG; Maritz, M.J. EMFN; Ciesielski, F.R. EM2; Bottom row, left to right: Miller, D. L . EMFN; Mitchell, R.K. IC3; Hazard, R.A. EMI; Hankins , G.D. EM3. E Division was the place to go to find out what happened to your 100 watt bulb, or to the wench power during rearming. Their persistent efforts in keeping everyone well lit was also highly ap- preciated. ,-2ll8-t rrTl f W Division Mmf Top row, left to right: Shields, J. M. FN; Whisenhunt, G.B. DC2; Bolger, W.P. DC3; Corbett, T.E. FN; Benoit, J.W. FN; Casto, J.C. SFM3; Bottom Row, left to right Winchester, E.L. SFP2; Leis, R.K. LTJG; Neese, R.D. SFl. When someone talked about forging and welding our great ship together , you couldn ' t be too sure if he were referring to the we spirit in leadership or to the job of R division. For it was R Division ' s job to use screws, nuts, bolts, scotch tape, bras- siers gum .. whatever they had available .. to keep the Mauna Loa and her boats shipshape and afloat. Supply Department Left to right, top row: Campbell, M. SD3; Spears, V.S. SN; Hang, J.H. DK3; Ste- phenson, W.J. SH3; Gomez, G.R. SD3; Huqueriza, A.S. TN; Phillips, G.W. SD3 ; Cuartelon, D.N. TN; Vargo, R.F. CSS; Parmenter, J.B. SK3; Nieznalski, S. SN; Ramsey, W.A. SN; Fricano, S. SN; Poulin, G.W. SN; Barone, L.N. SN; Hall, J.H. SN; Blomberg, R.O. SK3; Sparks, J.B. SHSN; Bottom row - Hightower, J.E. SD2; Weeks, G.J. CSl; Giaccaglia, E. CSC; McFadden, T.J. ENS; Crane, G. LTJG; Cartee, L.L. SKI; Ehret, H.J. SK2. The job of keeping our bellies full and keeping our gear lockers stocked belonged to the Supply Depart- ment. Whatever they seemed to lack in material was more than compensated for by the abundance of re- submitted order requests and verbal encouragement. It was always comforting to know that the Supply department took care of the mess rather than vice- versa. The ship ' s servicemen on the other hand, were always willing to add a little extra bleach, or take a little too much off the sides, but the short haircuts and ventilated clothing kept us cool. ■J ff .z y X ' ' Division r Cl ' 1 i ' Left to right (top row) Dickman, R.T. SN; Roman, P. SN; Sidler, W.T. PN3; Beck- with, W.R. HN; Treadwell, J.L. YN3; Bottom row: Clark, R. HMC; Yawger. P.H. Jr. ENS; Hoskins, J. Jr. YNl. X marks the spot and the spot, often enough, seemed to be the Ship ' s Office. It was in this min- ute asylum that everyone and his kid brother liked to gather and where all the ship ' s mail, correspon- dence and plans of the day were not far behind. But with the efficiency of a white tornado everything and everyone seemed to fall into place. ..(It was sometimes difficult to find just where that place was) The ship ' s office had to be continually fortified with aspirin, but they seemed to overcome the obstacles, whether it was the phone ringing — ringing. ...or a co-worker talking talking, which required even more aspirin. It was at times like these that the Medical Department prescribed some- thing stronger than aspirin and were in fact as speedy as the U.S. Cavalry in getting to the source of any trouble. Usually of course, the trouble was not the Indians raiding a wagon train, but rather members of the ship ' s crew getting attacked in other ways. We won ' t say how but we will say that the Medical Department did seem to be rather busy over in the Med patching the people up and shaving heads for some secret society on board the ship. V C Honor Guard Left to right: McFadden, T.J. ENS; Eisenmann, W.J. FN; Ellsworth, J. J. SN; Ben- nett, J.D. SN; Burton, R.H. SN;. Christensen, CM. SN; Morgan, R.L. FTGSN; Shields, J.M. FN; Sparks, J.B. SHSN. DEPLOYMENT FEVER ' I won ' t go to the Med ' I think I have a weak wrist.. now I won ' t have to go to the Med We ' re going where? I don ' t know who it is. ...think its somebody that didn ' t want to go to the Med Just what I wanted... another Med Deployment Last minute preparations for getting underway are made as the jeep is brought aboard... Departure . . . . . . May 10, 1965 .and the brow is taken away. Cast off all lines! ' Should I or shouldn ' t I? ' It ' s really not that bad Mrs. Ferris. Just think of all the shopping we can do while they are gone. One last look before turning eastward. 1 shofi j— t Jiyiy t ' (River Tagus). The gay seaport capi- tal of Portugal, with its fine modern buildings, smart shops, and cosmopolitan life, has a popula- tion of about one million. It is a modern, progres- sive city, closely allied to a colorful and historic past, and still bearing signs of Moorish influence in its architecture. The appalling disaster of 1755 (iestroyed most of the palaces and churches of the preceding centuries, but there is much of great his- torical interest to be seen. The celebrated Tower Of Belem (1 520), with Moorish balconies, served as a state prison until 1828. In it many unfortunates have languished, some in the dungeons that are flooded at every tide. - - ' musanimH- ' i-fWffsiXSi ' r Marseilles J France This busy bustling seaport is the second largest city in France and is the shipping capital of the French Riviera in the Mediterranean. In front of it ' s long waterfront lies the legendary island of Chateau d ' lf where the famed Count of Monte Cristo was imprisoned; while over- looking the same expansive waterfront, as well as the city, is the prominent Notre Dame de la Gardie Cathedral. The people in Marseille are cosmopolitan... yet leisurely. ..and very French. •• - i - . - i . IVV -LA V :: r r u.v Visitors from Marsielles This noisy, gay, and colorful city lying within the perfect crescent of its Bay with Vesuvius as a backdrop, has a population of almost a million, and is the cultural and commercial center of Southern Italy. Though great damage was in- flicted here during World War II, few, if any, scars remain. No other port city in Europe enjoys such a superb setting, and such has been the Neapolitan postwar renaissance that today Naples is a more sparkling gem of a city than it has been for many years. Gardens and parks now bloom and glisten, her streets and boulevards are busy and clean. An aura of healthy economic activity permeates the at- mosphere. The shops, restaurants, and hotels are extraordinarily fine. Naples contains fine examples of medieval and Renaissance architecture and works of art. Of prime interest are the treasures of Greek and Roman antiquity, chiefly the wonderful relics of Pompeii and Heiculaneum, now in the National Museum. Pompeii and Herculaeum five miles from Naples, and Pompeii, ten miles farther along, are the two famous Campanian towns covered by an eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Ex- cavation of these cities was not started until early in the eighteenth century, but now they have been largely uncovered. Herculaneum was overwhelmed by lava, while Pompeii received tremendous volumes of volcanic ash which sifted into the buildings and thus preserved the delicate decorations in their original color. The visitor can walk about in two once-thriving Roman harbor cities (the population of Pompeii was twenty thousand) and visualize them as they were almost two thousand years ago. 1 Cap n This island of song and dreams is reached from Naples or Sorrento by steamers, which leave twice a day. The tiny, colorful island is three and three-fourths miles long and two miles wide. It is extremely beautiful, a paradise of trees and tropical plants rising high above the clear blue- green Mediterranean. Enjoying a perfect climate, it has become a luxurious playground for exiled royalty, famous screen personalities, and just ordinary visi- tors, who flock to enjoy the romantic atmosphere, brilliant sunshine, and fine bathing. ' IV R Uffl K The most interesting city in the world., this great and glorious capital has for centuries en- thralled its visitors. Rome lies among her seven hills surrounded by gently rolling landscape, the Campagna, which has borne the footprints of count- less Roman legions and barbarian hordes. The Tiber still rolls gently through the dust of centuries where lie remnants of Rome ' s past splen- dor. As the center of Western civilization and the center of the Christian world, Rome has an atmos- phere of majesty and ageless ness all her own. Everywhere there are monuments to the glorious past resting beside splendid new office buildings, housing developments, and industrial establish- ments. Streams of traffic roll by the fenced-off sites of ancient temples and forums or under arch- ways built two thousand years ago. WBW 5 :%4« ipv u ii i tM4 ' iiiiili I |iiiiii| mmfmrKfrnm ' m 1 ' ■ 1 Straight Shootenest Sleeve Shreadenest Although much time is spent on training for a possible atonjic attack, it is only one aspect of to- day ' s warfare. Conventional warfare still remains an ever present threat which any Navy ship must be prepared to meet. Mauna Loa spent many hours training her two three inch, 50-caliber mounts on target sleeves and sleds. Adequate testimony of Mauna Loa ' s ability to defend herself against a threat from the air or surface is shown by a certi- ficate presented to Mauna Loa by the commanding officer of the USS CORRY DD-817. It reads as follows: Let it be known to all that the USS MAUNA LOA (AE-8) has been hereby designated the sleeve shreadenest, straight shootenest service force ship in the Med- This is verified by the accurate show of fire power on the tenth day of October, 1965, in the Tyrrhenian Sea. We of MIGHTY DESLANT will have you in our AAW (Anti-Air Warfare) disposition any old day. Jack Lowell Commander, USN Commanding Officer USS CORRY DD-817 Service Force Ship }f ' Air action to starboard! And all hell breaks loose. The action is hot and fast as shells are passed to the first loader. The first loader, Roye, stands ready with another round. rammed home and fired! Swim Call!  n (( The D eath of a Bull VALENCIA, the third largest city in Spain, has a population of over 500,000. Finely situated on the Levantine Coast, it is an ideal winter resort of sea and mountains, sunny skies, and flowers every- where. It was captured from the Moors by the Cid in 1094, but after his death it was retaken. In 1238 the Moors finally were expelled. Since then it has been the capital of the Province of Valencia. Valencia a city of fay fiestas, preserves its old custumes, customs and traditions. . . . The Parade ' ' The Picador ' The Banderillero . ' ' . The Matador Ljl ' dlfLuUl Although Ankara is the nation ' s capital, Istanbul is the main metropolis, port, and show place of Turkey. It ' s steadily increasing population is at present over 1,500,000, and its histor y dates back to the first settlement in the ninth century B.C. Two centuries later, King Byzas of the Megarians expanded the settlement, calling it Byzantium after himself. On May U, A.D. 330, the Emperor Constantine the Great proclaimed the city the capital of his Holy Roman Eastern Empire and changed its name to Constantinople. The pre- sent city is a symbol of modern Turkey, a new me- tropolis with broad boulevards, European style government, and concrete public and private build- ings. The foreign embassies and consulates are here, that of the United States being the largest and most impressive. Entrance to the Dardnelles ' s . f ' . Vertical Keplenishment MAUNA LOA pioneered the vertical replenish- ment of ammunition. She was the first ship on the east coast to be equipped to receive helicopters. Many months were spent prior to coming to the Med in perfecting the technique of vertical replenishment. And it payed off. Although we delivered most of our ammo by the conventional high line and burton methods, there were a few exercises in vertrep dur- ing which MAUNA LOA showed her ability to de- liver missiles and ammo by helicopter. VEKTREP Stores , ., ' Wi. M liA | jy .i « w r !f !9)«l|90| w t K ' - Ammo Lift Palermo i Falma an interesting and picturesque old town, with good bathing and a number of superb hotels. In late winter, the very fertile soil of the island produces a mass of beautiful pink and white blossoms on the almond trees, which flourish every- where. The town is dominated by a fine old for- tress from which there are good views of sea and city. The very large, dignified Cathedral was built over a period of nearly four hundred years. ' nnaiiiLii, Xi. ' - M:i d. ' The Battle Efficiency ' ' E ' with one Hashmark is Awarded the MAUN A LOA A Beach Party in Augusta Bay tzm ' w ■J, P w h ' mm ' r General Quarters General Quarters!!! Atomic attack probable. Fearful words, in- deed. But, hopefully, they will only be heard as part of a drill as in the past. Many hours are spent preparing for just such an attack. If a ship expects to survive a nuclear burst, it must be ready. MAUNA LOA is ready. When the ship survives the initial burst of an atomic attack, it must search out remaining deadly contamination. The men here are donning protective clothing before going outside to monitor and decon- taminate. After the contaminated areas are discovered they are scrubbed and washed down. Finally the word is passed over the IMC that the ship is clear of all contamination. The people who have been topside decontaminating must re- move their protective clothing and be checked out for contamination which they may have picked up. While the decontamination team is out, other members of the repair parties drill at messing on battle stations. The repair party officer keeps a constant plot of all contamination and damage which resulted from the initial blast. Ba rcelona (Catalonia), the capital of Cata- lonia, with a population of nearly 2,000,000, is a large and impressive city of Carthaginian and Ro- man origin, once the capital of the Kingdom of Ara- gon, Catalonia, and Castile, famous in war and commerce, with the whole Mediterranean under its control. Today it is a progressive, busy city, a large seaport, and the starting place for ships to the Canary and Balearic Islands. Like all large Span- ish cities Barcelona consists of the old and the new. The modern city shows all the signs of pro- gress and emancipation, with fine buildings and broad avenues radiating from the Plaza de Catalonia, the principal square. Around there are theaters, music halls, amusements and gay night life. The performances at the celebrated Opera House, Teatro del Liceo, and at the Palacio de las Musica Cata- lana compare, favorably with those at La Scala, Milan. The opera season lasts throughout the autumn and winter. The citizens, who throng the streets are striking in appearance: the women chic, elegant, and graceful, the men handsome and smartly dressed. 4r rbona de Borcelona • ADA I- O I 1 GyiOESCmiTESP05TlllE$ « ll)EMll 5■MSl•c«J iwm mmi 1 =•1118 tiais 1 ♦Wfl r« FGARClM Carry On . , If I could just remember the combination I could get my hat out ing to have to put in an DI)-1150 for a bigger helo deck So I says to the Old Man.. I says. ' Californians don ' t smile. , ' If we hide in here, Ocassio will never find us. You ' ve got the loudest heart! ' You ' ve been dating whose sister? ' Why do they have EOD aboard ships. ' I think we can take the whole bunch of ther That thing has a kick to it! Another load of clothes bites the dust ' Why isn ' t this ship squared away like I am? ' ' Goodbye Tom! 1 got him!!! M ? L _! fiiS -— i ! ■BP B r — ° V- iMn P t . :.  . ' And to think. ..I asked for Tin Cans ' Well yes I have seen better shots. The approach light was not the target. ' Let ' s get on the ball over there! If I shaved my mustache oft tliose airdales wouldn ' t recognize me. Radio MAUN A LOA A Soothing Break during many Tense Moments Relief in Sight . . . Its Turnover Time ! ' I { I wonder where the money went? Fond ? ' k ' Hey Jim, ain ' t that the shore patrol over there? Hey, you guys want to join, in? Not bad. ..not bad. ..not bad... ' Looks like a fishing rod hanging there Memories jj BOO! ' Now I can join the secret society ' ' I ' ve never overslept in my life ' Arrive . . . Mill around smartly we ' re almost there ' A mighty push toward home ' ' I don ' t know whether we ' re there or not. We ' re on the wrong side. ' It ' s wonderful weather we ' re having, but it ' s home . . . Bayonne Sailor of the Cruise GLEN RICHARD BROCK BM3 reported aboard USS Mauna Loa on 8 March 1965. coming from USS Alcor (AK-259) as a BM3 at the age of 19. Less than a yeai later he was advanced to BM2. He has demonstrated those qualities which make a sailor an outstanding Petty Officer in the work, leadership and teaching of his men. As a result of his fine work he has been selected as USS Mauna Loa ' s Sailor of the 1965 Mediterranean Cruise. This Must be . . . ...the END PAf FRANC STRAIT Q iR ALTAR pAim NApt C 1 W 4_ ' AFRlfCA M LTA L GCRMAlNiY CiPRUS .v i J ' A