McGowan (DD 678) - Naval Cruise Book

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TIGERS TRIUMPH Growling with all the ferociousness of a Bengal original, McGowan ' s soft- ball Tigers swept the DesRon 20 championship in amassing an impres- sive 1 3-2 record. Led by star pitcher, Paddy O ' Rourke, the Tigers crushed the proud Essex, 15-2, and Arcadia, 9-3. On foreign soi the McGowan nine gave Cascade a double lesson, also came out victorious in a clash with the Porto All-Stars. Much of the club s success is due to team play and sparkling benchman- ship from Chunky Holmes and assorted athletic officers. 55

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HAIL THE CHAMPS 54

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Before . . . nters Oporto after FaIlex-60. ' The Challenge .... The Zeplij Hr The Challenge: To completely renew a seventeen year old operations weary de- stroyer; to ready McGowan for transfer to the Spanish Navy. This was a task that normally requires at least five months in a naval shipyard — McGowan was assigned five weeks along side U.S.S. Cascade in Naples. The Reply to this challenge from the McGowan Tigers: We ' ll have her ready on time, Captain. Only we, in ships company, believed we could do it. There were some who flatly stated that the task could not be completed in the time allotted. There were many others who entertained serious, if unexpressed. doubts. It wasn ' t easy because the Captain and Exec, had decided to turn over a ship that would be an unqualified credit to our nation and our navy. We worked twenty hours out of twenty-four all day every day. There was no liberty for the last two weeks, but there was little griping either. The wardroom had a butTet lunch on Thanksgiving so as not to rob valuable time from one of the few re- maining days before inspection by COM- MANDER SIXTH FLEET Representative. No one will ever forget the last two days. The interior of the entire ship was masked in wrapping paper to preserve the new paint work. All that remained was the final paint- ing out topside, but the winter rains had al- ready set in. Painting began when the rain stopped, regardless of the hour. The Quarterdeck was finished at 0230 on the last night with even the snipes topside helping to steer other returning liberty parties clear of the wet deck gray. The last dis- crepancy tag was removed at 0700 on the morning of the final inspection. On inspection day the dour faced proces- sion of experts armed with Hash lights and chipping hammers arrived and McGowan was probed from peak tank to Steering Aft — from Lower Sound Room to Main Truck. Ilie crew, da ed from exhaustion, stumbled about on the main deck or dozed in previouslj inspected compartments. Finally the inspection was over. As we shuffled into the wardroom for the Critique, we of ships company knew in our hearts that no matter what the inspectors might say that we had done as much as quicklj as an) tin can crew could do. Even so. it was good to hear from each inspector. All previous dis- crepancies corrected; none present!) existing which can not be completed prior to Sailing. I rom Commander Destroyer Squadron 26: Outstanding job, and from Materiel Officer SIXTH FLEET. I still don ' t see how you did it. I his was the finest hour of the finest crew in DesLant. f kV x v ' VVVXMiSS 3 , - xxv VXVttO! o mf