Missouri (BB 63) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS Missouri is pretty much a small town with a population of 1,500 pe ople. We have our own hospital, police department, post office, electric company, Red Cross, and even a church or two. Maybe not in the ex- act same sense as a bona fide town, but they are found in Missouri. The Chaplain Department is respon- sible for the Religious Program of the Commanding Office. The two Chap- lains and three Religious Program Spe- cialists are tasked with providing for the religious pluralism of Missouri ' s crew. The Chaplains conduct religious services for their traditions and provide the necessary support to crewmembers who desire to exercise their religious freedom in a wide variety of ways. In addition to Divine Services, the Chap- Chaplain Department lains also provide occasional services such as baptisms, weddings, memorial services, and services which celebrate certain religious or civic holidays. An integral part of a Chaplain ' s min- istry is counseling. A large proportion of this counseling is concerned with personal and religious matters which affect crewmembers. At times, seminars are offered dealing with communication or personal growth. The Chaplain Department also pro- vides for the social welfare of Missouri ' s crew. With the assistance of our Reli- gious Programs Specialists, the Chap- lain Department acts as a shipboard of- fice of the Long Beach Navy Relief So- ciety which provides for financial assis- tance to shipmates. Help is available with emergency leave travel, establish- ing a household for newly arrived crew- members and their families, and other such concerns which contribute to the quality of life aboard Missouri. In addi- tion to Navy Relief, this office also acts as the local chapter of the American Red Cross by receiving and sending messages which keep our shipmates in- formed about the health and welfare of their families back home. A final concern of the Chaplain De- partment is maintaining the Crew ' s Li- brary aboard Missouri. Our Library of books, music tapes and periodicals pro- vides many crewmembers a welcome break from an often hectic routine. The Chaplain Department of Missou- ri is small, but the concern for the crew is great!