Pawcatuck (AO 108) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 47 text:

f I f WW gxgw -X 3 'yfw Hwwywf X , I wx -X Of .,,, W , J MA Xw WN A6 ,, d k' M,,h,.4.maQM... .hm v - f

Page 46 text:

ELCO LO GSIDE i STA D BY FOR HOT LI On the morning of 29 January 1968, PAWCATUCK got underway from Mayport, Fla., with orders to deploy to the Mediterranean, The Smiling Indian and her crew had a vital mission to fulfill, to provide fuel and other supplies to sustain the various units of the United States Sixth Fleet operating in the Mediterranean. After an outstanding Advent the PAWCATUCK and her crew were ready to show the Sixth Fleet the capabilities of a hard- working Jumbo Oiler, Determined to do a good job, PAWCATUCK went out for six months replenishing 300 ships. Besides 26 millions gal. of fuel pumped. The Deck gang's burton and highline rigs were kept busy transferring many tons of fleet freight, mail, provisions, bottled gases, movies, personnel and even a cake or two to the Sixth Fleet units. ,.rl,-. ni A , A ,W Y f

Page 48 text:

An Indian with a big red nose and oil wells gushing behind his canoe grins from a mural on the bridge of the USS PAWCATUCK. The Smiling Indian, a Jumbo replenishment tanker, welcomed us alongside. She had sailed from ,Souda Bay, and was in fact almost as old as the events that marked the seas of Crete 27 years ago this May, But ours was a less sombre encounter, between a trim grey frigate and a colorful, even gaudy, product of the New World. Indeed, if colour ever rioted at sea, it happened aboard the Smiling Indian. It was not so much her structure though her four campaign medals outshone Benjamin's coat, and her flat surfaces were liberally dauded with a rainbow of flags and signs and decorations. It was her crew that was so startling. Swathed in long red life jackets, blinkered almost to a man by large sunglasses ,they peered curiously as us from the shade of plastic helmets of almost every imaginable colour, ' Some rested on a bench thoughtfully provided for the weary, Others heads concealed behind vast ear-pieces, were busy supporting bulkheads. Most simply leaned on whatever was on hand. But a few were actively involved in the business of the afternoon, We were looking into a silent kaleidoscope, and the inscriptions on their hats were the sub-titles. Nombre Une , in a white hat. directed his Braves, a mug of coffee gripped in his fist like a sheriff's badge. When his back was turned, his hat gmyasteriously said BX in flags, invitation, the Yoeman explained, to splice the mainbrace Cin. a dry shipb? Hotsteel , who favored the blue headgear, grappled like Laocoon with the coils of the messenger, his jaws working in time with his hands. he was assisted by the enigmatic Aito, by night M' VW Y lf ff: -1