Pine Island (AV 12) - Naval Cruise Book

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DIVISION '-- Rear row, tleffto r1ht: H. L. Hassell, ETSNQ D. F. Austin, ETSNg H. Linville, ET1. Center Arow: J. Cuhovanec, ETSNQ W. D. Kissick. ET3g L. W. Ruppel, ETL H. Waclaw, ET3. Front rowz- A. Hawkins, ETSNg D. A. Porosky, SAg CHRELE F. J. Klein: D. Fox, ETCg M. J. Fillman, AN: ,and A. M. Helm, SN Absent from pictnre are J. J. Kawalec, ET2j and N. C. MacLeod, ETSN. 1 - I

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R DIVISION I N Now ...... the duty shipfitter report, to the Officer of the Deck ......... Without a doubt this is one of the most frequently heard words over the ship's P.A. system, since its recommissioning. It, too, represents the biggest part of the history of R Division. CARP. R. Studebaker was one of the first officers to report aboard for the recommissioning detail so he was on hand to welcome with open arms and a plumber's plunger all metalsmiths, pipefitters and damage .control- men. A - The first few weeks were truly weeks of hard work. Barnett, MEC, and Brumbelow, MEW1, can share honors for reactivating the shipfitter shop with the 'able help of Jeronen, MES2, Calvert, MEW8, Williams, MEG3, and Flaum, FN. The pipe gang at that time consisted of Bouronich, ,F PGI, Broyles, FPGI, and Davies, FP3. They spent many a hectic day tracing out lines and pulling debris out of pipe Work but it wasn't long before Barney was left to do most of-the bilge diving as Broyles Went to the 'Master-at-Arms force and 'Davies went to Diver's School. at Hunters Point. .The Carpenter Shop was recommissoned with Johnson, DCW1, at the helm and Laukaitis, DC3, and Jones, DCW2, doing most of the dirty work in removing preservatives. Mauer, FN, came to us direct from a job as planner and estimater at the Bremerton Navy Yard and was assigned the task 'of reopening the Damage Control Office. After a few weeks we received AW. W, Cunningham, Y NTSN, on lend-lease from X Division and he took over operation of the office. A When we arrived at Iwakuni we immediately put our two divers, CARP. Studebakervand Davies to work, clearing the seaplane ramp of large rocks that had covered the ramp during the war, apparently from near-miss bomb hits. It was cold but they weren't complaining, particularly when the doc allowed them a shot of ,brandy after each mission. Stimulates the blood pressure, they claim! After spending a few months at Iwakuni, we perform- ed'our duties as the ship made Okinawa and Sangley Point and then returned to Okinawa. R Division settled down for a peaceful spell but it was short-livedsas we' set sail for the Pescadores. y I While at Okinawa we began to figure that the Detail Office in the States must be losing some of its marbles because we received another large draft of men. Very' fittingly, the ship that we relieved in the Pesca- dores was flying a large WELCOME sign to greet us. Fools that we were, we thought they were just being polite but now we know just how Welcome we were to them and how welcome our relief will be when she sticks her nose around the point. - While in the Pescadores there has been no liberty to speak of but the RH Division softball team helped to make the ship's league a success. At this writing we are looking forward to our promised trip to Hong Kong and then after a few Weeks more duty in the Pescadores, we are all looking forward with a gleam in 'our eye, to our scheduled Navy Yard in the States.

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7 b ER DIVISION The ER Division is strictly a repair division. It maintains all the radar, radio, loran, and depth sounding equipment- 'aboard the ship. On December 31, 1950 When, the Pine Is- land- pulled into Iwakuni they immediately re- leived the USS Curtis CAV-45. - The work for the ER ,division was cut outpfor it' before they arrived in Iwakuni. They set up a communication system between the ship and its aircraft as well as taking over more circuits. All available com- munication equipment was put into use and has been kept ' in constant use since we started operating. I Besides taxing our communication equipment to its fullest extent our radar has provided a protective screen for us. The radar was often used -to bring in lost planes when the visibility was almost zero. This work was continuediat Okinawa and the Pescadores Islandsi 'In the Pescadores Is- lands the radar was kept in continuous service withoutvany major breakdown hampering' oper- ations for, any prolonged period of time. 57 Sgt HUSH! RE TRICTED M TERI L