Aaron Ward (DM 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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17 ln a short time we were organized as a fighrting machine. Then on to San Diego for shakedown cruise. Every man proved to be capable under fire and in his special duties. And then, underway. No one knew where. Yes, Pearl l-larbor was a good guess, but our exact destination was not known. Combat with the enemy we knew would be ours in a short while. With the men venfturing out to sea for the first time, many heads were wondering about the outcome. Some began to think of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, their loved ones at home, and the thousand odd thoughts that flood a sailor's mind. Before we knew what had hit us, we had traversed the blue waters of the Pacific, via Pearl and Ulithi, and were camping on the doorste-p of Okinawa, aplace that changed the shape of our destiny. To most of the crew, the ports we'd visited were new and fascinating. From time to time we can-gre-gated after working hours to hold an old-fashioned bull session. There all events, new and old, were discussed: good times on the beach, and hangouts such as the Porthole , Tuxedo Club , and number of exciting places. The bunch that l speak of was made up of PO's and men of the lst and 2nd Divisions, and the R gang. ln this latter outfit, Iames and Schafer were big cogs. Though not participants in our sessions, our top men were always popular topics. Mr. Beismeyer, Mr, Cathcart, and their leading PO's, Slhelley and Oden, paved the way towards making - CSR the best outfit aboard ship. To Mr. Beismeyer, who has done so much for us all, l extend the heartfelt gratitude of his men. And to our men who. gave their lives fighting the lap, l can only say We'll never forget . The only way l know how to express the true, deep feeling to these buddies of ours is to quote a tribute that should be always revered in every grateful heart- Never, have so many, owed so much, to so few . ' David Iones, BM1fc A NOISE FRGM BELOW Iust t'he Ward itself brings to min-d the men who sweat it out below decks in the hot engine and fire rooms with the uncertainties of what is happening topside. On the other hand, the heat isn't so bad when there is ice on t'he deck and waves are coming, over the bow. . The Engine-ers were brought together for the first time at San Pedro shortly before the commissioning of t'he ship. During that short period most of us were pretty busy getting acquainted with the ship and each other, because a. few minutes after the ceremony, we knew that we would be underway for the first time. Well, we were underway at last, a new crew on a brand new ship. That first short period of steaming ffor we only shifted berths from the building yard to the outfitting dockl could be considered the last leg of a long trip and the first part of an even longer one. A lt started several months ago in the Destroyer Pool in Norfalk when the nucleus crew of the engineers were first assigned t-o the Aaron Ward. This group consisted of a few rated men with previous en.gineering experience such as Smith, Ward, MaCaugthy, Mann, Salisfoury, Garcyzca, Anastasio, Antell, Coltra, Carrol, Haulbridk, Porrey, St. Clair, Carpenter, and other machinist mates, watertenders, and electricians. After a couple of months in Norfolk, half this group went directly to the ship, while the rest went to Treasure lsland for more train-ing and to help instruct the large numb er of 'lb'oots . assigned to the ship to fill our engineering complement. This included such names as Friese, Macukas, Duravig, Pepoon, Stefani, Mecca, Dyhkopp, Piatt, Cezus, Ceckowski, Mattei, and many others. After Treasure lsland there was a train ride to San Pedro, 'and whether we were ready or not, the ship was t-o be commissioned. ' ln the period following the commissioning we found there was plenty of work to do, learning our new duties, cleaning up, painting, and making minor changes. With the new fellows eager t-o learn and the experien-ced men as patient teachers, we soon formed what We thought was a pretty good Engineering Department. Our arrival in San Diego for shakedown was the beginning of several weeks of hard drilling and training, but by the final inspection we knew we were the best black gan-g -on the best ship of the 'Navy, even iff some of us were a little more salty on the beach than at sea. After a short period for repairs we set out to sea with our daily routine of drills, watches, etc. At night we would sometimes sit on the mine tracks and exchange our latest scuttlebutt or maybe sing a little and listen to Bull Weyrauch with his harmonica the wouldnt hesitate to tell any bystander that he was called Bull because he was so strongl. -I 281- H WWW' -'P Y NEWLY L' 'Wi' 'W '-flllllgf. Q. ',j 'l ':a- ' ' ' D44 Y ,A , -1 HY,

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, s So now it was back to San Pedro again for the final touches, and then we'd be off. This stay saw the Ship's Dance in Long Beach become a foamy reality, and a party which will always be remembered as a good one. lt was also in San Pedro that Chief McClure was transferred to shore duty-along with his s-ide- kick, Sweetpea Parrent. We hated to see Mac go, and Sweetpea' had a brand of humor all his own. From San Pedro we went to Pearl Harbor where we went through mining exercises, giving the Minemen a chance to do their stuff. lt was also in Pearl Harbor that Gunner Siler and Mineman, Second Class, Follet came aboard. Pearl didn't seem like such good liberty after the States, although on the way back it did look a lot better, didn't it? From Pearl l-larbor we made the long jump over to Ulithi, lt was warm all the way. lt was during this time that Van Paris, Knoss, and Williams joined the Gunner's gang as strikers. Then, when we left Ulithi, l guess none will forget that long line of destroyers and small craft, and the way they looked through the slanting rain and choppy seas-we were told we were on our way to Okinawa for the big show. Remember the way we started firing as soon as we got to Okinawa in March? We fired nearly every night from then until May 3rd, and we never had a single major casualty on any piece of ordnance and fire control gear aboard. That's a little something we can be proud of, too. ' lt was also during these days that we all got to know each other a little better than before, I guess. The long hours on watch were spent talking future hopes and past events-and about the girl at home, and most of all, about home itself. A pot of joe and a couple of men-this meant a good bull session was on the way-a good way to pass the time. lt's no use putting down my impression of the night of May 3rd, and our fight-l guess we all had pretty much the same idea-lt was terrible. Most of us witnessed acts of courage and bravery and sacrifice which we shall never forget-nor the men who perpetrated them. lt was at dawn on May 4th when we realized that we'd have to say so long forever to Long, Turner, Hendrickson, Olmeda, Good, Armand, Folett, and Zaloga. They'd shoved off on the long cruise. Although they may destroy this ship, the will never destroy the memories we hold in our minds of the ship and the men who manned her. So in the years to come-when our thoughts drift backto this year and the night of May 3rd-let's drink a silent toast to those we left on Zamami Shima in Kerama Retto. A long time ago another American sailor said, The price of liberty is paid in brave men's blood! lt's still true. Edmond Hall. GM3fc THE C6R GANG This little essay is being written with the idea in mind that in all the morrows it may be referred to as evidence 'for the unity of mankind. One early morning, at Treasure Island, a group of some 300 men, the crew of the U.S.S. Aaron Ward, were congregated, Most of these men knew very little about the Navy, but felt sure that eventually they would be able to do their bit. That same morning these men came into contact with a man that will always be remembered and respected. lt was soon learned that this man was Lt. Oomdr. Nuepert, the Executive Officer of the Aaron Ward. l know l couldn't say too much in expressing every man's good feelings towards Mr. 'Nuepert lwon't say any more on this subject, because l'm sure that there will be space set aside to inform you of this man. Time marches on! So the crew of the Aaron Ward was formed. At present all hands are in a mill, wondering and attempting to predict the outcome. So far, sfo good. At this point l'd like to mention Ransom, Oden, and Shores-all good friends of mine, yes-but still well-liked by every one in the deck force, Take Ransom. l-le's one man that will always be remembered for his triple personality-a great pointer, a specialist in the art of Hboatswaining , and a terrific man on the beach. l-le's just one fine example of the type of man that makes up the Deck Force. Yesterday the Aaron Ward was commissioned. A very proud and memorable day for all of us, l'm sure. This was a day that will remain in all hands' minds forever. Their feelings can be eXD1'eSSed bY visualizing an explorer discovering a gold mine. By now every man had contacted his shvrpmates and was pleased with the results. -I 27 1-

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After a few liberties in Pearl we were on our way again and headed for our real test. We could see the result of all our training during the days off Okinawa as you can see in our action report on another page of th' b k. ls OO Lunetta, Curr, Cooper THE Y OF IT Whatever the discomforts we may have suffered throughout our Navy career, there is, and always has been, the consoling thought that We have formed newand permanent friendships. In the entire ship there was unquestionably no closer group than the Y Division. The twelve of us being together long before the actual commissioning of the ship. Under the leadership of Lt. Cjgl Dillon, the Division was formed early in the month of September, 1944. t Our activities from that time on, both Navy training and social, were, more .or less, inclusive for all of us and inevitably this close relationship was bound to follow. An outsider would probably have mis- understood some of the friendly, but vehement arguments that often took place between the Tex-ans and Californians, or the Democrats and the Republicans, yet each of these helped us to have a clearer under- standing of each other and more thoroughly cemented those friendships that, without a doubt, will last forever. . Our first trip after being assigned was to the Mare Island Radar Sichool. Closely following this we received our introduction to sea duty aboard the U.S.S. Foote, leaving Treasure Island out through the Golden Gate to the island of San Clemente. This trip was not without its humorous side, especially to those who were able to withstand the roll and toss of the ship, which was new to all of us. San Clemente had its inter- esting side as well as instructive: The Seal Cove trip, the hotly contested ball games, the good shows and the good food. The few months that followed, our liberties in Pedro, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and San Diego, were in most instances similar to those of any other Navy man. Throughout, however, we were so consistent in our training that when that time came when we nee ded it most, that day that we had been trained for, our actions were more or less automatic. This thoroughness in our training, though often tiresome, is probably what led the Commander of the Pacific Shakedown Group to compliment us on the excellent work that we had done. , The Y Division was representative of any Navy group to a certain extent: Lt. Cjgl Halsted, who was assigned Division Officer in March, was a former coach from Iefferson City, Mo., 'butche didn't have to be shown. Peter Aitchison, our red headed leading Petty Officer from Chicago, was Scotch in, nationality only and he too had that feeling that meant share and share alike for all of our Division. The Y Division was really a swell bunch, and fellows whose friendship I consider one of the most important things in my life. Raymond Hoskingl RDMSXC THE RADIO GANG The Ra-dio Men of the Aaron Ward, like the rest of the crew, had their fir-st meeting at Treasure Island. With the 'liberty as it was, muster was about the only time all the Radio Men were together. After muster, each would seek out his own little corner to get the much needed rest for the night's liberty. 'On arrival at San Pedro, they were met by a radio shack full of mysterious looking equipment, a Chief Radioman and three technicians. ln less time than it takes to wink your eye, they had the liberty situa- tion well in hand. At night, to find a RM. from the Ward, all you had to do was drop in at Zendas on Figureo. iSoon all this had to end, for we pulled stakes for San Diego and our shakedown. It was there the poor Radio Men set to the busy task of becoming acquainted with their equipment, setting up the freq- meter, tuning an xmitter, and copying Fox. Our last night in Diego was spent in the xmitter room with Chief Shane and Striker Rader cutting the boys' hair for the Admiral's inspection. l might add every man in the Division got called down on hair cuts the next day. . Then it was back to Pedro for more radio equipment, of all things. Chief Shane and Patrick Coyne here left us for the San Pedro Receiving Station. Geise, RM2fc, reported aboard to fill their shoes, A -I 29 1-