Bellatrix (AF 62) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 72 of the 1966 volume:

' ■ k% ' 4 W T k- rj fcN CTJ ' 0Mm H ' l il J Hi H 1 ' r - • ftX 1 s. 1 SbB iHSB i a U.S.S. BELLATRIX (AF-62) 19651966 CRUISE BOOK dL tm Y • i MOBILITY SUPPORT ENDURANCE We take them all--big or small. Replenishment at sea. ' All hands man your flight quarters. A Cruiser receives a netload Hope that shackle holds. From the smallest tot the largest, BELLA TRIX serves the Fleet. COMMANDING OFFICER USS BELLATRIX AF-62 W. H. SHAWCROSS CAPTAIN, U.S. NAVY Born 11 FEBRUARY 1923 in Port Washington, New York, Captain SHAWCROSS joined the naval service in JUNE 1942, via the Naval Aviation Program. He was commissioned 1 JUNE 1943 at the Naval Air Station. Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a Naval Aviator 9 JUNE 1943. While asigned to VT -14 aboard the U.S.S. WASP, Captain SHAWCROSS served with Task Force 38 and 58 during 1944 in the Central Pacfic. During this period of time he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross (one cluster) and the Air Medal (four clusters). His command was also awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. Following the war, he was assigned to VT-17 until August 1946 and was then ordered to Instructor Duty at the NROTC unit, Princeton University. From September 1947 to 19 June 1954 he served in various aviation billets. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from George Washington University. Captain SHAWCROSS attented the Naval War College, Command and Staff Course in 1954-1955 and In- dustrial College of the Armed Forces during 1962-1963. He has served as the Commanding Officer FITRON 74 and as Navigator of the USS FOR EST AL (CVA-59). Captain SHAWCROSS reports to BELLATRIX from duty in the office of Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. He is married to the former Mary Nicholson of Port Washington, New York. They have three children, Gail, 18; Nancy, 14; and William jr 2 1 2. THE HISTORY OF THE BELLATRIX The BELLATRIX, which was placed in commission on 18 November 1961 as the USS BELLATRIX (AF-62), was originally laid down as SS FLEETWOOD and completed for the Mairitime Commission in June 1945, to serve as a refrigerated stores ship with a cargo capacity exceeding 250,000 cubic feet. She began service under charter from the Maritime Commission to the United Fruit Companv for operation in the North Atlantic. In October 1946 the FLEETWOOD was delivered to the Pacific Far East Line, changing her home port to San Francisco, from which she made regularly scheduled runs to ports throughout the pacific until April 1958. Visiting over twenty-five ports from Kodiak, Alaska to Kanoshsung, Formosa, she made a total of eighty-five voyages during this period carrying military and commericial refrigerated goods to the Orient, In April 1958, she was returned to the Mairtime Commission, which allocated her for use in the Military Sea Transport Service (MSTS), although she continued to be operated by the Pacific Far East Line. The FLEETWOOD remained in this status for almost three and one-half years and twenty-five voyages. Thus, from the time of delivery by the builder until she was turned over to the Navy at Seattle on 22 AUGUST 1961 the FLEETWOOD made the impressive total of one hundred ten transits of the Pacfic, a tribute to her endurance and steady steaming for over sixteen years. After delivery was accepted by the Na ' ' , the FLEETWOOD entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 23 AUGUST 1961 for conversion and fitting outpreparatory to commissioning as an active unit of the Navy. She then became the ex-FLEETWOOD and was boarded by the designers, planners, engineers and workers who began the job of almost completely rebuilding her. Work was undertaken on every deck and in every space from the top of the stack to the bottom of the fuel tanks. All cargo holds were modified to meet the re- quirements of underway replenishment and were pro ' ided with vertical conveyors, quick-acting hatch covers, extra winches and stronger booms. Damage control facilities and a helicopter platform were installed. Ship control spaces were given communications gear for fleet operations and all engineering and propulsion equipment was throughly overhauled and inspected. To accommodate the men who will man her, li ' ing quarters had to be pro dded for a complement of eighteen officers and two hundred forty crew members. All crew spaces in- corporate the latest habitability improvements including air-conditioning. In order to accomplish this task over 70,000 man days and 7,000,000 dollars were expended by the shipyard. The BELLATRIX, as a unit of the Service Squadron Seven, has made six deplov-ments to the Western Pacific since being commissioned on 18 NOVEMBER 1961. The can-do spirit of the officers and crew aboard BELLATRIX has given the ship an enviable reputation of being able to meet and fulfill all commitments in support of the First and Seventh Fleets. During the last cruise BELLATRIX crew members were authorized to wear the ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL for service in support of Vietnam operations, or the Vietnam Medal. DEPARTMENTS ll K rf ROLPH E. SCHABER John S. Cassen, Jr. CDR., U.S. NAVY LCDR., U.S. Navy Executive Officer Our departing Executive Officer, CDR, ROLPH E. SCHABER.USN, reported aboard In April 1964. He has made three deploy- ments to the Far East while attached to the BELLATRIX and was present during the summer of 1965 when the ship under- went her first overhaul since her com- missioning In November of 1961. His previous service Includes duty aboard the USS Badoeng Strait (CVE 116), USS Des Moines (CA 134), USS Chevalier (DDR 805), and USS Maury (AGS 16). He was also communications advisor to MAAG, Taiwan, and Instructor for the Nuclear Weapons Training Center, Pacific. CDR. SCHABER recently donned his silver oak leaves and is enroute to his new duty station, the Naval Commands Systems Support Activity, Washington D.C. LCDR CASSEN comes to the USS BELLATRIX from three years as Officer in Charge of the U, S. Naval Ordinance Laboratory, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While there he participated in various test operations of many of the Navy ' s most current weapons systems, including ASROC, SUBROC, and various types of mines. Prior Naval service includes duties as Staff Gunnery and Training Officer on Staff, Commander Amphibious Group Four, Naval Ammunition Depot, Charleston, S. C. and duty aboard the USS ALDEBARAN (AF- 10), and USS SHANNON (DM-25). LCDR CASSEN is a graduate of Dickinson C ollege , C arllsle , Pennsylvania and attended Law School there prior to entering the Navy in 1953. While in college he participated in numerous sports. His interest in sports both as a fan and a participant constitutes his principal avocation. LCDR CASSEN is married to the former Betty Segerstron of Palm Beach, Florida. They have one son John HI, ten years of age. T. R. SIBSON LT. USN The Engineering Officer is responsible, under the Com- manding Off leer, for the operation, care, and maintenance of the ship ' s main propulsion plant, auxiliary machinery, and piping systems; for fire fighting and the control of damage; for the operation and maintenance of electric power generators and distribution systems; for repairs to the ship ' s hull; and for re- pairs to material and equipment of other departments which are beyond their capacity, but within the capacity of the Engineering Department. He controls the operation and maintenance of the ship ' s vehicles. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT ' « « ' ABOVE: CWO Martz, Electrical Officer LEFT: LTjg. Waugaman, Damage Control Assistant RIGHT: LTjg. Sheehan, Main Propulsion Assistant The Supply Officer Is re- sponsible, under the Commanding Officer, for the procuring, re- cei dng, storing. Issuing, shipping, transferring, selling, accounting for, and, while in his custody, maintaining all stores and equipment of the command, except as otherwise prescribed In U.S. Navy Regulations. He also maintains the ship ' s operating allotment, and co- ordinates the preparation and submission of departmental operating budgets. The operation of the general mess. Including the supervision of the preparation and serving of food, the operation of the ship ' s store activities, the sale of clothing and small stores, and the operation of other ship ' s service functions are under his cognizance. pi f if • 1 F. X. GAGNER LT., SC USN ji-Tl ABOVE: LTjg. Lar- son, Stores Officer BELOW: LTjg. Bill, Disbursing Officer SUPPLY DEPARTMENT 1 D. V. SCHMAHL LT. USNR As head of the Operations Department, the Operations Officer Is responsible, under the Commanding Officer, for the collection, evaluation, and dis- semination of combat, tactical, and operational Information re- quired for assigned missions and tasks of the ship, and the planning functions connected therewith. He supervises the preparation of reports required by operation plans, operation orders and other directives; the control of rapid communlcatlons;and the mainten- ance of electronic equipment by operating personnel, and the re- pair of such equipment by electronics technicians assigned. OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT ABOVE: LT. Jeffers, Navigator LEFT: Ens. Jackson, Combat Information Center Officer RIGHT: Ens. Grant, Communications Officer As head of the Deck De- partment, the First Lieutenant is responsible, under the Com- manding Officer, for the supervision of deck seamanship, operations and evolutions; for the employment and maintenance of the armament and ordinance equipment of the ships; and for the procurement, handling, stowage and issue of ammunition and pyrotechnics. He plans and excutes the evolutions of anchoring, mooring, fueling and helicopter operations, and the one most closely associated with the mission of the ship-replen- ishment at sea. Ui C. B. HOLSCLAW LT. USN DECK DEPARTMENT ABOVE: Ens. Stringer, First Division Officer LEFT: Ens Scott, Second Division Of ficer RIGHT: Ens. Bagby, Third Division Officer PREDEPLOYMENT Getting ready Double barrel treatment. Preparing to get underway «n X 1 ' f it is a busy time for all hands. Underway for WestPac Take in number four. Shift colors. ' OPERATIONS Replenishment Above. The loads go over as fast as they can be unloaded. Right, A -helicopter from the USS BONNE HOMME RICHARD picks up supplies by VERTREP while an UNREP is in progress with one of her destroyers. The BELLATRIX provided several attack carrier groups operating off the cost of Vietnam with chow. Here the USS CORAL SEA (CVA-31) and one of her small boys come alongside. LEFT The chow Is netted on deck and ready for a hungry carrier. Helloup there. With bridge to bridge telephones, our Captain can exchange information with the carrier ' s Commanding Officer. CHINA PORTS OF CALL WESTPAC Seagulls flock around the ship. Land is on the horizon. An air of anticipation sweeps through the crew. Finally, after many long days at sea there ' s going to be liberty tonight ! First stop is Yokosuka, Japan, the largest U. S. Naval installation in the western Pacific. The sailor ' s first impression of Yokosuka is likely to be that of a gawdy town consisting mainly of bars and souvenir shops. With a closer look, however, he can find beauty and serenity at Kinugasa Park, and a touch with tlie past at the restored battleship MIKASA, flagship of the famed Admiral Togo when he de- feated the Russian Fleet In the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. Yokosuka has the advantage of being close to the facinating cities of Yokohama and Tokyo and the exotic resort areas of Hakone, Mt. Fuji and Atam i. On liberty at Yokohama the sailor can visit the landscaped hills and gardens of the forty-acre Sankelen Garden bordering the sea, or take a short train ride to Kamakuraand climb inside the famous Daibutsu, the great 13th century bronze Buddha standing 42 feet high. Tokyo is truly an unforgetable city Ijoth by day and by night. Siglitseeing starts with the Imperial Palace at Marunouchi and ends at the 1,092-foot Tokyo Tower in Shiba Park where a breath-taking view of the city and surrounding countryside may be seen. At night, the entertainment world of lights and clubs makes Tokyo one of the famous international capitals of the world. Top photo: Night life in world ' s largest city is second to none. Instead of Gav Paree. it ' s now ' Terrific Tokvo. Butloni plioto: Japanese wrestlers - - pretty rough hoys. JAPAN ine land of- tit e riSina dun One of the memorable sights of our cruise was the size and majesty of Japan ' s famed Mount Fuji. As the chow is transferred, w orkin g parties scurry forward trying to out run a wave. As soon as one ship clears the side, preparations are underway to receive the next customer alongside. . but they have their ups and downs. Destroyers are nice. After the last ship clears the side all gear and life jackets are restowed Hey, not uie - the ship Tliere is even time for a little fun in cleaning up the ship after a hard day ' s work... .and then all is quiet. ENGINEERS ' Light off number one boiler. Top: When this dial reads 500, it means the mash is ready for distilling. Bottom: The reefers insure our customers receive their food in the best Keeping the plant running is a big job. Those engineers are at it again. ||; ir|j 4UUH« « VV The Captain ' s Gig gets special attention There ' s always something to make or fix. Below: I think I turn here. !J ' VIETNAM . The Bellatrix inverts the ALONG-REP. Sidewalk supervisors i I— ij; So Support for r I Viet nam •Heave around on your highline. We transfer personnel to other ships as well as supplies. Feast on the fantail. Below: They would have to run out of paper plates. Watch your table nianners there, Boats. The Captain finds this is better than cabin mess. ---7 W -i Honey Fitz entertains the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE CVA (N)-65 with the BELLATRIX UNREP a go-go. A Service to the Fleet Holdren, RDC. the only man who could fill the job. ml an SiV l. .HOVS Santa waves a Merry Christmas in the 90 degree heat off the coast of Vietnam. Krawczak, Cubero, and Ganga Gagnon elicit a best taleny on the local scene from CTG 77.1 aboard the U.S.S.TICONDEROGA(CVA-14). ' i . [g -- -s™- Grande Island offers a variety of sports. ship ' s party in « . Ens, Jackson, Special Services Officer, aims at having a good time. Some of us enjoyed lotal culture in colorful Philippine musical. the Philippines Top photo: Great originality is used in painting local taxicabs. Bottom p)ioto: Where there ' s life, there ' s San Miguel. Rest and Relaxation : ' mmismmi- DIVISION Everybody Smile! PICTURES -; r ix :Ki , ' ' ' ' . % FRONT ROW SITTING - Earnhardt, DC3, Capps, SFP3, Samson, MM3, Van Slate, MM2, Aragon, EN2, Mcallister MMl, Oberholtzer, SFl, Warren, MMl, Johnson, SFl, Lujan, MM3, Lucas, SFP3, Robertson, MM3, Baxley, FA SECOND ROW STANDING - LTJG WAUGAMAN, Division Officer, Fuller, FN, Craig, FN, Alexander, FN, Zimmerman, EN3, Teopel, FN, Chapman, FA, Mathews, FN, LeBrun, FN, Ziegler, FA, Story, FA, Watson, FA, Reynolds, FN, Stafford, FN, Daves MMC A R DIVISION R Division ' s primary purpose is to keep the ship afloat and free from fire and fire hazards. The division has three combined rates: SFP (Shipfitter Pipe) SFM, (Shipfitter Metal) and DC (Damage Control), The SFP is mainly a Pipefitter who installs and maintains plumbing and other sanitary fixtures. He also covers piping, bulkheads and overheads, and performs other tasks on high and low pressure piping systems, and performs tasks associated with damage control. The Damage Controlman ' s primary prupose is to keep the ship afloat. Damage Controlmen must know where all the various equipment is located and how to use it. The DC ' s keep records of all flooding and fire fighting equipment and perform carpentry work throughout the ship. I yl4 t - k ,i J.j?, FRONT ROW SITTING - Anderson, FN, Dauer, FN, De Loach, MM3, Mountain, MM2, Antone, SN, Wadosky, FA, Swift, FN, SECOND ROW STANDING - LTJG. SHEEHAN, Division Officer, Balikowski, MM3, Smith, FN, Penneau, FN, Folsom, MM2, Hartley, MM3, Martin, FN, Wright, MMl, Rodriquez, FN, Murray, FN, Kinder, MMCS M DIVISION All valve-twisters are not phantoms as seen above. Granted that most of the crew has never been beyond those heavy steel doors on the mess deck level but we sure have. This cruise, however, when things got rough during unreps, M-Wvision was even seen turning to on deck and in the hatches, while some of the older hands stayed on watch for ten to fifteen hours straight. After twenty years afloat and five years in the Navy, BELLATRIX still purr ' s like a kitten and gets outstanding on every inspection. Chief Kinder, far right, our new senior engineering chief, insures that we will be ready for many deployments to come. Who knows, with enough oiling, painting, scrubbing, and coaxing, BELLATRIX may someday do twice fifteen knots, and we may even return to San Francisco a week early. 3mm m FRONT ROW SITTING - Rogers, FN, Antokol, FN, Manantan, BTl, Taylor, FA, Foster, FN, Osborne, BT2, McCray, FN SECOND ROW STANDING - LTJG.SHEEHAN, division Officer, Zweirs, BTl, Russell, FN, Houy, FA, Miller, FA, Woodson, BT3, Ray, BT2, Bostic, BTCS B DIVISION Above you see those bad guys who have, in the last months, blown tubes on all three Deck Divisions and made possible Navy Showers by hoarding water in the peak tanks. On the right is the 1 bad guy Chief Bostic who keeps the cleanest boilers in the fleet, and the only crew ever to sleep on stations on the boiler flats. But aside from hours of liberty spent on fire- sides instead of firewater in Olongapo, morale remains high in B-Division. Faces change about every four or five years; the pay ' s not good, but working conditions are great in Hells Half Acre . f 1 SL-s L aLJI iJiu ' -i: .,-. ' Front Row, Sitting - Rocco, EMS, Iwanski, EM3,McGuire, EM3, Carbonell, EMI, Smethurst, IC3, Beteta, EM3, Second Row, Standing - CWO. Martz, Division Officer, Brumbaugh, EM3, Uselman, EM, Halm, IC3, Noard, EM2, Corcoran, EM, Bartley, EM3, 0 ' Donnel, EM, Navarro, EM E DIVISION Call an Electrician T ' With the huge amounts of power needed to run the winches that are necessary to perform our mission of replenishment at sea, the E Division is large but always very busy connecting power on the bus board to this andthator checking out a circuit or charging the batteries for the ship ' s boats or showing movies or maintaining a watch on the master gyro. The ship makes both Alternating and Direct Current in various voltages and uses as much power as a small community. Since everthing from most of our machinery to the elctric typewriter in the ship ' s office to the lighting we see by is run by elctricity, and interruption in the current effects the whole ship. We never realize how vital it is until on a rare occasion the load is dropped and everything stops momentarily until auxiliary power is turned on. i him rt , - ■ - ' ' 4 - fa -, V . ' •: t .„ i FRONT ROW, SITTING - Pruett, YN, Gray, HM3, Pederson, PCS SECOND ROW STANDING - Brown, SN, Manning, YN3, Chief Hopkins, HMC, CDR. SCHABER, Executive Officer, ENS. JACKSON, Personnel Officer, Roberts, PNl, Gagnon, SN, Haughee, SN X DIVISION X Division functions under the Executive Officer. It c onsists of the Ship ' Office with a Personnelman, three Yoemen,anda Legal Yoeman. They handle the administrative work of the ship. ' The Medical Representative is responsible under the Executive Officer for the health and safety of the crew. Two Hospitalcorpsmen are assigned to sick bay under him. With four beds and modern facilities, they are able to handle all but the most serious medical cases. The Postal Clerk insures the fast and efficient delivery and posting of the mail so vital to the morale of the crew, especially when away from the United States for extended periods. The Personnel Officer insures that accurate and complete entries are made In the service records of all the crew. In ad- dition, all hands when first reporting aboard the BELLATRIX for duty are assigned to X Division for a minimum of three days. FRONT ROW SITTING LEFT TO RIGHT - Rameriz, SKI, Seuburt, SK3, Sweat, SN, Daigle, SN, Minter, CSl, Kern, SK2, SECOND ROW STANDING - LTJG, LARSON Supply Officer, Newport, SKC, Seals, CS2, DeShazo, SKl ' , Bennett, SK3, Pitch, SK3, Biello, SA, Burch, SK3, Rhetta, SKCM, TfflRD ROW STANDING - Pearson, SA, Weinberger, SK3, Florence, CS3,Holman,SA, Chisholm, CS2, Arancibia, SK2, Phillips, SK3 SUPPLY Supply division Is composed of three major groups. The first two being composed mainly of storekeepers and the third being composed of commissarymen. The first is our beloved Cargo Group, headed by our illustrious Master Chief Rhetta. If the BELLATRIX could get rid of this bunch of rascals, we would really have a pleasure cruise. The Cargo Group ' s job is to ensure that accurate records are kept of all the CHOW we have on board and to make sure we get it to the right ship and in the right amounts. After our UNREPS are completed , they have to prepare for the next day ' s work while almost every- one else sleeps. The Second Group, composed also of Storekeepers, is the Stores Section, led by Chief Newport. Their job is to make sure that the ship has essential repair parts to keep the ship in operating condition, enough cleaning equipment and other fast- moving consumables to keep the ship sanitary and looking nice, and submit financial returns to our administrative bosses. As an added note of interest, BELLATRIX spent $109,000.00 from IJuly 1964 to 30 June 1965. The third Group, the Commissary Section, is possibly the most important group in the ship. Other departments will argue violently with the above statement, but everyone knows that a fighting man must have plenty of wholesome food to stay in top-flight condition, both mentally and physically. The Cooks and Bakers prep are enough food to feed 260 hungary men three times a day. Refrigerated Stores ships are well known for the quantity and quality of food served and BELLATRIX is no different. The food aboard is served piping hot and in such quantities that the BELLATRIX sailor rarely has to ask for seconds. During periods of Underway Replenish- ments, BELLATRIX ' s galley is open 24 hours a day. ,? . - x _ FRONT ROW, SITTING Farmer, SA, Estor, SA, Chacon, SN, Onori, EM, Minter, CSl SECOND ROW, STANDING Pifke, FN, Anderson, FN, Freiberg, SA, Proell, SA, Snyder, FA. McKinley, SA MESS COOKS The Mess Cooks are responsible for keeping the Mess Decks and Mess Gear clean and sanitary. Each Division sends men on a rotating basis and all non- rated men have a turn at it within a few months after reporting aboard. The im- portance of the job is often overlooked, although communicable di s eases would spread rapidly if they were the least slack in their work. The BELLATRIX has twice been nominated to represent the Service Force in the annual Navy wide Ney Award Completion, and it is recognition like this that shows BE LLATRIX Messmen and Cooks are proud of the job that they do and proves that they do a good job indeed. FRONT ROW SITTING - Labasan, SD3, Gallano, TN, Lastamosa, SD3, Cook, DK3, Harper, SH3, Cubero, SH2, SECOND ROW STANDING - LTJG, BILL, Disbursing Officer, Maihofer, SK3, Giorgi, FN, Bertulfo, TN, Abat, TN, Lancie, SN, Middaugh, SN SHIPS SERVICEMAN Ship ' s Servicemen include the Stewardsmen who serve in the Wardroom. The senior Steward serves in the Captain ' s Cabin Mess. The preparation serving of food in the Wardroom and the cleaning and maintenance of the spaces in Officer ' s Country is the job of the remaining. The ship also has a barbershop with two barbers. For the convenience of the crew, this Division also operates the ship ' s store, where one can buy anything from a tooth- brush to a diamond ring. Upon occasion ice cream is made and sold. A candy machine and soft drink machine are also provided and kept full by the Storekeeper. In order to keep our uniforms clean, the ship operates a laundry. We have the latest machine on board which takes the buttons off your shirt and throws them In your socks. Finally, the subject most dear to every sailor is money and the Disbursing Clerk keeps our pay records in order al- though we all think he is witholding some of our money. It is obvious that the ship would not sail as smoothly without the Ship ' s Servicemen who contribute a great deal to making our lives a lot more easy and pleasant aboard ship. FRONT ROW SITTING - Hailfinger, SN, De Rego, SN, Kaneer, SN, Bartlett, SA, Squires, SN, Leslie, SN, Hubschman, SN, Campbell, SN, Vogt, SN, White, SN, Solberg, GMG3, Pinckard, SA, Dunmire, SA, SECOND ROW STANDING - LT. HOLSCLAW, 1st Lt., Cook, SN, Espinpza, SA, McBroom, BM3, Adams, SN, Swain, BM3, Conaty, GMG3, Vise, SN, Fritz, SA, Harvey, SN, Reaves, BM3, Aresco, BMl, ENS, STRINGER, Division Officer FIRST DIVISION In the beginning there was darkness. And out of that darkness crept that paragon of virtue, Aresco, BMl, followed by his three cohorts, Swain, Reaves , and McBroom, followed In turn by the motlies. And they dispersed themselves throughout the forward area of the BELLATRIX like termites in woodwork. There was Vise and the ever present cigarette hanging from his mouth, Harvey glaring towards the gyro, Leslie with his teeth hanging out. Conaty and Solberg threatening White with their .50 Cal. machine guns, and the rest of the herd wandering around trying to steal Hailfinger ' s sandwich. Thus we in- troduce the First Division, pride of the Deck Department, always ready withapalnt brush, to paint everything in sight, and a chipping tool, to chip the paint off the label plates. Their work never ends, and there Is never enough time, but they try. FRONT KUVV SITTING - Sietz, SA, Koneke, SN, Gaskins, SN, Ermine, SA, Stroud, SN, Leonhart, SA, Briggs, SN, Baggett, SA, Ballard, SN, Miles, BM3, SECOND ROW - ENS, SCOTT, Division Officer, Hughes, SN, Lucas, SN, Dyrcon, SN, Chapman, SA, WUcox, SA, McDonald, SN, Clark, SA, Greyzck, SN, Chester, SA, Focht, SN, Twist, BM3 SECOND DIVISION Back aft you will find strange things going on. You may see Drake and Hughes hanging from the helo deck, or the Rat Greyzck scurrying in and out of the winch beds. Dad Plankenhorn, Poopsy Miles, and Deep Six Twist run the division. About 0930 every day, Plank makes his rounds of the spaces looking for McDonald and Kitchen, whom he never finds. He finds Wilcox and Ffffocht in the gear locker arguing over a spam sandwich. He then sees Hans Koneke telling F inky Stroud, for the umpteenth time, not to spill any more paint on the deck. Next is Bony Ballard and Muley Vise arguing over paint brushes as usual. Clark, The Head Cleaner , is mad because someone stole the key to the paper towel holder. Then Puddles Benton is griping because of the paint not being turned in on time. The rest of the men seem to hide when they see the The Old Boats coming. However, as the boats moves off, he smiles to him- self knowing that they are all his boys of the Second DiWsion, but second to none. X ? FRONT ROW SITTING - ScheU, SN, Scibek, SN, Howard, SN, Fudge, SN, Dibble, SN, Smet, SN, Grace, SN, SECOND ROW STANDING - ENS, BAGBY, Division Officer, Cunningham, BM3, McDaniels.SN, Malachi, SN, Thompson, SN, Nieubuurt, SA, Palazzo, SN, Turner, SN, Chief Loveless, BMCM BOAT DIVISION The Boat Division, run by Capt. Gig and the Chief Boatswain, is responsible for the upkeep, maintenance, and operation of the ships boats. When in port and moored to a buoy, such as often happens in San Diego, our functions are greatly appreciated by all the ship ' s company wishing to go ashore. Aside from providing liberty boats, the Captain ' s Gig is always ready for the Commanding Officer, and its smart ap- pearance reflects credit on the ship wherever she goes. In case of emergency, such as man overboard, or recovery of personnel from the sea, the ready life boat can be in the water within minutes. In addition to the ship ' s boats, we are responsible for the smart appearance of the accommodation ladder and quarter- deck. These are the first things that any visitor sees of the BELLATRIX. It is hoped that our new fancy work will help make a good first impression. Whether operating boats or keeping our spaces sharp. Boat Division, always in the public eye, tries to present to any visitor that important good first impression. Hong Kong - The Pearl of the Orient! m Central district ol Hoim Koiiu as seen troni The Peak. Top plwtu: The Sea Palace. floating restaurant. Bottom photo: Refugees from Red China prefer to live as Squat- ters here rather than behind the Bamboo Curtain CIC An enemy can be fought only after he has been detected, and the ship ' s ability to detect the enemy depends on the skill of her Radarmen. For instance, we can detect by the way officers shuffle their feet at quarters whether or not it ' s a good time to put in a chit. A Radarman uses repeaters, acts as a plotter and status board keeper, serves as a radio phone operator navigator, and maintains various CIC logs. There are more important things, like making coffee, keeping food on hand, and telling lies to the bridge watch when they come in for a smoke. While manning equipment, we are re- quired to determine the range, bearing, composition and identification of contacts. But then there was the time in December when a carrier task-group closed to 5,000 yards before we saw it. There are constantly new improvements in communications, radar, and means of data exchange. All of these would be worth- less without skilled personnel to use them properly. This is why copies of Playboy, Billard and James Bond books can always be found for ready reference in obtaining answers to all major changes. On our roster of stars we have Greenwood RDSN; he has the biggest Im- agination in CIC. He imagines he dislikes the Navy. Then there is Coleman RD3 who has just won the most heated battle the Philippines has ever witnessed, and won. Of course he hasn ' t seen her mother yet. Next Fred Newton with his big love of fish. We sort of wonder about Fred and his fish. He never wears a life jacket to abandon ship drills. Then comes Chief Holdren a big man with the written word, a big help to all of us, due to his past experience. Then of course, there is our CIC Officer. Mr. Jackson who hails from Oklahoma. He ' s probably the only officer on the ship who wears spurs around his stateroom THE ET GANG On the 03 level of the Bellatrix a weird little world has evolved. This world, the world of electrons, is run by a fearless leader named Chief Raving Eagle alias Chief Headrick. His tribe is made up of the most dislocated atoms ever composed into matter. The most senior-junior in rank is Al Krawczak, who is in charge of jury-rigging. This is because he is jury-rigged himself. Next is Larry CPA Knight; his main malfunction is to k eep the radar, IFF, loran, and fathometer running. Next in line is Billy Halda, who, when he isn ' t on leave in the P.I., works on the cjrrpto and the communications gear. Last but not least is the janitor and assistant to Knight, Steve Marak (Pro- nounced Muh-rack), which by the way is where you can usually find him. All the ET ' s say Never fear when an ET is near . NAVIGATION DEPARTMENT Once again this cruise the Navigation Departmentdid an outstanding job. Numerous timely rendezvouses with other ships was our answer to those who constantly asked, Are We Lost Again? Highlights on the cruise occured when we arrived in Yokosuka after 16 days at sea, our first unrep with a DER, which ended up with a man overboard, (don ' t fear because he was retrieved), our first and last CVA unrep, and of course our arrival back home. Heading up the team is Lt. 15 Knot Jeffers, ably assisted by Shorty Longest, QMl. Rounding out the gang is Animal Beatty, Bad John Kelly , Forklift Forkner, and Savage Clarke. Prior to departing West Pac we welcomed the ad- dition of Ronnie Garrison, Gyro Harvey, and Married Man Moore. THE SIGNAL GANG The Signal Bridge is manned by four whose names and jobs you are about to see. First on the list is Donkey Donithorne also known as SOPA of the Signal Bridge. He keeps the area in top shape by super- vising his troops and ensuring that the 58 grass is kept green and well trimmed. He is ably assisted by Boston Blackie Black. Cummings SMSN, is in charge of all the fire extinguishers and the little red balls . Mathews SN, is in charge of the message boards and is striking for Cumming ' s spot. To sum it all up they work as a team so the OOD ' s don ' t scream. FRONT ROW SITTING - Donithorne, SM2, Halda, ET3, Coleman, RD3, Greenwood, SN, Knight, ET3, Beatty, SN, Forkner, SA, Marak, SN SECOND ROW STANDING - LT. JEFFERS, Navigator, ENS, GRANT, Division Officer, Harvey, RMC, Longest, QMl, Kelly, SN, Black, SM3, Powell, RM3, Nordstrom, RM2, Clarke, SN, Healy, SN, Pikey, RM3, Holdren, RDC, Headricks, ETC, ENS. JACKSON, CIC Officer OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT RADIO IN MEMORY Security Is taught throughout the week, Receiving 2000 messages a day, Transmitters humming, tunned to a peak, RF in the rigging in number four hatchway. Putting out a call to Guam, Pearl, or Phill, More Unrep requirements just received, Interference unbearable, feeling fit to kill. Requirements garbled, Captain ' s peeved. Watches port and starboard for the thirtieth day Traffic is heavy, our nerves on end. Seemingly everyone gets in our way. Chief Harvey finds more work. We never win. So, back to the States we ' re steaming, Fifteen knots is the best we can do, Nordstrom, Lunsford, and Crawford are dreaming. While to Pikey and Story we ' 11 soon bid adieu, Morgan and Healy are complaining, 4.0 inspections, we get not thanks. 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