Belleau Wood (CVL 24) - Naval Cruise Book

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l 1 e 'POP ROWI EHS- R. F. Blessing. Ens. J. C. Schneider, Eng. F. H. Moi-- Qan, Ens. D. P. Dakos, Gunner R. G. Allen. MIDDLE ROW: Ens. E. S. Isenmann. Ens. A. C. O'Neal, Lt. U25 R. L. bal1r1de1'S, Lt. tjgj M. E. LaLonde, lst Lt.J. W. Graham. BOTTOM ROW: Iat. J. W. Alexander, Lt. E. A. Simon, Lt.-Cmdr. W. J. HCHHIHEI, Capt. J. B. Clapp, Lt. R. B. Krogfoss. Throughout the war many hours of target practice and replenishment of ammunition, long periods of wait' ing and working, preceded and followed each encounter with the enemy. Never was the training or the work of the Gunnery Department completed, and seldom were tangible rewards received. There were times of action, heroics, long periods of waiting and suspense, comedy and tragedy. The Kamikazes required all guns to be manned and crews alert from an hour before sunrise un' til an hour after sunset when we were within striking distance of the enemy. The Gunnery Department also includes that very real but not integral unit-the deck force. The deck force performs the jobs commonly accorded a sailor plus sevf eral more: the painting and cleaning of the hull, the care and use of the anchors, the upkeep and maintenance of the boats and rigging. The gunner's mates, fire control' men and torpedoemanis mates have the responsibility of keeping the guns, directors, and torpedoes ready. The Gunnery Department consists of six divisions: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth. 1.. . A. . f. .. 1 4 +1 T3 I 7 Y 4. 2, TOP ROW: Lt. R. A. Martin, Lt. W. B. McVeigh, Capt. L. J. Dulacki breaith. BOTTOM ROW: Lt. Cjgb J. Strohlein, Ens. G. W. Elliott. Ens. C. R Smith. Lt. fig? G. C. Blount, Gunner F. W. Stoner, Ch Torp. J. O. Towles. 135 Lt. J. S. Alexander, Lt. K. M. Frazier, lst Lt. D. W. Gal-

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. nn- , , Babe, R. O. Hudson, E, J. Tucker, J. M. McDonough, ll. H. Analerson. J. I . lfarrell, W. T. Ward, J. D, TOP ROW' EhaTi'.oiiilTIii'VX?.I-Dhiiiziliixtiil,Gi3APSaltmarsh, L. S. Montgomery. VV. B. Zirkle, A. Tollett, A. .I. Balto, W. T. Tumlinson, L. VV. Disney. THIRD ROW: J. E. Miszewski, E. L. Richardson, D. E. Moody, VV. E. Potorf, A. liloeker, L. V. Carnes, J. H. Smith, T. L. Baker, F. J. Madden, J. B. Ash, J. C. Langlay, G. W. Vollmers, B. Jansen, T. G. Hurst, E. F. Paker, Ii. J. .Iwont-s, lt. L. Look. i i w SECOND ROW: R. E. Kelley. M. E. Uptain, H. L. Gill, D. R. Gonzales, C. G. Matehani, M. 11. Cl7l'l'l'lIl, A. lu. Mother-shell, bins. L. 5. Isenman, Lt. tjgl R. L. Saunders, D. E. Harper, J. E. Jensen, M. G. Snufiin, M. C. Wood. J. 15. Beazley, R. A. lit-ntsen, lt. L. Karr, I-L W. Ellis, G. V. Stokes. BOTTOM ROW: D. R. Weaver, T. L. Mote, J. F. Karg, G. K. Neely, E. L. Fatillmer, D. lk. Carroll, IC. tl. Klein, tl. W. Nlesser, L. R. Upshaw, D. E. Meredith, B. Perron, W. Janda. S. Batchelor, J. R. Carver, D. l'. Pt-tt-rson, IJ. Sellers. The First Division's area of responsibility is the for' ward part of the ship. Our military duties are manning the 40MM guns, mount 2 and mount 4 on the port side and mount 3 and mount 5 on the starboard side. Cn April 6, 1945 mount 3 and 5 saved the ship from serious damage by splash' ing a Jap suicide plane only 30 yards off the starboard beam. We furnish gunner's mates and gun strikers to service these four mounts and keep them ready for action. In regular sea routine QCondition Three, the various watches throughout most of the ship are stood on a onefinffour schedule. This means that a watchfstander is on watch oneffourth of the time. Each watch is four hours long except for the two dog watches between 1600 and 2000 which are each only two hours long. Like all other divisions in the Gunnery Department, most of us stand our watch on the 40MM guns. In Conf Grooming the Captains gig-one of the first signs that the ship is heading for port dition Three we man mounts 2 and 4. A few men how' ever stand their watches at other stations: one tends the incinerator, and four are on duty on the bridge as DO2lfSVJ3.iI1iS'lD2ltC'Of'lllC'XN11lCll, helmsman, lee helmsman, and OiiicerfoffthefDeck messenger. QA lee helmsman is a seaman under instruction learning to handle the helm.l The four sections of this fourfman detail on the bridge are rotated through the tirst four divisions in the Gun' nery Department, we are section one , Second Division is section two , etc. The division sends men on the fire details, the firef andfrescue party, searchlight detail, fog watch, and t0 man overboard stations. li Habandon ship should be ordered, we would be part of the ships rescue party. Wlieii men are not on watch they turn ton at their cleaning stations. Antl when they are through cleaning they are on their own time .unless the .laps are around- Qur cleaning stations are in the tore part of the ship-' During rough tlPt'7'1'UU7'lS one doesntfnd niiteli time to relax and write home