Belleau Wood (CVL 24) - Naval Cruise Book

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lil DI lflll fforecastle, oiheers country, .ind our own living compartment in A,.1.ll7fl.., keeping the p.iss.igew.iys and washrooms trim and shipshape, Un the toreeastle are the anchors, anchor chains, and windlasses. A phase of torecastle duty is the rig' ging and handling ot towing gear when towing other ships for replenishing fuel, ammunition, and supplies. This work requires real skill and seamanship. We maintain and tend the forward mooring lines when mooring to a dock. A less glamorous duty is the removal of rust by scraping and chipping from all exposed surfaces. lt is a job which can never be completed for as soon as one compartment or space is done there is always another to do. The upkeep of the surf face of the outside of the ship falls on the sidefcleaners and forecastle detail. We operate the Captains Gig. lt is one of the ways by which we try to bring credit to the ship. A ship can usually be judged pretty well from the appearance of her gig and the gig crew. Working parties in port are something we are used to as are all the other divisions. These are continually being called away from the moment we enter port till the time we leave. Ammunition, food, and stores are brought aboard and stowed below quickly, because time in port is short. The following members of the Division were detached before the group picture was taken: OFFICERS: Lt. A. K. Leichtrnan, Lt. F. F. Woleslagel. MEN: Bennie J. Abbott, Jaspen N. Absten, Eddie E. Adams, Walter L. Adkins, K C Alexander, Clarence Allen, Glen E. Allen, Harry L. Allen, Paul H. Ander- SOH, Raymond J. Annan, William R. Arnett, John B. Ash, .Joseph A. Augusta, ' ' l h A. Bentsen, Russell E. Blazer, Thomas M. Brodie, Richard Charles E. Bryant, Louis J. , Herbert L.Carr, Byron W. Manuel F. Correia, Lyondon Alfred J. Bailargeon, Edward N. Beach, Ra p Anthony V. Bosco, Willard Bovee, Teddy S. Bozek, H. Brown, Edwin I. Brownfield, Richard W. Bruen, Buccini Alexander U. Calcagni., Leroy V. Carnes Chandeir, Edward F. Chapman, James H. Chappell, C. Cullen Richard A. Cyr, Joseph A. Czarnota, Edgar B. Davis, Joseph DeJes- sie, Frank P. Digiaimo, Hower W. Dyer, James F. Farrell, Edward L. Faulkner, Anthony N. Federico, Harold O. Franks, Henry R. Franks, Jr., Marlin J. Frommelt, Thomas E. Gaughan, David R. Gonzalis, Peter A. Goras, Kenneth R. ' ' h IW H'befo1d, Claude Gustfson, Donald E. Harper, Herbert T. Haitfortd, Hers e . i ' L-,H0dZ!QS, Peter Howachyn, Ralph B. Howell, Elmer C. Hysell, William H. Ivine, Herman J. Jones, Mavis A. Jones, James F. Karg, Ronald L. Karr, Charlles W. Kiehn, Harold A. Kelly, Michael J. Kendra, Robert E. Kildow, Paul W- Klux, Elwood C Krapf, Robert Laderoot, John P. Lamora, Bruce .F. Ibaw- son, Hubert J. Leaaissie, Wesley G. Lemon, Paul R. Leonard, Evan Lewis, on- All E Mothershed James F Mc- ald G. Mancini, Leonard E. Matalavage, en . . - - Ciarthy, Jimmie R. Mixon, Grady C. Moore. George K. Neely, Cl90tl'lS E- Nuttelx Daniel P. O'Brien, Kenneth W. Rassman, NVilliarn Potorf, Lee W. Pratt, Melvin Procell, Leonard V. Reinheart, Emil F. Rhode, Kenneth L. Richgnond, Rorgtld ' ' ' i - of - rr r v ay , Rflwland, P red A. Rubatino, Michael W. Schaefer , Hu,,h P. ciuhsss 5UYf1GI', John A. Soma, George J. Stoessel, Georgie W. Tollett, Richard M. Tur- Qeon, James R. Van Gelden, Alfiw.-tl T. Vancher, Peter J. Viola, Kenneth Walker, Mike Weter, Gerald M. VVickt-ns. Many long hours of gurmery practice like this paid off in the pinches Chipping and painting on the weather' beaten forecastle is endless routme work Ewen the 18,000 pound anchors get close attention 137 hwigg . ..f,g,of.,, Q rs.. i fi N. M ' ,.,,7..,Z. . in lxfefi. 'fwfr ' 4W4fZ'f. y N ,E ,X ,q,,,M,s 1 I 1 X fi., M It x ,f ef I fa X V7W,,,w, , f x s , . 1. 14, ,. , ,f.,, . 4 ,M 2 y , 1 X , f .f .Wa 'cf . N . ,46w,W'rX nada., l fp. V f ,,,

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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

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TOP ROW: L. W. Butler, C. M. Baclsman, A. D. Mauldin, J. M. Boatw1'ig:ht,R. VV. Gunn, D. D. Stewart, C. E. Kern, J. C. Vklallaee, L. A. Amons, H.M. Harrison, P. D. Arnold, E. Brinkman, C. Leathers, C. B. Waldhoff, M. 'Willti.nson, H. D. Kyle, T. B. Wisdom, R. Umbarger, J. E. Simpson. THIRD ROW: M. P. Ponville, C. E. Bramlett, E. P. Cody, E. K. Vermillion, E. A. Remender, C. R. Jarman, C. L. Varney, E. G. Van De Hey, J. T. Ken- nedy, R. L. Killian, W. L. Marlin, S. Tomaszewski, J. Linn, R. Boneff, E. H. VVarren. I . Kirkland, A. G. Dahlstrom, C. Niemeyer, E.Cis- neros, VV. G. Laughlin, E. A. Koliboslti. SECOND ROW:D. H. Richardson, O. R. Fjetland, E. L. Staley, L. Hansen, L. S. Council, C. T. Simpson, O. Doran, M. E. Rhodes, Ens. A. C. O'Neal, ' Lt. J. W. Alexander, Ens. F. H. Morgan, J. Klaus, H. P. Bowers, S. A. Klimczak, R. H. Chappell, E. O. Sweat, W. Winger, W. J. Bulczak. BOTTOM ROW: M. L. Wantuck, V. E. Haynes, J. M. Krnetz, W. R. Berndt, A. Napier, D. E. Christmas, A. H. Reynolds, W. J. Keck, G. Lopez, C. W. Vassar, J. Simon, F. Mulli.ns, R. S. Seigel, J. Hall, D. P. Kenney, R. C. Murphy, H. G. Karow, J. L. Jones. Our primary job is managing four twin 4OMM antifaircraft mounts. General quarters stations are on the after starboard mounts 9 and ll, and after port mounts 8 and 10-in stack gas country , amidst the deafening din of plane engines warming up, and along the landing strip with the arresting gear. From our gun tubs we have a worm'sfeye view of every landing. The gunner's mates service the four mounts-lubricatf ing, replacing barrels and breech locks, checking, etc.- The quad mount on the fantail which formerly belonged to us tas mount 111 was assigned to Fourth Division as Mount l3 after a new 11 was installed on the starboard quarter at Hunter's Point in San Francisco. Regular Condition III watches are stood on mounts 10 and ll where at sea we spend one out of every four hours watching the sea and sky wander by for hour after hour. Through the months, without interruption, Maintenance work on the 40's never stops-gunners mates remove a barrel .- ..... Y.. the watch has been regularly relieved to the cadence of the bosun's mate's voice over the P.A. system: Ref lieve the watch. Un deck section 2 Q3 or 4, or lj, ref lieve the wheel and lookout . A new section takes over on the mounts, the mount captain designates one man to wear the soundfpowered telephones connected with the other mounts and the bridge, and the rest of the men lean on the tub shield, sit in the pointer's and trainer's seats--and start the fourfhour shift tunless it'S one of the welcome twofhour dog watchesj. Besides the regular Condition Ill watches on the gun mounts we supply a boatswain'sfmatefoffthefwatch, Off HcerfoffthefDeck messenger, and two helmsmeng all OH the bridge or island structure. Also, one man standS watch at the incinerator, dumping in the trash Wl1iCh has been brought down by compartment cleaners. This is 51 boring job except when some thoughtless individual l1HS Seamanxhip is picked up fast on the borlf plflffvfms