Belleau Wood (CVL 24) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 145 text:

Qnrl DlVl.'lll tossed gi round ol' lixc ainnninili-in in the ill can which is ln-, ing emptied. Whcli the ship fuels at sua me man the alter fueling staf tion ljust forward of the .illicit clcxatorj to bring across the after fuel hose. As the tucl llows ilirougli the hose we tend the lines obeying the licax'e 'roundn and the slack oil of the bosun's mate. The daily routine at which we spend most of our time is janitor workg scrubbing bulkheads, swabbing and painting decks, Qvvhich usually involves a tussle with the paint czar in the First Lieutenant's otlice, trying to get him to sign our paint chit and assuring him that the surfaces are properly preparedl and dusting the maze of cables and beams of the overhead in compartment Cf'20lfL and main street -the port passage on the second deck. Topside we have the port blister, port boat platform, ten life rafts, and monkey lines. In port we are responsible for the port gangway, the 5552 motor whaleboat, receiving barges along the port side, and sidefcleaning the port side from water line to catwalk, from paravane platform to the boat platform. This requires conf Stant rigging and unrigging of stages and bosun's chairs, dodgf ing the water outflowing from scuppers, hanging on when waves bounce us around, scraping off the green weedy sea growth and loose paint, applying the undercoat of yellow zinc chromate, and finishing off with dark blue. The following members of the Division were detached before the group picture was taken: OFFICERS: Lt. tjgj A. N. Lasater, Ens. J. S. Jefferies, Ens. E. T. Shanks. MEN: Robert E. Abrahins, Francis T. Acton, Frank T. Alderson, Jesse W. Allen, Lonnie Allen, Charles H. Allman, Hillard Allmond, Sibastion A. Alois, lgester A. Amons, George H. Baldwin, William R. Berndt, Roy Bonaff, Robert C. Jrown, Albert H. Brunelle, Stanley A. Brzozowski, Joe Bullington, Jr., Walter -Blish, JOSeph.Butchko, David B. Carrol, Jr., John Chenosh, Jr., Edward D. Christmas, Emilio Cesneros, Frank G. Clifford, James M. Collins, Carmelo Cris- taldi, Edward D. Crowley, Leslie R. Darsey, Edgar B. Davis, Marcus L. Dawson, John E- Dayberry, Robert D. Derricott, Vincent Dipalma, Richard F. Dunkelber- 5913 Henry H..Elledge, John C. Ferbert, James H. Gailey. Carl T. Gardiner, Hobert W. Gentile, John J. Hammann, John Harnaga, Edwin Hartley, Vance E. HaYI19S, John F. Hoffenpradel, Emil J. Hubner, Wilfred J. Hull, Donald J. J ine- Stephen P. Hunts-The-Enemy, Clyde R. Jarman, Joe L. Janes,. Ralph H0 RWD, Herbert G. Karow, William J. Keck, J C Kelly, Robert H. Keith, Ennis Til lllebrew. Joseph J. Klaus, Charles Arthur T. Kitchell, Walter M. Kochanski, L if-,mas J. Koziel, John Kudella, Philip W. Kuntz, John M. Lamanna, Arthur La rade,. James P. LaPatina, William G. Loughlin, Grimoldo Lisa, James H. kong- Gllbeff Lopez. John G. Luster, Daniel J. Mallinowicz, Boleslaus Man- Jusv Walter L. Marek, Russel W. Martin, Joseph Martini., Robert McVe1fI.h, Jr.. Namlffs E- Nahas. Arthur Napier, John Pashkowsky, Ralph H. Pearsall, .Wendell Rilodeck, Anthony J. Pelosi, Paul R. Price, Albert H. Reynolds, Michael E. Rob, 931 Jr., .Donald H. Richardson, VVilfred C. Riley, Frank S. Riolo, David V. Sh lxnson, Richard.E. Rohloif, Fredrick M. Runyon, Carrol B. Rushing, Sam D. A QWOYI. Leo J. Smith, John Syczyk, Harry B. Ulrick, James E. Vogel, Sherman ' alkefi Elmo F. Weathers, Edward L. Well, Lewis A. Woodsworth. Port routine calls for sideecleaning Keeping a full bag of clothing in a small locker is a difficult task Still at ir Rigging the port gangway on one of our infrequent visits to port 139 X X

Page 144 text:

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

Page 146 text:

x '64 K is-A. dim .. ... . A if , ,, S 'th W J Clailx N N Varney D Moreno H J Mavis E. L. Fursman, F. K. Carter, TOP ROW: M. D. Clark, J. A. Walton, D. J. Beaver, D. D. mi , . . . . , . , 3 .. , 1 L. A. Willis, K. T. Vickers, M. R. Bowman, T. J. Bryant, L. A. Pendergrass, A. England, B. D. VV1ll1ams, J. T. Wings. THIRD ROW: R. R. Louis, D. J. Golden, W. H. Smith, L. P. Ham, W. W. Malone, H. R. Todd, R. K. Bloomfield, J. W. Benson, R. D. Mace, E. Perez, A. L. Mitchell, L. H. Luethje, C. Berry, W. B. Allen, D. J. Brewer, R. Stewart, R. W. Whalen. SECOND ROW: A. Cooper, C. R. Sanders, J. W. Guthrie, O. C. Kennon, W. G. Bethune, W. E. Van Dyne, C. E. Smith, Lt. R. B. Krogfoss, Lt. E. A. Simon, Lt. Qjgj M. E. LaLonde, G. A. Francey, F. Heller, C. W. Overall, J. W. Floyd, G. E. Kohl, R. G. Anderwald, D. K. Ebarb, D. L. Collins, E. F. Orosco. BOTTOM ROW: A. L. Toombs, K. B. Henderson, C. W. Hentzen, V. R. Wilkins, J. D. Webb. J. E. Heston, P. D. Breaux, W. P. Pfannenstiel, S. L. Woodfin, A. L. Haynes, C. P. Hendrix, P. I. Gravel, M. H. Hines. V. J. Varela, M. Hovivian, E. J. Ball. We are the Lookouts. A sharp lookout is of major iber machine guns which were strung around the im ortance even now with the hi h eificienc of radar. catwalk. P g Y During Condition Three from Turn to until Knock off ship's work our topside sailors are engaged in the Also, due to the everfpresent menace of floating mines and other navigational hazards, all lookouts must be vigif lant, wide awake, and at all times 'ion the ballw. A maintenance and upkeep of the starboard ladder leading highfranking oflicer in the naval service once said, A to the flight deck, the starboard blister and gangway, the good ship can often be judged by the alertness and efii' starboard boat platform, the Fil motorfwhaleboat, the ciency of the lookouts . We have tried to do our part lookout stations, division gear locker, and ten starboard in making the BELLEAU WOOD a good ship. life rafts, When that au't00'famih3f 80113 S0UUdS to Call US YO Below decks our men 'iturn to daily on compartment General Quarters, the Third Division stations lookouts Cf202,L, the incinerator Compartment, and the Gunnefv at Cash 40MM difecwf and mount and at the f1V9 1OOk' Ciiice passageway. Qther duties and special assignments out stations: the mast and each corner of the flight deck. are Supplying Coxswains for the boatswamg mate Watches Our second role in the Gunnery Department is manf in pmt and at Sea during G-Q. and drills, seamen for ning 4OMM mount number 6 which Was taken OVCI' the 0.C.D. messenger and anchor watches, and tWO from the Second Division in June, 1945 While the SMP helmsmen. Gut division also opcratcs and maintains the was at Leyte. Prior to this time we manned the .50 calf 56751 mmm Whuleboatv Mast lookout has something out there Mmifls lwlli rv lr'df11 friend from foe ......,.