Belleau Wood (CVL 24) - Naval Cruise Book

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TOP ROW: K. W. Franklyn, D. H. Fogarty, G. J. Matthews, J. N. Matheson, H. W. Daneri, C. J. Geiger, C. R. Massey, R. M. Per kins, H. E. Wammack, . . ' . . b'l, H.W.B , L.S.H d, H.D.Wood. ' Q MIDDLE ROS?JV?NL'?iIg?rlWl.EGElb11?e1ailtl1, J. L. Wilfiiallias, J. Freli?.ilT1i1n, R. F. Greenleaf, J. J. Milmorc, L. T. Jenkins, lf. G. Kutch, N. M. Forbes, L. L. ' . . ' , R. C. Ell' tt, R. E.W l t, Lt. J.W. Graham. , BOTTOM ROIWXIM. lyllvclvailsighlin, W. Bird, H. Vllqlllllsnroe, S. Matesich, R. A. Gearing, M. Budelovich, G. F. Busch, N. B. VVaters. J. R. Ritz, P. L. Brewbaker, K. Williams, J. J. Deckert. Fifth Division is the Marine Detachment. lt is com' prised of 41 enlisted men and two officers, all of whom have graduated from the highly touted Marine Corps Sea School where we learn about ships, shipfboard life, AA gunnery, recognition, and the general duties of Marines afloat. Usually dubbed Seafgoing bellfhopsw, the Marines have a place on every major warship of the U. S. fleet. In wartime the Marines are chiefly concerned with manning their share of ship's guns Qforecastle quad 4OMM and the ZOMM batteryj and providing orderlies for the Captain and Executive Cflicer. In port the Marine gangway sentry checks the idenf tification of credentials of all persons coming aboard or leaving. A Marine is on duty at the brig, the laundry, and the galley. Marine field musics take their turn on the bugle watches. The Corporal of the Guard assists the CfficerfoffthefDeck should a police force be needed. The detachment has its own office, keeps its own rec' Leatherneclgs are always preparing for inspection . . . and inspection always ords, submits its own reports, and generally functions as a separate entity. The Marine storeroom is not only stocked with additional clothing and training manuals but also with field equipment, so that a properly equipped landing force may be disembarked if necessary, which brings us to the story of our landing on japan. We learned on August 18, 1945 that we would com' prise part of an emergency landing force in japan. Pre' liminary to receiving the final word, we underwent in' tensive training on the flight deck, brushed up on our combat hand signals and rudiments of the combat fir? team, and actually fired off the fantail. At 0530 on August 19 the destroyer JOHN d her to be transferred to the HENRY GARRARD QAPA 841. Then and there began a period of teriffic boredom' RCDGERS drew alongside, and we went aboar HVWQ ill quarters that were practically unbearable due to the heat and congestion. And again there was much . e Tfzvsc' t'UHlfWil7'l1lIt'7li t'lt'Ll7lt'l'S llflflffll 'HSSP Come-9 ilu' Marim' q1u1r'l4'v's tile' tlvancsr 011 rw '

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4111 1 lll Ifllli l10Lll'S11li pulling 1111 11111 l1111'- lllll 11111 planes 111'1'1le1l oil, dllkl thc Fliurrli lJlXlSlUI1 ll.lxl to get ll .1l111.111l yvhm the ship is 111 l1Ul'lll.1l e1111tl1111111 ol it-,irlim-ee, t'Q,mdi, tion Tlnecu. the 1511111111 l51x1s1o11 s1.1111111s .1 w.11cl1 on 111o1111t jafr of llklllllxfl' 4 stack. S111111' ol our 111011 st1111d il ulookout watch taking their place lll ro1.1t1oi1 with sections of Third Division. The Fourth l51x'1s1o11 bridge w.1tcl1es are si111il11r to those stood by the First, Second, .111d Third Divisions: boatswainlsf niatefoffthc'watch. l1el111sn1.111, lee l1CllUSIUll11, klllel Ofhcerfof' thefDeck nicssenger. Vflicn the word is passed, l'Relieve the watch, o11 deck section four , we take over. Our battle stations are two -W Mlxfl mounts: the quad on the fantail tmount 135 and mount 7. The gunner's mates and their strikers keep our two gun mounts in operating condition. After our visit to Tokyo after Vfj Day the gunner's mates overhauled Japanese rifles, machine guns, and pistols for their shipmates. But the most distinctive of our duties is still the rigging and manning of the lines to other ships taken alongside for the transfer of material or personnel. You, the men who came and left while we were at sea, will remember the first and last voice you heard on the BELLEAU XVUQDE-the Voice of the fantail. The following members of llie Division were detached before the group picture was taken: OFFICERS: Lt. tjgJ A. C. Sherrard. El I A llcv Rob1rtF 'Xlford George NV Allison MEN: Joseph H. Aceto, mer . . c 1 - . 1 , . . , GEOTZG J. Aramini, Nicholas J. Barnett. John Barys, Earl VV. Beattie. Norman L. Bedle, Donald G. Becker. Richard M. Bell, Janus J. Baron, Normand G. Bau- rassa, Howard G Bower, Harvey T. Brannon, George L. Burlett, Cornelius C. ' f . h E. C.'Callahan, Clarence J. Campbell, Doris Campbell. Andre S. Casavant, Jo n Click, John J. Clark, Anthony R. Coppola, Jr., Roland R. Cote, Theodore Cox, -Jay C. Collins, John J. Cronin, George A. Cromer, Lawrence P. Curry, Edward L D ' Clarence Debold W'allace A Deck- F-Cl1Sl1iI1x3,', Joe W. Darnell, .Johnny . avis, - , . 1212 Leroy E. Deneault, Andrew J. Diamond, Jr., Paul V. Doehla, Clarence J. F D avan Robert D9aVmOY1d, Jr., Elmo Delaney, Nelson J. Dortez, Jr., George 4. on' , . E- DWYQF. Clyde Emery, Jr., Clarence R. Gaumond, Michael Gaverick, Daniel J. Gaynor, Foster L. Gibson, Norman E. Gilman, Charles E. Golba, Douglas E. Gor- fl0n, Dale O. Graves, Adolph J. Juscyzk, George B. Hayden, Louis H. Hatala, lgiillas M. Hatton, Roy E. Helt, Franklin Henfllingx, James T. Hungrelmann, Al- Ifert L. Hunt. Kenneth Kaminsky, Caleb J. Karam, Harding T. Keene, .John J. cially, Charles E. Landry. Edward T. Majka. Herman P. Marti, Leo J. Melcer, I aience Moulton, Donald E. Myers, Albert F. Napoli, Charles W. Norris., Har- 'fy W. Olive, Walter E. Olson, Walter E. Peets, Joseph Pzik, Mario Pozzi. Ver- non J. Roelofs, Thomas B. Ryan, Edward J. Rhelan, Harold B. Ketchum, Kamn- hey B. Sahm. Chester Sakiewics, Franklin Sypuicwski. William J. Taylor, 'Ed- Ward S. Tracy.. Milton R. Vonderlinde, Warren G. NValker, Carl W. Wicbllflal. Clifton G. Williams, Donald E. VVoods. The voice of the fantail r teams are madegtlie Fourth How tug o' wa handles o provision wlnp on fueling days 'lSl1ove off coxsruain, carry out your orders! A sure sign the war is over 143

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th Dwi J I ii schooling,-map reading and working out on the cargo nets with full packs. The GARRARD joined other transports and menfoffwar and steamed through the waters of Sagami Wan and into Tokyo Bay. August 30 dawned bright and clear in Tokyo Bay. At 0630 we were in the LCM's and LCVP's. Finally at 1130 we took off in a straight shot for the beach with BELLEAU WOOD planes overhead. The beach in this particular inf stance was a seaplane ramp at the Yokosuka Naval Air Base. The landing Went off very smoothlyg our Company C of the lst Battalion formed and took off for the airfield about 1200 yards further on to set up a perimeter defense around the runways and hangars with gun squads in strategic spots. The first night proved uneventful. But on the second and third days it rained and poured, and within a matter of minf utes makeshift shelters sprang up under planes and partially completed buildings. We were moved into some Japanese barracks at the northern end of the airfield. Despite the bed' bugs, lice, and roaches, our guard was running smoothly. Yokosuka was strictly out of bounds, but a few did manage to elude the sentries and get over to the town. On September 6 we left the Naval Air Base in our landing craft and went directly to the LEXINGTCN at anchor in Tokyo Bay. A day and a night run brought us in sight of good old Beulah--what a welcome sight! Then to a destroyer via the inevitable bosun's chair, thence home by way of the fantail. A The following members of the Division were detached before the group picture was taken: William C. Albertson, Robert VV. Baldwin, Glenn E. Bankston, Jerome V. Burns, Joe C. Christian, Charles W. Cook, Vincent D. Dannemiller, Stephen J.Dolnack, Robert W. Donnely, George M. Dubyak, Robert K. Farrar, Edward L. Folker. Douglas M. Hamblin, John G. Harwood, Jr., Phillip J. Hassan, Roland C. Hubi- regtse, Harry F. Kittridge, Samuel C. Kelson, Joseph Komarnacki, Grover H. Lands, Herman M. Leray, Fred E. Marshall, Severio J. Martino, Jack R. Mauck, Joseph P. Miealtowski, Donaald McGuire, James F. Moran, Louis W. Noeker, Wallace D. Paraham, James E. Phillips, Francis E. Porter, Warren E. Powell, Ralph A. Ramano, Carl L. Richart, Casper L. Roeder, Patrick X. Ryan, George P. Sauterre, Lawrence B. Scott, Norman C. Scott, Leonard Sezov, Andrew H. Stephenson, Alfred L. St. John, John W. Suba, Jr., William B. Thomas, Jr., James J. Totero, Edwin H. Ulanowicz. Frederick F. Vering, Vernon L. WQl'Sl91', Douglas M. Williams, Edward E. Yourick. Marine quad piles up empty brass on a long target practice run Carrier flight declq makes an excellent drill ground 2O's manned and ready Captairfs Ordefly 145