Belleau Wood (CVL 24) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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?, D V J W Ro , T. E. Fulton, H. H. Heaton, H. A. Daflin, W. A. Miller, TOP ROW: W. Laughlin, E. F. Flego, O. C. Wofford, G. Kravec, C. H. e oe, . . y W. T. Jimmerson, D. Casolari, R. La Barge, L. S. Strawn, R. P. Gleason. l THIRD ROVV: F. F. Ford, P. Feyh, R. R. Atkisson, D. Barelor, P. Delgado, R. L. Bowling, J. J. Jaworowsky, C. R. Harpool, F. J. Mahalik, F. P. Matis, P. A. Stubbs. D. O. Chapin, D. L. Stickney, C. R. Sapp, R. F. Reilly. I i a SECOND ROW: P. Boycan,, L. R. Blinke, D. L. Krainski, J. A. Dowdall, P. G. McKenna, L. C. Heighes, Lt. K. M. P razier, Gunner R. G. Allen, J. A. Matusek, M. Lara, R. J. Koch, I. A. Neugart, J. G. Weigel, W. G. Tippett. BOTTOM ROW: D. A. Ulm, C. G. Swanner, P. D. Maloney, D. F. Trimmer, D. L. Murch, S. N. Douville, G. E. Mosman, L. Valdez, J. K. Folven, T. L. Kosier, J. W. Ryan, G. F. MacDonald. All hands, man your battle stations! Men of the Sixth Division doubleftime to their directors which conf trol the movements and the rate of fire of the 4OMM gun mounts. The director crews consist of five men: the Director Cfiicer, Pointer, Spotter, Phone Talker, and 3rd Division lookout. The Director Officer gives the firing ordersg the Pointer tracks the target with the director and closes the firing circuit which fires the gung the Spotter puts in corrections for range and deviation in elevation and deflectiong and the Phone Talker relays firing orders received -from the Director Officer to the mount and reports any mechanical casualties incurred in Bring. Breaking out torpedo warheads Besides manning the directors at General Quarters, we also stand Condition Two and Three watches on them while in or near enemy waters. In Condition Two only one half the crew is on watch at a time changing off at four hour intervals. In Condition Three we man three starboard directors and two port directors. We have three different gangs in the division: QU The fire controlmen keep up the maintenance Of the directors and the electrical apparatus on the mounts. The mount must follow cvcry movement of thc director in order to hit the targct. In action two men stand by t0 make emergency repairs. QQ The gunner's mates arc in charge of the maga' 4OMM firing moans lircalqing out ammo from the mag fumes f