Brooklyn (CL 40) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 71 text:

Nllllllllul ' an s : '- ....... nn In in Lieutenant Commander Charles L. POLSON, 8706 Meadowbrooke Ln., Norfolk, Virginia, was born 21 June 1918 in Andalusia, Alabama. He enlisted in the Navy in early 1940. He is married to Patricia POLSON and they have one daughter, named Blanche and she has two sons. Both Grandsons did a tour in the Navy. LCDR POLSON reported to USS BROOKLYN at San Pedro, California, 20 October 1940 from Naval Training Center, Norfolk, Va. He was assigned to the 6th Division and was assigned to that same Division the entire time on board, a total of 5 years and 3 months. He left the BROOKLYN for the Staff of Philadelphia Group Atlantic Reserve Fleet on 31 January 1946 and continued a Navy career for 30 years, retiring 1 October 1970. He reported on board as Apprentice Seaman and advanced through the line to that of Lieutenant Commander before retirement. Decorations: All the Area ribbons and Campaign ribbons with stars. His service was in the Atlantic and Mediterranean during World War II and in the Pacific Theater and Korea and Vietnam. He holds the Navy Unit Commendation. Captain Hatcher P. STORY, USNR Cretl, Courtland, Virginia, was born 26 March 1916 in Courtland, Virginia. He entered the Navy through the V 7 Program from Columbia University. He reported on board BROOKLYN in the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1942 and was a 9th Division, Division Officer and was detached from the ship when she was decommissioned in the same yard in January 1946. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean Crisis and gzrved three years in the USS Juneau, an Anti Aircraft rulser. In 1947 he attended the University of North Carolina, and was a teacher in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1947 and 1948. He served as High School Principal from 1948 to 1950 at Asheboro, North Carolina. Then the Active Duty with the Navy 1950 until 1953 and from that time he has been farming in Courtland, Virginia. 4551551 Q , no .... Hatcher P. Story 5 ,, ,. 6 .,,. Q W, ' , 'glgkff it Captaln .,... . ... y . USNR fretj ' .,... s 505' 'iw Q m .... -11 .,., -1, ll 1 Lt. John R. KIRBY, USN fretj right John KIRBY, Seaman, USN 1940 in Honolulu standing by the Amelia Earhart Memorial. Lieutenant Commander John R. KIRBY, USN fretl 1608 Rich Ave., Norfolk, Va., was born 24 February 1921 in Boomer, West Va. He enlisted in the Navy 7 March 1939 and went through the Boot Training Camp at Norfolk, Va. He married Erma I. KIRBY the 13th day of September 1942 and to this union were born the following children: Kenneth J. 25 May 1944, Robert S. 24 October 1945, USAF 2-years, John W. 1 May 19503 Forrest B. 17 April 1952, USN enlisted 2 years, Joseph L. 8 August 1960, now on active duty USN. Son, Kenneth J. KIRBY a graduate from the Naval Academy with the Class of 1966, was killed during landing exercises on the USS Ranger in September 1968. He was Radar Intercept Officer and was killed along with his pilot when the arresting pennant parted. He held the rank of Lieutenant flgl USN. LCDR KIRBY reported to USS BROOKLYN at Portland, Oregon, in July 1939 and was assigned- to the 2nd Division and then on to the B Division. He was detached February 1945 to Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Va., then on to Naval Operating Base, Trinidad, British West Indies. From here he went home in December 1945. He was recalled to Active Duty in August 1950 and reported to USS Latimer CAPA 1521 until 13 September 1950 he reported to USS Mississippi CEAG 1283. From here he was sent to several different Ships and Stations and Staffs to complete his Navy Career and retire as a Lieutenant Commander in 1974. He advanced from Apprentice Seaman while in BROOKLYN to the Appointment to Warrant Officer, Machinist, and was advanced through the grades to h1S retirement rank by 1974. Decorations: Include all the various medals and ribbons for the operations during World War II and for the ribbons and medals for the Korean Crisis. When you retire, do it with this outlook from the very first. When you get up in the morning, have nothing to do, and when you retire in the evening, have it only half done. ' f -' f'hUsP41f?x ' . : L 1 , ,Q .f1.sz2-ff . . :ff ' . P: -lf,-f.1 '- , -1-av.-,sw f f7f.z G,-f-fi: f ,. 1 V..--1 ' 3.3-,5'f'2Z,..AqK,4,-5 ' A 2.5 g 5 A ,.'.,?i2,k,v'C - Q2 yep.-,.-1 I ..-. .. -a . . . . ., .. . .. ,. .. .., , 4 ...mi

Page 70 text:

Commander George W. NELSON, SC USN fretl, 398 Camino Elevado, Bonita, Calif., was born 25 July 1922 1n Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Navy September 1940 and took Boot Camp Training at Newport, Rhode Island. He married Mary Bloom NELSON 28 February 1946 and a daughter, Diane, was born 30 December 1948. She is married to Lieutenant Donald Ridgeway, USN of Seal Team 1151. A son, Bruce Nelson, was born 26 April 1958.and leelis a student at the University of California, San Diego, a 1 . Commander NELSON reported to BROOKLYN in November . 1940 and was assigned to the Supply Department where he advanced to Storekeeper 2nd Class by the time he was detached in June 1942 for the USS John Penn. He went on to make a career of the Navy to retire as a Commander in 1970. Decorations: Numerous ribbons with stars and Commenda- tions from 1940 through 1970. His most unforgettable incident was during the Good Will tour to New Zealand in March 1941. Liberty commenced at 1000 and it terminated at 0800 the following morning. During the day. the BROOKLYN was moved 2 miles for refueling. He returned from liberty to find the ship gone. When he learned of her whereabouts, he trotted to the fueling area but arrived 7 minutes late. Having been placed on report by the Officer of the Deck, and later was to report to the Executive Officer, Commander F.C. DENEBRINK who reviewed his case and placed him on 6 months probation with a warning. This was the last mark on his 30 year career. Lieutenant Jack C. BONDEROW, USNR, 122 Highridge Rd., New Rochelle, New York, was born 30 June 1914 in Brooklyn, New York. He entered the Navy as a Naval Reserve Officer from Harvard University in 1942. Lieutenant BONDEROW has a wife, Myra, and 2 daughters, Selma and Amy. He reported to BROOKLYN in the Philadelphia Navy Yard in March 1943 and was assigned to the Communica- tions Department as Assistant Division Officer and Coding Officer. He was detached in October 1945 to the Staff of Commander in Chief Atlantic Fleet. Decorations: Area ribbons for duty during the war in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea until being released from Active Duty. He was in 3 operations to be awarded 3 Battle Stars while in BROOKLYN. ss.Frw WSWS Center above. Emily and Paul L. ANDERSON Above right: LCDR. Paul L. ANDERSON, USN, fretl before going to the Retired Officers Military Ball, Charlottesville, Virginia, March 1979, in a uniform purchased in Hong Kong, in 1956. Paul L. ANDERSON, LCDR, USN fretl, 2527 Hydraulic Rd., Apt. 1120, Charlottesville, Virginia, was born 12 October 1908 in Woodhull, Illinois. He enlisted in the Navy 3 December 1931 and received his Recruit Training at Great Lakes, ,Illinois. D Mr. ANDERSON 's first wife, Eva, passed away 26 December 1973 and he is remarried to Emily ANDERSON and they have spent not only their Honeymoon with the BROOKLYN reunion in St. Louis, but an Anniversary, the 2nd with us. He has a daughter, Barbara, born 7 October 1943, and two sons, William, born 25 September 1949 and David, born 25 February 1954. None of the children are following a NaVY career. He reported on board in April 1942 in New York and W8.S assigned to the Supply Department. When he reported on board he was a Supply Clerk and some of his duties were on the Coding Board. Being detached in October 1943 in Naples, Italy, he Was on the way to a new duty station, Marine Corps Air Statwll, Cherry Point, North Carolina. From there he was assigned to several different shipboard duty stations as SUPPIY Officer, and to several Shore Establishments in the same duty status. He was retired 1 August 1958. After retirement his employment was with the Virglma Correctional System as a Teacher and Counselor fr0m which he also retired. Then 2 years of VISTA Volunteer Work as a House Husband New House. Remembered Outstanding Event: We were ready to enter New York Harbor on a foggy, winter morning in a convoy after the very successful Play Ball invasion of Nflfth Africa. The signal flags Execute were up. I was 111 the Cofimg room and broke an Urgent message. I rushed to the bridge and said, Captain, Captain, Urgent. Instan151Y lihe C0mmand1ng Voice of our own Captain said over the voicg communications system, Admiral, Don't give the conifllan Execute until you have read message Number 705. The message. was, in effect, don't enter the channel because 8 convoy IS on the way out. The 1mP0rtance of this event was not what did happelk but what d1dn't happen in the narrow channel of New Y01' Harbor. It seems that BROOKLYN prevented a difficiig situation and her Captain and Pay Clerk followed the 0 Navy tradition of effectively getting the MeSSHge to Garcia.

Page 72 text:

- XX, ,Q I 'X Ng N gy. . . zh. R5 .-VV f l.., 0 If 6 . s f,,1 I X 'rn L,-L ' 2 1 1 ' Ti f , X ' iwfgf . i :E ',,A-' ' . , ' . lr r K, , . , L',,. LLLL V V ,, lf 5 .Q, .. is is . I I . 'Q' K ' -' -iff 532 - V . W ,i ' I Q3 ',.i,,.. -S I ,fe i ... . . W,- 7 0, w , 7 .ff f 1 fn , 1 z mm H I .V I W ,ff , ff My QQ at . 1' m ' ,' Q I .. K, r , .gi . K X VQLV Q will ,V,, 5 .,,, i elf VfiVi! ff,,?,,!fX!.,i A V X is 'Iv 1 -QS' , ' Q. A f 1 ff.-I .-,,f.,g,1g.-. X, f ,f-v, .i n f . 1 f.-- ff ,, ff f ww -J Af, ,,, A -ffi1ffz'afezr.efe'ef Nl-I t 5 ' v 1, ,mmf we f I 'I ,,V, Q, rfr..XjJ lx J 1, m',, ,ig ' M ' g ,, , , . 5, ,f , KV,, gl 'fill 'v Vi !',L I ,.V, l, .V'L' ' .V,'. I 'ull lj ' 1' I I4 ' j ' 1 i f' 'f 23.2. , , 1- , , ,, . . . . . . SN LCDR L.W. OTT USN. Chief Machinist L.W. OTT, USN Chief Machinist L.W. OTT, U ' 1 'film I Az A Ready for Admirals Inspection. 1 to r: Chief Pay Clerk Joseph Stanton, Chief Carpenter Clements, Pay Clerk Cook, Mach Thomas Birchmire, Lieut. McGary, Elect Officer, and Lieut. Jerry Ogle, Assistant Engineer. He is married to Consuelo M. SHOWEN and they have one son, Andrew V. SHOWEN, born September 1959. Lieutenant Commander Lawrence W. OTT, Cretl, Post Office Box 2457, Fort Myers Beach, Fla., was born 10 January 1901 in Biloxi, Miss. He enlisted -ln the Navy 13 May 1920 and went through Recruit Training at Hampton Roads, Va. He was married and they have one daughter, Mrs. Shirley O. Cox, Director, Foreign Languages Laboratory, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala. LCDR OTT reported on board as a part of the precommissioning detail 30 September 1937 served in the A Division and was detached to the USS Holland 1 April 1940. He served in various ships and stations until retirement from the USS Orion, 1 March 1947. After retiring he worked for Corwin Chemical Co.,.now Upjohn Co., North Haven, CT., as a Mechanical Engineer Supervisor. He went to Florida in 1949 and became the Village Handyman. Lieutenant Anderson V. SHOWEN, USN Cretj 254 Granada Road, West Palm Beach, Florida, was born 11 December 1911 at Lawford, West Virginia. He enlisted in the Navy 2 April 1935 and received his Recruit Training at Naval Operating Base, Hampton Roads, Virginia. He reported for duty in BROOKLYN, September 1942 from the USS Alcor. He WHS a Warrant Carpenter and was assigned to the C8zR Division as the ship's carpenter- Being promoted through the grades to Lieutenant Cjgl he put the BROOKLYN out of Commission and stayed on board while she was In Commission in the Reserve until January 1947. Was then transferred to the Philadelphia Group Atlantic ReSerVe Fleet and took care of BROOKLYN for another two years. ' Decorations: Good Conduct Medal, and the Campaign Medals and Ribbons with stars of a 30-year career in the US NAVY. Whellrftlriwelrlriines exploded around the bow during the invasion of Sicily I thought my 8 er was going to inhale his sound powered phones. A few minutes later W9 learned Qf the, D0SS1ble flooding in the freshwater pump room in the bow of the ship. Our First Lieutenant and Damage Control Officer Commander O.K. O'Dan1el USN' Wanted hrs Warrant Carpenter to inspect for the, damage. One very cautious Carpenter Wlth two men went forward very, very carefully, cracking each scuttle 111 turn, going throu h f d ' ' ' only minor no dg ofur ecks to the pump room. Then fmdmg in the pump r00m bl o ing rom small lines being ruptured. After that episode, 1311059 Scram ed eggs for breakfast on Battle Stations certainly tasted good.