California (CGN 36) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 102 of the 1981 volume:

■MMIllMy 1 • 1981 INDIAN OCEAN - DEPLOYMENT I I This book is dedicated to the officers and men of the USS CALIFORNIA, who served diligently, faithfully, and profession- ally in one of the loneliest and hottest areas of the world: the Indian Ocean. ?tOfitrty of OS .11 TheiKoniiCAlli Sjn FrintiM in 1 DIECO WIS sunk I k ioml „„ « Syiiiij, r USS CALIFORNIA: The Legacy of a Name rhe second CALIFORNIA, a 503-foot armored cruiser, was launched in ian Francisco in 1904. In 1918, the ship, which was renamed the SAN DIEGO was sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Long island. T -a - L The fourth CALIFORNIA was a 58-foot yacht commis- sioned in 1917, and owned by the San Francisco Bar Pilot ' s Association. BB-44 The largest ship to bear the state name was the battleship ;AL1F0RNIA, BB-44. The ship was commissioned on 10 August 1921 nd for 19 years served as flagship of the Pacific Fleet (1931-1941). It ' s haracteristics were: length, 624 feet; displacement, 32,300 tons; speed II knots; and complement, 57 officers and 1,026 enlisted men. The ship was armed with 12 14 50 guns, and two 21-inch ubmerged torpedo tubes. On Sunday, December 7, 1941, CALIFORNIA was berthed in Battleship Row at Pearl Harbor. During the Japanese aerial attack, the ALIFORNIA took three torpedo hits, causing the ship to list 8° ' o to ort. By Thurs., the CALIFORNIA was sitting on the harbor ' s floor with • nly its superstructure above the surface. in 1942, the CALIFORNIA was refloated. After repairs, the ship eparted for Puget Sound Navy Yard, Wash., for major reconstruction, he CALIFORNIA returned to active service in 1944. During WWII, the CALIFORNIA earned seven battle stars. It larticipated in shore bombardments during the Saipan, Guam, Tiniar perations, and in the Battle of Surigao Strait. The CALIFORNIA was placed in commission reserve in 1946 iecommissioned in 1947, and sold for scrap in 1959. The first naval ship named for the state of California was a 313-foot screw sloop launched in 1867 and decommissioned in 1873. It iEinnittrnri A 179-foot yacht was the third ship to bear the name CALIFORNIA. In 1920, the ship was sold to a Florida lumber company. Battleship CALIFORNIA. c Ffanlil COMMANDING OFFICER USS CALIFORNIA (CGN-36) 20 November 1981 To the World ' s Finest Crew If you could combine all the Navy recruiting cliches such as It ' s not just a job, it ' s an adventure, Join the Navy and see the world, Pride and Professionalism, Heritage, It ' s an education, and Scholar-ship, they could be summed up as CALIFORNIA ' 81 CREW - World ' s Finest. I have been very proud of your accomplishments this year. This book reflects many of the highlights and remembrances. IVhat you did that is difficult to show in pictures and describe in words is the hallmark of our present day Navy - READINESS. The E ' s and hash marks which rightly adorn CALIFORNIA and are proudly displayed in the Enlisted Dining Facility are indicators of your readin ess, which in this past year you have literally displayed around the world. CALIFORNIA has further enhanced her professional reputation as the World ' s Finest Warship because of her crew. I salute you - the Navy ' s highest accolade of excellence is yours - Well Donel I I in1i Acad destr inju prior ScliO( (or ni Ui) C Scien 1%4. Vallei fi oi th when lepoi I J. SMITH taptain, U.S. Navy 8 Commanding Officer I Captain Charles ]. Smith is a native of Frankfort, Indiana, and attended public s( hoois in that community. Following high school graduation in 1954, he entered the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned Fnsign, USN, in June 1958 upon graduation. FHis first sea tour was aboard the escort destroyer USS TAYLOR (DD-468) where he served in junior officer billets and as Engineer Officer prior to transfer to the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in February 1962. In 1963 he was selected for nuclear power training which commenced in May 1964. Captain Smith was awarded the Master of Science degree in Operations Analysis in June 1964. He completed Nuclear Power School, Vallejo, California in October 1964 and was graduated from Nuclear Power Training Unit, Schenectady, New York, in May 1965. FHis second sea tour was as Executive Officer of the destroyer escort USS HARTLEY (DE-1029) where he served eighteen months prior to reporting to USS LONG BEACH (CGN-9) in January 1967 as Electrical Officer. During this tour the first surface-to-air missile destruction of a hostile aircraft was achieved by USS LONG BEACH. Following assignment as Executive Officer, Nuclear Power Training Unit, Idaho Falls, Idaho from August 1969 to January 1972, he returned to the USS LONG BEACH where he served as Executive Officer until July 1975. Captain Smith ' s subsequent assignment to the Training and Readiness Division of the COMNAV- SURFPAC Staff included concurrent duty as Senior Member of the NAVSURFPAC NAVAIRPAC and NAVSURFLANT NAVAIRLANT Nuclear Propulsion Mobile Training Team. Following temporary assign- ment from February to May 1977 as Executive Officer, USS TRUXTUN (CGN-35), he commanded USS ROBISON (DDG-12) from July 1977 to December 1978. Fie holds the following decorations: Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Viedal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation with star. Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Battle Efficiency Award, National Defense Medal with star. Sea Service Ribbon with star, Vietnam Service Medal with six stars and Vietnam Campaign Medal. Captain Smith is married to the former Elizabeth Ellen Daine and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Woodruff of Frankfort, Indiana. The Smith ' s have a son, Daine, attending the University of Indiana; two sons. Derrick and Drew, attending Norfolk Collegiate Fligh School, and a daugher, Dia-Dianne attending Norfolk Collegiate Lower School. Executive Officer Commander Neil M. Brennan was born in Annapolis, Maryland, on November 18, 1944. He attended the United States Naval Academy and was graduated in 1966 with a degree in Naval Science and was commissioned Ensign, USN. After completing nuclear power training, CDR Brennan served aboard USS BAINBRIDGE (DLGN-25) from 1968 to 1970 as Auxiliaries Officer and later as Damage Control Assistant. After completing the Department Head Course at the Naval Destroyer School, he served on USS RICH (DD-820) as Weapons Officer in 1971 and 1972. In August 1972, he reported for duty at the Naval Academy as the Fourth Company Officer. He returned to sea duty in October of 1975 as Electrical Officer on USS LONG BEACH (CGN-9). Commander Brennan served on the Staff, Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, from January 1978 to July 1979 as a member of the Nuclear Propulsion Mobile Training Team and as Maintenance Manager for USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65). Commander Brennan reported on board CALIFORNIA in November 1979, as Executive Officer. He has been awarded the National Defense Medal, Sea Service Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, Battle Efficiency Award, Naval Expedition- ary Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and Meritorious Unit Commedatlon Medal. Commander Brennan is married to the former Jane Young from Thomasville, North Carolina. They have four children: Neil, Kara, Jason, and 4 Stacey. 1. ' well , Pota The Golden Grizzly ' ' : A Proud Record of Accomplishments CALIFORNIA ' S keel was laid on January 23, 1970. The ship ' s sponsor was Mrs. Richard M. Nixon, the former first lady. Mrs. Nixon christened the ship on September 22, 1971. On February 16, 1974, CALIFORNIA was commis- sioned for service in the Atlantic Fleet. CALIFORNIA is 596 feet in length, with a beam of 61 feet and a full-load displacement of 11,100 tons. The crew consists of 31 officers and 512 enlisted men. The ship ' s mission is to operate as part of a fast carrier task force, or independently to detect and destroy any hostile force. The ship ' s armament includes two Tartar D guided missile batteries, two-quad Flarpoon (cruise missile) launchers, two Super Rapid Blooming Offboard Chaff (RBOC) launchers, two 5 54 Caliber lightweight guns, an 8 cell anti-submarine torpedo tubes. The CALIFORNIA is equipped with the AN SQS-26 long range sonar. The ship carries an array of electronic equipment for long and short range communications, control of interceptor aircraft, air and surface target, detection and tracking, electronic warfare and navigation. It is capable of simultaneous 3-dimensional warfare with Combat Information Center ' s decision makers aided by the computerized Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS). The ship ' s twin reactors gives it essentially unlimited endurance. It can sustain high speeds for long periods of time and is capable of conducting extended operations in combat areas far from supply bases. CALIFORNIA ' S fuel supply will last approximately 13 years. Each year, CALIFORNIA participates in graded exercises and evolutions designed to measure the crew ' s training and readiness in all warfare areas. The standards are high, and the ships which meet or exceed the standards are presented with Excellence awards or E ' s for each warfare specialty. in the first six years, CALIFORNIA has participated in these exercises, the ship has won the Battle E three times ( ' 76, ' 78 and ' 80) as well as 36 departmental E awards. Currently, the ship holds its sixth consecutive Missile Systems E , fifth consecutive Gunnery E , fourth consecutive Combat information Center (CIC) E , fourth consecutive Electronic Warfare E , and the third consecutive Anti-Submarine Operations A . Additionally, CALIFORNIA has earned the Chezak Award for the Navy ' s Top Naval Gunfire Support Ship on two occasions, garnered Sixth Fleet ' s Flook-em award for Anti-Submarine Warfare excellence and was named the top Anti-Air Warfare ship in the Atlantic in 1977 as well as runner up in 1978 and 1979. CALIFORNIA was chosen to represent the United States Surface Fleet at the Silver Jubilee Naval Review at Portsmouth, England in June 1977. Over 150 warships from 18 nations participated in the Naval Review which commemorated Queen Elizabeth ' s 25th year of corona- tion. CALIFORNIA has been deployed to the Mediterran- ean, serving with the Sixth Fleet on three occasions. On the third occasion, in early September 1979, the CALIFORNIA, along with the USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) and USS TEXAS (CGN-39), forming a Nuclear- Powered-Battlegroup, embarked from Norfolk, Va. on a routine six month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. But as the Iranian crisis worsened in late December, the three nuclear-powered ships were ordered to the Indian Ocean and duty with the Seventh Fleet. The CALIFORNIA traveled from Livorno, Italy to the Indian Ocean, a distance of nearly 22,000 miles, in only 18 days. In early March, the CALIFORNIA went to Mauritius, an island 450 miles east of Madagascar, to participate in that island nation ' s 12th anniversary of independence from Great Britain. In late April, CALIFORNIA ' S air trackers followed the flight of eight helicopters from NIMITZ ' s flight deck in an attempt to rescue 53 Americans held hostage by militant Iranians. Although, that mission was not successful, CALIFORNIA ' S readiness and the purpose for the battle group ' s presence remained unchanged: to demonstrate America ' s resolve to maintain the security and peace in the Persian Gulf region. After five months patrolling the Indian Ocean, the Nuclear-Powered-Battlegroup was relieved by the nuclear carrier USS EISENHOWER (CVN-69) and the nuclear powered cruisers USS VIRGINIA (CGN-38) and USS SOUTH CAROLINA (CGN-37). Nine months after their odyssey began, the CALIFORNIA, with the TEXAS and NIMITZ, began the long trip home: a 12,000 mile journey traveled in 19 days. Upon reaching Norfolk, Va. on May 26, 1980 (Memorial Day), CALIFORNIA had traveled nearly 80,000 miles. An estimated crowd of 30,000 lined the shores and piers as Tidewater communities, and the nation, greeted the three highly sophisticated warships in the biggest homecoming celebration since WWII. From NIMITZ ' s flight deck. President Carter greeted the Indian Ocean Battlegroup. The Secretary of the Navy, Eduard Hidalgo; the Deputy Secretary of Defense, VVilliam G. Claytor; Virginia ' s Senator John Warner, Lt. Governor Charles Robb,and Mrs. Louise Kennedy, wife of an American hostage, visited the CALIFORNIA to express their appreciation and welcome the ship home on that memorable day. SBUBQ WSlaBaSB i The Rock of Gibraltar The coast line of Moracco, Africa UHTlUt Cartagena ' s war monument commemorating those who died in the 1898 Spanish-American War. Cartagena, Spain April 23-26, 1981 A Cartagena ' s mall: street-side cafes, restaurants, and shops. T (jovernmenl Buildmg The liberty boat to Cartagena: from back to Itont, LT Finley, LCDR Brown, and LCDR Diaz. The Alhambra, Granada The city of Granada 11 An entrance to one of the many beautiful green gardens. El Escorial, the resting place for Spain ' s monarchs. The Court of Lions Water fountain at the Alhambra A skillfully carved walkway. J A Naval Tradition: Past and Present 1 The crossing-the-line ceremonies are so ancient that their origins have been lost in time. The early ceremonies were intended to be rough in order to test the crew and to evaluate if the boots could endure the hardships of life at sea. The modern Navy ' s crossing-the-line ceremonies are uncomfortable, but fun. All officers and men, who have never crossed the line, must undergo the scrutiny of King Neptune and his court. The night before the ship crosses the equator, Davy Jones, the Royal Scribe, brings a message to the captain from King Neptune, which announces the time that the King will arrive and begin the ceremonies. Usually, the senior Shell-back crew member is selected to be King Neptune, and the next senior crew member as Davy Jones. Her Royal Highness, Amphitrite (Miss Pollywog) is the best looking young seaman selected by the shellbacks. Other members of King Neptune ' s court may include: the Royal Baby, the Royal Barber, the Royal Doctor, the Royal Judge, the Royal Dentist, and the Royal Chaplain. During her active years at sea, the battleship CALIFORNIA (BB-44) had many crossing-the-line ceremonies. Below are a few photographs from BB-44 ' s 1936 crossing-the-line ceremonies. ZJ{ ZJ- Div) ' lones | Blanco, SA ( The Royal Judge pauses to have his picture taken along with his assistants before he resumes his work handing out verdicts to the Pollywogs . (L to R. MM2 Burns and MM! Albright.) I Ihe Rojil Iwlor, prep Bait, ICl C( The initiation of the pollywogs and tadpoles . As BB-44 crossed the equator, these men went through the rites common to all who cross King Neptune ' s domain. They emerged as shellbacks . The Royal Navigator marks the crossing of the equator, 20 May 1936, at 0534, 81° 12 ' 12 . Pollywogs and Tadpoles stood watch looking for the equator. I It iionj with lut teiiiicti 1 Abielitl Davy Jones (BM1 Warrick) and admirers. (From left to right, MS3 Henderson, MSI Blanco, SA Ceyer, and ETl Christy). The Royal Barber, Chief Taylor, prepares the Royal Baby, IC1 Cooper. gill who icks . I , i« M ' King Neptune (QMC Hallman) arriving. MSSN Dux King Neptune ' s Royal Beauties. The final selection w as so tough, that King Neptune was forced to select both finalists. OSSA Castro SH HHSfli CMMSN Reingold, T Division contestant. BM1 Simmons looks on with admiration. The beauties line up for the final selection. The Miss Pollywog contestants awaiting anxious- ly for the program to begin. FTG3 Cornell, G Division, is escorted by FTG3 Zirkle (I.) and OS2 Santangelo (r.). SKSN Lavacca, S-1 Division, walks with gusto. I J I i The Wardroom contestant, LT McCloskey, being carried by LT)G ) Fulcnwider (I.) and ENS Burgess (r.). The Chief Petty Officers ' Mess Representative, Chief Stark, being escorted by BM1 Simmons. Representing E Division is ICFN Finn. A Big Kiss for the Royal Baby on his Big Belly. CMTSN Reynolds representing AS Division. SN Baker paying homage to one of King Neptune ' s Royal Beauties. ■ ■ SKSN Manning and SN Baker waiting patiently to greet King Neptune. BM1 Simmons (r.) escorts Chief Stark (1.) before the judges, and Shellback audience. The purging process for lowly Pollywogs: the garbage chute. Dr. Schacherer emerging from a medical inspection of the garbage chute. From front to back, MS3 Kautz, EW2 Gilason, IC2 Ryals, and TMSN Senna crawling along to greet the King, On to the Royal Baby, back to front, MM3 Sweet, EWSN Sterner, jiid LCDR Kuzusko. rethejndjei. life chule. LCDR Coleman, Operations Officer, nose to nose with a Shellback. EWSN Sterner (1.) and EW2 Gilason at the Miss Pollywog Beauty Contest. The following day was a different story for them. ETSN Philips (1.) is led before the judges and audience. Let the purging Coleman and Dr process begin. Rank does have its privileges: LCDR . Schacherer (r.) prepare to enter the garbage chute. ,(,j;uskO. EW2 Gilason now understands how much power a wog possesses. 13 15 Administration, Navigation, and Medical Departments w ffl . ' «U LT Casey Administration, Navigation LT Schacherer Medical m a 1 li LT Azuma Medical PNCS Crowe Personnel IL YNCM Swarthout Command Master Chief «, mM QMC Hallman Navigation HMC Sulick Medical HMC Pope Medical 1 PNC Vernon Personnel NCC Hale Career Counselor 16 Il TD1 Daiy LPO YN1 Brumfield HT1 Skoog MAI Hall RP1 Molin PN2 Nemitz YN2 Moody YN2 Robinson PN3 Edens PN3 Kirk YN3 Buttone PC3 Graves PN3 Brennecke PNSN Alvira JOSN Eslava YNSN Rogers YNSN Miller PNSA Webb YNSA Barker PNSN Costello SN Care 17 HM1 Long LPO M HM2 Vencil SN Ranco 0 0 • o I Ik ' ' •m QM2 Fenstemaker LPO QM2 Dorsey Off? QM2 Broady QM3 Taylor QMSN Carr -I 18 0 (i G ' O • 1 ■ e r JOSN Eslava and PN3 Edens filming the rescue of Irenes Sincerity ' s crew members. Chief Boyle embracing Chief Pope during a wrestling smoker on the fantail. ■i« f RM3 Bilak having his arm elevated in Sickbay. PC3 Graves sorting mail. Chief Hallman relaxing in CPO Berth- ing. The Bridge. Photo by Wallace Clark. PNCS Crowe enjoying the steel beach picnic. 19 wa aK imam HMC Sulick does it again. ITU UORK,CUI£f. Wrestling smoker on the fantail (L.) Chief Boyle, (C.) Chief Pope, (R.) Dr. Schacherer. Col. Hines, PACE instructor, talks to FTMSN Rose. -- Celebrating the Passover, from left to right, Capt. Smith, OSSN Stomakin Chap Nickols, MSSN Nacht, RP1 Molin, LTIC Cohen, CDR Brennan, and OSSN Kalish. LCDR Kuzusko receives the Surface Warfare Officer pin from Capt. Smith. Land, hoi Ascension Island on the afternoon of May 5, 1981. SMC Houchin looking through the big eyes on the Signal Bridge. Waving a Don ' t Tread On Me flag, the boat from Ascension Island prepares to come alongside the ship. MM2 Medakovich prepares to go on emergency leave After swiftly leaving the Mediterranean, the ship made a brief stop at Ascension Island to pick up mail and parts. j. 22 Operations Department i tfm -riTvi LCDR Coleman Department Head LT Teats OE Division Officer LT Blount ON Division Officer LT Dorsey Ol Division Officer LT McElrath OZ Divison Officer LT)C Fulenwider OC Division Officer LTJC Munoz OA Division Officer ENS Lewia OE Division Officer IM ENS Padovanni Assistant Ol Division DSCS Lavin ON Division ETC Harman OE Division SMC Houchin OC Division Officer KWJI EWC McCullough OA Division RMC Atwood OC Division OSC Stark Ol Division OSC Roddy Ol Division , y ] mt J i Ol Division OS2 Wiebalk OS2 Craybill OS2 Whitcomb Trn OS1 Prise LPO ' fy f :U. — y f OS1 Lombardi OS2 Hammer 052 Kline 053 Van Huyck OS3 Hensley OS3 )ones OS3 Stomackin OS3 Stubbs OS3 Brown OSSN M. Sharp OSSN Walker 23 OSSN Goodwin OSSN Stoker OSSR Allen OSSR McPherson OSSR Valentin OE Division ET1 Christy LPO tf f.! J ■ ETl Rock ET2 Holmes ET2 Putnam ET2 Scott ET2 Bowles ET3 Dickerson ET3 Smith ET3 Ellingson ET3 Odiorne ET3 Duff ET3 Thogode ETSN Baker ETSA Clayton ET2 Deery ET3 Kurilla ON Division DS1 Caudill DS2 Fusetti DS2 Burns DS1 Balcerzak LPO 4- DS3 Starr DS3 Remberl DS3 Leigh W ' OC Division RM1 Collins LPO ■« s s RM1 McKenney RM2 Beasley SM2 Mitchell SM3 Martin RM3 Hafer RM3 Cambra PTrJ RM3 Hayford RM3 )ones RM3 Henderson RM3 King RM3 Brooks RM3 Swanson RMSN Morris RMSN Russell RMSN Tolbert RMSN Stukes RMSN Hatch SMSN Brown SMSN Rodden SMSN Liberatore RMSN Barner 27 OA Division EW1 Ball EW2 Moyer EW2 Salada EW2 Huff % EW2 Cilason EW2 Gowen II LfO EWSN Sterner ••• .„. EWSN Pierson ams 28 OZ Division ET1 Hussey LPO -4 CTI2 Pfister CTR2 Armstrong CTI2 Peters CTR3 Milligan — V -: CTR1 Bissonette CT01 Glenn PS5T.... HEY YOU. . - . V ' CTR3 Stagers CT03 Navarro V K CTOSN Mackin CTRSN Fleishman 29 LCDR Coleman (1.) and Captain Smith (c.) visited with Capitaine de Vaisseau Yuan Noel, commanding officer the French Suffren Class destroyer DDC Duquesne. ' T EW2 Salada attempting to get his act together. ET3 Dickerson attempting to pin his opponent. Dr. Schacherer, the referee, prepare to call the match for Dickerson. SMSN Brown working single-handedly to raise the flag. 30 SMC Houchin (1.) and SM3 Martin (r.) receiving a message from another ship. HTFN Van Lehn (c.) looks on. i ( OS2 Kline (I.) and LCDR Coleman enjoying the steel-beach picnic on the fantail.  ir SA Egner on a replenishment at sea detail. M - ' -m LCDR Kuzusko (Officer of the Deck) and ENS Lewia (Junior Officer of the Deck) on the port bridge wing. SMSA Rodden at the flag hoist. V .1 ' ■■, ET2 Holmes (1.) checking out CDR Brennan ' s headset prior to flight quarters. The XO asking, Where did that helo go? 31 CAPT Smith and LTJG Keyser (r.) picnicking on the fantail. GMM3 Ginsburg (1.), DSCS Lavin (c.) and CDR Brennan during the picnic. Chief Sulick preparing for Flight quarters. An F-14 whizzes by. OSSA Kalish and other crew members in the Librarv. The Duquesne, a French Suffren Class Destroyer. 32 U-i The USS AMERICA and the USS PREBLE being replenished by the USS WHITE PLAINS. The CALIFORNIA is next in line to receive groceries and cargo. LT)C Munoz, who just qualified as Office of the Deck, received a pair of dice. According to an old Latin American tradition, the dice will bring the wearer luck. (And us tool) .i m FTCS Pinkham on the Signal Bridge. SN Teel examining JP-5 prior to a helo refueling operation. CMG1 Steele supervising FTC3 Mack on the 50 caliber machine gun. 33 Hhoi utuiti . RP1 Moiin in the First Class Mess. SN Deery (I.) and BM3 Mitchell (r.) take a break during a connecting replenishment. Engineering Department --I • ' w. LT Chadbourne MPA LCDR Tuddenham Department Head LT Williams A Division Officer LT McBride DCA i. LT Tilden Electrical Division Officer LT Finley MPA LT McCloskey Acting MPA LT Mobley RC Division Officer LTJG Beavers Shipyard Coordinator 5. LTJG Gallant R. Division Officer rrf LTJG Harbuck L Division Officer LTJG Brissette EOOW Trainee LTJG Facer E Division Officer ENS Clark M Division Officer ENS Pavelle A Division Officer 35 I ENCS Girard A Division MMC Boyle A Division axaiR w EMC Taylor E Division HTC Burns R Division - J- ' •■■: ii rttKi.dsfam ' ) ' «JSr 1 ETCS Rokitski RC Division 36 MMC Goulding M Division t5 ' rmn rtUT, MMC Davis L Division EMC Reed E Division MMC Reynolds M Division 1 MM1 Damick LPO L Division MM! Scott MM2 Billet MM2 Doran I : MM2 Clifton MM Rambow 9 M Division MM! Markwith LPO MM1 Deveau ] 1r MM1 Lutz ■ A MM! MM2 MM2 MM2 Derocher Kimball Beltramo Kruske MM2 MM2 MM2 MM2 Myers Travis Ledoux Coley 9 - . MM2 MM2 MM2 MM2 Madsen Mayfield Hardy Simpson MM2 Bump MM2 Haigh MM2 Hall MM2 Anderson 4 i f MM3 Ottis MM3 Fairfull MM3 Smith MM3 Anielak ' H. 39 mam Jj MM! Vines MM2 Maney % x MM2 Winters MM2 Downs MM3 Stoner MM2 Murphy MM2 Kessel MM2 Potter MM2 Agin MM2 Spicuzza MM2 Maxwell MM2 Shevenock V MM2 Malone MM2 Pugh MM2 Snell MM2 Harzold MM2 Davis MM2 Ristau MM2 Brower MM3 Corlas MM3 Sweet MM3 Harris RT Division MM1 Mosher LPO m iner ssei -t, li EMI Fougere MM2 Chausse ET2 Scheetz MM2 Kupres ii;e; ! ituia evenock N., y MM2 Reed ET2 Louge ET2 Bailey ET2 Haskins J EM2 Holt EM2 Edwards EM2 Mosley EM3 Christie -4 1 41 ET2 Helenthal RC Division Ll ET2 Brenner ET2 Cecil ET2 Christiansen ET2 Erwin ET2 Bowen ET2 Evers ET2 Geer ET2 Harris ET2 Rhoades ET2 Schwiker ET2 Kohler ET3 McVay ET3 Pierce ET3 Reha ETSN Soileau ET2 White ET2 Toombs ET2 Barone a 42 k n u % -. : E Division EMI Thomas LPO IC1 Dunaway EMI Pence EMI Botwright IC1 Cooper 9 % ' ■ -- % IC2 Rogers EM2 Seekel 4 -■r.. 4! IC2 Thiel IC2 Cooperwood EM2 Sulla EM2 Drew EM2,Milyko % EM2 Sapp EM2 Weiksner IC2 Shelffo EM2 Deger EM3 Davis ■ M « t Iwl 1 m V ENHN itarioey FA Nester FN Georges FA Cross FA Baptista FR Furlow FR McClure 45 MS3 Carter hands out steaks to the crew during a cookout. ET2 Harris studies manuals to prepare for qualifica- tions in the nuclear plants. HT3 Francis is congratulated by HTC Burns after re-enlisting in the Captain ' s Cabin. SN Geyer and MM2 Downs wrestle in CALIFORNIA ' S wrestling smoker. 46 If ' The First Class Mess EM2 Holt helps with the stretcher during the evacuation of the Creek crew from the merchant Irenes Sincerity. HTFN Alford (1.) and HTFN Furman (r.) relax between helo operations. HT3 Gehr in Damage Control Central. Chaplain Nickols and ENS Walker on the bridge wing. 47 The super heavyweights - Chief Pope (bottom) and Chief Boyle (top) were the attention getters during the wrestling smoker on the fantail. LT McCloskey announces the wrestling events. Welding classes in the Machinery Repair Shop. SH3 Holder folds laundry in the laundry plant. MSSN Joyner is sworn-in by Capt. Smith in his cabin. Wrestling smoker on the fantail. SM2 Mitchell in the Signal Bridge. FTCS Pinkham prepares for CALIFORNIA ' S casino night. BM2 Garcia. Smilh in Ins I MM1 Sandman plays his guitar in his spare time. {• f lSJ J Crew members prepare the Boatswain ' s Chair for a personnel high-line transfer. CMG1 Steele supervises SHSN Wilson during g 50 caliber machine gun qualifications. The transition between the old and the new in fast growing Singapore. The Chinese Gardens in )urong, Singapore. I Singapore A worker uses a 2,000 year-old mothod to fabric paint rich colors on garments in a batik factory. Chinese mythological characters at the Tiger Balm Gardens. Chinese Garden in Jurong, Singapore. laddha al H In Cariiei ' S ' ,t. . . ' «i . ■ • • ; _ A Chinese junk approaching the CALIFORNIA. This water taxi transported crew members to and from fleet landing. An exquisite incense burner on the porch of a Chinese temple in Singapore. Chinese temple, Singapore The entrance to Tiger Balm Gardens. ipote. At midnight (July 15), CALIFORNIA was directed to detach from the battle group and head in the direction of an S.O.S. put out by the distressed Greek merchant, M.V. Irenes Sincerity. Travelling at flank speed, CALIFORNIA arrived on the scene seven hours later. The vessel was rocking helplessly while thick black smoke escaped from the ship ' s heavily damaged superstructure. The Irenes Sincerity ' s troubles began earlier on the night of July 15 as the ship headed from Surat, India to Bahrain, when an explosion in the fuel pump room resulted in an uncontrollable fire. Twenty-three of the 39 crew members had taken refuge on the forecastle of the strickened ship. Fifteen had to take the only life boat launched and stayed in the vicinity of the merchant. The 39th crew member had been aft when the fire started and had to abandon ship on a small rubber liferaft when the flames separated him from the others. The strong currents quickly pulled the raft away from the merchant ship until it disappeared from sight. When CALIFORNIA arrived on the scene a life boat was lowered to transfer the crew from the damaged ship After several trips to and from the merchant vessel, 34 crew members were brought on board (including two women). They were ushered to the ship ' s sick bay where they were examined by the Medical Officer, LT Tim Schacherer, and the corpsmen. The merchant ship ' s captain, first officer, engineer and communications officer decided to stay on board the merchant until they received further instructions from their company. Under a four-hour, coordinated air-sea rescue search, CALIFORNIA and an S-3 Viking aircraft from the USS AMERICA (CV-66), searched for the missing man in the raft. While this was going on, CALIFORNIA received word from the merchant ' s company Rescue At Sea instructing the ship ' s captain to abandon ship. As CALIFORNIA crew members returned to pick up the four men, we received word that the S-3 Viking had spotted the raft, based upon information given by our operation ' s specialists in Combat information Center (CiC) and our Quartermasters (QM ' s) on the bridge. CALIFORNIA picked up the men on the merchant and immediately headed in the direction of the raft. An hour later, the man was spotted as he frantically waved his arms at us. We approached him and lowered our life boat into the choppy waters again. Minutes later, the last member of the Irenes Sincerity was safe aboard. When he was brought on board, he was hugged and hoisted above the shoulders of his friends as the crew applauded. The CALIFORNIA then headed for Karachi, Pakistan where we dropped off the survivors early the next morning. .0- A female passenger, dazed and tired from spending a sleepless night in a lifeboat, is assisted by MM1 Mosher. CALIFORNIA ' S motor whaleboat crew transfers personnel off the Irenes Sincerity ' s lifeboat. HT2 Ludy helps another female passenger aboard the CALIFORNIA. Crew members off the Irenes Sincerity relax on the aft missile launcher. i from 1. 10 H itk by k ' ral.toR NIcoll lii hwdy which parallels Mor Lion park. From L. to R., LT Naville, LT Chadbourne, LTJG Facer, and ENS Burgess relax by the pool at the Raffles Hotel, Singapore. Singaporean disembarking from a barge on the Singapore River. From L. to R., SN Deery, BM2 Coleman and HT3 Lingle stand ready by the Captain ' s Gig. It ioore. SN Deery taking the Captain into Smgapore in the Captain ' s Gig. Clifford Pier and Singapore ' s skyline. ' • . iL ' sa r .■ ' Singapore s sk line. 1000 Safe Landings CDR Clothier, Commanding Officer of HS-12, lands helo 612 to mark CALIFORNIA ' S 1000th safe helicopter landing. riiv ! t.i. The flight deck crew: Bottom row from left to right, EMFN Barrett, EMFN McCann, MS3 Henderson, HM2 Vencil, HTFN Van Lehn, SKSN Oates, MS3 Terrell, HTFN Robinson. Second row, ENFN Baptista, ENS Radke, HT3 Lingle, ET3 Halleron, HT2 Ludy, ICFN Finn, FN Brand. Fourth row, ENFN Nester, PN2 Nemltz, SK3 Woodley, HTFN Hedlund, and HTFN Alford. CAPT Smith (I.) and CDR Clothier (r.) cut the cake while the flight deck and helicopter crews look on. On July 9, the CALIFORNIA marked a significant event, the 1,000th accident free helicopter landing since the ship was commis- sioned on February 16, 1974. The pilot, CDR Tom Clothier, commanding officer of Helicopter Squadron-12 assigned to the USS AMERICA (CV-66), guided the SH-3 to the historic landing on the Golden Grizzly ' s aft flight deck. On board the CALIFORNIA, BM2 Bruce Lambert directed the h-elicopter on to the flight deck, and OS2 Tom Jones, in Combat Informa- tion, was flight controller. Other crew members of the Sea King making the historic landing included LT Doug R. Kleinkauf, co-pilot, AW3 D.B. Goodman, 1st crewman, and AWAN W.A. Shoop, crewman. In addition to celebrating the 1000th landing, it was the 150th landing by HS-12 helos on board the CALIFORNIA during her Indian Ocean deployment. After the landing, CDR Clothier and his crew were invited by CAPT Smith and CDR Neil Brennan to a flight deck cake cutting ceremony commemorating the two events. Several members of CALIFORNIA ' S flight deck crew, from (I.) to (r.), SN MS3 Kautz, who baked the cake, serves it to the flight deck and helicopter Paladin, BM2 Coleman, BM1 Warwick, and BM2 Lambert. crews. || in a 1 ■iKiii Hi ■ ' lllpi i hi A koala bear perched eucalyptus tree. ■ T m -r .,- -- E SS :i. Perth, Australia as viewed from Kings Park. Perth, Australia Entrance to London Court, Hay Street, Perth. The Hot House in Perth ' s Esplanade Park. Shops inside London Court. I «! ' . J.. An old WWII gun mount on Rottnest Island. V Restoration work being done on Perth ' s old court house. s [spianiile LTJC Muftoz (r.) and ENS Pavelle (c.) shopping in Perth. 59 The Palace Hotel (1895), which was recently restored. Her Majesty ' s Theatre (1904). SA Noe talking with some Australian friends. I A beach on Rottnest Island. - iL2 London Court Feeding a quokkas on Rottnest. The Dutch, who discovered the island in 1696, thought the quokkas were large rats; hence the name rat ' s nest. Trinity Church Chapel H (1864). 61 i jf I.O. BOATING REGATTA: On Saturday, Oct, 17, the following ships participated: USS AMERICA (CVA-66), USS CALIFORNIA (CCN-36), USS PREBLE (DDC-46), USS HALSEY (CG-23), and HMAS HOBART. B .x: S ■■c- J 63 Weapons Department k J LCDR King Department Head ' •MM FTCM Hill L EKg LCDR Lunghofer Department Head ' .. jd LT Naville First Lieutenant LT Grain T Division Officer LT Blazin T Division Officer LT)C Dean AS Division Officer First Division ENS Walker II G Division Officer m. ENS Junkins AS Division CWO-3 Herman G Division '  FTCS Pinkham T Division 64 v-. FTGC LePage AS Division i ' iflWr  n FTMC Sapp T Division 1f GMMC Miller T Division GMGC Payne C Division AS Division STC1 Casche LPO t f -. CMT1 Bryson STC1 Johnson SEEN HNrTHlN6 YET? LH CMT2 Bailey STG2 Kass STC2 Blink TM2 Hemingway ' STG2 Fusillo STG2 Lovin STC3 Brand STG3 Smith STG3 Breeden r f GMT3 Reynolds STG3 Every STGSA Adams TMSA Senna GMTSA Reeter i M STGSN Cornell STGSN Krause STGSN Passenger STGSN Liftchild STGSN Crosby 65 - ' 5=- ' VTti sr. ■■ ' r, GMM1 Grantham LPO T Division m FTM1 Simmons GMM2 Schafer FTM2 Mazella FTM2 Puzziferri FTM2 Stanford FTM2 Clark FTM2 FHuntoon FTM2 Hayes FTM2 Gerben FTM2 Sain CMM3 Westbrook CMM2 Nicholson FTM2 Ortiz FTM2 Cash GMM2 Dills I THINK FTM3 Crawford FTM3 Williams FTM3 Hardison FTM3 Frorhotto I ' •v.. FTM3 Telles fTM3 Hill FTM3 Wilson FTM3 Tumpa 1 OOPS FTM3 Peth GMM2 Ginsburg GMMSN Gill CMMSN Wheelis GMMSN Kelskey GMMSN Reingold FTMSN Madden FTMSN Buonaiuto FTMSN Neal FTMSN Rose CMMSA Hunt GMMSA Nelson GMMSA McLaughlin FTMSA Wallace 67 1st Division 1 BM3 Mitchell BM3 Swearingen SN Noe SN Fish SN Engel SA Harris SA Lewis SA Odom SA Artis SA Gronwaldt 1 rf©cr V J, | SA Cornelius SN Deery SA Bunts SA Easlerbrooks « ? V ' ft ' % SN Cook SN Muncy SN Sapp SN Cole SN Ciancola SN Klimko SN Bajema SN Cokley SN Jensen SN Howe SN Paladin SN Walters SN Tyre SN Kreckiow SN Randolph ' •■Ma J I -. 69 • !. FTGl Watson LPO CMG1 Steele LPO FTC2 McDonold FTG2 Kenyon FTG2 Cornell GMG2 Morris G Division ■ H S z ' GMC2 Crawford GMG2 Wilson FTG2 Mack ■ l FTG3 Cole FTG3 Zirkle FTG3 Conley FTGSN Farrell - -WW 70 X iJL. GMCSN Oliver GMGSN Parrish GMGSN Zarn GMCSN Szalicki Ri ¥ 71 72 U.S. Navy ' s 206th Birthday Following Navy tradition, a cake is required to complete any birthday or ceremony. This cake was prepared for the men who re-enlisted on the Navy ' s Birthday. LT Tilden receiving the Surface Warfare Officer insignia from CAPT Smith. LT Blount receiving the Navy Commendation Medal, which he earned at his last command. MM2 Billet was recognized as Engineering ' s Sailor of the Quarter. YN2 Moody (r. photo) is recognized as Adminis- tration ' s Sailor of the Quarter. CVI Smith ' ♦ ' HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Left to right, YN3 Buttone, QM3 Taylor, ET1 Roarke, FTCC Watson, and MS3 Henderson prepare to be re-enlisted by Captain Smith. SHI Swimp was recognized as Supply Department ' s Sailor of the Quarter. CAPT Smith serving punch to the crew. - •?? J , I CAPT Smith addressing OS2 Motley. Motley was selected as Operations Department ' s Sailor of the Quarter. The oldest (Chief Payne) and the youngest (YNSA Barker) member of the command is selected to cut the cake. f — 1 CAPT Smith administering the re-enlistment oath for five men. LT Blazin (I.) and LCDR Tuddenham. HM2 Vencil, who was selected CALIFORNIA ' S Sailor of the Year, is congratulated by CAPT Smith. GMC2 Wilson was selected as Weapons Department ' s Sailor of the Quarter. 76 CALIFORNIA Comes Home! - s s The nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS CALIFORNIA {CGN-36) recently completed an extended seven-month deployment to the Indian Ocean in a memorable and historical fashion. The Norfolk-based ship made her first visit to her namesake state at the city of San Diego, Ca. Nov. 7-10th; before heading for the Panama Canal and ultimately back to Norfolk — becoming the first nuclear-powered surface ship to circumnavigate the globe since 1964. With her crew manning the rail, the Golden Grizzly was greeted by a small fleet of powerboats and sailboats as she steamed past Point Loma at the entrance to the San Diego harbor. The ship continued down the bay where she was given an aerial welcome by an aircraft towing a banner which read Navy League Welcomes USS CALIFORNIA; while two fireboats spraying streams of water approached her on both sides. As the ship docked at Naval Air Station North Island, she was further welcomed by the music of the NAS band. Also on the pier for CALIFORNIA ' S homecoming were several VIP ' s including: State Assemblyman Waddie Deddeh (representing Gov. Brown); State Assemblyman Robert Frazee; Inspector and Mrs. John Gait (City of San Diego Representative); Mr. Jeff Marsden (Senator S.I. Hiyakawa ' s rep.); Mayor and Mrs. Kyle Morgan (National City); Councilman and Mrs. George Gillow (Mayor of Chula Vista ' s rep.); Mayor and Mrs. Pat Callahan (Coronado); Mr. and Mrs. John Rau (National President, Navy League); and Miss Liza Schuman (Miss California 1981). Representatives of the surrounding naval community included: VADM. W.R. St. George, USN (ret.); RADM. D. Ramsey (Deputy Commander Naval Surface Force Pacific); RADM. Burkhardt (Commander Submarine Training Group West Coast). Also on hand to welcome CALIFORNIA to her namesake state were former crew members of the ship ' s predecessor, the battleship USS CALIFORNIA (BB-44). After m(K)ring, CALIFORNIA ' S Commanding Officer Capt. C.J. Smith, conducted a brief welcome ceremony on the ship ' s forecastle. The following day, some 60 crew members of the old battleship CALIFORNIA, the Prune Barge, as she was called because of a pet bear Prunes which was kept on the ship, were given a special tour of the ship and later treated to lunch, addressed by the captain, and given a demonstration of a missile launcher. The Golden Grizzly ' s visit to CALIFORNIA fell exactly one month shy of the 40th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, where the ship ' s predecessor was sunk as she lay moored at Battleship Row. During operations in the Indian Ocean CALIFORNIA was instrumental as air-warfare commander and PIRAZ (positive identification radar advisory zone) picket ship. The deployment, which saw CALIFORNIA at sea for lengths of up to 57 days (total deployment length: 221 days), was highlighted by the rescue of 39 crew members off the burning Greek merchant IRENES SINCERITY in the Arabian Sea, and the 1,000 consecutive accident-free helicopter landing without a single deck mishap. During the deployment, CALIFORNIA made port visits to Cartagena, Spain; Perth, Australia, and San Diego, Ca. CALIFORNIA transitted the Panama Canal on Nov. 16th. She will arrive in Norfolk on Nov. 20th, becoming the first nuclear-powered surface ship to make an around-the-world journey since the USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) battle group made the voyage, known as Operation Sea Orbit, 17 years ago. ItAJ M Bi3tL ■H : B JI F Lm P 1 1 ■ ' LsJ 1 ■I=i:m 1 o LCDR Bailey Department Head Supply Department W LT)C Keyser S-2 Division Officer it mi LTJG Cohen S-1 Division Officer i ENS Lllli S-3, 4 Division Officer SKCS Turner S-1 Division Officer MSC Manuel S-2 Division ' Ars. eo 9 DK1 Abrenica LPO S-4 MSI Leavitt MSI Dolores lien lion Officer t MSI Corpuz MSI Farrales LPO S-2 MSI Blanco CSttiuel Diviiion MSI Rodriguez MS2 Barnes MS2 Fitzgerald MS3 Henderson MS3 Chaparro MS3 Kautz MS3 Terrell MS3 Occhipinti DK3 Ryan DKSN Stroud MSSN Joyner MSSN Owens MSSN Nacht MSSN Degnan MSSA Dux 81 1 J 7 SHI Swimp SKI Crowder p f,y i '  wy ' yw y ' w M - ' w A j ' J!i . vy- ' £31 li i . j??r SK2 Smith SH2 Hansen SK3 Mahoney SH3 Love SH3 Holder -1«... SKSN Gates SKSA Tripp SKSN Manning SKSA Nelson SHSN Kelly SHSN Kinnaird SHSN Mata SHSA Wilson SHSN King SKSN Lavacca ' .1 J J SA Jordan on his way to the fantail to dump trash. son MSSN Owens on his way to the scullery. 0i IB ton •i 1 i 1 r .J§ 1 SKSA Lavacca checks his pay prior to payday. MS3 Terrell, S-2 Division ' s Damage Control Petty Officer, hard at work. Afefcompls in ordet to Preparing for a replenishment at sea. SHSA Schwartz operating the ship ' s store. SA Tyre working in the scullery. 84 - UHBT 00 lOU f , VO ! out. ' ision s 1 After completing a connecting replenishment at sea (RAS), CALIFORNIA pic ks up speed in order to resume her responsibilities. Above, SHSA Wilson, who is doing his mess cranking in the CPO Mess, cooks an omelet. And, left, MSSN Owens is working in the Spud Locker. -- r . ' i .| ....AND LEAD US NOT iSif MM2 Maxwell, LT)G Brissetle, and Mid- shipman Dorsey (son of AMERICA ' S CO) attend Mass. Panama Canal: Nov. 16, 1981 The Canal Construction Costs The locks on the Pacific side were completed first; Miraflores in 1913 and the single lock at Pedro Miguel in 1911. The last concrete was laid at Gatun on May 31, 1981, 11 days after the two steam shovels had met on the bottom of the canal in Culebra Cut. Until the time of the Americans involvement in the Canal, no single construction effort in American history had exacted such a price in human life or dollars. The cost in dollars from 1904 to completion was 332 million (including 10 million to Panama and more than 40 million to the French Company). The total in human life from 1904 to the Canal ' s completion was 5,609 lives from disease and accidents. The total volume of excavation accomplished since 1904 was 232,440,945 cubic yards. The building of the Canal was an engineering feat, in particular, the great locks were structural triumphs at Panama. In their overall dimensions, mass, weight, in the mechanisms an ingenious control apparatus was incorporated in their design, they surpassed any similar structure in the world. In a sense, the locks are colossal machines - and they function with a movement as smooth as a Swiss watch. It took four year s to build all the locks. The lock-chambers are huge. The walls are one thousand feet long and raise to 81 feet or better than a 6-story building. The volume of concrete utilized to build the locks was tremendous: Gatun Lock took more than 2 million cubic yards to build. Someone figured that that was enough concrete to build a solid wall 8-feet thick, 12-feet high, and 133 miles long. The locks at Pedro Miguel and Miraflores were larger still, taking more than 2 million, 4 hundred thousand yards. Each lock measures the same: 110-feet by one thousand feet, and they are built in pairs. There are two pair at Miraflores, one pair at Pedro Miguel and three pair at Gatun. Entering the single lock at Pedro Miguel. At Gatun, using a cable way system, big square buckets were swung through the air, and dropped into position, and dumped. Eighty-five-foot steel towers stood on either side of the locks and the cables stretched across a span of about 800-feet. The towers were on tracks and moved as the work progressed. All the locks were constructed in 36-foot sections using big steel forms, which were on tracks, too. At Pedro Miguel and Miraflores a different approach had to be used because the terrain was not as open as Gatun. The engineer in charge, Williamson, used catilever cranes rather than cableways. The 5 million sacks and barrels of cement to build the locks came from New York. The gravel and sand came from Porto Bello and Nombre de Dios. Three men can be attributed to designing and engineering the locks: LtCol Hodges, and two civilians, Edward Schildhauer and Henry Goldmark. The fundamental element which would operate the entire lock system was water. Water would lift and lower ships, move the gates, and move the electric mules. In short, the Canal would meet its own energy needs. Gravity would be the only force employed to raise and lower the water level in the locks. The water would flow into the locks from Gatun or Miraflores Lakes or flow out to the sea. ' HT1 Todd (foreground), TM3 Senna (c.) and ET2 Loguc (background) re-enlislod during the transit through the lock at Pedro Miguel. Passing through Pedro Miguel Lock into Culebra Cut. ' ;: -..,ijfj During the rainy season, there are many waterfalls that flow from the mountains into Culebra Cut. After passing through Miraflores Locks, CALIFORNIA steams slowly toward Pedro Miguel. Gamboa is the home of the huge dredging machines which help to keep Culebra Cut free from silt. 89 Hercules was, at one time, the largest floating dredge in the world. • . The Panama Railroad is the only railroad in Panama. The original railroad was built in 1855 at the cost of 8 million dollars. A Panama Canal tug prepares to guide the ship into Gatun Locks. iMWHMIIWISSlK i Sitf ' te -- - - Catun Lake covers approximately 164 square miles (equal to the island of Barbados). ' Si:,. ■ tlMWy- ' ■Mi. vjaanp 90 Heading toward Gatun Lake. A luxury linor waits hor turn to enter Gatun Locks. J| j J JIfO Gatun was the highest dam on record. It ' s an earthen dam nearly a mile and half long (7,700-feet) The electric mules used to guide ships into the and more than 100-feet high. locks. n lOCkS ' The CALIFORNIA is about to enter the last lock at Gatun. In the distance is the Atlantic Ocean. 91 California To The Rescue The USS CALIFORNIA went to the aide of a 31-year-old American man stranded alone for three months on the island of He du Coin, located in the Peros Banhos Atoll, on August 13. The rescue mission got under way as the ship finished a vertical replenishment with the USS WHITE PLAINS, approximately 15 miles due west of Diego Garcia. The ship was directed by RADM. Bryan Compton (COM- CARGRU SIX) to head in the direction of the atoll, which is part of the Chagos Archipelago, after a P-3 Orion aircraft from Diego Garcia spotted an SOS scrawled in the sand of one of the islands. Due to the atoll ' s wide and shallow reefs, an SH-3 Speargun helicopter was heloed over to the CALIFORNIA from the USS AMERICA (CV-66). The helo was chained down on CALIFORNIA ' S fan tail for the following day ' s search. Early the next morning, the crew of the SH-3, consisting of LCDR Rickie D. Reynolds, LT Warren R. Anderson, AWC Darrel O. Williams, AW2 Douglas A. Dressel and AW3 Mark R. Boulton, left in search of the man. According to HMC William B. Sulick, CALIFORNIA ' S corpsman on the helo, they flew over the islands for several times until they spotted footprints in the sand. We just followed the footprints along the beach until we came to an opening where some old buildings stood along with a small pier, said Sulick. The island at one time had been a plantation producing copra (dried coconut meat used to make coconut oil). As the crew searched the area, they spotted the man walking around the buildings. When the man realized he had been spotted by the helo, he began to wave at it. I felt a great sense of relief when 1 saw the helicopter, said Robert D. Hurchalla, a native of Los Angeles, California. I had seen a Navy plane the day before and they had dropped some kind of signal, so I was hoping someone would find me soon, he added. Hurchalla stated that he was on a three-boat expedition to the atoll. During the expedition an argument broke out among the crew and Hurchalla decided to remain behind. The blond and slight Hurchalla, said that he lived off the wild vegatation and chickens. I caught some wild chickens and built a chicken coop. he said, leaning back in hospital bed. That gave me plenty of eggs to eat, he stated. I also had beans. They grow all over the islands, he explained. Things began to worsen for him when he began to get an extremely painful toothache. He wanted to get off the island and get medical attention before the infection spread. During his stay on the island, three boats made stops there. One time a fishing boat from Mauritius stopped at the island looking for some barrels of oil that had been dumped there. 1 showed them where the barrels were and told them that I would work for free on their fishing boat if they could get me to Mauritius, Hurchalla explained. But when they were finished loading the oil they just left, he said. Finally, as a last resort, Hurchalla scrawled an SOS in the sand in hope that one of the Navy planes that regularly flew over would spot it and send for help. It came to the point that I was in great pain, so I became desperate and wrote the SOS in the sand, explained Hurchalla. Finding no area to land, the SH-3 helicopter hovered over the man and Chief Williams was lowered to help him into the harness to be hoisted onboard. After he was picked up and returned to the ship, Hurchalla was taken to the ship ' s sickbay. He was given a medical examination and placed in the ship ' s ward for observation. Hurchalla was turned over to British authorities on Diego Garcia the following day. ■ i Mishap at Sea On Sat., Sept. 19, 1981 at 6:12 p.m. an SH-3 helicopter was making a normal approach toward CALIFORNIA ' S flight deck for evening deck landing qualifications (DLQ ' s). As the helo prepared to land, the flight deck crew heard a loud thumping sound. Then, the flight deck crew noticed that the tail rotor stopped. The helo veered to the right, cleared the fantail, spun around a few times, and crashed into the sea. Immediately, the CALIFORNIA began rescue efforts. The four-man crew emerged from the floating wreck shakened, but unscathed. After the men were brought on board, they were taken to the ship ' s sick bay and given a thorough examination by the ship ' s medical officer. CDR J. D. Ellington, commanding officer of HS-12 sent the CALIFORNIA the following message: Many thanks to your professional crew for the expeditious rescue of the crew members of 614. I speak for all the Wyverns when I pass to you a sincere thank you and Well Done! EWC Steven McCullough, who took these photos, had less than five minutes to document the accident. ' - Z ' H ifitiill r Home; At Last! 20 November 1981 ' Around the World in ' 81 GOC 1 G0[ 95 Cruise Book Staff ADVISOR: EDITOR: PHOTOGRAPHY: COPY EDITOR: LAYOUT: CARTOONS: LCDR J.P. Nickols, CHC, USNR DS1 Philip Balcerzak PHAN Hitchcock PHAN Harrington PH2 Collins FTCS George Pinkham Chaplain Nickols J03 Eslava Chaplain Nickols DS1 P. Balcerzak Chaplain Nickols OSSN Floyd Sharp 96 WALSWORTH ' PUBLISHING COMPANY , Marolint. Mo U S m CRUISE BOOK OFFICE i. ' 03 Wost Littlo CfoeK Road Norfolk. Virgtnta 2350S •f:i::5?g ? ' - i f ca?j egri%