Catamount (LSD 17) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 74 of the 1954 volume:

,o « ' uJ avvsavv O Okinawa ,-io ' ' ' 4 P A tLL, I wo J I MA 1953 1954 I T H E CRUISE BOOK F T H E U.S.S. CATAMOUNT L S D- 1 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS The Calamouiit 2 The Captain 4 The Exec 5 The Catamount Tavern 6 Catamount ' s History 8 The Cruise 9 Underway 12 Yokosuka Confidential 14 Operating Out of Yokosuka 16 Inchon 18 Kr)be 20 Sascbo Confidential 22 The 38th Parallel 24 Chigasaki Landing 26 Christmas in Yokosuka 27 28 30 31 32 33 34 38 40 Nagoya Okinawa Landing 1 Okinawa Liberty Okinawa Landing J2 Back to Japan, Iwo, Etc. Lucky Bag Sayonara The Departments Operations 41 Deck 45 Engineering 51 Medical 62 Master At Arms 63 Supply 64 Editor ' s Note 67 — 1 — USS CAT — 2 OUNT iLSD-17) THE CAPTAIN COMMANDER RAYMOND PAYNE Clonimander Raymond Payne, Commanding Officer, was born in Corinth, Mississippi, and was appointed Midshipman, U. S. Navy, in 1930. He was commissioned Ensign on May 30, 1934, and reported to the USS Ran ger for duty, subsequently serving on destroyers and the cruiser Astoria, initil World War II. During the early part of the war he served in destroyers in the North Atlantic, and in the battleship Indiana until V-J day. For shore duty, he served as engineering instructor at the U. S. Naval Academy, as Commander of Sub Groups Three and Four of the moth ball fleet at Astoria, Inspector of Xavai Material, Detroit, and Executive Officer of the Naval Resereve Officer Training Corps at Notre Dame University. His three trips to Japan were under considerably varied conditions. In 1939 the Astoria arrived in Japan bearing the ashes of the late Ambassador Saito, who was a well-liked diplomat in the United States. The .Astoria was treated to a hearty welcome by Japan. Commander Payne was shortly transferred to destroyers during the war and the Astoria was sunk off Save Island by the Japanese. In 1945 he was serving on the USS Indiana in Task Forces 38 and 58, when she bombarded Kamaishi and Ilamamatsu, Japan. She subsequently anchored off Yokosuka after V-J Day. Mrs. Payne was the fornicr Miss Rosalie V ' alk Hrown of .Anu.ipolis, Maryland. They have one daughter, Nancy, 4 years old. .Another daughter, Rosalie, died of leiik rnia. - 4 — THE EXEC LIEUTENANT COMMANDER HERBERT H. VANAMAN Lieutenant Commander Herbert H. ' anaman, Executive OfBrcr, was born in Winamac, Indiana, and enlisted in ilic U. S. Navy in November, 1930, at Gary, Indiana. He served nearly eleven years as an enlisted man before being appointed warrant machinist, in August, 1941. He received a full commission aboard the L ' SS Rigel (AR-lll on June 15, 1942. He has served in many ships during his naval career, among which were; the USS Gannet (AM-41) from 1931 to 1931; the U SS Utah rAG-16) from 1935 until 1911 s-hen he was transferred only a few mouths before she was sunk at Pe.irl Harbor; and the USS Rigel frnm I ' .ljl to 1943. Lt. Chndr. ' anaman was also attached to a torpedo boat scjuadron during ti -e monilis of 1!I13 in the Kllice Islands; the Motor Torpedo Roat Base at Tulagi in 1943 for nine months; Motor ' roriirdn Hoat Squadron Training Genter, Melville, R. I., two months in 1914; and Bureau of Ships, Washington, 1). C., from 1911 to 1947 where he received a citation for Outstanding Clontributions to Engineering Design for Motor Torpedo Boats. While aboard the USS (Jrand Canyon (AD-28), in 1949, as Repair ofTicer, he was jiromotcd to Lieutenant Commander. He was Inspector of Xaval Material in St. Louis, Mo., from 1 !) ' () to 1953 and reported aboard the Catamount to serve as Executive Officer shortly before she sailed for the Far Ecst. Lt. Cmdr. ' anaman was married December 18, 1938, to Miss Ruth E. ( Iar (y of I ' e.iinnoni, IVnnsyKania, and has two children, ' alerie Lynne, 13 years old, and Herbert H., Jr., 12 years old. — 5 THE CATAMOUNT TAVERN When a sturdy Vermont hunter stuffed powder into his musket one sunny afternoon in the 1770 ' s aimed through his crude sights at a strange looking mountain lion, and fired, it is doubtful that he was aware that the results of that shot would play such a large role in the active vocabulary of the hundreds of men who would serve aboard the United States ' Landing Ship Dock, number 17, nearly two hundred years later. With his shot hitting true, the hunter dragged his game into the community of Bennington, Vermont, then a part of the region called the New Hampshire Grants. The type of the mountain lion he had killed was called the painter . These animals were never numerous in the region but were greatly feared by the local inhabitants. Perhaps spurred on by their admiration for his deed, the hunter proceeded to have the animal stuffed, and presented it for display to Bennington ' s leading tavern. Stephen Fay, proprietor and founder of the tavern, happily accepted the gift and had it mounted on the wall. At the same time that this local marksman had felled his prey, other muskets were being loaded in Bennington, but for more profound reasons. The settlers, there since 1767, were involved in a dispute between the Royal Governors of the provinces of New York and New Hampshire, each of whom claimed the region containing Bennington to belong to him. Were New York to win the disagreemeiU, the claims of the present settlers would have been invalidated. In rcsistcnce to such an occurrance, Kthan .Mien, famous RcNolutionary War hero, formed a small guerilla l)and of volunlccrs whom he called the CJrccn Mountain I ' oys. These men took it upon themselves to defend the settlers ' claims to their homes and farm. :. Fay ' s tavern quickly became the logical site for town meetings. A sjx-cial con ention was even held there to discuss and settle the claims of the two states for the territory which is now Wrmont. It was not long before Allen ' s band of vigilantes began to muster there in the e enings. Finally Fay named his drinking place The Green Mountain Tavern . — 6 — After the hunter ' s painter had been inouiiK-il iiiid the Boys had had oci asion to stare at it long enough - perhaps after a few not-so-serious cNciiinf ' s - ii was suggested that, by a stretch of the imagination, the expression on the animal ' s face resembled ilicir own grinning defianc e to the Yorkers . With this remarkable tliscovery achieved, they aiIoi)ted the painter as a somewhat inanimate mascot and suggested renaming the tavern for tlic beast. Since Painter ' ravcrn did not seem (juite romantic enough, they chose the less common name for the animal, the Catamount . ' I ' lic Revniutionary War sprang into a reality sf)on afterwards and leaders of Conncticut and Massach- usetts soon louiul tliemselves staring at the defiant ( ataniouiit as they plotted various courses of action with .Mien. Most iintable of these courses was the att.uk on Fort Ticonderoga, regarded as the strongest British fortific.ition on (lie (ontinciit. Early in May, 1775, Allen lead a small band of men from the Catamount tavern and sci ed the fortress. When F.ngland ' s Hurgoyne sent an expedition to capture Hcnnington in August, 1777, the Catamount tavern was still functioning us headquarters for the colonists. It was there that their Clouncil of .Safety was in session during the strategic Battle of Bennington. Only a few weeks before the battle, the settlers had declared themselves independent of both New Hampshire and New York and had become a soverign independent republic called Vermont. When this republic fmally became a member of the United States, the Catamount tavern served as the site for several sessions of the state legislature. The state ' s first court was held inside its walls and the first man sentenced to death in Vermont was tried and convic ted in the tavern and was hung within sight of it. The building was destroyed by fire in 1877, but today it has two outstanding memorials commemorating the part it played in the initial steps toward Vermont ' s freedom. One is a large monument on the tavern ' s site in Bennington. The other is the USS Catamount LSD-17j, perhaps the only ship in any navy to have been nametl after a tavern. Courtesy of the Benninston Museum The last known catamount shot in Vermont, 7 feet long and weighing 182 pounds. The sharp-shooter is known only as a Mr. Crowell. CATAMOUNT ' S HISTORY The Catamounl ' s large white 17 painted over a haze-gray background is a familar sight to persons living along the Japanese sea coasts. The East China aud Vello.v seas and the western extremities of ihc Pacific have served as her highways during five separate cruises in the Far East. She was originally conceived in an Atlantic ship yard, Newport News, Va , when her keel was laid on July 8. 194k She quietly slid into the James river six months later with champagne dripping from her bow and Mrs. Dave E. Sattcrfield of Richmond, Va., standing excitedly on the V. I. P. platform ashore Following the commissioning ceremonies on April 9, 1945, the Catamount took a 3-week shakedown cruise within the confines of Chesapeake bay and a mouth later was deemed ready for active duty. She left for Colon, Panama, en route to Pearl Harbor and the Far East, still the scene of World War 1 1 hostihties. In Pearl Harbor, the ship ' s mezzanine deck and other special equipment for Landing Ships Dock were removed and LCM s and LC T s were loaded into her well deck. With this as her first official cargo, she proceeded to Guam. Eniwetok, the New Hebrides, Kwajalein, Samar, and Ulithi were her major stops the ensuing two months Special orders to return to Guam reached the ship the middle of August. When she entered the harbor, great excitement had arisen over the recent developments in the war. The Catamount was loaded with 121 officers and men of the Sixth Marine division; 18 LCM ' s loaded with Marine Sherman tanks; a barge for Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet; special motor cars for Admiral Nimitz and the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Japan; and the famous Reno Silver Saddle which Admiral Halsey planned to use when he fulfilled his vow to ride Hirohito ' s white horse in Japan. Peace had returned to the world. Captain Chester A. Swafford, USN, the Catamount ' s first com- manding officer, stated in a special commemoration pamphlet distributed aboard the ship: A special thanks and prayers should be given to Almighty God who has granted the Allies this complete success in defeating our tyrannical enemies. The occupation, restoration, rehabilitation, and a future with everlasting peace, however, requires the combined faith, efforts, cooperation, and patience of all people of all nations, thus - muzzle all military aggrandizement and prohibit World War HI The first visit to Japan for the ship took place a few weeks later when she steamed into Sagami bay with an amphibious task force. Three days later, the Catamount, acting as guide for the second approach unit of APD ' s and LST ' s with special landing forces, entered Tokyo bay and anchored near the Yokosuka Naval Station. She remained there as a boat pool tender and for special drydocking of small landing ships, successfully rode out a severe typhoon, and then proceeded to Yokohama to load special army landing barges. After a few brief operations in that area, the Catamount returned to her home port, Norfolk, Va. The Atlantic ocean was the Catamount ' s stomping ground from 1946 until the beginning of the Korean War. During this period she operated in the Chesapeake bay area and ofl the North Carolina coast. Landing exercises took her all the way from Labrador to Vieques, Puerto Rica, with liberties in such places as Trinidad, Jamaica, Martinique, and New York city. While on the East coast, she gained national attention when the news wire services discovered the Catamount ' s trick of flooding herself for the purpose of tranforming the well deck into a swimming pool. Her picture appeared in newspapers throughout the country. As soon as hostilities commenced in Korea, the Catamount was shifted to Far Eastern duty as a member of PhibPac She arrived in Kobe, Japan, in September, 1950, Marines were embarked, and the ship proceeded without hesitation to Inchon where an amphibious landing was already in progress. Later that year she participated in the landing at Wonsan, served as a mine-sweeping boat tender in the Chinnampo area, and assisted in the now-famous Hungnam evacuation. She saw more duty in the Inchon and Pusan areas and returned to the States in June, 1951. Five months later she was off again for the Far East. Those nine months saw the Catamount in such diversified activities as redeploying the First Cavidry division from Korea and the 45th Infantry division from Hokkaido to Korea, deployment of the 40th division from Japan to Korea, mineswccping l)oat tender duty off the west coast of Korea, and landing exercises at Okinawa, Camp McGill, and Hokkiiido. The ship logged 42,000 miles from the time of leaving San Diego until her return there in July, 1952. The next tour of Far Eastern duty began after a three-month rest in llic Slates. It in -olvcd landing exercises and mineswccping boat tciidfr duty in the Japanese-Korean area with Yokosuka aud Sascbo the major ports of activity. Tlie 1953-1954 tour in the Oriental waters, eight months of various activities .iroiuul Jaj)au, Korea, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima, is described herein. THE CRUISE — 9 — 1 A Far Eastern cruise with its laughter its monotony its exotic excitement its frustration its value to you, to your country its long distance from home skijjping from Oriental port to Oriental port warming your hands on a hibachi pot on Christmas e e watching the fanatic parchinko players as you walked down any street the small-featured, charming hostesses in ever) ' cabaret who were as integral a part of the establishments as were the bar stools the arguing, smiling souvenier merchants who always made a profit the countless fishing and salvage boats that appeared in every harbor well before reveille Mount Fuji in all its madgesty the hills and mountains with a greenness it was hard to imagine could exist Scochi and Ichi ban and Sayonara shower shoes with the split-toe effect laundry boats as welcoming parties in every port a crashing surf inside the well of your own ship lines on the quarterdeck as the LCVP liberty boat made the gangway life jackets and helmets for general quarters walking, eating, sleeping on a ballasted, inclined plane movies every night in the special open-air theatre. . . . lashing down gear for the unique LSD roll mess gear eight o ' clock reports sweepers, man your brooms Bible study in sick bay at 1830 light oft number one you knew that you were there for a purpose sometimes it was hard to sustain the feeling yet tiic realization was still there your very presence up and down the waterways surrounding tiie islands of Japan jjositivc proof to tiie communist v()rld tliat the ftag which your ship flew would fly anywhere in the world it was needed to keep a free world your own jiractical training shij board life. . . . learning the whys and wherefores of the Navy ]:)reparing )ourself and your ship preparing for the |30ssibility of aiiollicr war ....a Far Eastern cruise tiic first for some, the last for others one of several for most memorable for all Numazu Yokosuka Iik lion Kobe Sascbo To .Jang Po. . . . Pusan. . . . Paeng- yong Do Tyon Pyong Do CHiigasaki beach Nagoya (lamp McGill Okinawa Iwo Jima a Far Eastern cruise. — 10 - - 11 UNDERWAY She had looked quite beautiful sitting tlicrc at l)crtli 213 in San Diego harbor. Her sides, her decks, her superstructure shined from stem to stern. Freshly equipped with a new mezzanine deck, a futuristic helicopter deck, a ramp, water barrier, and two new twin 40nun. mounts, the USS Catamount was the latest thing in amphibious warfare design. But the 3rd Marine division had to go to Japan. The Catamount was available. Numazu! cried the 3rd Marines, and witliout asking directions, for she had been there before, the big Landing Ship Dock took off. It was goodbye to the ladies, the sweethearts, the wives and, Go to your stations all the special sea and anchor detail! at 0955, August 5, 1953. The jack was lowered, the ensign shifted, and Point Loma was soon out of sight. The Catamount, for the next sixteen days, saw only a warm blue ocean, a bright blue sky, and the other members of the little transoceanic family impersonally known as Task Unit 53.4. 1. Tanks, trucks, anti-tank guns, and other such equipment rested in the after half of the vessel. Some 250 Marines rested in the forward half. The sea was as smooth as a seaman second ' s chin. And across it there was maneuvering, and station keeping, and sun bathing, and geedunking. There were reminiscences over the few months the ship liad spent in the States, and anticipations of the many months she would spend in the Orient. Finally, Kuzo Shima light was spotted at 225° and the seventeen-day trip was practically over. The anchor was dropped early the next morning and eight months of Far Eastern duty had begun for the Catamount. Going To Japan ' The latest in amphibious warfare design. Mount t44, new lire power. Too long in tin Stales anyway. 12 — ' Bosn R inc ' at the conn Stcbhins and sunlin: Basaricli on watcli f $9 Clark in main cor.trol 13 — T N bUNA CUINhlUbNTIAL The Paradise of tl.c Oricm, Nav st le, is Yokosuka, Japan. A thriving community it was used eflcctivciv as a naxal station for tiie Japanese fleet dt.ring World War II. Now it is a ' e y devoed exckisively to the satisfaction oi tlie whims, needs, and frivoHties of anotlier navv to shor!:fter ;6S ;S Slh ' ° ' ■ ' ' ' ■ ' ' ' • ' ' ' ' ' ■ ' ' • - ' - - - g fr- 1 ! h • crtemL ' ' o tl on ' , ' n ' in ' s ' ' ' T ' ' ■ ' ' S ' V ™ ' ' ; ' ' f ' Americanization. Here •as tltc K , V !,f ' • -J- ' P ' ' ■ ' U. S. - catering cities at their zenith. Here was the catch-all of the ambhious beauties of a nation who saw within the small city the opportunity to make money hand oyei fist and have a U- .a.., .;, o time doing it. Here was the city where he pay check v■as king and every man wa a prince of that king ,f he had two legs to get ashore on and a wallet to stpy a4ore vkh - 14 - Yokosuka, ijroDoiiiK cd Vu-koos-ka for unknown reasons, is located soulli and witliin a sliort distance of Tokyo. Between the two cities stretches a fast and efficient railway. The service is superb and tlic fare minute. The naval tourist can reach in a half hour the beautiful summer resort center, Kamakura, with its famed Kuddah and Shinto shrine. Another forty-five minutes vill take him to Yokohama, similar in many ways to Yokosuka only with an Army flavor. A 1300 liberty the day after pay day can find him having a splendid time amidst the magic of the world ' s tliird l.irgest city, Tok o. Whenever the ship entered a port whicl: had anything at all to offer, Dr. Douglas would be one of tiic first off the ship. His mission, to arrange tours for the crew. A full day of sightseeing in Tokyo was the major tour ofTered that month. It offered tlie additional enticement of escaping Saturday morning ' s inspection. It was a popular tour. - 15 - OPERATING OUT OF YOKOSUKA September was welcomed with three weeks of daily exercises out of Yokosuka. General quarters, man overboard, abandon ship, steering casulty, and firing exercises s])rang up on the Plan of the Day consistently. The Catamount even tried her hand at serving as a helicopter landing ship, at •hich time the helicopter deck was used for something besides quarters for muster and a storage space for extra cargo and gear. P ' -- ) , - ' i W WfW. 4l 3 ■vf And out came the mezzanine deck Director Operator, Bright - 16 — There was painting to do. Away I 3 LCVP Comnience Fire ' Near the end of tlie Yokosuka visit, it was leaned that the ship was scheduled to take part in the transfer of Indian troops from Inchon harbor to the neutral zone. Syngman Rhee had forbidden the Indians from touching Soutli Korean soil, necessitating other than usual means of transporting them there. Consequently LCU ' s and helicoi:)tcrs were needed in Inchon - and lots of them. Unable to carry an LCU with its arrangement eficcted in the yards at San Francisco, the ship needed to remove its mezzanine deck, its ramp leading to the well clerk, the water barrier in the well, and I lie catwalk across the well. Working around the clock, the crew, with the hc p of Japanese workmen from ashore, successfully removed the LCU ' s ' obstructions antl on the ' 21st, the ship was inidcrw.iy for Inchon, Korea. — 17 — Penny? Choo ' n ' gum? INCHON Inchon, on the Western coast of Korea, was characterized by poverty ashore and a trecherous tide in the harbor. The ship spent six days there, disembarking and embarking the LCU and supplying crash boats to patrol around the Point Cruz (CVE - 119) while the helicopters flew the Indian troops from the LCU ' s to the neutral zone. The 35-foot tide peculiar to Inchon ' s harbor was a constant topic of amazed conversation, obser- vation, and vigilance. Boat schedules had to be regulated to the tide tables and several times boats were forced to lay off the shore more than a few minutes waiting for the tide to come in enough for the pier to be over navigatable waters. The currents in the harbor were constantly moving at a foreboding pace. Liberty, of sorts, was granted there, but lasted only during the afternoon hours since early curfew was effect in the city. Inchon seemed to be populated exclusively by the very yonng and the very old. Koreans in the intermediary age group - the fighting age - were nearly gone. The few that remained were in uniform. The children left the most Ia ' 5ting impression. Most of them orphans, they could be seen through- out the city playing in the dirt of the street, half-naked, ragged, the most poignant symbol possible of why the Catamount and all the rest of the nation ' s fleet must remain on duty in Inchon, Timbuktu, wherever needed. When the last LCUload of turbandcd and bearded Indian troops had hccn taken ashore, and the craft was safely dry in the vell, the Catamount turned back ir.to the ' ' cllo.v sea, rounded the southern tips of Korea and Japan, and returned to Yokosuka. The very young - 18 - 1.1)1) lull- III lin hull i..Nir ,,,n The Korean Y frame lKr.)rr, cliiriiig. iSc afccr - L. C:. U. Tile V(T ' (il Street scciu Traffic cop and her j))-. ■n , i( ,r.H( — 19 KOBE Tlic trip to Kobe and four days of R R was prefaced by a return jaunt to Yokosuka and a fast journey to Sasebo and back for the sake of the transportation of two pontoon causeways. Finally the breakwaters outside of Kobe ' s famous commercial harbor were sighted, a small but efficient pilot was brought aboard, and the Catamount slipped into her slip at pier 5. A friendly sun illuminated the city that morning. Large red and yellow balloons could be seen looming high over the downtown buildings - not welcoming jestures but fine examples of the American influence on the medium of commercial advertising in Japan. Although seventy-five per cent of Kobe had been destroyed during tlic war, it liad been fastid- iously rebuilt and modernistic office buidings and department stores stood out in the business area. The yen-liappy atmosphere of Yokosuka was not present there. Yen was still very much the medium of exchange, and prices were no lower, yet the atmosphere vas different. It was a clean and cordial city. Tours to Takarazuka and Kyoto were quickly arranged by the Doctor. Takarazuka is billed as the largest entertainment center in Japan , and Kyoto is acknowledged as the nation ' s cultural center. An all - girl Japanese ballet company, a large zoo, and an Oriental amusement park were the main attractions at Takarazuka along with the free beer offered at an international Rotarian ' s convention there the afternoon of the tour. Kyoto is one of Japan ' s most modern and Westernized cities and yet it contains the finest of Old Japan which still exists. The Emperor ' s summer palace, the oldest wooden building in the world (constructed in the ninth century), a large Buddahist temple, many old palaces of the ancient Japanese war lords, and Japan ' s two largest universities are withn the city. Rut four days were all that were oftered in Kobe and duty in Sasebo beckoned. Petersen in Kyoto Secured boa;:; and rat guards 20 — Siglit-sccing on Mmint Rdkko - Priest, B() (l, and Smitli. Cll.iss of ' 65 ■■ ()ii guys waiting liir us? Clahlc car station near Kobe - 21 - SASEBO CONFIDENTIAL Sascbo - a concentrated conglomeration of loud music, guuch ' colors, bright lights, crowded streets, tireless peddlars, boisterous merchants, and high-pitched emotions. Not a beautiful city, nor a clean one, but a city with an indescribable appeal. Streaked through the city are the narrow, fascinating alleys of mud with countless cabarets squeezed side In side and vibrating to the resonance and discords of American music which blasts forth through every door in ju. taposition with one another. The red and green and yellow and blue lights of the Texas, Hollywood, or Blue Note bars inviting, enticing. Like no other port in the world. Sasebo was the Catamount ' s next home. Her assignment began when the USS Tortuga (LSD-26) was received alongside and five minesweeping boats were transfercd into the Catamount ' s well deck. Once more the liberty boats were full. Sa ebo outside 22 An ur.ident ' lied Marine and friends Honey salesman Ensign Brirgman on a typica ' . liberty What a 3-da lea e and friends that can shoot retted LTJG Rouchon rear Sacebo 23 - THE 38th PARALLEL For six weeks Saseho was the home port, but any monotony which might ha ' e arisen from the fact was handily flushed into the East China and Yellow seas. There were three daylight runs to Kuro Shima to keep the MSB crews in practice; an overnight trip to To Jang Po, Korea, in preparation for entering Pusan harbor the next day; a quick trip back to Sascbo to pick up mail for the USS Prarie (AD - 15); flank speed back to Korea and Pusan harbor for an afternoon; and two days steaming to within binocular - sight of the infamous 38t]i parallel on tlic western coast of Korea. Paengyong Do was the destination; mission - delivering two LCM ' s to a Marine detachment and bringing back two used models. South of Paengyong Do was equally unpronounceable Taeyon Pyong Do, which pro ided another brief anchorage imtil the Catamount was on her way back to Sasebo. One more trip - to a rendezvous point off the Korean coast with the USS Mainstay (AM - 261) for delivery of a vital spare part - and the Catamount was ready to receive the USS Fort Marion (LSD - 22) for transfer of minesweeping gear. The Fort Marion scooted alongside finally, the cranes yo-yoed equipment back and forth all morning and afternoon, the crews of each LSD looked down their noses at each other ' s ship, and Sasebo became a memory. The mine sweeps, a tamiliar sight in the well A Sasebo shoe repairman sets up shop on the port wingwall Hi B irtc:;: ■ ::: ' .-.iiiitummk 1 PI t .;- .■Jii ljli BHh jjl lglgg l — 24 - A Pusan Mamacan and cffaprirgsan A Paengyong Do pipe s-no ' ter Too rear the parallel lor a smile - 25 - CHIGASAKI Slowly the stern began to ease furthur into the water, the tailgate ominously began to open, and three tank-loaded LCU ' s slid forth into the darkness of early morning and shot to the beach, Chigasaki beach, to wreck simulated death to a simulated enemy. The cranes pivoted around, were hooked to the small LCVP ' s resting expectantly in their skids, and finally lowered them into the water to go forward into the black of D-Da)- morning and wreck more simulated havoc. For this was a landing exercise, the first of the cruise. Chigasaki beach was the objective. The ship had gone there by way of Iwakuni, Yokosuka, and Numazu. After steaming in formation to the approach area, the Catamount discharged her LCU ' s and LCVP ' s and waited two days off the beach, acting as a l)o;it haven f or damaged landing craft and as a hospital ship for simulated casulties. Finally the tank crews climbed back into their tanks, the tanks rolled back into the LCU ' s, and the LC:U ' s floated back into the LSD. The sterngate was closed, the ship ' s waterline was again made visible aft, and the mission was accomplished. 26 CHRISTMAS IN YOKOSUKA And so the Clataniount prepared herself fur the ordeal of speiuliiig her fourth consecutive Ciliristinas in tlie I ' ar Kast. This was the hardest part of siii h an operation schedule. But the city of Vokosuka was ready for the festivities. The en was due to flow heavily, to be sure, f(jr it was the time of llic year wluii all the ships that would ht into ' ( kosuka harbor would he there. The red, green, and white lights that sprinkle the liarbor the year around began to have the compa ny of the other colors of the Christmas rainbow. Stars began to appear atop masts and radar antennas. Accommodation ladders were brightly decorated and Christmas trees were soon a part of the cargo of LCVP ' s rcturninng to their ships. Ashore, Yooltidc Grctings , Mery Xmcs , and large replicas of Santa Clausc-sans blurted forth from the stores and taverns of the city. There was a Christmas tree in every ]:)ar. Japanese musicians were staying up late at night to lean Jingle Bells and White Christmas . Christmas shopping had been dispensed with by the 15th of November because of the mailing problem that time of the year, but packages were arriving regularly and in great lots from the States. Most of them reached the ship before the big day. Many went ashore to celebrate, others attended church services ashore or on the ship. Attendance was high at the ship ' s C:hristmas eve party in the port mess hall, . rrived Christmas day, holiday routine, quiet throughout the ship. . cw Year ' s eve was a difl ' ereiit story. Japan ' s New Year ' s Day is a Christmas, New Year, and birthday celebration all in one and it lasts three consecutive days. Shops that one would have thought never ceased ojjeration were closed U|) tight. The conventional garb of the modern Japanese was discarded for the glowing colors of their traditional apparel. But a high wind on New Year ' s eve, reaching 52 knots earh in the evening, blew celebrations to the fourwinds. A few of the crew had managed to take advantage of the 1300 liberty, but most were confronted •ith a night on l)oard when at IGOO all boat rims were cancelled - small craft warning. A foc ' sle watch was posted and the ship was ballasted to take in the Fleet Act ' s LCM to prevent it from beating itself to death on the port quarter. The last hours of 1953 crept by and finally every seachlight in the harbor was turned on, whistles and sirens were sounded. Wry pistols were shot off, Happy New Year was even flashed against the star- lit sky in morse code. .Ashore, the fireworks of the Japanese could be seen gyrating into the heavens. It was midnight. Emotionally, if not chronologically, the cruise was half over. The traditional kimono worn if at no other time, during the Japanese New Year ' s celebration. — 27 N A e O Y A The well deck had held many things in its time. Crossing the Pacific it had once carried a shiploadful of dependents automobiles. Pontoon causeways, LClU ' s, LCM ' s, DUKW ' s and LCVP ' s had been common cargo. Touch football, volleyball and swimming had taken place there. Yet when the Catamount was : nugly in her berth in Nagoya for five days of Rest and Recreation, she was due for something entirely new in cll deck activity. Instead of landing craft, there were Geisha girls. Geisha girls galore, in the finest of raiment, cavorting about in their inimitably charming dances. The recreation committee had arranged for a full-scale, authentic Geisha girl show to be held on the ship for all hands to observe. For those who enjoyed Geisha girls inimitably charming cavorting, it was well worth the $35 spent by the ship for the show. The only disappointing feature was the failure of the sword dancers to make their appearance. They were unable to perform because of the trecherous cloverleave pad-eyes in the well deck. (BUSHIPS take note.) That was a sidelight to the Nagoyan R R, however. The city was similar to Kobe in many respects. It too had homed heavy war industry during the war, it too had been heavily bombed, and it too had been rebuilt int o a beautiful and modern metropolis. The Nagoya tour struck upon such highlights as the large Shinto shrine, one of the three most sacred in Japan; the Noritake china factory; the Nagoya Castle grounds; and Japan ' s largest zoo. With a pretty young girl standing on the pier with multi-colored streamers in her hands stretching to the deck hands on the wingwall, the Catamount unsecured her mooring lines, backed out of her berth, passed the beautiful snow-capped mountains that surrounded the entrance to the port, and proceeded to Yokosuka to make ready for some relief from the barrage of Rest, Recreation, and 1300 liberties that had filled the past month. Anyone need a camera? 28 — Not the Naqoya Caatle, but merely on edifice atop the wall that once surrounded the castle before the Japanese mishappenly used it as an Army headquarters and woke up one morning with no castle to surround with walls. A moat surrounds the walls. One of the three most sacred Shinto shrines in Japan. The others are in Tokyo and O aka. This worshiping place in Nagoya i3 surrounded by expansive grounds. The factory which produces some cf the finest china in the world. A complete tour was offered inside. Eighty per cent of Nori- fake China is sent to the United S ' ales-. Lt. Callies, while OOD at the Nagoya pier. - 29 — Swim Call OKINAWA LANDING -i The cold of a Yokosuka winter was nearing reality, leaving the Catamount vith no alternative but to point her bow southward for the semi - tropical mecca of Okinawa. First tliere was a two-day anchorage off the shores of Camp McGill where in alternating rain and drizzle, four warping tugs, two LCM ' s, a DUKW, two jeeps, and two trailers were taken aboard along with approximately 125 seabees and Civil Engineering officers. It was this cargo wliich the Catamount presented to another simulated enemy on the beach past Kinmu Wan (Kinmu Bay). Before tlie landing, however, there was traveling in formation with a darkened ship, the usual drills, and a somewhat unconventional pre-landing exercise, the annual administrative inspection. Blasting the serenity of this Philippine Sea paradise came an LCVPful of gold and silver bars and stars. The crew was standing on the superdeck at attention, some in clean dungarees, others in blues, still others in whites. The twice-postphoned, greatly anticipated inspection was ready to begin, discrepancies had been corrected, dirt swept from every crevice, and the red tape of paper work had been neatly wound around the ship ' s offices in an up-to-date, mummified pattern. A warm 75 ' sun shown over the water, illuminating a clear shade of light blue stretching to oddly shaped corals and an expansive beach. This foreground was topped by green hills witli palm trees licntling in the wind in true Hollywood travelogue tradition. Came rehersal day, followed by D-Day, with G. Q., ballasting, lighting off, liandling lines, and Condition III gun watches. On D-Afternoon, witii her duties temporarily terminated in tiie landing, the ship was deballasted, the well was swept clem, the sliip was b.illasted again, and the tailgate w.is closed. The Catamount ' s luxuriant salt water pool had been created. Swimming trunks] were the uniform of the day. — 30 — The Adrrir. ' Plenty cf sur. Circular formation LTJG Wilcz, OKINAWA LIBERTY The meteorological predictions for Januar) ' and February ' in Okinawa had been foreboding _ Overcast skies or rain was the forecasted norm for those months. Yet 1954 was diflcrent. Nearly hiiif of the month the ship stayed in those water, the weather was as fine as a travel folder could boast. Buckner Bay was only a hop, skip, and jump from Kinmu Wan and it possessed a pier to which the Catamount moored. U it R was in effect in a modified way and baseball-beer parties on the beach became frecjuent occurrances. A tour of the island was given and the knotty-pine walls of the EM club only a few hundred yards from the pier proved a satisHictory sanctuary in the evenings. Okinawa had little in common with Japan. Here, Americans completely dominated the scene. A vast network of highways, as fine as main- in the States, spread over the island. Officers ' and enlisted men ' s clubs were elaborate. Palefaces , unattached, were numerous. Yet the time came to leave. The Catamount had to take the beach at Kinmu Wan once again. — 31 OKINAWA LANDING 2 Preluded by philanthropy and cpilogiied with flycatching, February ' s Okinawaii D-Day was an overall success. Two days before the fateful hour when the warping tugs would again venture forth to the beach and all the Catamount ' s guns would be manned, a message entered the radio shack stating that the USS Satyr (ARL-23) had collected $35 from its men to give to the March of Dimes, with a challenge to the Catamount to top it. The Satyr had been the only other ship at Okinawa between the two landings. Mingling had been frequent between the ships socially and competitively. It was at this time that the March of Dimes campaign was laimched or 1954. Slowly Saturday and rapidly Sunday, the two ships collected money for the drive. With the aid of a disc jockey March of Dimes marathon on Okinawa ' s Armed Forces Radio net vork vhich acted as intermediary, the ships ' forces reached a pandemonium of philanthropy. It terminated Sunday night with mustaches falling to the deck upon challenges and several of the crew having officers as their personal mess cooks the following morning. The Catamount, with the help of the embarked seabee crew, donated more than $1000 to the drive. And then another landing. This time in addition to the usual procedure, the Catamount served as secondary boat wave guide and played the role of a destroyer in simulated shore bombardment. Also, there was flycatching, a constant, all-night vigil against UDT swimmers. Five sentries were posted around the sides of the ship and one of the LCVP ' s was manned for the purpose of continuously circling the ship as an added precaution. Floodlights were made ready to illuminate the v ' atcr at a moment ' s notice, and darken ship was strictly enforced. Yet Okinawa sunshine was !;oon to be traded for Japan snow; the wraping tu s and personnel were backlo idcd and the underway w.Uch was set. The starboard side of this mustch was worth S 2 5 Mess cook Patch (LTJG in spare lime) ab ut to serve Ayers breakfast in bed Er.sign Bringman serves mess to I ' irst Class P. O. ' s — 32 — BACK TO JAPAN, IWO, ETC. High winds, snow, slict, and r.iiii sl.ishcd .il the Cat.miDnrit .i i slic nc.ircd Vokosuka. Mooring was impossible tlic first night but a cahii settled in the morning and Japanese liberties were ag.iin in order. The ship ' s jiarty witli a Nippon stage show and beantifnl hostesses was held in the Panther Room of Vokosnka ' s EM Chib. There then followi-d three firing exercises and fiK-iing and transfer of cargo while uiulerway for Kobe. Then three more days of R R. The firing was highlighted by a night exereisc with star shells, floodlights, and red and yellow tracers lighting up the sky, and the destriu tion of two sleeves the following day with the crews of the 5-inch and all the 4 ) ' s loudly claiming the honors for each. Kobe ' s visit was brief but spirited. The three days at the pier passed rpiickly and the ship was once again on its way to Sasebo where hopes ran high for warm, southern Japanese weather and income-tax-deducting jaunts to Korea. The minesweeping detachment was transferred to the ship from the L ' SS Cabildo {LSD-16; and with February about to piss away, a general exodus of U. S. Xaval vessels took place westward. ' ith everyone on l:oard mentally calculating their (Inancial gain as they lay off To Jang Po, Korea, the minesweeping boats were lowered into the w.iter and a minesweeping operation was held with the Catamount vectoring the boats and four AMS ' s. The ship returned to Sasebo and remained there until time to proceed to Yokosuka in preparation for the Iwo Jima I indiiig exercise, the largest and last of the cruise. SHIP ' S PARTY Priest, Potter, Alvis, Houser Ensign Brii. ir,!:: . Taggas, Chiefs Mahan and Beiqhiey, Girlsans, and Chief Hampton — 33 — — 34 — 36 — — 37 - S A Y O N A RA It was H ' .ijonara to Japan . . . you had served your time in the Far East for a while . . . vou were ready to return State-side . . . you ' d had enough of the Oriental world for the time being . . . sajioiuira ... so long . . . maybe, )ou hoped, so long for good . . . maybe you hoped to return . . . nia)bc you didn ' t even think ol that angle with the excitement of getting home burning up your nervous energy... . . . you had yoin- last spree of sho])|)ing on Yokosuka ' s blark market alley . . . you drank your last bottle of Asahi or Ni|)])on beer in the king-sized bottle... you used uj) all the extra ten yen pieces that had ace unnilatcd at the bottom of your locker, all exejit a smuggled few with which to awe the IandIu})I)ers at home... you finished -oin- dealings with liic little man IVom Nan-Yo-Sha laundry and dry cleaning... you told ' I ' omiko and Su .i-san you ' d be back some day and not to forget you... ... you wondered how it would feel seeing the coast of California on the horizon... ()U had lived the moment of sle|)])ing off the gangway onto American earth over and over again already ... you 38 — sliirkcd at tlic ilinim;lii n( ilic lomiilcss limes you would h.i c to icll the rcLiiivcs .ihoiii your experiences, about Mouul I ' uji ami Korea .md wasu ' i it just iluilliuj; . . . you were se( retK ' looking forward to telliiit; iliem too . . . ... X til .iicr.i . . . lile on the ship, as well as olT, had l)een thnereiit in Japanese waters... an oscruiL lit wasn ' t the loninion lliin,L(... (hity had l)een h M y at times and slcej) had often been a pri ilejfe iustiMc! ol ' an ordinariK m iicdulcd e ent... you liad f row n more closely akin to the three huntlreil men on sour .shi|) tlian woulil lia c l)cen the case elsewhere . . . ou liad been spared tlie tenseness of combat, yet there had been the tlirill of participating in se eral landing exercises... and the pure and sim])le satisl.ution from feeling tlic wind ofl ' the oi can blowing at you as your ship rolled and pitched . . . . . . you lay in your rack that first night underway for the States and you were happy . . . you thought, perhaps that you had hated being gone so long, but that you woiddn ' t trade the last eight months for the world... you remembered the good things about the cruise and for some reason the bad seemed to slip from your mind... you were glad to leave... you were glad you ' d been there... you were speaking .sa ' y ni . . . you felt prctt} good. Going home - 39 - THE DEPARTMENTS - 40 — OPERATIONS Lt. j. g. Robert J. White, head of the Operations department has served his entire duty as a Naval officer on the Catamount. A graduate of Newport ' s OCS in June, 1951, he reported immediately to the ship and served as signal officer and communications cfficer before assuming his present duties. His home is Chicago, III., and he is a graduate of Marquette University where he majored in civil engineering. (Apologies on this picture are due Lt. ;. g. While. His sudden attack of appendicitis and subsequent hospitali- zation left the ship with only this closed-eye representation of the Operations officer.) Lt. j. g. John ii_u.i. n nua _-uii;ii.bioned in July, 1949, after five years in the Merchant Marines where he served in the Atlantic and Pacific aboard USS merchant vessels. He has been on the Catamount since August, 1952, as First Lieutenant and gunnery officer, and currently as navigator. His heme is Marrero, La. Times wer „ when the Na y consisted of two sections : Engineering and Deck. The whole Operations department consisted of a navigator. As the Navy has come down through the years, it has reaUzed the begiiniing of a new and vital need, the specialized Operations department witii its skivvie wavers, pip peepers and pencil pushers. They inhabit the upper part of the ship, from the occulator) ' senses at the radar mast down to its finger tips, the red-taped shij) ' s office. It is the nerve center of the ship - its spinal cord. The Signalmen - Those concerned with visual communications, spending their time on watch for intcr- sliip message traffic. Their time is spent in tlie mediums of this communication : semaphore, flashing light, flaglioist and yardarm blinkers. Tlicy are continually training to build cfliciency in these media for either battle or peacetime operation. Tiie Radarmen - The eyes of the ship when in darkness or fog, invaluable in safe ship handling, always on the alert for what human e cs cannot sec. 1 hc ' , coupled with the quartermasters, are an aid to the na igator in coastal navigation and in anchoring when the surroundings cannot be seen. The Quartermasters - The right arm of the navigator. Their help is in the maintenance of the ship ' s log, tiie plotting of the ship ' s position, and determining of the courses she should undertake. The Radiomen - Equally impressive is their contribution to the mechanics of shipboard operation. Tlicir dit-dum-dit ' s keep the ship in contact with all outside stations. The technical knowledge and skill tiiat is required in the operation of the various transmitters and receivers, the teletype machine, etc. is the mark of their trade. The Electronic ' s Technicians - The advancement of these modern de ices has made necessary their highly technical profession. Their job is to keep this gear in operation. Resisters, condensers, tubes and a keen mind are the tools of their trade. The Yeomen - If a typewriter is put through its normal paces, a statistician has proven the average yeoman or personnelman does enough ty])ing in one day to equal that of lifting ten and a half tons. They are in constant demand for special request chits, letters for schools, educational courses, personnel reports, correspondence, legal work, liberty lists and cards, and the continual query, Has my shore duty come in yet? As the Army travels on its stomach, the Navy travels on its paper work. The Mailmen - A liigh factor to Navy morale is the letters received from home. This makes the importance of the mailmen speak for itself This is Operations. Its beginning - one man, the navigator - has expanded to make a job well worth the capabilities of its members. — 41 Lf. j. g. Dan C. Patch, communications officer, v.-as commissioned in July, 1952, at OCS, Newport, R, I., and reported to the Catamount immediately thereafter. He is a graduate of Occidental College, Los Angeles, California, where he majored in geology. His home is He-mosa Beach, California. Ensign John William Cox, assistant communications officer, was commissioned in Febrnary, 1953, through the RCC program at Long Beech, Calif. He reported to the Catamount in May, 19?.?, and left soon afterwards for T. A. D. with the Naval Amphibious Base, Corcnado, California, where he was halfback on the Amphib Base ' s football term.. He returned to the ship in January, 1954. Ensign Cox was graduated from Duke University where he was All - American halfback in 19. ' 50. He also played two seasor.s with the Washington Redskins. His home is Mount Airy, N. C. He is married and hus one daughter. tWI - Ensign Marvin Sham was coAinr.ijsioned in July, 1953, at Newport, R. I., and reported aboard the ship in September when he assumed duties as signal officer, personnel officer, and ship ' s secretary. He served seventeen months in the Navy daring 1945 and 1946, then attended Boston University where he was graduated with a major in psychology. Ensign Sham was employed as a social worker for the city and county of Denver prior to entering OCS. He is married and has a son. Ensign Robin L. Hinson hajsorvad on the Catam-jjnt tinea October, 1953, as radio officer, legal officer, and castodian of registered publication. He served two years in the Naval F.eaarve before entering ROC school in Long Beach, Calif., where he received his com-nission in August, 1953. He ia married and has one child, a boy born during this current cruise. Ensign Hinson ' s home is in Rockingham, N. C. ' — 42 — kikM Dinwiddle, Ralph B., Li. Barnes, Lynn G., TE2 Conti, Nicholas E., QM3 Horn, Stanley, RM3 Schisler, Ralph J., RD3 Jones, Jack C, RMl Rolan, Willie R., RD2 Carter, Lawrence M., RM3 Jarozewski, G. T., PN3 Stebbins, Roy K., QM3 Preston, Cecil, jr.,, QMl Scates, Emory L., YN2 Crowther, Robert L., QM3 Lovett, Glen E., QMS Vaught, Travis E., QM3 Albrecht, Frank, jr., RM2 Blumberg, John L., RD3 Day, Amos A., jr., ETJ Petersen, Ronald L., YN3 Wilson, John S., RD3 — 43 — Brown, Harris O., SN Hamilton, Victor R., RDSA Montero, Henry A., RMSN Carroll, Huey D., YNSN Houser, Robert P., TE3N Pearson, Donald S., RD3N Smith, James D., RDSN Fleming, Robert L., SN Jxes, Kenneth P., SN Slrobsl, Rojjr L., SN Basarich, Peter, jr., SN Gorrindo, Richard E., RMSN McGowan. Ronald S., YNSN Sloan, Jewell G., SN — 44 — DECK A Landing Ship Dork is a working ship and the men that actuate her missions and siiouldcr her glories or grievances are the men ol ' tiic Deck department. On call twenty-four hours a day to coxwain boats, operate cranes, secure for bad weather, tlic First and Second di isions liave the added responsibility of maintaining tlic appearance and preservation of the slii]). When thcN ' are not lioisting in the gig, rccci ing a YW alonside to port, or manning number 3 LCVP on the double, they are standing watchs as lookout, messenger, wingwall and foc ' slc sentry, after-steering, Ixjatswain ' s mate of the watch, or JOOD. They go over the side on stages, chip paint, wire brush, paint, scrub. They handle lines, shift the gangway from side to side, rig the boom, walk LCU ' s into the well, secure the ship to its buoy, tic her up to a pier, tend the anchor, rig the paravanes, hoist with the crane anything that needs hoisiing, and on and on. The First division is responsible for all the work to starboard and the Second division for all the wf)rk to port. Included are the aforementioned duties plus the constant, never-ending maintenance of the uingwalls, well deck, and numerous passageways. The guimer ' s mates and strikers arc officially a part of tlic First division yet their duties with respect to the 5 ' 38, si.x .40 mm., and l vci c .20 mm. mounts and the magazines and clipping rooms keep them occupied every working day. It seldom matters whether there is snow, rain, high winds, or uncomfortable heat. The men of these ilivisions do their job, sometimes trying to remember what sleep is, fighting a constant battle against the a]ipearance of rust and salt-water corrosion, wondering how soon before the word will be passed again for the First or Second division to man the starboard or port crane, or lay down to the starboard or port wingwall to do this or that. There is satisfaction from the work, thougii, for the results are self-evident and e erprcscnt before the eyes of all. The work is done and it is done well, and there is the realization that in a Navy that is leaning more and more toward specialization, the sailor that is nearest still to the old traditions of seaman- ship and nautical know-how is in the Deck department. The proper knots to tie, how to lift many tons of equipment, boat handling, the state of the sea and the weather. Rules of the Road - all these are required of his knowledge. A Seaman is a seaman, a deck sailor is the Navy ' s ;ailor, and the satisfaction thus derived is no small matter. Lt. j. g. E. A. Bloomquist, ship ' s First Lieutenant until his departure in February, was commissioned through the NROTC program at Colorado University in February, 1951. From the time he received his commission until March, 1953, when he reported aboard the Catamount, he served aboard the USS Bayfield (APA-331. His wife and child, born during this cruise, lived in Williamstown, Mass., until he was released from active duty. Lt. j. g. John R. K! ::.;.has served on the Catamount since , ,,, _ -,. ' : u was commissioned through the NROTC program at New Mexico University where he majored in economics. Since on the ship, he has served as Second division and gunnery officer, and navigator. Lt. j. g. Miller ' s home is Birmingham, Michigan. He is married. — 45 — Ensign Norman A. Nelson, First division officer, received his commission at OCS, Newport, R. I., in July, 1933, after having served ten months as an enlisted man in recruit training and qjarterma- ster school. He was graduated from Southwest Texas State Teachers College in 1952 with a degree in educa ' .ion. Ensign Nelson ' s home is in Tuleta, Texas. He was roughnecking in the Texas oilfields before entering the service. He reported aboard the Ca ' .mount in September, 1953. Chief Boatswain Chester O. Raney ente- red the Navy in January, 1929, and was commissioned in 1943 while serving in the U3S Chamcnt ' AP-5 . Other assignments during his twenty-four years in the service, before coming to the Catamount in October, 1952, were in the USS Idaho (BB-42 , UoS Cincinnati (CL-6), USS Sapelo (AO-11), USS Canisteo (AO-99 ' , USS Kennebec AO-36), USS Topeka iCL-67), USS Prairie (AD-15 ' , and at the U. S. Naval Air Station, San Diego, the Naval Construction Training Center, Williamsburg, Va., and the Naval Train- ing Center, San Diego. He was also a member of Admiral Byrd ' s expedition in 1946 to the South Pole. Chief Boat- swain Raney is married and his home is in San Diego, California. Ensign J. Harry Jones, Second division officer, received his commission in July, 1953, at Newport ' s OCS after eight months of enlisted service. A graduate of Beloit College (Wis.) where he majo- red in English composition he was employed as a newpaper reporter in Kansas City before entering the service. Ensign Jones reported aboard the Cata- mount in September, 1953. He is married. Carol A. Tha= ' :or, DM ' . Wiiiuni P. (; iii p, (,-;m. - 46 - FIRST DIVISION Afkins Charlie E., BM2 Alvis, Frederick A., SN Ellis, William E., SN Hampton, Charles P., SN Bailey, ColleU F., BMJ Bynum, Ronald E., SN Evans, Joyce M., SN Hargreaves, Edward M., SN Bowman, Robert G., BM3 Chapman, Eddie, SA Evans, Walter N., SN Jennings, Jack F., SN triesr. Sniriey M., BMo Ciandro, Joseph V., SN Gilbreath, Eldon F., SA Lewallen, Melvin O., SN — 47 _ :. ' _n, Raymond C, SA Puckett, Floyd L., SA Smith, Jimmy D., SN McCann, Wilfred L., GM3 Luckinbill, M. E., SN Roberson, Bobby E., SA Simons, Raymond E., jr,. SN Culver, Norman W., GM2 Quesenberry, F. H., GM3 Miller, Jimmie I., SA Solley, P. J., jr., SN Thompson, Jimmie L., SN Padrick, Eugene L., GM2 Cannon. John R., GMSN Nolen, Johnie A., SN Spinelli, Jerry, SN Wessel, Oscar E., SN Freburg, Paige D., GM3 Keena, George C, GMSN - 48 Btelma, Tony T., jr. FT3 Pass, Ar.iold A., SN Silva, William D., SN Ott, Raymond L., SN Trejo, Albert, jr., SN Kcerig, Vernon K., SN SECOND DIVISION Spruill. John W., BMl Adams, Willie m H., SN Anqelini, Arthur A., EM2 A we ' .l, John W., FN Smjih. Henry P.. EMS Banister, Dallas G., BMSA Adams, Edward J., SA Brumfield, Paul C, EMSN 49 — Clopton, Douglas A., SN Garcia, Donald, SN Murrell, David A., SN Blddle, M. C, )r., SN Coleman, John. jr. SN Maaon. Russell W.. SA Palmer. Owen, SA Rogers, Lonnle B., SN Turk, Melvin L.. SA Diolvinson, Joseph A., SN McEnlire, George R., SN Pappan, Garland, SA Susalla. Alvin G., SN White. Ray, jr., SN Dixjn, Edward R., SA Mills, Thomas F., SA Faytosh. Robert S., SN Toms, Patrick, SN - 50 - ENGINEERING Lieutenant L. L. — ; . . : i m 1943 after live and one halt years of enlisted service. He served aboard the USS Rigel (AR- 4), USS Nashville (CL-43), USS Highlands (APA- 119 ' , USS Pickaway (APA-222), USS Raby (DE- 698i, in addition to the Naval Station at Treasure Island before reporting aboard the Catamount in December, 1951, as Engineering department head. Ho is married and has three sons, aged 17, 11, and 9 years old. Testing ship ' s wliistic iiiid sin ' ii! All departments make ] reparations for getting inulerway reports to the Ofhc cr of the I)e(k on the bridge! and the special sea and an hor detail is set. Slowly the ship hai ks down, swings ( iimbcr- soiiuiy aroimd, and points her how toward the open .sea. This was not the beginning of the voyage. A dcpart- inciil, little seen by the jieoph- waving at the jjier, had long been at work making its own preparations for getting y • ' t underway. The sea and anchor detail is set a 6 o ' cloek. The m H ' k 1 engineers have been up sine e before 4 o ' clock lighting off. Numerous watches have been up throughout the night main- taining a boiler and ship ' s service generator for auxiliary purposes. They have worked all day keeping the vast maze of below decks machinery in order and ready to function whenever needed. The layman doesn ' t know much about what a snipe is, but it is he who provides the power to run the ship, and keep it running. A , B , M , E , and R divisions comprise the engineering department, the largest on the ship. The steering system, which keeps the ship on course; the ice machine, providing cool water for clriiiking; the motors for the crane and all the ship ' s boats, providing liberty; all auxiliary machinery and diesel engines - these are the worries and the delights of the small A division. Within the sweltering heat of the fire rooms are found the personnel of B division, whose job it is to manij)ulate the awesome tool, steam. The endless rows of valves and gauges must constantly be watched for an ' discrepancies while underway. The main engines and turbo generator depend on their steam. Another duty involves the fuel oil system. When the YO comes alongside, it is an all hands working party for the B division. Wiiile B di ision pr() i(les the power with its steam, M division maintains the engines that use that power. The spotless machinery and brass tubing polished to perfection is thcir ' s to fondle, repair, clean, and maintain. Their importance is demonstarted by the fact that M division is the largest in Engineering. The many different communications systems inside the ship and the lighting throughout its spaces falls to another group, E division. Electrical motors and outlets are everywhere ])resent on the modern Navy shi|) and arc all maintained and operated by this division. When the 21MC; or the JV circuits fail to work, the duty electrician is automatically called upon for services. Plumbers, welders, metalsmiths, carpenters, and damage controlmen comprise the rates that operate in the repair arm of the Engineering department, R division. All repairs, woodworking, sheet and structural metalwork, and welding and cutting make up the work of these handymen . The watertight integrity of the ship is their responsibility. The ballast shack is their second home. When the balla.sting detail is called to man its stations, R division takes on another of its duties, a frequent one on the Catamount. Theirs is the job of controlling the ballasting and deballasting of the ship so that it can perform its most unique function - floating its cargo into itself. Snipes , let it be said, are indispensable. - 51 Ensign David J. Bringman, A division officer, end ass ' t engineer, damage control, and repair officer, reported aboard the Catamount in July, 1953, after having received his com- mission in the NROTC program at Purdue University wrhere he majored in mechanical engineering. His home is Chicago, III. His wife is now residing with her parents in Winchester, Indiana. Chief Electrician John J. Cody entered the Navy in 1936, received his commission in August, 1950, and has served aboard the Catamount since October, 1951. During his naval career he has been attached to the USS Tennessee (BB-431, the USS Benson (DD-421), USS Hyman (DD - 732), USS General Pope (AP-llOi, USS Stromes (DD-780!, USS Princeton (CVA-37;, USS Cunningham (DD-752 ' , USS Thomason (DD-760i, and Subgroup I. He is a native of St. Louis, Mo., and his wife and two sons live in San Diego. Machinist Joel D. Payir- ;. i ivd on the Catamount since December, 1951, as main propulsion assistant and as B and M divi- sions officer. He enlisted in 1937 and served aboard the USS Oklahoma (BE ■ 37), USS Sterett (DD - 407), USS Hopkins (DM - 513), USS Ranier (AE-6), USS Mansfield (DD-728), USS John Hood (DD-655), USS Spokane (CL-120), USS Corry (DD-717), and at the Navy RecruiUng Station, Columbia, S. C. He is from Charleston Heights, S. C. His wife and son live in Chula Vista, California. Carpenter James W. Hudlcr, Jr., enluli-ii in 1942 and was commissioned in 19S1 at which time he reported aboard the Catamount as Ship ' s Carpenter and R division officer. He has served in the USS Altamaha (CVE - 18), USS Chenango (CVE- 28, USS Nutmeg (AN -33), USS Florikan (ASR - 9) and at the Naval Air Station, San Diego. His wife and json live in San Diego. — 52 - Joseph K. Hju,, M;.1v. D ijht W. Manan, EMC bamiiel G. b i ;j:ilev, MMJ William N. Schard, ENC 53 A J n i V I s I o N Wise. John R., MMl Kuball, PjuI E., EN2 Arlequeeuw, Robert H., EN Arnold, Donald D., MR3 Bailey, Daryl E., EN3 Brown, James W., EN3 Cook, Charles K., EN3 Hodge, Ronald E., ENS Myers, Allen G., EN3 Shaw, Robert G., EN3 Stec, Richard E., EN3 Stokes, Robert, MM3 Straggas, G. R., MM 3 Taylor, Leon O., MRS Waltrip, Robert C, MRS Whitetord, Bruce A.. EN3 - 54 Boen, Jack L., FN McDuKie, Fletcher H., ENFN Courier, Henry R., jr. ENFN Robersor, James W., FN Kisling, Robert W.. FN Singleton, John W., FN Manning, Sanford L., FN Smith, Al W., FN B DIVISION Ponlau, Erwin G., BTl Porter, Lercy R., BT3 Adam3, Thomas M., BT2 Quinn, Kenneth L., BT3 Anderson, Roy V., BT2 Splinter, Paul D., BT3 Halteriran, Ray M.. BT3 Sti-ur.lz, Marvin J., BT3 55 — Voght, Robert F., BT3 Garner, Irvin F., FA McLemore, I. W.. jr., BTFN Quested, G. D., FN Williams, Ernest E., BT3 Hess, Lamont L., FN Morris, James C, FN Riess, George A., jr., FN Wilson, Charles L,. FN Arnold, Lcuis D.: FN Jordan, Bobby W., ENIFN Neer, Samuel M., FN Stephens, Dale E., FN Wylie, Sonne C, BT3 Manning, N. H., FN Parkerson, H. J., FN Turk, Leroy A., FN — 56 — . . . . E DIVISION f -r Ma-iley, Paul E., jr., EM2 Logue, Paul J., EM3 Carpenter, John F., ICFN Getting, Myron A., FN McLaughlin, P. E., EM2 Robinson, Robert D., EM3 Claunch, Russell E., FA Steinbach, Don A., EMFN Beyer, Alvin G., EM3 Pettingill, Jack E., EM3 Cox. Clifford D., FN Totin, Andrew, EMFN Ebany, Ralph G.. EMi Enderson, Ivan F., IC3 tiass William O., FA Grisha-r, Glendall O., FN Willard, Ronald R., EMFN 57 M DIVISION CroEsan, Lawrence F., MM2 Armagost, Robert B., MM3 Daniel. Marcus R., jr., MM3 Layton, Howard D., MM3 Oberg, Wilbur A., MM2 Barnett, Charles F., MW3 Dearth, Forrest N., MM 3, Lloyd, Jack L., MM3 Scadden, Charles W., MM2 Bjorlce, Roger A., MM3 Eaves, James F., jr., MM3 Matthews, James C, MM3 Ardizzone, Harry S., MM3 Cook, Herbert L., MM3 Hedlund. Howard C, MM3 McConaghy, Francis J., MM3 - 58 — Medley, Henry A., MM3 O ' AeWoran, L. V., MM3 Perry, I ' enne ' .h P., MM3 Schwander, Byron D., MM3 Whitmer, Charles K., MM3 Barrett, Alvin H., FN Kau3er, Herman I., FN Un3, John J., FN Leon, Remigio, jr., FN M n ' erj, Richard. FN Palmar, 0:i3, FN £:m?, Bennie L.. FN Tolan, Michael J., FN Wood, Floyd W., FN OHalloran, Dennis B., VMFN - 59 R DIVISION rrar, J. E., jr., DCl Hur.t, Ccnald C, DC2 Webb, Eobby N., FP2 Polos, Conttantine H., DC 3 Ulrich, Leo W., MEGl Milligan, Richard L., ME2 Bee, IJela E., DC3 Proctor, Leeroy, ME3 Drewery, William E., FP2 Schoenrock, S. D., FP2 Dalton, George L., ME3 Shoemake , James O. FP3 Lbany, John A., FP2 Tharp, Dale D., FP2 Emmons, Joseph E., DCS Byrne, Raymond M., FN — 60 Dominguez, Francisco, FN House, Navie B., DCFN Fisher, Fenton M., FN Metro; Vern H., FN Gonzales, Cipriano, FN Smith, Lewis p., FN Herbert. Loran D., FPFN Ziomek. Robert W., DCFN — 61 — MEDICAL To keep as many men at as many guns as many days as possible, is the responsiliility of the oflicer and tour hospital corpsmen who comjiose the Medical de])artment, so states the Book . All minor and major ailments first pass through the doors of sick bay for diagnosis and treatment. E cn the pains from imagination or those caused by the words, Turn to, are admitted for observation. The department must intelligently assist in all matters jjcrtaining to the health of the crew. Inspections for cleanliness of compartments, food, food-handlers, and irtualh- anything else on the ship which could cause poor health falls into their hands. Instruction in first aid, artificial respiration, and VD control is given by the department and facilities are provided in sick bay for weight lifting exercises. Bible study classes arc even held in sick bay several nights a week under the guidance of Dr. Douglas who maintains that health in spirit is rs important as health in body. l Lt. j. g. Robert Douglas, Medical officer, who doubles for lay chaplain on the ship, has served on the Catamount since August, 1953. He was in the Hospital Corps thirty-eight months during World War II, leaving the service as a Pharmacist ' s Mate second class, after which he entered John B. Stetson Univ- ersity, Deland, Fla., and later the University of Maryland, where he received his M. D. in 1952. During his enlisted service from 1942 until 1945, he was attached to Jacksonville Air Station, the Quantico Naval Hospital, the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and the Fleet Marine Force. He served his internship at the San Diego Naval Hospital. Dr. Dougla s ' s wife and four children, one of which was born during this cruise, live in Miami, Fla. Hall, Glenn A,, HM2 Caldwell, Gerald C, HM3 Allen, Norman B., HM3 Santillanes, Toby G., SN — 62 — THE MASTER AT ARMS Kenneth H. The ship ' s Master at Arms force, under the direct supervision of the Executive Oflficer, is responsible for the execution of the military system aboard ship. Their work begins with reveille in the morning and includes super ising of the chow line, mustering of restricted and extra duty men, ship cleanliness, enforcement of shipboard regulations, helping situate new men aboard, supen ising of prisoners, and the execution of taps in the evening. By virtue of his office, the Chief Master at Arms is the senior enlisted man aboard ship. Gulli, Carmano J., ENl Owens, Clarence W. BM3 Bright, Ealslon O., BM2 McGinley, James L., BM3 — 63 — SUPPLY There were 2,817,600 cigarettes sold last year by the Catamount ' s ship ' s store. There were approximately a third of a million meals served on the ship in a year ' s time, at which 130,000 pounds of potatoes and 60 tons of meat were consumed. The crew drank 82,302 cokes in a year, received 11,000 haircuts, and was paid a total of $399,201.13 by the disbursing office. Two officers and forty-two men are responsible fur all of this. They are the supply officers, the storekeepers, commis- sarymen, ship ' s service men, and stewards. They form the Supply department. Not only do they issue all the supplies and equipage necessary for the ship, but they are involved in the procurement, receipt, inventory control, and accounting for it all. Medical supplies and ammunition are the only items which do not fall into their realm of responsibility. They manage to keep busy. The department prepares and serves all the food on the ship. It provides the salaries for the crew. It operates the clothing and small stores issue room, the ship ' s store, barber shop, tailor shop, laundry, and soda fountain. It pays travel vouchers and allotments, exchanges yen for MPC, arranges for foreign goods to be sold on the ship, keeps from overobligating and overexpcnding the ship ' s quarterly allotment, and furnishes every department on the ship everything from rubber bands to steel plates. Although it is rcsj)onsiblc for the word to he ]iassed, All hands not actually on watch lay down to the port wingwail to handle stores, few can find groiin ' .ls for complaint witli the department. Without it, the crew would be curling -long locks of hair, dirty, ])rnnilcss, ragged, and starved. The Supply dej)artment comes in handy. Lieutenant George J. Kost, head of the Supply department, was ccmmissioned in 1943 and has served on the Catamount ' since May, 1953. He previously was Assist- ant Personriel officer in the Material Division, Washington, D. C, and served as Armed Guard Commander aboard the S. S. David B. Johnson. He also served aboard the S. S. John E. Schmeltzer, was assistant supply officer AMAG in Athens, Greece, three and a half years, and was Machine Records Department head at the Naval Supply Depot in San Diego two and a half years. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois and his home is Chicago. His wife and daughter live in San Diego, California. Lt. j. g. Fernar.d F. Willoz, III is disbursing officer on the Catamount and also S division officer. He received his commis- sion at Tulane University in June, 1952, and attended the Navy Supply Corps School at Oakland, California. He served seven mcnths at USNAS, Quonset Point, R. I., and three months on the US3 Kearsarge ;CVA-33) before coming to the Catamount in October, 1953. His home is New Orleans, La., and he is a graduate of Tulane, where he majored in political science. — 54 — : :in W., SKI Act.s, Frank C, jr., SK2 Kubanda, Andrew M., CS2 Bow, James D., SH3 Foulks, Stuart J., CS3 Castro, Jose T.. SI ' i Carter. James R., CS2 Lapp, Ernest, jr., DK2 Carroll, Carlie G., SK3 Pliley, Jerry W., SK3 Hurley, Merle D., CSGl Crawford, Jack M., SH2 Peltier. Raymond A., SKG2 Dark, James I., SH3 Rose, Early, jr., SH3 Meno, Jcaquin L.. SDl Hostetter, Glern E., CS2 Blaylock, James E„ SH3 Field, Eugene P., CS3 Stephenson, Richard J., SK3 - 65 Suell, Curtis, SDM Ford, Lecesler, SN Marahall, Clarence D., TN Rouse, Charles F., TN Swinehart, Howard, SN Bogacz, Edward S., SN Gillaspie, Clintell, TN Massle, Roy, SN Snodqrass, Richard A., DKSN Taylor, James F., SN Clayton, Carl, TN Gonzales, Henry, SN Nunes, Anthony, SN Spain, Lloyd, SN Tomko, Joseph, SN Dutton, Kaydon, SA Hawley, Andrew E., CSSN Potter, Albert L., SN Smith, Levie, TN Wright, Carlton C, CSSN — 66 - EDITOR ' S NOTE Hccausc the ClatamoiiiU ' s operational schedule is the most flexible thing since the in eiition of elastic and is as subject t(i ( hange as a woman ' s mind, this Clruise Hook is incomplete. It would be dangerous to attempt to write for the future, since in all likelyhood the [ircdictcd schedule for the ship will have changed several times before she reaches San Diego. The printing schedule in Ja]ian and the departure in April for the States has necessitated an early completion of the book. The back side of this page is reserved for your personal additions, to complete the history of the 1953-54 cruise. Editor Ensign J. H.irry Jcmos Ass ' l editor R iiiald L. Petersen, VN3 Ass ' l photographer Paul J. Logue, EM3 ss ' t artist Toby G. Santillanes, SN Printing done by : Muramatsu Printing Co., 15-2 Chomc Odakicho, Yokosuka, Japan. - 67 — -