Catamount (LSD 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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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 —

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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

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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 —