Deuel (APA 160) - Naval Cruise Book

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BOAT-GROUP DIVISION THE ALMOST overwhelming task of maintaining and operating the ship ' s twenty-six boats falls on the capable shoulders of the newly formed Boat- Group Division. It is a never ending task and one that, instead of being easier when in port, mounts to almost staggering proportions at that time. It is the men of the Boat-Group Division who make it possible for the crew and officers of the ship to make liberty in the ports we hit. Operating in all types of weather and often all night these men see to it that everyone hits the beach and is able to return. But it is during a landing operation that the boat crews come into their own. The prime end for an attack transport is to land assault troops on a hostile beach and the men who run the boats make this possible. Out in the boats for long hours at a tifiie, often wet and cold, these men lead a far from easy life — but ask him if he would like to switch and you can be sure of a resounding — NO ! When the ship is underway again the huge job of getting the boats ready for the next port commences, for who can tell what call may be made for boats. They will be needed for liberty runs, routine errands, and possibly as cargo lighters for the replenishment of the whole fleet. It has been said of women and can be as truly said of the Boat Group — Their- work is never done. first raw, Ujt to right: H. V. Holcomb, D. P. Urban, A. H. Reinhart, W. H. Broomhead, Jr.. C. R. Norrii, R. H. Shaw, L Kirkland, J. T. Ellis. . . . Sec ond roui, lilt to right: A. De- francii, R. F. Huckini, E. J. Cook, L. C. James, BMC L. H Schaffer, BMC J. L. Pestsinger, D. A. Hall, L. D. Jackson, W. L. Krebs. . . . ThirJ row, left to right: M. F. Needham, ' W. H. Price, N. H. Jessop, W. C. Plum, R. H. Miller, J. H. Gamcl, J. D. Naichajan, L. E. Bromler, W. H. Bigclow, Jr. Sprucing up the gig.

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THIRD DIVISION THE DOMAIN of the Third Division is the after area of the ship including the fantail, number five hatch, the steering engines, and the jumbo boom. Here again the excellent seamanship that a well-run ship of this type demands is evident on every side. The other deck divisions operate booms also but the king of them all is the large 35-ton boom used to work number five hatch and also used to raise and lower the two large LCM ' s which are stowed on top of the hatch. It is a very ticklish job to handle these boats but the deftness with which they are coaxed from their skids and lowered to the water by the highly trained team of the Third Division is a sight to behold. Most of the large vehicles that the assault troops need ashore are stowed in No. 5 and must needs be unloaded at every landing. It is a difficult feat to jockey a ten wheeled monster of a truck out of the hold and set it in a pitching landing craft alongside requiring excellent team work and a mastery of the art of cargo handling. Both these qualities are pos- sessed to a high degree by the Third Division as exemplified ' by their fine record through operations Mainbrace and Longstep and the landings on Sar- dinia. nrh« GetMi Hanar Man. Itumrm, my lads. Moak awaon wltb birth- dcnr caka. FirtI row, left to right: SN CallUian, SN J. E. Mott, SN R. E. Crom, SN V. McCaffery, SN J. R. Grandstaff, SN J. D. Sulti, SA P. F. Witheri. . . . SicohJ rom, Itft to right: BM3 R. A. Naicrs, SA D. Dey, BM3 W. J. Heegan, BM2 G. R. Mott, BMC R. L. Cross, BMl H. R. Smith, SA G. J. Huber, SA E. C. Cooper. . . . ThirJ rotu, left to right: ENS S. T. Paczkow- ski, SN L. T. Mowl, SN T. H. Breisler, BMJ J. T. Hall. SN D. T. Smeal, SN E. S. Lambrechts, SN G. N. Piters, SA C. E. Halliwell, BM2 E. B. Vincent, SN R. C. Valrath, SN S. J. Nlcastro, ENS. O. R. Billion.

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DIVISION EVERY FIGHTING SHIP must be able to defend itself against both ait and surface enemies and it is the men of G Division who see to it that the DEUEL is at all times ready to do this very impor- tant task. The men of this division man our five inch battery and form the core of all the smaller antiaircraft gun crews which have put up such a good showing in competition firings and stand ever ready to do the job for keeps if the occasion ever arises, an even- tuality all of us fervently hope never comes to pass. This division is also the place where our most popular crew member, SAM, hangs out. There is no doubt that he is the most popular striker the division possesses. For the most part he is an excellent sailor but he must remember that number three hatch is not always closed!! Firil row, lift lo right: SN J. E. Mitchell, SN D. Prager, SN J. J. Gribbin, SN W. Tyrell. . . . Second row, left to right: SN K. P. Wagner, GM3 D. G. Smith, GM2 D. Allen, GMl J. L. Huie, SN J. C. Buckley. . . . TbirJ row, left to right: ENS B. L. Buley, SN R. K. Burton, SN W. N. Cushord, Jr., SN J. S. Hampton, FT3 R. W. Blank, GMJ D. A. Goodwin, GMJ W. T. Farrell, GMC W. H. Steach.