Dutches (APA 98) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 28 text:

, 9 1, , ,f la 4 5,1 W .L vw,- . ,alll ,l , V mi , , f - vi' 1 J l 1 1913 A ' ' S-8 D-ISLHOUD suo psM0l QODS S 86 9111 p11D l 01S sq IL SPUDQ :psp AJDSM sql UIO-I1qC11?1 1111331 SLSMCE' Sdlqs 95391 , D1Dd 111Ds1lS AllnlSSs00nS ol slqD SDM A H uni? 10 510 3 puD 110111 qD1'101ql SSIHIIDJ 5u1usl1DsqS11?u111ajc?liOg 513196 9 SSslsql1sAsL1 f5u1lD.1s010 luDc1 s 5 d 5131318 9111 pUD SsI1I10nSD0 s D I LU UI SSX 10 Spoqlem 6 1 11111113 O1 HO 1111-IS Alsnousls uo1l0sS S1ss111 UH sql UI qS100p lqf51l1slDM 11 d lo1lu00 sDD111Dpp SlDq uss1f5 S1q ql1M mounsd? Sogpagloq UD 1u1DlSnS 10 S111slq01d sql lmo pslDsMS l11Dus T191 q LH mdeeq 1 uM0p sl1qMuDsyxl SlsD1Dl lD11sD sql 6u1ll1q O1 USUI S1q lqfingl sql 1101l1lsc1s1 luDlSu00 qE5n01ql AUDHDDIQ qsuozlplg Sum C1 sg O1 l11sM Al0D'I f5u110qD'l s l 110 S H L1 PUD11 1119 A-DP PUD 1115111 1UD11.51A Alf5111SDs0u11 Q00 D1 IDDHOD1, 1931110 5LI1puDL111110Q sql ldsq S1sAns11D111 A0us5 1lD11110l 111 SSSUDQO lus1'1Ds1 A T1 I-I 1 P OJ, 1.IO1J,LIS1J,D EUISDSDUTI PUD MOM S111 PUD 5139C1'9L11'1O'193111O 9111 UO P9U1OfU9 3911111 HD 1D cuou 'QSUEISSD .Isq U1 'All0DXs c11qS q0Dsy Duldeeq UQ'!1D1S Smmagb 6111 PUD SADD sA1l 101 1-lDs1q ln0ql1M psnulluoo AlSSsllusls1 lDql 'Ss010 cl Sn01q1qd111 ' uD111L110 s 1 1 V P Q A1lD1lS11.11111pV .1spuD11111103 sql s1 sql 10 u01l0s11p sql 1sp11n p011sc:1 5u1111D1l sA1Suslu1 uD lusM 10111192 SLU UO SS91191UC1 SLI1 'CSSZ-Vdvb 1111911111051 'ggn pun 'qggl 'S'S'I1 '117Z'VP111'1 1951121 'S'S'f1 'CSUVPIVP O59-1.1 'SS11 '1LL'Vc1V1 'SD '1Z8Z'VdV.D DQDS UBS 'S'S'f1 9111 1111-M f5UISU0-'XZSPUGH l IDGI sql SD pDq SD lS0111lD Ss1111ls1110S S1 lDql 1DM 101 SlDS1Dsq 0511 sS0ql 10 suo L10 s 1D U19 SDM 5 5 D 31 q sqS 0 1D0 1sq ps 1Dq0S1p q SSsq0l1'1q sql SIOISQ 'ADM1sp11r1 SDM HD 10 1101lD1sd0 Snolqlqd sql !p1DMlSsM Al1DDslS Du1111DslS SDM 'QLID Sl10c1SuD1l llr1DsSD D A 11' 3c1pu9ddV U1 Z 'ON 191191 ss 11 1 ,, ,, ' - rs l D n ' . n . IDA. -1 1 I . . A ' ' IV is P xx . I . w . ' ' ' ' . 1 1 . I' . A U 1 . , N. ' 1 - 19 ' - - ' 1 U ' . ' J Tl . 1 ,110 . ' . ' ' ' 5. ' . . . O1 A . . . ' ' L1 C1 I L1 I D S. ApDs1lD SDM s010l 1l0DllD Sr101q1qd111D UD lSsM sql O1 .IDI-i gnow--Bugugml sno1o6gg 'g n 1 P 11111511-1 5 10 AIO D AuD111 SDM s1sql, l1D111 psADlsp S1lssM Q JO 1C1T9-991 1,593 Alleqq nqDO 11D 10 9113111113 pl1111 p11D A1sus0S lnl1lnDsq l1Dp Ms10 sql 10 l11s01s01 9A11A1USMl lutod SIOUIOOII 1100196 DH Qgumlpvl GHQV sql O1 psq0DllD Ss10psAslS AuDd11103 SSDQ Aq ps0us111L1100 SDM 051D0 sql 10 .SUIPDOIUU ADD sU1IOS 113111 d11l S1q ql1M ps1lS1lDS SDM 11111100 11sql slDl 11sql O1 'FDQUEISSI AUDJSUS5 11'1C1 -A-ddD11Un 911109 gqngqgp gxpp IZ IO SlSs1'15 1sq DHD psddols s1sM SSUIELIS u1D111 pslsld111o0 AllnlSSs00nS q10q1D1-I 110951 01 O17L17 DOCUD9 O1 05159 sS1r110 us 1D1u 1s 10 1D l1Dsd 119 513013 911191 13191 5U111DW A 1 P. 11011-1 's10111 s0110 psllD11I0 s1sM DUDI SLI1 10 910190 GLU I aumg pr-JQH pugwnlq Sn0111Dl sql 1slD'l 'SlsD1Dl psMol suDld-lD sql 10 s11l sql psl0s11p 1 s 0lDq p11D s100p llDy SJSM Sd001l O1 9 s 1 M 'lsS SDM 191111311 99111 'LISULSQJSSDLV' Iq nsql 111 O HOU' U1 q61S 2-L :psp U0 HV wg DQS sql 11M0qS ussq 111 1100 1111-M199 S1111 Sepmfufmn 11101 191191 slD01101lL1D 5110 S1 l0lD s Al1uD11HXS UDU1 11519111 1 ' . - J, ' U , , I. A i , - ' . . S ' gl , - , n . . . I 1 '1 1 Guo A1sAs AllD01l0D1d 1111111 Pen 1 9 uo Pewqnlsq DQS D 'l',,I11.lVX 11393 mm gznfaadw fUEg1C?1rC3Ic.1QA011D1S1IsC1 50M-K-11Oc:1 L13179 SV 1:09 DSS em I A i , y . -. U - . m ' a '1 Q A ' ' 1 ll I ' Q1 . a 1 . r ' . ' X X 5 I As 3 . l xx . 3 f' H u 1, A 1, A ' , l l , W K q W NA 1 , , ' 1. ' A is , 9 was , ,l . 1 h 1 - -,J V A A l ' q . ' .1 1, ,Wg 1 if , A 1 A , 11 A A A A

Page 27 text:

.qonditions of newly embarked troop ,life were straightened 'Cuff W were getting their three meals a day which were smoothl served by Seabees and prepared by Seabees and ships CQHX s orking together. Heavily instrumentalin implementing the paper were a dozen of the Seabee CPOs who capably assumed the ties of Lieutenants. A Q12 A Qn arrival, March 5th, at the Panama Canal which was marked by clusters Vin-page balloons nodding sleepily up against the clouds, the Dutchess was lion through the locks and left the waters of the Atlantic and Carribean for duration. Deck spaces were at a premium as all l8OU souls aboard watched fascinating, mechanics of being boosted via locks up to the level of Gatun After a week of sailing through limitless ocean waters, steaming through 1-eestumps and verdant gem like islets seemed like a fanciful dream.'A actical advantage was taken of the lake by running its fresh water through numerous branches of the salt water fire and flushing system, thus killing y existing marine growths dependent on salt water for life. Through the steep and narrow walls of the Gaillard Cut, the 98 twisted and turned under the pilot's experienced direction. Thence, through the Miraflores locks and down to Pacific waters she made her way. When once made fast to the dock at Balboa, Canal Zone, while fuel and the inevitable stores came aboard, half the Dutchess personnel went ashore to see the sights and alleged flesh-pots of Panama City, they found it not quite so glamorous qs reported. f , A curious incident of historical interest, illustrating the temper sometimes in men long at war, was the troop liberty situation. Port regulations forbade ltroop liberty, thereforemany of the troops, disgusted at being sent overseas again, desperately felt they must get ashore at all costs. So with this con- certed urge, mass attempts were made to slip down the gangway, slid do-wn the lines, jump over the side, and steal away from dockside working parties. For a warmish hour the Dutchess Officers and Police Petty Officers had a lively time. The situation was solved by breasting the ship ten feet away from the dock. y .The successful cA.W.O.L.'s, ranging from CPC's to non-rated men, were rounded' up as they returned by the dawn's early light, sadder and more disillusioned men. 'Appropriate disciplinary action was taken. The evening of the Sth of March found the Working Lady, now bereft of her escort, steaming steadily through the deep blue Pacific waters-westward into the setting sun. Each day as she made her way westward under the Warm tropical sun, the troops became more integrated-the troop guard functioned, the ,mess cooks were on deck, the working parties turned-to with in Will. .A 1 Several of the skilled Seabees,-painters, carpenter's mates, shipfltters, iiiiff.. voluntaril turned-to with the Dutchessmen. lce cream was availablex Y . . - other day up to the limit of the capacity of the machines. Movies were in the mess hall nightly. 4 r As he Gung Ho ship made her way ever westward, the crewmen were by the flying fish that would sail 20, 30, even 60 feet across the ies- ly they would land on deck, silver indigo in color, with wing- 1 S- The favorite pastime was sun bathing, all hands attempting to acquireka of . ' ' .' DT .T tan The heat in the troop compartments was Paramount T te adequate ventilation system that had been bedamnepd in the oducing too much air, was now derided for insufficiency. s ma .i topside as the frequent showers would permit. Thed SEGi313L'ignzfg Cfimsiderable amusement. A deep bOX Plflced. OH GC C if 15l

Page 29 text:

the difference between a wound d lq' 11' - towed out of range. e S lp U 1mme1Y be1nQ'su.nk qily, 'all ships strove to lessen theltime necessa ' t h ' t. - W if craft off their decks and make them safely vgdte?bo?nSe. t1Ael1rfif'n 2' osun M t ' 3 bottle-neck at number 3 hatch space with the ponderousQ3Eltg1H?21i:gZ resolutely- endeavored to lower his time. At length 27 boats were in 29 minutes. One of the younger pe ty Qff' H - a fisherman from Sea lsle City New Ierse msg' If I Wnght' then , ' I I d 'd level-headed relief hatch captain on the big Cjifmboebgimlziigtslcipqble Once waterborne, the Boat Group Commander formed his group up cmd n, under the radio directions of the Squadron Boat Group Commander lfrorn the Flag 'Ship U.S.S. San Sabal, took his boats in successive waves in .onthe narrow rock strewn beach on Maui. Much to the chagrin of its cox- hswain, one boat impaled itself on rock pinnacles, occasioning considerable salvage work and igonomimious retur naboard on an LCT, but the other 27 'landed again and again through the surf without serious difficulty. 6 Meanwhile, the Communication Officer, Lt. A. E. Crispell, Ir., U.S.N.R. was beset by the many difficulties involved in manning the multitudinous fradio circuits required in an amphibious operation. The final bit of realism 'Was furnished by several LCSCLDS fLanding Craft Support CLargeH bombard- ing the beach with rockets and then, under cover of the bombardment and their self-made smoke, the Boat Group hit the beach wave after wave in a Well planned amphibious operation. . Having successfully undergone dress rehearsal, the Laboring Lady took her weary crew back to Pearl Harbor. On the way, the gunners pounded away at aerial targets once more. The Dutchess guaranteed to give any visit- ing Nips a'warm reception. Once moored to the dock, unloading was com- pleted, the loading ofthe next lift to the westward began. The word was flashed that the l0th Army had been successfully landed in the Ryukyu- Okinawa chain of islands. f ' Chapter IV 7 ' M oKlNAwA 'l ' While the 1000 tons of equipment was being stowed in the cargo holds, by ABBD stevedores and ship's company working together, the Dutchessmen learned that this was not a combat load and the H987 would be denied the experience of an assault landing. However, the Battle for Okinawa wasto be the longest sustained Amphibious Operation in history. lt would be neces- sary for echelon after echelon of APA's and AKA's to land more supporting, trolpps food and equipment. The Dutchess was to be a fraction of one of these SC e ons There was an enhanced sparkle of enthusiasm evidenced as officers and men attended various schools ashore-fl-'ire Fighting, Gunnery, Navigation, ns, etc., there was patient good humor displayed as they CIWSDIY the running rigging whenever the shore-side stevedores fouled UP- With cargo stowed below, the Dutchess' load of supporting personnel on embarkation 5 April, to be a heterogeneous group., The seven units comprised a total of 79 officers and 975 men? The Commanding of the largest, Headron 2 Clfeadquarters Squadron Marine A1rlW1ng 27, the Commanding Officer of troops including VMF 543 CMGIIHS Night Squadronl, Logistics Support Companies 9 and 52 lNaval Negro 3 for breakdown. V c 17 i M I were required to lower 27 boats the Chief B S '