Gearing (DD 710) - Naval Cruise Book

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ENRQUTE... The word was passed, All lines clear, and the USS GEARINC was underway. The day was 8 Se tember 1964 and the crew was fille with mixed, emotions-some of the men were looking forward to the new and exciting adventures to be found on forei n soil, and others were saying a silent rayer that their families and sweethearts would ,be safe and cared for during our absence. The first month was spent entirely at sea in oint U.S.-Canadian operations in the North At- lantic and NATO operations in the Norwegian sea. We missed etting a blue nose for crossing the Arctic Circle gy less than 60 miles. During this underway period the boots were transformed into capable and reliable seamen. The daily routine was a concentrated dose of general quarters, refuelinlg, and highlining. The frinlge winds of Hurricane Et el and other rough weat er com- mon to the North Atlantic in the autumn rovided the new sailors a chance to et their sea llegs, and for the old salts to get theirsgback into shape after a summer of calm seas. Although spare time was almost nil, the er- sonal boredom of this time at sea was broken periodically b popcorn, movies, and bin o on the mess decks. Vfllhen we weren't refueling oniundays, there was time for prayer and meditation at divine services, conducted by a chaplain delivered by the Holly Helo from the carrier. any egos were boosted Qand some deflated, by the bear growing contest, won by Jim Renner, QMSN, over a lot of good competition. Operations Masterstroke and Teamwork were our prime concern, however, and as we crossed the Atlantic to join the Sixth Fleet in the Mediter- ranean we reflected that this was but a preparation for the real thing if it should ever be necessary, and at the end we knew we were repared. As we passed the rock of Gibraltar headlln for our first port, the Spanish vacation paradise ciPalma, Mal- orca, we also knew we had earned our liberty. DA YS AND A WAKE UP. W' There must be some white paint here somewhere!! X 3 Y 7 Ji ff., K All hands fall into quarters for leaving port i Lets just wait gee T ' We XA xiii 1 .1 -pg x A 4 -,fx f 1' .5 1 Sv sr ! , Q 3 .- 4. DESRON 20 - Arriving

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'Lf Eff- 11.4. 'N iff S 'Pk 11? pg... 4 ly. ,ii , . 2' D, 1, BAILEY, SH3 4- I' Melrose, M ass. W. Y. POORE, SN Colonial Heights, Va. l. ' JB B. ACOSTA, SN Philippine Is. R. L. COSTEN, SA Long Island, N. Y. i -2. . -1 s an Nbr, X.. 1-is R. R. MOORE, SKSN E. H. WHITE SN R BUESINK SN Mecklenburg, N. Y. Brooklyn, N. Y. J. Fredonia, N. No, I do NOT want any cameos, piano, transistor radios or gidunk...I do want my change...please. Absent: R. BLANKS, SD2 E. T. HAYNES, SD3 D. F. TEASE, SH3 I. C. RUBEL, CS3 T. V. MOFFITT, CS1 R. G. GASPAR, TN M. M. ZARRA, TN W. R. CLARE, SN O. POWELL, SN R. M. LAFLUER, SN J. S. CORBIN, SN D. A. DECARLO, SN W. G. HULL, SN P I ff 1. vb 1 L. PADRO, SN New York, N. Y. ,,,! R. DE LAS ALAS, TN Philippine Is. W. C. HULL, SA Philadelphia, Penn.

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i' 7? ,. 'A' ?l1'iis 'rl 'L' X-...I ,, I X f K J U I A 9 X . t SEREN0 Qrunner-upjg BAILEY gmost unusualjg RENNERQwinner jg COLE Q est effortj. And they said I was too OLD to grow a beard . Q ff 'KKK-, ,411 5,1 Divine services 1 3 DITIW N T E T K 4 A month to grow it and all I get is S5 fn I I I wouldn't call it Blackmail, Commander Norm al underway routine X ' 1 v vfy l ,-QQ ' V 1 Y I