Halsey (CG 23) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 98 of the 1977 volume:

AND NOW THE OLD SHIPS AND THEIR MEN ARE GONE; THE NEW SHIPS AND THE NEW MEN, MANY OF THEM BEARING THE OLD AUSPICIOUS NAMES, HAVE TAKEN UP THEIR WATCH ON THE STERN AND IMPARTIAL SEA. WHICH OFFERS NO OPPORTUNITIES BUT TO THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO GRASP THEM WITH A READY HAND AND UNDAUNTED HEART. JOSEPH CONRAD, 1857-1924 THE COMMANDING OFFICER UNITED STATES SHIP HALSEY (CG - 23) The established record of accomplishment by a combatant ship depends largely upon two factors. The first is the individual effort of each man in his own particular field or speciality. The second is the capability of all men assigned to function well together in a team effort to effect maximum efficiency of the ship and its installed systems. HALSEYMEN, during the cruise depicted in this book, have performed most admirably in both areas. The ship ' s record attests to that. I have been personally pleased and profes- sionally proud to serve with what I consider the finest ship ' s crew ever. Of vital importance to men at sea is the support they must have from families and friends in terms of love, affection and understanding. We in HALSEY have received this support to the fullest. It is to these fine men — these HALSEYMEN — that this book is dedicated as a testament that service to one ' s country can be performed with pride and a sense of important accom- plishment. My sincere WELL DONE for a record of achievement second to none. S. J. HOSTETTLER Captain, U. S. Navy FLEET ADMIRAL WILLIAM HALSEY, JR., U. S. NAVY Fleet Admiral Halsey was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, 30 October 1882, the son of Captain William F. Halsey, U. S. Navy, and Anne Brewster Halsey. He was appointed to the U. S. Naval Academy in 1900 and graduated in February 1904. After graduation. Admiral Halsey served in many capacities ranging from Naval Attache to Ship Commands. Much of his early career during and subsequent to World War I was devoted to commanding destroyers. In 1935 at the age of 52 he won his wings and was designated a Naval Aviator. The succeeding years brought to the forefront his time-tested command abilities and saw Admiral Halsey commanding first the USS SARATOGA and later the South Pacific Force and South Pacific Area where he doggedly set about and succeeded in routing enemy forces from Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands. In June 1944, Admiral Halsey assumed command of the Third Fleet and was designated Commander of the Western Pacific Task Force. Beginning in August 1944, his forces left a trail of enemy ruin and destruction in Palaus, Philippines, Formosa, Okinawa and the South China Sea and decisively defeated enemy sea and air force operations in the Western Carolines and the Philippine Islands. In the final phases of the war in the Pacific, Admiral Halsey ' s Third Fleet participated in the Okinawa Campaign, and later his Fast Carrier Task Forces proceeded northward and struck at Tokyo in July 1945. On August 29, 1945, Admiral Halsey, flying his flag in the USS MISSOURI, entered Tokyo Bay. The following day. General of the Army Douglas McArthur arrived in Yokohama and on September 1, 1945 aboard the USS MISSOURI, the formal surrender of the Japanese Imperial Government was signed. In November 1945 Admiral Halsey relinguished Command of the Third Fleet which had exemplified his slogan Hit hard, hit fast, hit often. Fleet Admiral Halsey retired from active duty in December 1946. Admiral Halsey died in 1959 and was buried with full military honors on 20 August in Arlington National Cemetery. GOODBYE SAN DIEGO I SOMETIMES WONDER WHY MEN GO DOWN TO THE SEA, STANDING LONG WATCHES UNDERWAY AND BEING SEPARATED INDEFINITELY FROM THEIR LOVED ONES. PERHAPS THERE IS AT THE BOTTOM A SECRET ROMANTICISM; A LINGERING MEMORY OF YOUTH ' S DELIGHT IN SHIPS AND FLAGS AND BOS ' UN ' S PIPES. BUT MORE LIKELY IT IS A SENSE OF DUTY; THE ZEST OF A MAN TO WHOM THIS JOB NEVER GROWS DULL; A DRAMA INFINITLY SURPRISING, AMUSING AND, AT TIMES, HEROIC. THE SEA, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, IS NOT LIFE IN MINIATURE, REDUCED TO ITS LOWEST TERMS, BUT LIFE MAGNIFIED ENORMOUSLY WITH THE PROMISE OF ADVENTURE AT EVERY TURN OF THE COMPASS NEEDLE. HALSEY ' S NUMBER WHAT? HE ' LL BE OKAY. I KNOW HE WILL. A TASTE OF HONEY. LOOK MA. THE KCBQ CHICKEN. so LONG TURKEYS. I ' LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU. 96 TEARS. ,? ' ' i MAY THE DAYS PASS QUICKLY. PUT YOUR HEAD ON MY SHOULDER. CHANGE OF COMMAND IT HAS BEEN AN EXTREME PLEASURE TO SERVE ABOARD SUCH A FINE SHIP. ) I AM PROUD TO ASSUME COMMAND. I STAND RELIEVED. 1 f . .V:LiT_. ;-.:■. J „ V : r-  tp, ' ' -_i-=Zt=T . HALSEY WILL ALWAYS BE THE FINEST SHIP IN THE PACIFIC FLEET. 12 FOOD, MORE FOOD. IT ' S MINE. ALL MINE. I WILL NOT CALL YOU STEVIE WONDER. I WILL NOT CALL YOU STEVIE WONDER. I WILL NOT CALL 13 WESTPAC WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK AND MANY, MANY LONG HOURS. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO LET OURSELVES GO. WE HAD COOKOUTS, PIZZA NIGHT, BASKIN-ROBBINS NIGHT, WATCHED MOVIES, TELEVISION OR LISTENED AND WATCHED BAD BOB AND HIS BEVY OF BEAUTIES. WHAT EVER IT WAS, WE RELAXED AND ENJOYED OUR TIME OFF AS ONLY WE KNEW HOW. 14 BANG. BANG. LONG WATCH. WHAT CAN I EAT NEXT? MERRY CHRISTMAS? MUSCLE BEACH? ON THE BLUE RIDGE WE. I VANT TO BITE YOUR NECK. 17 EASY, YOU ' RE ROCKING THE 4 BOAT. M. PAINT, PAINT, PAINT. WHAT ARE THEY PASSING OUT? TELLY CRAW OR BILL KOJAK? DA BULL. KEEP SIMMONS OUT OF MY PLATE. MORE GREASE. COUGH, CHOKE. FORGOT THE CHEESE. YOU LIKE MY CURLY HAIR DOC? 19 COOKOUTS r WA-LA 20 c o M B A T S Y S T E M S V Gunner ' s Mate (GM) THE COMBAT SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING ALL WEAPONS SYSTEMS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. THIS DEPARTMENT ENSURES THAT THE SHIP ' S GUNS, MISSILES AND ANTI-SUBMARINE WEAPONS ARE MAINTAINED AT A HIGH MATERIAL CONDITION OF READINESS. TO FURTHER ENSURE THIS READINESS THE PRESENT COMBAT SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT WAS FORMED BY COMBINING THE TRADITIONAL WEAPONS DEPARTMENT WITH THE DS AND ET RATINGS THAT WERE FORMERLY PART OF THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT, AND IT ALSO TOOK IN THE IC RATING THAT WAS FORMERLY PART OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. THIS ARRANGEMENT WAS DEVISED ACCORDING TO A CONCEPT OF SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT. IT CONSOLIDATES BOTH ELECTRONIC AND WEAPONS SUBSYSTEMS INTO ONE DEPARTMENT TO MINIMIZE SUPERVISORY PROBLEMS PREVIOUSLY ENCOUNTERED WHEN THESE SUBSYSTEMS EXISTED AS PART OF SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS. IT MUST WORK. THE SHIP HAS WON THREE CONSECUTIVE BATTLE EFFICIENCY AWARDS. Fire Control Technician (FT) Sonar Technician (ST) Torpedoman ' s Mate (TM) Electronic Warfare Technician (EW) Data Systems Technician (DS) Electronics Technician (ET) Interior Communications Electrician (IC) A S W 22 29 iU W.lf r f T iL I 30 E N G I N E E R I N G 0% Machinist ' s Mate (MM) Engineman (EN) 1 THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS THE SHIP ' S MAIN PROPULSION SYSTEM, ITS HULL, ITS COMPLEX ELECTRONICAL SYSTEMS AND AUXILARY SYSTEMS THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE EQUIPMENT Boiler Technician|j AND SUBSYSTEMS OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS. ' ENGINEERING ALSO PROVIDES THOSE COMMODITIES 4 Sf e WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL IjlMllL BEING OF THE CREW, SUCH AS FRESH WATER, AIR Vjlggj CONDITIONING, HEAT AND LIGHTING. 3 Electrician ' s MAINTAINING A HIGH CONDITION OF MATERIAL Mate (EM) READINESS HAS DEFINITELY BEEN ENGINEERING ' S KEYNOTE THROUGH THE YEARS AS A HISTORY OF ACHIEVEMENT PROVES. IN THE PAST SIX YEARS, THIS DEPARTMENT HAS MADE A HABIT OF PASSING THE MOST DEMANDING INSPECTIONS WITH FLYING Hull Maintenance COLORS. Technician (NT V (Or Machinery Repairman (MR) ! ' i 35 p jffl y _..-, . I 1 M M tk jyi fs At t . i J B ' ifl Wm  v i; ' L, 1 ill J fk ...J 1 36 38 o p E R A T I O N S Operations Specialist (OS) THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PHASES OF SHIP ' S OPERATIONS. USING COMPLEX RADAR AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT. THESE MEN PROVIDE THE COMMAND WITH ESSENTIAL DECISIONS AND KEEP THE SHIP IN CONTACT WITH THE FLEET AND THE REST OF THE WORLD. THE DECK DIVISION FURTHER ENSURES HALSEY ' S ABILITY BY MANTAINING ALL TACKLE, MOORING LINES, ANCHORS AND SHIP ' S BOATS. Radioman (RM) Signalman (SM) Boatswain ' s Mate (BM) 41 MWM 47 s u p p L Y THE SUPPLY DEPARTMENT PROVIDES THE SERVICE AND MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR THE SHIP. THESE MEN PREPARE HUNDREDS OF MEALS DAILY, KEEP TRACK OF THOUSANDS OF CRITICAL SPARE PARTS, MANAGE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PAYROLLS AS WELL AS OPERATING A BARBERSHOP, LAUNDRY AND SHIP ' S STORE. Storekeeper (SK) Mess Management Specialist (MS) X Ship ' s Service- man (SH) Disbursing Clerk (DK) 48 50 N A V I G A T I O N A D M I N Quartermaster (QM) y Yeoman (YN) Postal Clerk (PC) THE NAVIGATION AND ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT IS MADE UP OF MEN FROM VARIOUS RATINGS. THEIR JOB IS NAVIGATING THE SHIP AS WELL AS HANDLING SHIP ' S BUSINESS, MAINTAINING PERSONNEL RECORDS AND PROVIDING MEDICAL ATTEN- TION, MAIL AND CAREER COUNSELING FOR THE CREW. Personnelman (PN) Journalist (JO) I: Navy Counselor (NC)| Master-at-Arms (MA) 52 Hospital Corpsman (HM) 53 DO NOT CHOOSE TO BE A COMMON MAN IT IS MY RIGHT TO BE UNCOMMON. ...IF I CAN I SEEK OPPORTUNITY, NOT SECURITY. I DO NOT WISH TO BE A KEPT CITIZEN, HUMBLED AND DULLED BY HAVING THE STATE LOOK AFTER ME. I WILL NOT TRADE FREEDOM FOR BENEFICENCE, NOR MY DIGNITY FOR A HANDOUT. I WILL NEVER COWER BEFORE ANY MASTER NOR BEND TO ANY THREAT. I WILL JUDGE EACH MAN AS A MAN AND HIS MIND AS HIS OWN. I WANT TO TAKE THE CALCULATED RISK; TO DREAM AND TO BUILD; TO SUCCEED AND TO FAIL I REFUSE TO BARTER INCENTIVE FOR DOLE. I PREFER THE CHALLENGE OF LIFE, TO A GUARANTEED EXISTENCE; THE THRILL OF FULFILLMENT, TO THE STATE CALM OF UTOPIA. IT IS MY HERITAGE TO STAND ERECT, PROUD AND UNAFRAID; TO THINK AND ACT FOR MYSELF; ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF MY CREATION AND FACE THE WORLD BOLDLY AND SAY; I HAVE DONE ALL THIS. .1 - 56 KEVIN L. KELLY 1955-1977 NATHAN MITCHELL GUERRERO 1956-1977 IN MEMORIAM V 41 58 59 t 60 61 62 HAWAII CAME, HER RISING VOLCANIC HILLS DARK AND BRITTLE ON THE HORIZON. WE WALKED BENEATH THE SPATTERED SUNLIGHT OF HFR PALMS, SINKING OUR STEPS IN HER SOFT WARM BEACHES. 64 65 66 JAPAN AS BEST WE COULD, WE HAD OUR CHRISTMAS TEN THOUSAND MILES FROM HOME. WE DID HAVE HELP THOUGH MAIL CALL, WITH ITS PROMISE OF PRESENTS FROM OUR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES; THE SMALL, BUT PROUD, CHRISTMAS TREES THAT DOTTED OUR LIVING SPACES ABOARD SHIP; BEING IN PORT. ALL OF THESE HELPED, FOR WE KNEW THAT MANY SAILORS, LESS FORTUNATE THAN WE, HERALDED THE COMING OF THIS SILENT NIGHT ON DARK AND FORLORN WATERS. BUT WE MISSED YOU AND IN DOING SO, LOST OURSELVES AMIDST THE SEASONAL PAGEANTRY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE AMIDST THE TINY STREETS, CHOKED WITH SHOPS AND STAND BARS MAKING US REALIZE THAT IN THIS VERY MIDST OF THE NEW, THE OLD SURVIVES, GIVING JAPAN THE DISTINCT QUALITY THAT HAS ALWAYS FASCINATED WESTERN MAN. BOUNDED BY THE SEA, SHE WAS OUR GATEWAY TO THE ORIENT. JAPAN, THAT MAGICAL, MODERN MISTRESS OF THE FAR EAST WAS REFUGE FOR THE CHIRSTMAS HOLIDAYS. A PLACE TO ESCAPE FROM THE WORLD OF THE SEA. WE DWELLED AMONG HER PEOPLE, WE SHARED HAPPINESS AND SORROW. FROM THE CRAFTSMAN SHOPS, TINY STREETS AND GLITTERING LIGHTS TO THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF TOKYO, WE CAME, WE SAW, WE LIVED AND WE ENJOYED AND WERE A WHOLE LOT RICHER WHEN WE LEFT FOR HAVING BEEN THERE. 67 68 69 70 71 s u B I c B A Y 72 MPW WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES, YOU ARE AMONG FRIENDS. FILIPINOS ARE GENERALLY A KIND AND GENTLE PEOPLE. THEY WILL WELCOME YOU AS A NEW FRIEND AND DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME IN THEIR COUNTRY. IN THE PHILIPPINES YOU WILL FIND AN ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE MIXTURE OF ASIAN CULTURES. AND MANY REMINDERS OF HOME. DURING OUR STAY THERE WE HELPED PAINT AND REPAIR THE NEGRITOS SCHOOL IN NEW CABALON AND THE POPE JOHN XXIII CENTER FOR ORPHANS AND UNWED MOTHERS IN OLONGAPO CITY. 73 74 K HONG N G WHERE CASTLED CLOUDS. BLOWN IN FROM THE SEA. STAND GUARD ATOP THE DARK EMERALD PEAKS, WHERE ONE OF THE WORLDS MOST FASCINATING NATURAL HARBORS. A FLOATING CITY IN ITSELF. PROTECTS VESSELS OF EVERY IMAGIN- ABLE TYPE. WHERE EAST AND WEST COLLIDE: THE OLD AND THE NEW. --LAND PEOPLE ' ' AND -WATER PEOPLE ' . RICH AND DESTITUTE. MYSTERIOUS AND ADVENTUROUS. WE WERE THERE AS PART OF THE MYSTERY FOR A BRIEF MOMENT IN HISTORY. 75 76 77 I ; . Jh 78 K O R E A OUR VISIT TO PUSAN, A CITY LOCATED ALONG A DEEP, WELL SHELTERED HARBOR AT THE SOUTHEASTERN TIP OF KOREA. IT IS ALSO 200 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SEOUL. JAPAN IS ONLY 120 MILES AWAY. PUSAN IS A CENTER OF FISHING AND FISH PROCESSING. BEING A LARGE SHELTERED BAY IT ALSO HAS EXTENSIVE SHIPBUILDING AND SHIP REPAIR FACILITIES. DURING PART OF THE KOREAN WAR IT SERVED AS THE TEMPORARY CAPITAL OF SOUTH KOREA. 79 81 I ' VE GOT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM 82 ALL I CAN SEE IS WATER 83 84 9 89 ARE WE THAT CLOSE TO OMAHA? 91 r ' HOMEWARD BOUND RED RIGHT RETURNING SIX MONTHS OF DEPRIVATION SERVE NAUGHT BUT PARCH ONE ' S THROAT AND BURNING IMPRINT BRAND UPON ONES MIND TO MARK THE LOSS OF MUCH HE FELT HE OWNED SO WE ' VE RETURNED. THE WATER HERE IS MURKY NOW, ITS HUE AND CHILL A SOMBER STAGE FOR THE COLOR AND THE WARMTH THAT WAIT AT HARBORS EDGE. THESE LOWLY DEPTHS AS I GAZE DOWN LIE AT THE FEET OF HAPPY THRONGS THOSE JOYFUL ONES, ON BOARD AND BEACH, WILL NOT BE STAYED BY SUCH A TIDE, FOR THEY ARE TIDES TODAY! IT ' S THEY WHO SURGE TO FILL THE BREECH AS STEEL AND PIER DO TOUCH TWO WAVES, EMOTIONED PEAKED, THAT MEET A TRANQUIL SEA PROVIDE, AND SLOWLY EBB FROM HERE TOWARD HOME. i -  ?• V '  • -•? l m lirt. 94 95 CREDITS GMT-1 BOB BECK, EDITOR LT. JENSEN • LTJG STRIZICH DS3 LONGMIRE STGC MIMS GMTSN FARRIS J03 PALERMO DS2 WILLIAMS RMC FARNSWORTH SN BATCHELDER GMG3 MOLL RMSN ACOSTA DS1 JESTER BUT MOST OF ALL fO THE HALSEY CREW, FOR WITHOUT THEM THIS- BOOK WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. « —— I AND NOW THE OLD SHIPS AND THEIR MEN ARE GONE; THE NEW SHIPS AND THE NEW MEN, MANY OF THEM BEARING THE OLD AUSPICIOUS NAMES, HAVE TAKEN UP THEIR WATCH ON THE STERN AND IMPARTIAL SEA, WHICH OFFERS NO OPPORTUNITIES BUT TO THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO GRASP THEM WITH A READY HAND AND UNDAUNTED HEART. JOSEPH CONRAD, 1857-1924