LST (491) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE OL' DOUBLE TROUBLE November 22. When the Executive officer read this dispatch to the crew everybody just. about went wild with joy. This meant 16 more days at home before the long voyage was to begin. 4

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THE CREW FORMS On Saturday, October 23 we were to report to Great Lakes. As we passed through the huge gates at the main entrance, we were impressed by the beauty and size of this station, one of our greatest Naval Insti- tutions. We lost no time in getting started to work. An Aircraft recognition class was held that afternoon. We reported for duty to the Anti-Aircraft Training Center and had two weeks of intensive training in small arms, the twenty and forty milimeter, the thirty and fifty caliber machine guns and the 1.1 pom-poms. Certainly the man in the most unforgettable character class was Chief Gunner's Mate jim Helwig. We all were impressed with his fiery pep talks and his efficient management of the range. On November 3 we all were invited to the little Chapel on the base to see Lt. Bob Dickinson get married, and after the wedding to the reception at Building :lil l. 'WVasy and Bob Dick- inson's sister were really cuttin' the rug with their jitter- buggin. They danced so fast that the evening gown gave way, up the side. While at Great Lakes we saw several good movies and enjoyed the happy hour programs which were under the direction of Eddie Peabody. Our gunnery training was completed on November 3, and so for the next few days while awaiting orders we had some in- struction in rough and tumble by one of the Chief Specialists. On Saturday, November 6, a dispatch was received stating that our ship was not yet ready and that all hands were to be detached and ordered to delay reporting to the shipyard in Evansville, Indiana until 3

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5' V I' ' . Y A . 2 Our Ship On November 22 we met the LST 491 for the first time. We were all very excited as this was the start of a new experience g this ship was to be our home for how long we did not know. The 491 was the first of the 491-542 six davit LST's, built by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company at Evansville, Indiana. The LST 492 was berthed just astern and we got to know Lt. Pappy Newman, the skipper, and his crew. The 491 was placed in reduced commission on November 23, 1943 with the following Officers and crew aboard, as yet still in a passenger status: Lieutenant R. E. Fahnestock, USNR, Commanding Oflicerg Lieu- tenant W. M. Hemphill, USNR, Executive Officer, Lt. C. E. Stoker, USNR, Engineering Officer, Ensign J. W. Knox, USNR, Communications Ofhcerg Ensign L. Sil- verstein, Jr., USNR, First Lieutenant, Ensign R. M. Dickinson, USNR, Gunnery Officer, Ensign W. T. Baker, USNR, Stores Officer. The following men were in the crew: Adams, RM Sfcg Aldrich, RM Sfcg Andria, J. F .,'S2fc5 Anderson, G., S2!cg Berger, F., Flfcg Blake- slee, D. W., MoMMf2c3 Bradley, W. E., GM3!cg Calla- ghan, J. J., Slfcg Callahan, P. H., F2!cg Causey, J. M. R., F2fc, Clark, T. B., F2!cg Ciccone, J-, 5M3fC3 5