LST (491) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 19 text:

OUR SHIP order of candy, cigarettes, etc. It was ia small one, but enough to go around for all. T We arrived at Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Decem- ber 2 and fueled, then proceeded to New Orleans and docked at Algiers Naval Station. In the afternoon the mast was erected, the ship placed in full Commission, and the Ensign hoisted. lfVe were now on our own. That afternoon we received the following draft of men from Solomons Maryland ATB: Brock, M. D., MOMM Zfcg Clark, R. P., SCQBQSXCQ Clark, W. J., BKRSXCQ Fox, B., STM2!cg Criep, R. G., Y3!cg Hadley, H. P., Slfcg Hilton, T., Flfcg Lovergine, P., S2!cg Mudd, O. O., S2!cg Smith, L. J., STM2fcg Suey, W., GM3!cg and Wilson, C. E., Coxwain. r Ensign Lloyd Moody, USNR, and his crew of twelve men also reported aboard to await the loading of the LCT 596. Mr. Moody was a line fellow and very popular with all who knew him. Our next few days were hectic ones. The workers from the shipyard seemed to pour aboard like a mass of ants. They had a great deal of work to finish that had not been completed at Evansville. On December 6, Norris, C., EM3!c reported aboard for duty and on the following day we received Ensign W. M. Boston and Ensign Danny Buterbaugh. On December 8, Brown, P. H., Coxwaing on December 9, Clifton, C. F., S2!c, and on December ll, Banford, Freddie, STM3!c and Antoine, O. A., STM3!c. On December 20, we were 7

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THE OL, DOUBLE TROUBLE Chancellor, F. E., MoMM2fc3 C0163 D-, Flfcs Cum- mings, L. M., Flfcg Dehler, N. A., S2!c3 Dickinson, A. C., S2!cg Durham, W. D., F2!cg Evans, E. W., Flfcg Fiorentino, B. J., Flfcg Fout, W. E., Slfcg Gundy, E., EM3!cg Jurusik, J., S2!cg Kalamain, M., S2!cg Kantner, M., S2!cg Katnik, W. M., S2!c3 Kessner, M., S2!cg Kolodziej, A. J., F3!cg Korb, R. L., S2fcg Kowing, R. L., Flfcg Lainas, T. G., F3fcg Larrissey, F., S2!cg Larson, P. B., S2!cg Layton, R., S2!cg Lee, G. L., S2!cg Lee, R. E., F2!cg Lewis, A. F., S2!cg Libold,.W. J., MoMM2!c, Loesch, H. H., S2fc, Loudon, W. A., S2!cg Lurty, YV. L., S2!cg Lynch, F. J., S2fcg MacDonald, G. L., S2!cg Mackey, T., S2!cg Manners, T., RM3!cg Mauro, B. T., S2!cg Novak, R., Flfcg Parnow, C., F2fcg Pyle, C. R., AS, Rinehart, C. C., F2fcg Rison, G., Flfcg Sullivan, J. F., QM2!cg Summers, H. C., S2!c3 Schrager, M., MoMM2!cg Sweeney, F. J., S2!cg Thompson, A., S2!cg lNade, E. F., Phm.2!cg Wasielewski, R. J., SC3!c, Wilson, W. C., SC1!cg Winfree, R. E., F2!cg and Winn, R. H. Flfc. XrVe also had aboard a nucleus Grew with Lt. R. C. Gerfen, USNR, acting as prospective Executive officer and Ensign R. Tuckwiller, USNR, as prospective First Lieutenant. On the following day, November 23, 1943, we sailed from Evansville, Indiana, down the Ohio River. The Coast Guard skeleton crew was responsible for piloting the ship safely to New Orleans. At night we would anchor as the fog was usually too thick for safe navigation. We anchored off Memphis, Tennessee one night and were able to obtain our first ship service 6 .

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. . AQ, , U J i run OL' DOUBLETROUBLE ip J haPPy to receive aboard Ensign M. H. Lininger,USNRQ. as he was to become our Disbursing Oflicer. His store- keepers, Parsons, R. P., SKl!c, Vrobel, R. V., SK2!c, and Whitcraft, J. R., SK2!c set up shop in a hurry and soon we were receiving our pay. Smith, M. J., STM2!c reported aboard on December 17. The day before- Christmas we received Heslin, J. C., Phm2! c, who later became our M.A.A., and McAlpine, J., Slfc a quarter- master striker. J On Christmas Eve we anchored down stream to await orders. The Captain and the Executive Oflicer went to the Federal Building for our orders. We had a Christmas tree on the Tank Deck and a great stack of gifts which had come from the American Red Cross. Each man received a black turtle neck sweater, a pair of gloves, a scarf, and a stocking cap. A carol-sing was held and everybody had a wonderful time. As this was the first Christmas away from home for many of the men aboard-their thoughts were with their loved ones back home. We had some excitement when the Cap- tain's boat returned. It had been raining all day, and late that evening it became very stormy. In attempting to tie-up the boat, Motor-Machinist's Mate Norton fell into the water, and Seaman Kantner fell in trying t0 rescue him. The boat was crashing against the side of the ship, and the ship was rolling slightly at anchor. It was quite a relief when we finally managed to haul the men aboard. Each man was clothed with heavy gear which made the rescue all the more difficult. 8