La Salle (LPD 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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-1 n- - ' V A ,Q4 .,-,,,.,-,-,Munn ,. , , ,, . , R Di kion SFC H. Roberts WO1 C. L. DINKINS REPAIR OFFICER h I DCl W. Burgund SPANKY AND HIS GANG. SF1 J. Hulett SF1 G. Propst SF1 R. Retelle SF1 J. Reynolds DC2 J. Brown DCZ R. Ingrum DCZ L. Lehman SFMZ C. Warley SFP3D- Cannon DC3 N- Fuller DC3 R- Gillespie SFM L. Pfaffer SFP3 J. Toles SFPFN M. Helfter SFMFN D, Laconre

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w E f ,,, FN W. Finney FN J. Holden FN L. Hoover FN R. Laesser FN P. Marianni FN Cv. Oliver FN J, Poirier SIMMONS, THROTTLEMANQ HOW THEY MAKE 'EM RUN. FN A. Potts FN J. Procaccino FN K. Short FN J. Symons FN V. Thomas FN R. Waters

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One. could say that preparations for our Med deployment was an intense job of equipping and training, but no one knows this better than R Division. Many long and extra hours were put into preparing Marine spaces and our own for this deployment. After many hours of preparation a cruise sounded like a rest and vacation. To some it was an escape from an over-anxious girl friend, but to others it was duty, and absence from family. The cruise went over smooth and we began to develop the at-ease attitude, but excitement began to stir when our Frenchman, ' 'Lt 'L Peanut was called to the bridge to assist the pilot in Toulon, France. For Peanut it was a fright, and navigation something new to a shipfitter. The results bore one hole -and some extra un- anticipated work. The blame was on no one, just poor com- munications, but our Lt 'L Peanut became his fame and fortitude. Again the R Division was called away to replace a section of our hull, which extracted much of their liberty. This drew the interest of our ex-Captain, H.L. Matthews,Jr., who for three days and nights walked a path into the pier while looking on at our men in action. Once the job was completed, the R Division made its way beachward to scoff up all the booze and girls they could find. It has often been said that LaSalle's capabilities are second to none, but without the R Division aboard, this statement would and could never have been made. This division has repeatedly repaired embarked boats, kept the piping functioning, innumerable repair jobs of every nature including an act of mercy on the Grant County's causeway. - DUTCHMAN'S GOLD. T It seems that during an operation the Old Bucket lost its causeway and here we go again to the rescue. At two o'clock one morning the R Division manned the ballast detail to retrieve one slightly mangled causeway which was only the beginning. After fetching it from the sea, the R Division supered as a tender to repair and return it to its rightful owner. In liberty ports, the duck or tourists became our refuge on many occasions, whereby we would take as many tours as possible. Taking these tours wasn't entirely for getting a break from our everyday routine. No, some of us just wanted to say we saw something in the Med besides the bars. The division thoroughly enjoyed whatever liberty was received and left many new acquaintances with a lasting impression. Cameras were everywhere we libertied, es- pecially with ' ' Lemo . Everywhere he went, people got the impression that he was Mr. Kodak . Everyone bought souvenirs and fcoins?2, but photography seemed to rate number one in every port of call. To R Division, one memorable experience occurred one brisk day in December, during our port visit in Naples, when Mr. Dinkins arrived. From every corner in R Division one could hear gasps of fear. Yes, we all felt a change coming on and that it would be an adjustment and a half to make. He arrived and shook his head, and said, God, what a job I'll have here! ' Liberty wasn't R Division's only thrill, you could witness in our work, the pride and ability each of these men have. Our operations went successfully because the -division was on its toes and had the ' ' can do attitude. A WO1 DINKINS SPOT LECTURE. FN iyvl MB:-xkerr SN R Mcfluaid FN R. Pietrowski. FN R. Svoboda FN N. Thompson FN T. Chenel FR G. Sullivan 'N i I 4 l E i E 2 1 1 K l 1 i l 1 I I v K X I 1 4 4