Leonard Mason (DD 852) - Naval Cruise Book

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It 2ND DIVISION BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Sineath. J. J., SN; Talley. E. P., GMSN; Roberson. J. R SN- Lewis, R. A., SN; Thompson. F. D., SN; Mahan. J. J., SN; Barman, R. S., SN; Duncan F k ' . c ; - ■ ■■J ' ' ' ' ' y- - ' •■ Marroquin, C, SN. MIDDLE ROW: Mikkelson, j ' a GM3; S.okes, W. T.. BM3; Hooser. M. L.. BM2; Ens. I. P. Compau; Piper, P. A., GMC- Hh,: T;. u ■ ' • ' - - - - ° - - L- GM3. FRONT ROW: Cushenberry H H GM3; Hunsucker H. T., SN; Adams, R. W.. SN; Yancey, C. D., GMSN; Erwin. R. E.. ' sN- l ' ' .or., J - ' - °- - ' ' ■ ' °y ' ' - • ' ■■■ S ' ' ' ° - T. R.. SN. ABSENTEES: Pills J A., BM2; Dull. W. P., SN; MetcaH. J. R., SN; Gapen. R. L., SN. SECOND X Aft of frame 110 is the mystic world of the 2nd Division, made up of gunner ' s mates and deck force: a httle of both. Together they handled the after fueling station or after replenishment staion when loading stores or ammo underway. The GM ' s maintained the 3 battery. Their day was one of hydraulics, loading hoppers and magazine temp- eratures. The consistency of MASON ' s anti-aircraft gunnery performance during the cruise was partially accounted for by the high grade of operational readi- ness evidenced by the gun batteries. For the deck force, the soothing tones of the leading boatswain ' s mate, pleading with them to bare a hand, often began days in the musk of dawn and ended them in the fire of a WESTPAC sunset. These days were productive in both noise from chipping hammers and the peculiar complexity of the rope de- signs which confronted MASON sailors attempting to cross a freshly painted area. But deck was not without honor, for if a snipe dained to lift his head he would periodically see the atmospheric exhaust of No. 2 stack getting a sloshing of bright red. In Kaoshiung — The second division ' s favorite pastime. Long GM3. Lunch hours relaxation 14

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u h t 1 ' ' , ' . . f f ' f ' .. ' !?f ■0 ' •» ' • ' ' ♦ !S ' 1. ' ' •ip Ui H R. D.. SO; Yates, J. D SA Olsen R W FT1 7 ' o ' , °c A ' ° - °- ' •• f ; ReiUy. ROW: Horan, A. M., FT2 Sonqer ' G c O, r !. ' ' W ' ' ?° ' °- «- 03. FRONT Stowe, W., SOC; Czapiewski ? L TM2 M if ' n o r ' - ' ' •■ ' G Marshall; Q FOX Underwater noises, ordnance control equipment and water-borne weapons are the particular care of the Foxtrot Division Quarters and underway highline ransfer find the division working as an entity; at other times they are scattered from the firing circuits of Mt. i to the depth charge release tracks on the fantail The tire controlmen perch on the main battery director gloating over their E while the sonarmen day dream n lower sound of the imaginary E emblazoned on the outside of the Sonar dome. The torpedomen constantly ready fish for firing and recovery; unseen hands constantly prevent the fish from leavmg their tubes. From the sonar spaces come on hp r ? yawning SO ' s. after a six hour watch on the r peculiar type of hi-fi . Some say that fire control is. coffee control but the ragged red sleeveJ TelstFTTar e OK ' ° — ' Scratch one sub or nineteen fish 16