Napa (APA 157) - Naval Cruise Book

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?i1-At Ibimion FIRST ROW, left to right: Reed, J. M., Cox, Dearen, R. P., Cox., Fowler, W. D., Cox., Staubitz, G. F., GM2c, Edmonds, J. J., Cox., Carpenter, G., Cox., Hammergren, H. J.. GM3c, Johnson, H. V., GM2c, Montgomery, C. E., BM1c, Meeks, W. L., Cox., Earl, D. C., Cox., Neustedt, A. W., Cox., Tate, T. C., GM3c, Jenkins, J. L., GM3c, Hamilton, J. D., Cox., Greer, J. M., Cox. SECOND ROW, left to right: Moody, D. W., S2c, Doolan, R. A., Slcg Barnett, W. F S2c, Downing, J. D., Slc, Bishop, W. C., S-2c, Query, E. C., Slc, Brooks, J. H., S1c, Gomez, R., Slcg Robin, J. J., Slcg Duncan, D. K., S2c, Ranczka, W. A., Slc, Saari, H. J. A., Slc, Townsend, A. L., Slc, Eldridge, B. W., S1c, Fellhauer, E. G., Slc. THIRD ROW, left to right: Mancillas, P., Slc, Hebert, H. L., Slc, Florence, J. H., S1c, Jensen, J. C., Slc, Collier, R. T., Slc, Williams, R. C., S2c, Babbitt, E. P., Slc, Hall J. E., S2c, Perrault, T. A., Slc, Swearingen, J. H., S1c, Fleming, W. E., Slc, Romine L. A., Slc, Brown, T., Slc, Potz, J. R., Slc, Schlutter, E. A., Slcg Lexow, C. R., S2c, Hennessey, J. A., Slc, Dykes, W. L., Slc, Chavez, E. L., Slc. FOURTH ROW, left to right: Gebhardt, D. F., Ens., Strand, H. K., Ens., Alexander B. G., Slc, Norberg, C. W., S1c, Dutton, E. H., S1c, Swank, L. D., Slc, Ross, E. A., S1c, Harless, G. H., Slc, Spoor, C. G., Slc, Brand, J. W., Slc, Williford, R. G., S2c, Cope land, J. W., S2c, Pertl, C. S., Slcg Fell, W. D., Slc, Gregory, A. D., Slcg Pecchio, F. Slc, Pantet, E. C., Slc, Fitzgerald, T. W., CBM, Piper, C. F., Ens., McCutcheon, W. C. Lt. Cjgl . Not in picture: Jensen, R. R., GM3c, Francis, E. R., Slc. 7 7 9

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7 JUNE 1944-At the Oregon Shipyards, Portland, Oregon, was laid the keel for Kaiser Hull No. 1107, a Vic- tory Ship, designated Hull No. V-123 in the United States Maritime Commission emergency shipbuilding pro- gram. Leased by the Navy, this hull was converted dur- ing construction to become the attack transport, V APA 157, named U.S.S. Napa after Napa County, California. . xl, E .-.QQ ,f .T ,pe ?il'A f billidivn ORE CAPTAlN'S Masts can be claimed by no other division than that occupying the ufront porchi' of the ship. As our name infers, we are first in every- thing from chow line in Mr. Ballard's uweevil shop to leaning over the side in a heavy sea. Under the watchful eye of Chief Bosn's Mate Fitzgerald, HUSN-silly man, numbers one and two hatches operate comparably to the smoothness of a HP boat in a typhoon. Our four uwhip-crackersf' three ensigns and a -one short of a full house-work with us side by side fwe by the side of the hatch and they by the side of the ujoe pot in the wardroomj. Chipping paint may be a task for some divisions, but to us it means that our HSimon Legreen-like officers can't hit the rack because of the incessant staccato rap of our woodpecker-like chipping hammers. Perhaps cleaning heads and scuttlebutts is essen- tial to the protection of our home-land, maybe streaming paravanes and piloting liberty boats did win the warg but why must we stand gun watches when if the enemy attacks we umake smokew? Home was never like this, but who wants to go home when we can see the enchanted islands of the South Pacific, the strange mysteries of the far east, the beauty and friendliness of the oriental girl? Furthermore, each successive month out here adds one quarter point to our scores--not that we want a discharge, because we are all Wfwenty-yeari' men. Yes indeed! two years in the navy and eighteen years on leave! 6 ,,

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-, f ..,g- .. ,,Qfs. ...rc M 28 JUNE 19441-Ensign J. J. Burke, USNR, was joined at the APA Precom- missioning School fstill un- commissionedj , Seattle, Washington, by Ensign J. E. Shiffler and Lt. H. G. Carpenter, Jr. They, how- ever, did not prevent him starting to worry on behalf of the Napa and her crew, themajority of whom at this time iwere still in training in boot camps all over the country. Secvnd biaJiAion THE Second Division, otherwise known as the f6Forced Labor Battalion, works from dawn 'til far into the night in an honest endeavor to furnish potatoes, spam, and other choice delicacies under adverse conditions for the ship's larder-otherwise known as Number Four Hold. Number Four Hatch is used as a parking lot for any Mlibertyw boats which are in need of repair. Repairs may be defined as anything from replac- ing missing hand tools, to major overhaul, or the udeep sixf, The doughty 66Second,' is really a ver- satile crew. A certain bosin, inspired by their low- ering and raising of boats, began writing an article entitled HThe Art of Boathandlingi' or HWh0 Knocked the Hole in the Captainis Gig?,' They are really proud of the fact that they have occupied compartment 305 since the ship first went into commission for it is really one of our choicest living spaces. Sandwiched between the bake shop, the evaporators, and the engine room, the heating problem is simplified. The men say it reminds them of perpetual summer in the Sahara or the HBlack Hole of Calcuttaw! . The exclusive uCoffee Clubf' a recent innovation in the division, has been uclamped down on by the OPA. Having been away from the States for so long, it is essential to our physical and spiritual well-being that we have some artificial stimulant at least twice a day. The division is not without labor problems. The ship was forced to use Chinese volunteers for ship- ping the deck when the members of the United Paint Chippers of America, Napa Local 157, issued an ultimatum demanding longer handles on their chip- ping hammers. This would put them farther away from their work. The demands were rejected by the union president, stating that the strikers were a bunch of chiselers. The MSecond is as hardy a crew as ever answered to the battle cry of uSweepers, Start Your Brooms. 8