Napa (APA 157) - Naval Cruise Book

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f Third bia7iAivn FIRST ROW, left to right: Flores, L. Slcg Ramsey, B. A., GM3cg Dacanay, F. A., CM2cg Root, K. A., Slcg Phillips, R. W., Slc. SECOND Row, left to fight: Hannes, C. W., Slcg Root, W. J., Slcg Flores C. R., Slc, Rouse, G. E., Chief Bos'n Mate, Danzero, A. E., Lt., Smoot, P. Lt. fjgi g McDaniel, E. S., Ens.g Kolos, A. S., BM2cg Brewster, B. C., GM1cg Winken, C. D., Cox., Reid, E. B., GM3c. . THIRD ROW, left to right: Temple, R. E., Cox., Terry, B. J., Slcg Little E. E., Slcg Evers, V. O., Slcg DeLeon, D. M., S203 Robichaux, E. J., Slcg Holmes, H. H., Slcg Longfellow, L. A., Slcg Payne, E. L., Cox., Sadovich J. D., Cox. FOURTH ROW, left to right: Dodds, R. L., Slcg Holmes, R. G., Slcg Rowell H., S2c:, Grizzle, J. F., Slcg Zeringue, A. P., Slcg Rasco, J. A., Slcg Newton R. E., FC3c, Fleming, W. R., Slcg Perry, C. L., Slcg Pennie, R. W., Slc Not in picture: Lyons, J. E., Cox. 7

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i, I I r 28 JULY 1944 - The 'GAPA 157 Detail took over Building No. 6 at the APA Precommissioning School. E After they had cleaned their Z new quarters and stowed l their gear, old salts from sea E duty or advanced service schools and new boots, fresh 4 from basic training, were in- terviewed and assigned to divisions as a nucleus crew with Lt. John O. Bracken, USNR, prospective Engineer Officer, as SOP. 9' ' 9 9 W N . N 1 0 f as . 5, t x t r , I H . I iv i .n b 5 . I E Q y 54 4 w t X .....ff ..... J, ,, .ox '1:f': Q'.'.pff --fwfr -Q Third bimivn BATTLEVVAGON7' Rowell sat chipping his teeth about the dirty deal he got-not being furnished with a seat on his chipping hammer. MBostin Pannie asked MHandl.e Barn Rouse what color the deck should be painted-said Rouse, MBaby Bluelw Striking for Gunner's Mate, E. B. fear-bangerj Reid was gettin' buck fever thinkin' of the 5 . Today the winch operators were instructed by Bos'n Chicka in the masterful art of operating Winches by the use of the Bosin Pipe, but Kolos, BlVf2c, along with his assistants, Winlien and Tem- ple, make it sound more like jazz, so they continued to operate their Winches by the use of the Miinger system. The third division is ay very talented group, hav- ing already given the ship hash siingers, gun swab- bers and bilge rats. Should they ever need a radio girl, c6Swampy Zeringue is stancfing by. Even the fish are friends of the third division. The Life Line boys, Sadovich, Little, Dodds and Lyons, are always giving them second-hand meals while at sea. Under the able guidance of MSweet Potaton Smoot, the third division is making ufan tailw his- tory. He recently acquired two more officers to help him carry on in the personages of MP-38', Danzero and MShort in the Stirrupsw McDaniel, the latter being from the infamous 44Lone Starw state. Should a call ever go out for a message runner we have one unexcelled in this profession, he being MShrimp Eater Bobichaux. At the slightest disturb- ance he mans his afloat coatf' The shipis bugler, W. J. Boot, who hails from this division, is the best by test. Heis the only man who can roll 'em out in the mornings by sounding both G.Q. and reveille at the same time. MO1d Mann Payne is strictly a Wfeel- at-homei' guy. While in Manila he spotted some Carametta ponies, mistaking them for thorough- breds from Texas. Our other wave riding cowboys are K. A. Boot, alias the Chimeneas Kid from Ven- tura, California, and C. L. Perry. I0

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K-A, 1 HMM---Y eeeee 4, P 1 1 1 r 1 4 1 1 1 iy s I F 1 1 V I l 0 Q , V if E. 4 1 2 1 V L, Y .5 ,V 12 AUGUST 1944-- Sponsored by Mrs. Cranston Williams, the Napa, in an impressive ceremony, slipped down the ways to en- ter her element - 'temporar- ily the Columbia Biver, fresh water instead of salt. X .251 VY' 4 u 2 5 1 f 9 I 1 Q' W F9 +9 M 1 7 fs! is ,I A isg fffs. QL' 1 M 4 Uv 3 '--iw -Wag-4 -,.,:g-.v.,,m, , 4 ,,,.,, m,.,.wv,v Zaunclaing 7,1 UNE, 1944, saw the Napa a roll of blueprints and a keel No. 1107. She was just a steel spine in the Oregon Shipbuilding ways at Portland, Oregon. The ull' beam No. 1107 slowly moved into place and then a ship, our ship, became a tangible reality. Bivets, welding arcs, steel plates and electric cables strengthened and fashioned her so that on 12 Au- gust, 1944, hull No. 1107 bore her prow before the christening platform to be dubbed uNapa,' and slide down the ways. In the yard, among other hulls and other num- bers, our National Anthem opened the ceremonies which would soon give a name to one number, our name. The Portland Oregonianis Mr. Hoyt intro- duced Mr. Cranston Williams as the first speaker. Mr. Williams, the General Manager of the Ameri- can Newspaper Publishers Association, addressed the audience of workers and friends of the ship to be called 44Napa. His timely speech was both con- cise and stimulating. Attorney General Francis J. Biddle followed Mr. Williams as the second speaker of the day. It was with the same vigor and magnitude which has permanently marked him as an orator that he addressed the Napa on the day of her launch- ing. Then minds turned to God as Bishop Benjamin D. Dagwell of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon in- voked His protection on the Napa and all the men who sail her. As the prayer concluded, the metal plates binding the Napa to earth were being severed. Then, with the momentous words: MI christen thee, the U.S.S. Napaf' Mrs. Cran- ston Williams launched another ship to save the fate of another generation. To a dock to be fitted for herytask of war and to receive a part of the men who would man her, our new ship was towed away from her land cradle. On the 27th of September the Napa made her first performance run down the Columbia River. Three days later she left her birthplace for Astoria, Ore- gon, to become an integral part of a fighting force of the United States Navy. I2