Napa (APA 157) - Naval Cruise Book

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E I Q, . L I I 1 I l Kant group FIRST ROW, left to right: Larsen, F. M., MoMM2c, Glenn, T. J., S1c, Gann, T., fnJ Slc, Silvia, F., fl1J Slc, Goodknight, E. R., Rasnick, C. A., Slc, Parks, C. R., Flc, Martin, J. H., Flo, Pelham, J. A., Slc, Taylor, C., ini Slc., Roberts, W. W., MoMM2e, Germond, C. W., RM3c, James, W. C., Cox., Smit h, W. R., MoMM3c, Roberts H., MoMM2c. SECOND ROW, left to right: Hightower, J. E., MoMM3c, Glass, G. W., Slc, Wilmoth, R. H., Cox., Lipetri, J. F., MoMM3c, Burkett, F. R., Flc, Peterson, R. V., Jr., MoMM2c, Stevison, J. H., MoMM3c, Ross, F. A., MoMM2c, Lopez, H. R., Slc, Phillips, L. E., Slc, Temple, R. E., Cox., Edwards, W. L., MoMMlc, Peters, E. L., MoMM2c, Ragland, J. S., MoMM3c, Gaudern, C. S., MoMM3c, Fouts, B. J., Slc, Tuck, A. C., Slc. THIRD ROW, left to right: Robichaux, E. J., Slc, Root, K. A., Slc, McCann, R. E., RdM3c, Carter, M. E., Slc, Raskey, E. R., S2c, Garza, A. R., Jr., Slc, Dodgins, F. H., S2c, Castlebury, B. J., Cox., Flores, L., S1c, Ouellette, P. E., Slc, Lt Comdr. L. R. Schroeder, Lt. W. C. McCutcheon, Hennessey, J. A., Slc, Townsend, A. L., Slc, Norberg, C. W., S1c, Smith, J. C.. MoMM3c, Chavez, E. H., Slc, Collier, R. T., Sle, Brooks, J. H., Slcg Jensen, R. R., GM3c, Brown, T., Cnl, Slc. FOURTH ROW. left to right: Latliore, L., CnJ , MoMM3c, Gall, J. N., Slc, Rhoten, H. H., Jr., Slc, Snyder, J. M., S2c, Folk mann, R. C., S2c', Gulliver, D. E., SM2c, Harmen, R. E., SIC, Fowler, W. D., Cox., Reid, J. M., Cox., Edmonds, J. J., Cox., Wilson, R. A., CMoMM, Fitzgerald, T. W., CBM, Dutton, E. H., Slc, Brand, J. W., Slc, Swank, L. D., Slc, Florence, J. H., Slc, Eldridge, B. W., SIC, Lexow, C. R., Slc, Pisani, W. L., Cox., Earl, D. C., Cox. FIFTH ROW, left to right: Reichert, E. J., MoMM3c, Leonard, W. L., MoMM3c, Micheals, J. A., Slc, Davis, W. R. MoMM3c, Jordan, C. A., Sk3c, Fleming, W. R., Slc, Dodds, R. H., Slc, Givigliano, P., fnl, S2c, Hebert, H. L., Slc, Janssen G. F. MoMM2c' Fell W. D. Slc' Fleming, W. E.. Slc, Pantet, E. C., Slc, Hambly, W. H., MoMM1c, Cook, C. G., MOMMQC, orlger, J. M., Cox.,7Kelly, JE., sic, Gilmore, 'E. F., COX., Longfe11ow,L. A., sic, Meeks, W. L., BMZC. Not in picture: Davis, W., Jr., MoMM3c, Doolan, R. A., Slc, Dykes, W. H., Slc, Eason, J. A., Jr., Slcg Fellhauer, E. R., Slc, Fitzgerald, R. M., RM3c, Gregory, A. D., Slc, Griffith, J. Cnl, Slc, Hall, E. M., S2c, Hamilton, J. D., Cox., Hannes, C. W. Slc' Hernandez P. M Slc' Holmes R. G., Slc, Jenkins, J. H.. CM3c, Jones, L. C., BM2c, Jones, V. E., S2c, Krause, E.,A., MoMM37c, Leary, F., MoMM3c, Ledbetter, M., MoMM3c, Lyons, J. E., Cox., Mullican, R., S2c, Pecchio F., fn? , Slc, Perminas, P. J., BM1c, Poulsen, C. K., MoMM3c, Ranczka, W. A., Slc, Rasco, J. A., Slc, Salles, R. C., SM3c, Swank, L. D., Slc. AT LEFT FIRST ROW, left to right: Ensign E. S. McDaniel, Lt. M. Ashby, Lt. Comdr. L. R. Schroeder, Lt. fjgl W. C. McCutcheon, Ensign J. T. Ronian, Ensign W. D. Taylor. SECOND ROW, left to right: Ensign D. F. Gebhardt, Ensign H. K. Strand, Ensign D. T. Ray, Jr., Ensign C. F. Piper, Ensign B. W. Read. 2I 7

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.I OCTOBER 1944 --- The Boat Group, which had trained as a separate unit at Coronado, California, re- ported aboard the Napa at 1700 under Lt. Lester R. Schroeder, Boat Group Com- nlander. a 6 Q, an X 35 ,M P. W 4 Q Zifjiiiggg V uf: vmmfav-if-'--H---1---ff W-V V ff ---- --N --..- -wm,,,,,,,Mx:AZ goat group LOWER all boats to the rail V, Out of the dreary early hours of the morning comes the most dreaded command of all. Is it dreaded because it means ucontactw with the enemy? Not necessarily. It is dreaded because the boat group is leaving the ship. Shipas company dreads M1-Ablei' because it means that they'll have to eat Spam and Cheese sandwiches until the Mindispensablew boys return. You see, when the boat group udisembarksf, the Napa is like Ha ship without a sail fbut with a mighty line enginej, ua child in the wildernessw flike Tarzanjb. The boat group dreads 461-Able because they place their lives in the hands of the men who handle the Winches. It also means hours and perhaps days of trying to usurvivew on MK-Rationsa' and what Wee morsels of food they could 'thi- jackl' fsuch as chicken-ala-king, Virginia baked ham, fresh pineapple and peaches, etc. In . On one operation one man swore that he saw hot coffee being given out, but since he could furnish no witness to corroborate his statement, it Was attrib- uted to the deliriums of a mild case of ubottlel' fatigue. After one operation the boat group, tired and battle-Weary from the beaches, still Nhot under fires, returned to the Napa to solace and comfort the crew aboard who had uwithstoodw the trying uordeala' of seeing shrapnel fall to the deck. Said one, HWhy there must have been SIX PIECES of it! Fable: Once upon a time an APA made a 500-mile run Without a boat group. Tell that to Ripley! It was probably the uhappiestw APA in the fleet. H

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OCTOBER l944P-Work- ing parties assembled on the dock to commence the initial loading of supplies aboard the Napa. t T e OCTOBER l944- Even in all the confusion, the first pay day of p the Napa was held at 1330. uBoy!t did that lettuce look g'ood. To many of the crew, the'Bos'n,pipe sounded like our 5g inch'38 going off the next morning- too many cokes?, p I T . 'fu bizliafivn HTS division modestly admitted it was the most important division aboard ship. Without it, crew-members would have been broke, cold and hungry. lt's eight sections composed a floating Super Service, where, 'thanks to a monopoly, the customer was seldom right. To begin, there was the Galley--where beans, rice and black coffee were never served more than three times a day. The Butcher Shop occasionally added variety to the ship's diet with generous helpings of Spam or mutton. The lee Cream Room always used pure, wholesome powdered milk, never face lotions as oft sus- pected. The Bake Shop sometimes forgot and made pas'tries. uBargain Basement -officially, Clothing and Small Stores- once wasn't closed for inventory and a few lucky crew members purchased skivvies. The Ship's Store was reasonable with its charges on toothpaste and the like. Profits on no item ever ex- ceeded iifty per cent. Down at GSK, a chit was always required. Of course, once the chit was produced there were no bolts that size in stock. Dis- bursing made an honest effort and denied it used a Chinese add- ing machine to figure payrolls. Then there were the brave Stewards. They tossed raw meat into the W3Id1'OOl11 zoo and cleaned the officers, cages. Brave, brave, stewards!