Napa (APA 157) - Naval Cruise Book

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'34 and 'F' bimionn FIRST ROW, left to right: Stittgen, H., F10 CBD , Greenup, H. B., WT3c QBD , Hayes, C. W., F2c CAD , Selander, C. W., WT1c QBD , Scott, E. F., Ensign CBD , Cornmesser, P. J., Mach. CAD , Talbert, H. F., CMM KAD , Welden, K. W., WT2c QBD , Poloha, S., MM3c KAD, Martin, J. H., Flc CBD, Nelson, B. O., F2c CBD. SECOND BOW, left to right: Elk, E. E., Flc KAD g Siesko, J. E., WT2c CBD, Jones, J. B., WT3c CBD , Mayer, B. H., WT2c KBD , Gill, K. P., F10 QBD 3 Carrington, B. W., Jr., F10 KBD g Ray, T. C., WT3c CBD , Poland, L. A., Flc CBD , Futrell, B., MM3c KAD, Edmondson, J. A., MM3c KAD , Sidell, W. L., Flc CBD . THIRD AND TOP ROW, left to right: Sherwood, B. D., WT3c CBD 5 Rhen, C. E., Slc f2ndD, Heumann, R. E., Y2c KAD, Roberts, H., Jr., MoMM3c CAD, Smith, J. C., MoMM3c KAD, McReavy, M. S., F10 fAD3 PIIHISOU, G- K-, MOMM3C KADQ DUBHMOQ P. J., MM2c KAD, Krause, E. A., MoMM3c KBD, Hill, T. W., MM3c CAD, Semrad, J. A., MM2c KAD. 3I

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23 OCTOBER 1944- 0230 Napa fueled for the first time. Bets placed as to amount of oil 'to be spilled. 0610 Fueling completed-T 209,396 gallons received- no errors. 7, WM? V 4, if ca P? Q 645 rl 0 v i p A T 4 ,79 T 4 13, 'ff I 'ir' T VIA P ,pf W billidivn FROM the anchor windlass to the steering engine, from the whistle and siren to the engineroom bilges, from the diesel fire pumps to the emergency generator, from the scuttlebutts to the ice boxes, from the evaporators to the machine shop there's a story turning out. Shortages, the watchword of the war, does not hold here for steam and water, for when the cooks say, uNothin's cookin','9 it is we who turn the fires on. With everything going out at once and half the repair gang recuperating in Sick Bay, our day is just normal. The other half, to keep up the morale of ship,s company and the officers, is tied to the lathe turning out trinkets from parts of J ap planes. Result: the Hobby Lobby Kid, knocking off from the sugar report to Susie Zilch, crams calipers, micrometers, and drawings into one pocket, slings 25 pounds of repair tools over his shoulder and arrives breathless to tighten a bolt. It is the early to bed, late to quarters, elusive Duty Machinist Mates that are the incomparable MA Division! H H biviaion THATVS right, don't tell us when you're going to fire the five-inch. Just let us sit here and watch the fires go out. That's no five-inch. That's just Sully runnin' down to the fire room. Whaw! All six safety valves lifted. Trouble? Not on here! Why the fellows on here are so conscientious about their job they often pop off. This probably is the result of the tender care given by our officers. Ask any member of the cinder-pusher gang, providing you are well prepared to really haul ashes. Not to be outdone in any way, sometimes the boys pull a burner while forgetting to secure the root oil valve. Result: Something new in camouflage both for engine room and snipe. Another feat of juggling is putting oil in the steam drum and water in the fuel oil. This hasn't happened more than five times or it might be serious. What was that said about hauling ashes? MPermission to blow tubesw-uGranted.,, There's soot in your eye. 30

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ll NOVEMBER 1944- Moored at pier C, Todd Shipbuilding Corporation, San Pedro, California, for final overhaul. Light and power received from dock. ME and G'M', rig gear. Q60 at fir. 1 'I ff I 4 +2 it I 1 X , y ga 0: '- Q9 J! r g s '1- I' 'I o 0 0 f bllfldlvh HF uses blew and sparks flew, Then I blew and also flewf, So SAID the electricianis mate as he described what hap- pened when both generators tripped out. With this kind of en-light-ened reasoning and powerful description the ME boys are introduced. There is a story on board that the chief duty of these flashes is to provide lamps for the all-night poker players, or when there is a blackout to lay down NON the quarter- deck. If the word isnit passed at least ten times a day for the duty electrician's mate, then the navigator is unable to check his chronometers. It is well to know that besides keeping the big things about the ship operating, the electricians are also respons- ible for servicing many of the personal conveniences enjoyed by all hands: electric razors, record players, hot plates, etc. This was nearly terminated at Iwo ,I ima, though, when the electrical shop became a Mhas beenf' Since commissioning the electrical division has had three warrant electricians and two chief electrician's mates in the driveris seat. Backing these sparkplugs are some twelve lesser luminaries. Could the work have burned them out? 'lil Ibiviaivn THIS is Chief lVIcNevin speaking-uNow men, and you, too, messenger O'Neil, my fifty years in the Navy has taught me a lot. Let me reflect a moment. Just what did it teach me? Oh, yes! Don't make the Navy a career. That is all and now we will retire for the nonce to Shillleris Beer Garden where Hill, the battling kid, will once again tell us about his battles -not against the laps, but against the Seattleitesf' And so it goes with the mechanics of B-l. The clankity- clank turbines have carried us over 40,000 miles. Very nearly didn't make it, though. You see it was this way: Brutus Nolte on one occasion started to light off the main plant so he called on some of his King's men to help. Boy! What a stink! But this stink eventually passed away and things were then squared away. So we did make the 40,000 miles after all. At this writing we are now hoping the 10,000 miles from Tsingtao, China, to home will be overcome by each turn of the prop. And who is responsible for keeping that prop turning? Why the fellows we mentioned above-the ulVI,' Division. P. S.: Eventually we did get home. . . ? 32 fv ,-A- LL V, W 7 f' -'sfwff::1-1. -ef-Mm -',- --s Q-11+ ,yN. fd