Oriskany (CV 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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ff 4, 'an!wA!.wm.. . ,,,.. I . 3 I .U.C2'4Tl ',gg, '4 .. .,., f , f iuiiiiwr- r -.,,. ' .lx Long Mgr 'y ., . r L5!l.,.g-.g,,..L ,.,. W, f Sm' i.4..fg.,.i.,. ,....,,.f rwnwcif ff, ' A D .f !. . ki? 1 ? or Y 55.52. . it ', l,,. . ll l I-IEUTENAN1' In E. BENITEZ LCDR W. H. FUNSTON LCDR J. C. HALE Assistant Gunnery Officer G'-'n'1e Y omcer First lieutenant UNNERY Department, headed by LCDR Funston, didn't get a chance in the Med to show off all its uncanny accuracy in hitting targets. But the reason behind the denial was complimen- tary. The Navy had discovered at Guantanamo Bay in the winter of 1950-51 that allowing gun crews of the CV-34 to fire at targets worth several thousands apiece worked an unnecessary hardship on the nation's taxpayers. Even as the cruise ended, the divisions responsible for gunnery still disputed their comparative accuracy. Every sleeve shot down was invariably claimed by at least two batteries. Arguments began before the falling sleeve touched the water. Officers and the 44 men of 1-B Division spent their hours in port running small boats. Headed by ENS Rubenstein, the division kept boats operating from early morning until late at night. Sailors of the lst Division, led by Chief Boatswain Manson, handled deck gear, ground tackle, cleaning gear, anchoring and mooring of the ship, fueling, provisioning, arming, cleaning of the sides, and dressing ship. Chief Seacrist was Chief Boatswain Mate, assisting the Assistant Gunnery Officer, LT Benitez. The Chief was also Senior Enlisted Assistant of the First Lieutenant, LCDR Hale. Responsible for the outside appearance of the ship and for life saving equipment was Chief Molen. Cosner, BMl, was Captain of the Bosun Locker. Ratliff, BMI, had charge of the Sail Locker. Second Division, headed by LTJG Biscomb, knew they were 'GDeck Apesv and they were proud of it. They handled No. 2 fueling line, tied up barges alongside, lowered the port accommo- dation ladder and rigged boat booms. These fellows were all characters from Blackman, who thought the Navy ought to serve wine with meals, to Craft, who could fling a mighty heaving line and a line of slang to match it. Know-how in handling anchoring gear and highline was de- veloped by 3rd Division, under LT Racette. The Division anchored the ship about 65 times. Twice, they moored to buoys. At sea the high line transferred personnel, materiel, movies, and guard mail. In one instance, a stretcher case slid across the high line for treatment in the Oriskany sick bay. LTJG J Patrick Carr ran the 4th Division assisted by ENS Carlson Fourth was responsible for ammunition magazines and hoists, passageways and living compartments, most of the port quarter area and part of the starboard outboard side. The Divii sion painted many almost-inaccessible places on the ship. A painter, George Carter, SA, fell overboard while on duty with brush. There was a fast rescue, but not fast enough. The paint and brush were jettisoned before Carter was picked up. The fighting 5th Division, with its four mounts of three-inch ? rapid fire guns, expended slightly more than 46 per cent off 3-inch ammunition used on board since commissioning. Drake ran the Fifth, assisted by Chief Mims. The Division dressed up and squared away the quarterdeck, ran the Captainis gig and turned to on uHoliday Routinei' to gas ship or refuel destroyers. The Marine Detachment, under Captain Robert I. Nelson, USMC, provided a nucleus for the shipls landing force. Internal security of the ship required a 24--hour-a-day standby condition for the Detachment. They also provided guards for ceremonieS and honors. TSCT Charlie Coy was the only man in the Detach- ment rating a mustache. Corporals Clark and Mark Leitzel WSIB the tallest twins in the Corps. SSCT Fedyski, administrative NCO, helped get attractive pictures for the Cruise Book. Now the 7th Division, man the starboard boat crane, brought the boat pocket crew into action under LTJG Howe and ENS Ullman. Besides lowering and hoisting boats, they replenished ship. But on liberty in Cannes, two of the Division's men, Banta and Thomas, learned they didn't know all about boats when lllei' rented a sailboat. All was well while they sailed out of the harb0I, but trouble started on the return. They finally decided the OHIY Way to tack was to wade knee deep along the shore, Pulling the boat behind them. F Division, headed by LT Seelaus, assisted by LTJG Horan' were responsible for all fire control equipment aboard. Theiialso had charge of magazines and torpedos. In addition, HHY mlscel' laneous duties not assigned to other divisions were given tg F' They took care of optical equipment, parts for guns andrflfe ntrol devices But more memorable was endless hours ' H painting and cleaning May be they said sorne0I15 SG will do that Job next cruise . C0 .. of Chl? - . . . . ga . . a i ' H - ' an i 9 U ' . ' . . . 3, 4 E i

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I-B Division BOTTOM ROW, Lett to Right: F. B. Callen, SN7 T. G. Watson, SN: R. J. Harrower, SN: J. Middaugh, SA: E. Moore, BM3: K. R. Miller, ENT .... SECOND ROW, Left to Right: l. Jonker, SN: D. Yovich, BM3: J. F. Byrne, A P Dezort, FA: C O Hutto SN' H SN: . u 0 ' I I 0 Parrish, SN: E. B. Burnham, SA: G. P. Carter SA. . . . THIRD ROW, Left to Right: Div. Otiicer Ensign Rubenstein: J. H. Joiner, SN: M. B. Tower, FN: E. B. Posey, SN: J. J. Krier SA: B. T. Sasser, FN: F. O. Martin, SN: L. R Jankowski, FN. . . . TOP ROW, Left to Right: W. E. Prescott, SN: R. D. Ringhofer, SN: M. B. Barharich, SN: J. H. Vonmohr, SN A. T. Stephens, SA: W. M. Turpin, SA: E. K. Burkett, EN2: J. F. McHugh, SA. I I n I I .fi f . , , .www-.. We fi 'vs I.. C, Gm? H , .. ish.. I my G dm is M XM X QI! if xi f my , I M Me, 1 , 4 I , ,J My sv' , f ,I . iw V ,T ,QW-Z wi K X -iz .gf Z, . K, 4 E l 4 a , l 3,-., lst Division BOTTOM ROW, Left to Right: Robert K. Easterling, SN: lawrence G. Cosner, BMT: Davies G. Seacrist, BMC: Robert F. Molen, BMC: Max E. Messmore, BM3: Eugene D Ratlift, BMT. . . . TOP ROW, Left to Right Harry B. Martin, BM3: Edward J. Falken- back, SN: William S. Tsantis, SN: James A Yowell, SN.