Picking (DD 685) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 11 text:

Ltig. L. M. Levenson re- lieved as Gunnery Officer shortly before we left for Korea. An NROTC gradu- ate, the PlCKlNG is his first commissioned duty. To him fell the task of organ- izing and training effective Condition lll watch teams for our months of steaming under wartime conditions. Ltig. R. C. Kerwath is the man who controls the purse strings, here check- ing his records after hold- ing payday in the mess hall. As Supply Officer, he administers those services which make shipboard liv- ing more comfortable as well as the necessary items of chow and pay. Ltig. Updegraph, Navi- gator, shown checking the calibration on his sextant, lost mony hours of sleep while operating in ques- tionable waters off Korean shores. He is also an NROTC graduate serving On the PICKING as first commissioned duty. He took over as Operations Officer shortly after arriv- ing in Boston.

Page 10 text:

Lt. J. E. Hickey, Opera- tions Officer, assumed duties as such iust prior to departure from the States for our Far Eastern cruise. Another recalled reserve, his previous as- signment had been CIC Officer. He was released to inactive duty shortly af- ter arrival back in the States. Ll. H. F. Wiley reported aboard as Executive Offi- cer from the USS MELVIN. Receiving his commission from enlisted ranks, most of his sea-going duty has been on cruisers. It is due largely to his untiring efforts that the PICKING maintained a peak of ef- fectiveness during For Eas- tern duty. Lf. D. S. Weed, Chief En9ineer, was released from active duty in Suse- 50, JUDUD upon comple- tion of Task Force 77 op- erations. This finished an eighteen month tour of duty after being recalled from civilian life. His first dUiY on the PICKING was D0mU9e Control Assistant, N509 over as Engineering Officer after nine months experience.

Page 12 text:

Ltig. D. A. Meyer finds it necessary at times in his duties as First Lieutenant to instruct seamen in the correct way to flemish a line. To him falls the re- sponsibility for running the deck force in its iob of paint and scrape, scrape and paint. Ens. H. L. Bryant, Main Propulsion Assistant, until relieving as Engineering Officer while in Japan, doubles in harness as Of- ficer of the Deck during carrier operations. Under his direction, the engineers furnish the steam and elec- trical power required to carry out the ship's func- tions. ' ' L I Ltig. E. C. Bacon made the cruise with us until our Task Force 77 duties were completed. He was released to inactive duty and flown back from Ja- pan. As ASW officer, he was responsible for organ- ization of the third divi- sion. Ens. H. J. V. Snyder, Damage Control Assistant, reported to the PICKING as his first duty from NROTC. He has a collat- eral duty of R Division officer. ,f f K, Ltig. C. A. Leventhal, Communications Officer, administers flag-h o i st practice during a stay in port, The signal gang must be kept on their toes to meet the demands of vis- ual signalling required by a Flagship. Q f x ' 3, : .ygm-f .. Ens. J. L. Briggs inspects the Second Division com- partment,as part of his duties as Second Division Officer. He also acts as Legal Officer for problems encountered by the crew of a legal nature.