Randolph (CV 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT The day arrived for +he commissioning of our ship when +he Boo+s 'From Newpor+ me+ +he Sal+s from Newpor+ News. Oc+ober 9, I944 was a big day in our lives. The men wen+ up +he gangway +o se+ +oo+ on +he deck of +heir +irs+ ship in many ins+ances, +o be ably welcomed and shown around by +hose who had seen i+ grow in i+s las+ s+ages. I+ was a crys+alized depar+- men+. L+. Commander Gallery was +he communica+ions oF+icer wi+h L+. Cohen as his assis+an+. L+. Hann wi+h Ensign S+evens had charge o+ K-l, +he radio gang. L+. Campbell and Ensign Krumm had charge of K-2, +he signal gang. The Yeoman, Mailmen, and Prin+ers were under L+. Reynolds and Ensign S+. Lawrence. L+. Beam and Ensign Gonzalez had charge of +he Pub Locker . Ensign Summers was assis+an+ censor. I+ was an organiza+ion wi+h bu+ 'few of i+s complemen+ familiar wi+h Carrier Communica+ions. The Communica+ions Depar+men+ +unc+ioned well from i+s incep+ion as +he men had been +rained in A+lan+ic procedure and opera+ion. Before +he ship le++ on i+s Chesapeake Bay +rial runs, mos+ 0+ +he men had an ample oppor+uni+y +o become acquain+ed wi+h +he com- par+men+s of ber+hing and messing and opera+ing. I+ may have been a green crew +ha+ s+ood ou+ in+o +he Chesapeake Bay area, bu+ wha+ +hey lacked in ex- perience +hey more +han made up in diligence and zeal and +he weeks spen+ +herein proved +he +ellows had wha+ i+ +akes . Adap+a+ions from previous +ype ships and shore class rooms +o carrier requiremen+s were credi+ably made. Vi i

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True fhere were obsfacles and difficulfies, buf by fhe fime fhe ship was ready for ifs shakedown cruise, Fox Broadcasfs were no longer feared by fhe newesf novice, nor were fhe flag hoisfs and flashing lighf fheir nemesis. The Posf Office was doing a land office busi- ness as any censor will affesf. The prinf shop was finally emerging from under ifs deluge of prinfers lice and priorify orders. The Yeoman really felf fhe cuf of fhe swafh, for fhey were placed in various deparfmenfs of fhe ship and bid our deparfmenf adieu . Having puf fhe frial run under fheir belfs, fhe men sef ouf for fheir shakedown cruise wifh a greaf degree of eagerness. The gear had been fesfed, fhe men drilled in fheir dufies, and fhe whole deparfmenf looked forward fo seeing fhe air group come aboard. All hands fook a glance af Norfolk before if slid from view, liffle knowing fhaf if would be beffer fhan a year before fhey would see if again. Many fellows began fo dream of fhe girls waifing for fhem fo refurn as fhey lay fhere under fhe balmy sfarlif heaven af Trinidad. Nafurally fhe posf office worked overfime carrying fhose romanfic fhoughfs home. Presenfs were boughf for Chrisfmas and a couple of beer parfies were held. A fesfive mood reigned befween operafions. Then came fhe blow. Feverish acfivify began. Transfer of personnel fook place. Sfores were loaded: fuel faken on. Communicafors became fhe mosf soughf affer group aboard fhe ship. Silence reigned supreme. The crew saw fhe Tokyo-express liff anchor and sail. Soon we were under way. Scuffle ran fhe gamuf. All ears were funed fo fhe familiar announcemenf, This is k '. ,L ., f ,la W r. ,QQ A .,.. fs ., mo- w in 3-,, fhe Capfain speaking. Finally if came, We are on our way fo fhe Panama Canal. No words could have been worse. Hopes of leave were crushed. lf was a mighfy low-feeling group. , Buf communicafions musf go on. Overnighf all Aflan- fic procedures and pracfices had fo be scrapped, for we