Renville (APA 227) - Naval Cruise Book

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Yeoman Royal Princess joy, Chief Chaplain Lackey, Cook Royal Baby Miller, and sundry other official and otherwise courtieres, the pollywogs were swatted, clipped, smeared, punched, greased, electrocuted, dunked, swatted again, and in general reminded of their lowly condition. And for days before they were victims of psychological warfare as the shellbacks recounted their experiences, which unfailingly increased with horror each telling. But no doubt the same will be true of those told by the RENVILLE,S crop of shellbacks. However, not everything was shenanigans that first trip, as the RENVILLE was to participate, though as yet unaware of the P 1-N oJ milk O -is xitfd . 2.7.7 3 C- K. fact, in the invasion of Okinawa. At Guadalcanal and in adjacent waters she went through maneuvers which left most everyone more bewildered than before, if possible. But the practice paid dividends. 5 .In the middle of March, jammed from forecastle to fantail withatabrine-colored and poker-playing First Division Marines, she Joined a convoy headed northwest. After a brief stop at

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S WITH any United States Navy ship, the official history of the RENVILLE is found in her log. Here are recorded her daily positions, courses, speeds, and major activities of an official nature. But the crew remember events and personalities that are beyond these, and at the same time include them. Though by no .means complete, the following phases of the RENVILLE'S service may be considered representative-five mile- posts typical of her career and of those of her officers and men. She was a new ship, and as such underwent the tribulations of shakedown. This successfully accomplished she put to sea, and symbolic of her recent tasks was the Shakedown some eighty percent aboard experienced on crossing the equator. -It's , Q aw K 1 4 4' 3 me ri an established nautical custom that all slimy pollywogs who have never been south of zero latitude prove their worth to King Neptune,Davey Jones, and company g and those who have, known as shellbacks, were more than glad to assist. His Highness was represented by the senior shellback, Chief Machinist Rogers, who viewed the proceedings with an inactive disdain, and Davey jones by Lt. Q Saltus, who did not. Ably administered to by

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Ulithi, with a comforting preview of some of the power to be employed fand a not-so-comforting preview provided by the famous FRANKLIN limping in proudly only three days after her tragedyj, the RENVILLE took the final plunge, as it were, on a beautiful Easter morning-and All Fools' Day-in an unex- pectedly easy landing, thousands of Marine and Army troops poured ashore on Okinawa. Ensigns Lax, Hoffman, and Mika, and Radiomen Wara, Morrison, and Schulz, were in boats in some of the first waves, then for four days First Lieutenant Van Devere and TQM Erdevig yelled themselves hoarse in getting hot cargo unloaded. Meanwhile, under Lieutenants Diamond and Gunn, Ensign Gideon, and Boatswain's Mate Kellum, the two-hour Lieutenant, the beach party routed the stuff ashore and collected souvenirs. Twice, back on the ship, the anti-aircraft opened up, for fortunately the supposed krzmikazzer proved to be nothing deadlier than the planet Venus. Then, just as the waters were getting dangerously choppy, the boats were hoisted aboard, the beach party returned, and the RENVILLE started on the long trip east. The next phase took place during the ensuing four months, 'Vw 'Q E' 3,7 ' 6-fi., s