Sheliak (AKA 62) - Naval Cruise Book

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The USS Sheliak AKA-62 received its commission into the Fifth Fleet in the forenoon of December first, nineteen forty-four at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York. The sponsor Cpic- tured above with Commander Lowreyl was Mrs. Nellie Blanch Regan a school- teacher in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, and the mother of a Navy torpedoman serv- ing aboard a destroyer somewhere in the Pacific. DERIVATION OF HSHELIAIC' By way of origin it would be well to set forth a few pertinent facts concerning the AKA-62 Enters the Fleet A STAR IS BORN meaning of the christening. ttSheliak'l is not an unusual name and many crew members have long since harbored doubts as to the correct origin. An astronomer would describe a con- stellation as a group of stars circum- scribed by an imaginary figure. A few such groups are mentioned by Homer and Hesiodg but Eudoxtus of Cnidus, about 366 B.C., was the first Greek who de- scribed with approxima?Wf1pleteness the constellated heavens, and his work, versified by Aratus, was the chief source of modern star-lore. Most, however, of the 45 constellations thus transmitted to our .3. acquaintance had originated long previ- ously in the valley of the Euphrates, and symbolized the earliest mythological con- ceptions of Sumerians peoples. Ptolemy listed 48 constellations fthere are 85 to datel and in 1603 the scheme was round- ed off from materials furnished by South- ern navigators. According to Bayer's Uranometria, Sheliak is a part of the as- terism of Hydrus ranking fifth in bright- ness and forming part of the northern constellations. If you want to pick it out some night just run your eyes around the upper rim of the constellation near Scor- pio, knock twice and ask for Joe.

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Page 1 ..... Z ..... 3. 4. 5. 6 ..... 7. 8. 9. 10 11 . 12 . 13 14 . 15 . 16 . SS Sheliclk Pictorial Log 7a Zfne alllfifq, laqaliq ancf dlamina of fzea caew am! la lfne failfa ami coulzaqe of 'Zfze al' home, 3 we'cleJicoZ'e Mid 1 CONTENTS War! Launching Cetchingj Commissioning Staff The Skipper Odyssey Chronological Map Executive Officers Ship's Officers and Bridge 1st and 2nd Divisions 3rd and R Divisions LCM fetchingj g L Division L Division fcontinuedj S Division Secret Weapon USS Sheliak Page 17 ..... USS Sheliak 18 ..... N Division 19 ..... A and B Divisions 20 ..... F Divisiong 5 inch gun 21 ..... H Division 22 ..... Around Topside Cetchingj 23 ..... 3 Liberty Cetchingj . 24 ..... Boat Repairg Radio Shack ZS ..... Engine Roomg Radar 26 ..... Shining Armorg Below Deck V 27 ..... Twenty mm gung Familiar Scenes 28 ..... The Sports Page - 29 ..... Roster 30 .... Roster 31 ..... Good News! 1 32 .... Q. Aloha Pearl Harbor The five enlisted personnel pictured on the left represent the staff who conceived and formulated this log. Standing, left to right, are Chris Grube, photographerg Bill Williams, assistant editorg Dave Roberts, ship's artistg and Joe Watson, cartoonist. Seated in the foreground is George Downing, editor. Another member of the staff not included here is Jimmy Keck, staff typist. Through the combined efforts of these sixrmen and a bucket full of do-or- die this book of memories finally and miraculously came to see the frightening light of day. Needless to say that the staff was as much astounded by its completion as anyone. .,4