Tazewell (APA 209) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 42 text:

yxxxxxx -txxw M1 KNXXxxxxxxxxSQmxxxxxxxWXXxxxxxxxxsX xxxX xxxxXXXxxxxxxN'- xx Q H IHUSIHIIG Among the ollicers aboard the U. S. S. T1lZ6'Zl'6!f, none is quite so con- versant with Naval traditions and term- inology as Doc Liermann. His stock of sea stories of the Old Navy are un- limited. He has served emciently as As- sistant Division Olhcer since the Tazewell went into commission, and then in May 19-45, took over the reins as Division Omcer. Mr. Liermann's Naval career began in june 1919, when he enlisted as a Hospital Apprentice Zc and went through boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois. Choosing the Hospital Corps, he was sent to school for Pharmacist Mates at Great Lakes and when it closed, completed his training at Hampton Roads where he worked in a ward as a Hospital Apprentice. Then followed duty aboard the coal burning ship, the U. S. S. Mercy, with a tour of duty in the Far East following, Most of the time was spent in the Philippine Islands at the Naval Hospital, Canacao, and the Cavite Navy Yard Dispensary. The next assignment was the Goat Island Naval Training Center out in San Francisco Bay. This was before the construction of the Bay Bridge or Treasure Island, when ferries plied between San Francisco and Oakland. After several months as a civilian after his enlistment had expired, Mr. Liermann returned to the Navy. Duty aboard the battleship Tem1e,i'.i't't'. the destroyer Stmtewni, and the battleship We.rl Virginirz, in that order, served to increase his wealth of experiences. World War II found Chief Liermann with the crew of the U. S. S. Smmlflmry CDMS 81 which saw action in both World Wars. Another destroyer, the U. S. S. Ewm was his assignment. Not the least to be remembered is the year Mr. Liermann served on the 2U9 . He reported aboard as Chief Pharmacist and in April of 1945 was appointed Lieu- tenant Junior Grade in the Hospital Corps. As soon as demobilization is completed, Mr. Liermann plans to retire from the Navy after 24 years of active duty. He and his wife will move to northern Georgia in the Sand Mountains, where hunting and hshing abound. Hats off to a regular guy and an old sailor who came up the hard way! 38

Page 41 text:

xq,xXXXXXXxyx xxxxXXXXXxyyxx xxxxx'-N- X Xxxxxxxvxxx Wxxxxxxx THE IIHHPLHIIVS Sllllllllflll lt hasn't all been fung and yet in a few years from now most of us will look back on our life on the Tazewell and will realize that there were many more good things than bad about this experience. We have had to learn to live with a large group of men all living in a very small space, Possibly some of our bad habits have been broken and we have learned how better to make friends and to be a friend. This matter of making friends is one of the most important things that could have happened to us and it is hoped that many of us have made friend- ships which will be meaningful during our entire future lives. But, even if We never see our Tazewell shipmates againg if we have learned better how to make real friends and to be a real friend this experience on the ship will have been of great value. This Year Book was planned with the purpose in mind of helping each man to maintain his shipboard friendships and to help each of us remember the many interesting experiences of the year. Naturally during the year's time there have been many unpleasant experiences-let's forget these and remember the pleasant and beneficial incidents. These months spent in serving our country aboard the U. S. S. Tazewell have developed each of us in many ways. It is my hope that we have each be- come better Christian Gentlemen by having served aboard this ship. ,e.z2i,z.rfe.74. 37

Page 43 text:

77.312, .-. ...f, . W ,, fa., , ,W S' '10 if vm XQXXXXXXXXXX N xxxQRXXXXyxx x,,xx.xXX'y xNKxxxxxxX9 xxXNXvtkxxXXNX' Vkxxxxxxxv' ' C , s BHPTISIH The U. S. S. Tazewell left Leyte for Okinawa March 21, 1945, The route was first north-east, then north, then west, then north again into Kerama Rettog the initial landings being made there the morning of March 26. ' The night of Sunday March 25 was cloudy and very dark. It was very diffi- cult to see the adjoining ships in the squadron and impossible to see the escorts ahead or the flattops and their escorts astern. Reveille was sounded about 0250 Monday morning, March 26, and all hands rolled out without the usual addi- tional persuasion. Breakfast was served but few felt like eating, however, the usual big supply of hot coffee was hard hit. Meanwhile, the Officer of the Deck and his Junior Officers of the Watch free picture azboveb were busy keeping station and attending to their many other duties. Captain H. S. Olsen and the navigator, Lt. C jgb R, H. Porritt, had been up most of the night studying their charts and making the many last-minute checks. By 0330 a faint tract of light was beginning to show. The squadron was close enough to hear the bombarding guns and see the fiashes of fire on the horizon. Then the Captain ordered Go to General Quarters . The usual bustle and noise of the men that followed the call to Battle Stations was missing that morning for most of them were already on their station, quiet and waiting. Lt. Cjg.D W. B. Andreas, Ens. Nick Pappas, and Ens. D. N. Parkinson were already on the bridge, ready to take over, as was APC G. W. Pifer whose job it was to write the action report. Back on Secondary Control was the Executive Officer, Lieutenant Com- mander J. A. Sawyer, who was later transfered and relieved by the present Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander E. C. Sherman. Also stationed there was Lieutenant Commander B. T. Doremus, the Beachmasterg and Lt. D. W. Menold, the Beach Platoon Executive Officer. 39 ...W L.- L.. .,,......A i v it l k l? l J U- l P 1 r