Tazewell (APA 209) - Naval Cruise Book

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

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 44 text:

1. , xgxxxxxxxxxx xmxxxxxxxxxxxyx .S.x i as t5 , 'iXXx'gyxxxX3 Wkxxxxyxxxxx XNXxxxxxx i'- The Communications Ofiicer, Lt. Cjg.D P. M. Lowe, was stationed any- where that communications were received or sent out: the signal bridge for visuals , the bridge for voice , and the Radio Shack for other messages. In the coding room were Lt, T. S. Kelly, the Supply Ofhcer, Ens. L. K. King, Ens. F. J. Manaut, and APC R. E. Beebe. Beebe also doubled as photographer dur- ing the daylight hours. The Flying Bridge was always a lively place during general quarters for it was there that the Gunnery Officer, Lt. C. Tolson, was stationed. With him was the Assistant Gunnery Officer and Officer in charge of the 40mm fire control, Lt. fig-D W. W. Hutchison, and Ens. K. E. Steryous, the 20mm fire control officer. Also stationed on the Flying Bridge was Ens. G. A. Mann, the Recognition Officer, Lt. 'W. B. Newgord, in charge of guns 23 and 25, and Ens..J. A. Nelson, in charge of guns 24 and 26. The engine room officers were seldom seen but always made their presence felt during general quarters. Frequently overlooked because their duties are unostentatious until something goes wrong, they might well be called the for- gotten men. Fortunately, the Tazewell had very little engine trouble under way and the credit for this belongs to the officers and men of that department. The capable Chief Engineer, Lt. C. W. Phillips, the Assistant Engineer, Lt. Cjg.D M. C. Emery, Ens. W. R. Langrill, and Machinist C. A. Rogers were stationed in the engine room while Lt. Cjg.D D. G. Bunnell and Ens. D. F. Andrews were in the log room. Electrician F. A. Shannon, later replaced by Electrician Goold was stationed in the I. C. Room. Ens. C. F. Prunier, another engineer, was in charge of the handling room during alerts. All stations reported manned and ready in a very short time that morning, for awhile all was quiet. The squadron continued northward, following the path swept by minesweepers. As they neared the small group of islands called Kerama Retto, the escorting carriers turned back. In the Combat Information Center CC. I. C.D Ens. H. V. Neece, the C. I. C. Officer, took radar bearings for navigational plots while listening to the inter- ship radio which was beginning to squawk after a long period of quiet. Then it came: Many bogies, bearing one two five, distance thirty miles . This in- formation was passed to all stations and the lookouts were alerted. As the min- utes passed, and they seemed like hours, the raid came closer and closer until finally a lookout reported sighting a plane. Shortly another, then another, then several planes were sighted. The Commodore reported, via radio, that friendly planes were remaining clear of the areaand gave permission to fire when ready. 40 af ai' , . -sf . xii ' -a 'if . .iifig