Tazewell (APA 209) - Naval Cruise Book

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X-.,xXWXXXXXxx XxxxXXxXxy From then on things happened fast. First Captain Olsen gave permission to fire when ready, then Lt. Tolson passed the word to the forties Commence Firing . Up forward Lt. D. B. Close and his quad-forty crew opened up im- mediately and were closely followed by guns 43 and 45 who had Lt. C jgj J. T. Bohan and Ens. J. A. Magavero in charge. Ens. W. A. Reeves at gun 42 and Ens. G. W. Brown at gun 44 didn't get to fire that time, nor did the five inch, with Lt. Cjgl N. D. Stein and Ens. C. E. Currier in charge. As the planes came within range of the twenties their noise was added to the din. Olicers at these guns, in addition to those already mentioned, were: Ens. R. P. Stenger, guns 21 and 22, Lt. C. V. Brouilette, guns 27 and 28, Ens. B. S. Esser, gun 29, and Lt. Cjgj W. D. Stone, gun ZOXIO. The repair parties throughout the ship were more or less isolated from the other activities and did not receive information on the engagements as did other stations. However, when the firing started they became doubly interested and started rechecking their gear, while keeping an ear open for sounds that would indicate the success of the gun crews. Lt. C jgb R. V. Alling, the acting- First Lieutenant and damage control ofiicer until Lt. Cjgb J. Roberts reported aboard was in charge and ably assisted by Carpenter R. N. Hague and Boat- swain D. W. Montgomery. It is not hard to imagine some of the thoughts that must have crossed the minds of the oliicers on the battle dressing stations when they heard the firing. Fortunately, they were not called upon to attend a single battle casualty aboard the Tazewell. Yet they were at all times prepared to give immediate treatment to those who needed it. Commander J. K. Stack was the Senior Medical Officer, later replaced by Commander J. B. Hassberger. Other medical department officers at that time were Lieutenant Commander G. L. Ackerman, MC, Lieuten- ant Commander F. C. Ciafone, MC, Lieutenant C. R. Oliphant, MC, Lieuten- ant T. S. Elliott, MC, Lt. C jgb L. G. Brown, MC, Lieutenant C. W. Herschleb, DC, and Lt. Cjgl H. A. Liermann, HC. Chaplain. H. D. Ragle was always on his station at the after battle dressing station. Within a very short time, the firing ceased and soon none could be heard from the surrounding ships. Even the bombarding ships stopped firing tem- porarily and moved aside to let the transports through. Orders began to come over the radio, faster and faster. Soon the first troops would be going ashore. The invasion was on. Captain Olsen gave the order Set Condition 1-A and preparations for lowering boats began. Our baptism of fire was over. --by Em. H. V. N eece. 41 XXXX9' Xkxxxxxvx xxXXxw.,x-,X

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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

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um XQQXXXXXAXXXX sxxxxxxxxxxxxxyxxx ,xxxxxxxxx Q Kxxxxxxxxxxw Hxxxxxxv Xxxxxxxxvx P fb aqeacii l A E Sitting, left to right: Doremus, B. T. CBeaCh Platoon Comclr.D, Sherman, E. C. CExecutive OfF1cerD, Phillips, C. W. CEngineering Ofificerj 3 Roberts, J. CFirst Lieutenantb. Standing, left to iight: Hassberger, B. CMedicalD, A Porritt, R. H. CNavigatorD, Tolson, J. C. CGunnery Omcerbg Kelly, T. S. CSupply Gfficerbg Brouilletre, C. V, CBoat Group Commanderb. Not in Picture: Lowe, P. M. CCOIUI'l1LlI1lCilflOI1S Omccrbg 5 Morris, K. CTrz1nsport Quartermasterj. ! 2 4 i