Union (LKA 106) - Naval Cruise Book

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A DIVISIO LTCjgD R, Akeley ENC W.L. Barnes E EN3 D.P. Nordberg FN D.E. Ogden FN C.W. Richter The UNlON's main battery, her boats, was given a rigorous workout in amphibious underway training iust before the ship deployed to WESTPAC. The experience was invaluable for the assault boat . engineers of A Division and it enabled each one to assessthe capabilities and problem areas of the engineering plant in his boat. When the UNION per- formed a practice onefalfa in Okinawa it was expected that all boats were again ready to meet all commit- ments. By the time the UNION reached Da Nang, all boats were ready. Every assault boat engineer remembers the frequent choice they had between standing three section watches in the hole or spending the night on the boats in the pouring rain. Both Aguilera and Tarro fondly think back to the days when the gig and the LCPL ' demanded somuch of their attention. Taking the . heads off the engines seemed to be a weekly occur- rence. The,l.CPL, had the most enviable record, though---two overhauls and one new engine. A Division's most conspicuous success was lo- cated on the fantail. The mechanical monstersthat caused the crew to sweat during much of the last cruise, kept the compartments cool this year and even enabled cokes to be cooled when the ice machine was locked. Warfield assumes much of the credit because of the salt water cooling system he originated for the starboard air conditioning diesel. 'RE X N N NWA N X xx V. QQAQ Q S N X MA X Q , , V f r .X T' Q U. . FN D.L, Rouse A in A FN St H - so A NI.J. ephenson A ,i if, it Q O Q V'-M W X mis sf N Q f, N5 X- x vw vm . -v . ' c f V S Q, xgpggi c Q

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E GI EERI G DEP RTMENT This cruise was a hard-work cruise For Engineering Department, just as every- one else. The hot watches in the engine room were tempered by an occasional smoke watch topside fthe only open- air engine room watch you'll ever standl, but the men of M and B Divisions continued to look for relief to the scuttlebutt in the forward end ofthe engine room. A Gang worked long hours keeping boats running that just couldn't seem to see it. But run they did, For practice landings, ' endless loading and offloading evolutions, and oh-so-sweet liberty runs. R 'Division will always remember their helicopter platform, truly a commendable piece of work, especially at mail call. And the duty electrician Cwhoever he wasl in E Division will never forget falthough- we're sure he'd like tol being summoned to number three hatch. LT J.F. lconis Engineering Officer Most of all, the Engineering Department will never forget cleaning Firesides and watersides underway as the UNION steamed toward a rendezvous with Christmas in San Diego. Or was it Tern Island?

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Q-W 77+