| VOL 2 | Sunday, 14 June 1942 | NO. V |
Article Index
Without adequate training, a Fleet stands at the mercy of forces equal or even inferior to itself. With training, it is a fair fight, with victory accruing to the best strategist and tactician. As With training, endless hours of gunnery and on-the-double to General quarters, so goes the lesson of Morale. Less elegant linguists call Morale, applied in battle, "guts." Because it is that extra something which also wins seafights.
History teems with examples of training and Morale. John Paul Jones' "Bon Homme Richard" carried men who knew the Old Navy's ropes and kept its flag flying. Nelson's "Victory" rings with the same courageous tradition.
But one need not comb ancient logbooks for the stuff that makes Fleets and single ships great. Turn back to May 9, 1939. To a gusty Thursday evening off the German North Sea coast. To H.M.S. Kelly. Perhaps portions of the saga of the Return of the KELLY have reached your mess.
Here is the whole story. A thousand Navy primers, filled with drawings and little italicized morals would not offer as striking a lesson in Training and Morale.
At the head of a British destroyer flotilla whose mission was smashing a Nazi minelaying force off the German littoral, the KELLY represented the peak of English design. Akin to our own SIMS class of 1939, she grossed 1695 tons, carried a complement of 183 officers and men, and thrust her slim 348 feet through the water at 36 knots with 40,000 horsepower. This single-stacker had been commissioned less than a year earlier.
Her commander was Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten.
Mist banks already were closing- in at 1918 when an escorting aircraft reported a submarine ahead. But the KELLY, with H.M.S. KANDAHAR, slipped from the flotilla to track down the U-boat. Sixty minutes later another plane sighted the entire minelaying force. Captain Mountbatten signalled to rejoin the others, just then disappearing over the horizon.
Meantime H.M.S. BULLDOG, lagging behind to explode and sink a foating mine, attached herself to the two destroyers. Together the trip cut through the murk which, by 2230, had closed in from the northward. Hell erupted under the KELLY a quarter-hour later. From the bridge, a lookout reported a "blurred object" about 700 yards on the port beam. Hardly had he announced this fact, when the track of a torpedo streaked under the bridge. He saw it. So did others. For a brief moment--only silence. Then the blinding, shattering explosion. The KELLY lifted bodily. Out of her thinplated side blasted a 50-foot hole, one-seventh of her total length, extending downward from the waterline to her keel. Flames spewed internally and externally above the level of the bridge.
Open to the sea, the foremost boiler room lay in shambles, flooded. Black smoke and fumes eddied through the ship. And with a deafening roar, steam poured through the entire craft. Out of the mists, the BULLDOG, which had been proceeding astern, suddenly came upon the KELLY. The latter drifted like a log on a pond, she was down by the bows and listed heavily to starboard.
Still unknowing whether a German submarine had struck the blow, or whether a motor torpedo boat had propelled the charge at the KELLY, the BULLDOG raced northward to drop depth charges. By 2340 the fog roller thick over the grim scene. Yet the undamaged destroyer, utilizing Training, and the crippled ship, employing the courage that comes with Morale, managed to establish towing contact.
Within one hour after the deadly explosion, they headed for England.
Aboard the KELLY, unwounded members of the crew jettisoned her 21-inch torpedoes, depth charges, and all movable topweight. With excessive bow-trim and heavy list, her starboard gunwale awash in the gray North Sea, the KELLY edged forward at a scant six knots. She was a cumbersome tow for the BULLDOG. But, should she make safe harbor, she might be repaired. And at that hour Britain needed her destroyers for the Battle of the Atlantic which had been joined to the death.
All hands extend condolences to Kennedy Lee Elder F1c, "PA" Div. at the loss of his mother who died on 7 June, and sympathize with him in his sad bereavement. Sympathy also is extended to the other survivor in the Elder family, Ken's young sister. Mrs. Elder, ill for the past four years, died in a hospital at Huntington, West Virginia.
Hobbies of Washington Personnel
Born in Idaho, Ensign D. F. Jordon attended the University of Idaho where he majored in journalism. He was business manager of the university newspaper and a member of the Phi Gamma Delta social fraternity. Mr. Jordan became a radio announcer in Spokane, Washington as a preparation to going into radio advertising,
While in college, he received a private pilot's license under the C.A.A. program. He went through the Elimination Base at Seattle, Washington, and later was one of the first fifty cadets commissioned at the world's largest aviation training station – the "University of the Air"--at Corpus ChrIsti, Texas, where he was awarded his Navy Wings.
Mr. Jordan is fond of recreational activities and likes to bowl and ski. However, he say:; that his favorite hobby is watching football games.
Rats have big ears. Be careful not
to talk about the Navy to outsiders.
PROPOSED PAY INCREASES
Money is often merely an academic subject to a fighting man in war time, but it is interesting to note the contents of new bills proposed in Washington which seem likely to be made into law.
One proposed measure is for a minimum monthly pay of $50.00. Final congressional action has not been reported in the press at this writing, but reports indicate that; the bill seems certain of passage and that its provisions for increased pay may be made retroactive to June 1. If this measure is passed and is signed by tile President, it will be Good news for all men in the lowest pay grades.
There is still being debated a bill to render further assistance in supporting dependents. One proposal in a measure introduced into the House, requires a minimum monthly allotment of twenty-two dollars for dependents in return for which the government would add twenty-eight dollars for dependent wife and ten dollars additional for each child of service men. Provisions also are inserted in this proposed legislation for dependent parents and dependent or disabled brothers and sisters.
A proposed bill, of course, is not a law, and the final bill when or if it is passed and signed by the President to become effective, may be completely revised. If any of these measures become law, men in the Washington will be instructed by the Disbursing Officer in the procedure necessary to take advantage of any increases grant- by reason of dependents.
Nothing reported in the press indicates it is contemplated to set aside any of the provisions of Nav 5K. If there is a question of dependency, the Navy expects that the minimum to be contributed to the support of a legal wife without children, is one third of the man's gross pay; wife and one child at least one half; and wife and two or more children, at least three fifths of a man's gross pay.
With pay already increased by twenty per cent for men on sea duty, and with opportunities for recreational spending often restricted by war time service, many men are buying War Bonds. Additional pay or allowances, if granted, will enable men further to provide for their own future and for the security of their families by wisely adding to their savings. Service men who purchase War Bonds put their dollars to work by earning interest. Offered by the government these Bonds are as sound as U.S. currency. However, they are not static but increase in value as the months pass by. In ten years $18.75 invested in a War Bond becomes $25.00. Buying War Bonds, men not only provide for future emergencies for themselves, but nobly and patriotically supply our country with the funds necessary to insure final victory.
War Bonds may be purchased on board by allotment.
"What would you do if you inherited a million dollars?" |
BODILY EXERCISE
Bodily labor is of two kinds, either that which a man performs in his daily work, or that which he does for pleasure. The latter generally changes the name of labor to that of exercise, but differs only from ordinary labor as it arises from another motive.
Consider the body as a system of tubes and glands, or to use a more rustic phrase, a bundle of pipes and strainers, fitted to one another in so wonderful a manner as to make a proper engine for the man to work with. This description does not only comprehend the heart, bones, tendons, veins, nerves and arteries, but every muscle and ligature.
In this general idea of a. human body, without considering it in its niceties of anatomy, let us see how absolutely necessary labor is for its right preservation. There must be frequent motions and agitations, to mix, digest, and separate the juices contained in it, as well as to clear and cleanse that imperceptible number of tubes or pipes, interwoven on all sides with invisible glands or strainers, and to give their solid parts a more firm and lasting tone. In the words of an old philosopher, labor or exercise ferments the humors, casts them into their proper channels, throws off redundancies, and helps nature in those secret distributions, without which the body cannot subsist in its vigor, nor the man act with cheerfulness.
There may also be mentioned the effects which this has upon all the faculties of the mind, by keeping the understanding clear, the imagination untroubled, and by refining those characteristics which are necessary for the proper exertion of the intellect. For those who are not obliged to labor, because of the technical nature of their duties, they will find their ability and effciency impaired, unless they indulge in that voluntary labor which goes by the name of exercise.
...................................................J.F.B.
Have You Written Home This Week?
Some twenty odd "old and decrepit" Chief Petty Officers went ashore recently and cavorted through what was intended to have been a softball game between the right arm and left arm rates. The score sheet, however, might lead one to believe it was a basketball game instead -- 24-23. 4sk any right arm rating who won.
Among the highlights of the contest were included some remarkable feats, such as "Tojo" LeClair's tremendous double which scored two runs, CGM Fears hitting the ump in the back with a hot liner, and home runs by CFC Jewett, CSM Butler, CBmkr Haley. CQM Shay was outstanding with two round trip sockos.
Errors were too numerous to count with any degree of accuracy, but to the pitchers' credit, only one pass was issued and that came in the first half of the ninth inning. Kubu started as pitcher for the lefties and was evidently in a benevolent mood because he allowed seven hits and twelve runs in four innings. He was relieved by Haley who also allowed twelve runs in five innings. "CSB" Soles pitched all the way for the winners and did very well for eight innings when the score stood 18-13 in his favor. He allowed one walk and eight hits in the ninth inning and ten runs crossed the plate. The right arm rates came up for their turn at bat in the ninth inning trailing by five runs which they made up very easily and one to spare. There were no outs when the winning run scored.
The starting lineups were: Right arm--Sanderson, 2b; Damon, 1b; Butler, ss; Soles, p; Fears, sf; Kolaja, If; Jewett, 3b; Adalac, rf; Shay, cf; Signorvich, c. Left arms--Cunningham, 2b; Johnson, rf; Hutto, c; Kubu, p; Dockham, 3b; Traubman, If; Hoch, sf; Roberts, cf; Haley, ss; Haugh, 1b.
Substitutes--Right arm--Beal, Stapley. Left arm-Cybulski, Montagano, Baret, LeClair, Jensen, Perkoski.
No accurate count could be kept of the committed errors but it is the general belief that the summary probably was as follows:
| R | H | E | ||
| Right Arm | ................ | 24 | 19 | 8 |
| Left Arm | ................ | 23 | 17 | 17 |
Old "Eagle Eye" McClintic, CEM officiated as umpire and no doubt did the best he could under extenuating circumstances.
"Did you see the magician make the money disappear?" |
If you were known as something of a child prodigy in your home precinct back in Keokuk or Atlanta, one of those unique people who, like Einstein, has all the answers—or knows where to find them -- you will perhaps want to strike for a place in the WASHINGTON'S CR gang. Take it from the division officer, and from a lesser known figure by the name of Rudyard Kipling, it's a sure "way to promotion and pay".
The chores which keep the complement of radiomen, and all the telephones, busy through the day are many and varied. Traditionally, however, your first assignment as a striker, and the one which will have no little weight on chances for further promotion will be the brewing of the coffee. Since this is the very elixir of life for radiomen, its importance is never underestimated.
At present the conduct of the day's work is aided or abetted by the presence of some ten additional radiomen carried as part of the flag personnel.
Chiefs Mongar, Traubman, and Roberts are the guiding lights in Radio "1", the nerve center of the complicated communication system. The watch supervisors are Petty Officers Walker, Torrence, Thomas, Beatty, Snyder, and Harrison. They survive on a day-to-day basis by being able to keep their heads above the storm of paper which blows through the radio shack in the course of every four-hour watch.
Adding a paternal touch to the surroundings is the league of doting fathers composed of those who have had to rely on a rather infrequent postman for the news of their family status. Present members in good standing are Chief George Mongar, Morris Kemple, and James Torrence. Needless to say, the membership roll is not expected to show any appreciable increase during the coming year.
With a policy of unlimited promotion in force for radiomen afloat many of the boys have moved up from seaman to competent petty officers since the Washington was commissioned in May of 1941. A number have also been transferred to duty on even newer ships being completed in Eastern shipyards. Others are ashore in one of the many technical schools studying for specialist ratings. Even with a watch-and-watch sea schedule and a one-in-three at anchor the division school has continued to operate, stressing the special radio procedure signals along with routine interpretation of dah-de-dah. About three months of practice is normally required in order to copy the coded Navy messages although this period varies widely.
Among the recent promotions in the division have been:--Valentine Popoff to RM1c; Anthony Depaolo, Bill Finn, and John Holder to RM3c; and James Smallwood to Yeoman third. Results of the recent examination have not been announced. Arthur Murray drew the top promotion in February when he took his four hash marks to the chief's quarters.
Radio II, or 'TR' as it is called for short, is the Transmitting Room and is under the supervision of Chief Radio Electrician McKay. Mr. McKay is now senior warrant offcer aboard and began his naval career about the turn of the century. His right hand man is Chief Matthew Reiss. 'TR' is charged with tile maintainance of the materiel.
During lulls, the materiel gang has worked up a passable musical quartette composed of John Marshburn, the Carolina guitar player; Ace Holton, fiddler; and C.W. Cox and Godfrey Smith. The latter two having won a place, not because of any musical ability, but because there has to be four in a quartette. Chief 'Elmo' Roberts of G division is tutor and guest soloist for the group.
In the recent inspection, it remained for Mickey Finn of the 'TR' definitely to gain the day for his division and for his old home town. His words, like Admiral Farragut's "Damn the torpedoes....", will remain an heritage to posterity. It was like this as all the gold braid passed down the poker straight ranks:
A distinguished visitor asked the names of the States from which certain of the men came:
Hebard: "California, sir".
Groff: "New York, sir".
Hadley: "Colorado, sir".
Finn: "Brooklyn, sir".
Send home the "Scream"
Di Stefano has been taking a verbal beating; around the gunnery office lately. Seems he started to construct. a flying model of the "Hawker Hurricane." but certain changes in the basic design ensued, leaving De Stefano open to remarks in which his jealous onlookers accused him of attempting to become an aeronautical designer.
Around "H" Division it is said that D. W. Lewis would like to entertain the ship's company with a little crooning and a, exhibition of fisticuffs. Wonder if one will be the direct result of the other--self defense as it were? McMahon, noted orator around the sick bay, made history again recently with a speech against congregating in the dressing room. The audience, undecided at first, finally was convinced of the importance of the subject. Mac came through with flying colors--iodine and mercurochome.
The boys of "G" Division will hardiy speak to anyone now that they have their compartment freshly painted. "Whip Cracker" Gruhot deserves a bit of credit for having the place look 4.0. It might also be mentioned that all hands, including Leach, get up for chow...which disproves a theory prevalent about the ship that all in "C" Division were born with mattresses attached to their backs.
A new flag has been seen waving from tile bridge. Seems the quartermasters have made up a flag with two stars and a "joe pot" on a field of blue. Said flag, known as "ComJoeRon" is flown when the quartermasters have the "java" ready for their fellow henchmen.
$ $ $ $ $
The boys in the pay office are in a quandary as to whether Bandsman Chasin, alias Battleship Benny, Money-Back, Discount Dave, Lease Lend, Fire Sale, Close Out, Insurance Ike, Sell-Em' Out, Losing Money Louie, Ten-percent, No-Exchange, and several other popular nom-de-plumes, is going to move his bunk near their office to save wear and tear on his shoe leather. Instead of traversing the now lengthy distance to the Pay Office from the R Division to check on the new pay bill, and other pertinent financial data, Chasin figures such a move would save him at least 10 percent quarterly!
$ $ $ $ $
Around the First Division compartment when any reference is made to skiing there is one lad who is right in on the know. He is E. H. Barnaby, Sea2c, from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Barnaby began skiing when he lived in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Since then he won the Grand Rapids City Championship in jumping with a distance of 125 feet. He still claims to be a novice, especially in the slalom and the down-hill runs. However, he is looking forward to the day he can hit some powder snow trails above 10,000 feet.
Some praise at morning
|
what they blame at night,
--Pope
If any one is in doubt of the progress of boxing class he should drop in on the little drama that is reenacted every day in No. 1 Messing Compartment about 1530, the principals being a frustrated messcook and a slug happy sailor. It invariably runs . . . . Messcook: "Say Bud, how's chances of setting up? Early chow goes down pretty quick." Slugger: "Okay Cookie, just one more round." Then he turns to the bag and proceeds to pound it unmercifully, hooking, jabbing, backhanding with the same ferocity with which Joe Louis recently pulverized that huge hulk of humanity, 200 pounder Abe Simon. Finally, exhausted, happy, looking like he could use a little lifebuoy, he lets the messcook do his daily dozen. If there remain any who are in doubt and wish to be convinced the hard way they are free to work out with any of the lads.
Guys You Notice
Micus --- With that determined look in his eye, all lathered up pounding away at the bag as if it were the fellow who stole his liberty card. Seriously though, you can't help admiring the guy's persistence—and heart.
Maurice---The ever present . . . if the bag is up, Maurice is there, watching studying, teaching and sometimes learning.
Davidson--- Long, lean and lanky 173 Ibs of bone and Platoon Sergeant. If practice is to bring out his natural knack, his course is fixed.
Johnny Spectator--- Admiring, sitting on the sidelines --- just watching. he's the guy who supplies the cheers. He's the crowd, the man to whom fighters good or bad amateur or professional are responsive. He's the lad who encourages a loser and heartens a winner. He's You!
-------------------Fagen
The sailor paced the deck outside the maternity ward for the first time.
Finally a nurse came through the door. "It's a buoy," she announced.
First Sailor: "What are you going to do when you get out of the Service?"
Second Sailor: "I'm going to be a sodajerker. They lead such stirring lives."
