A trackback, now and then, would be nice, but…no pressure.

Continuing in the vein of the last two weeks, more on the (mundane) life at sea: The SHs. Ship’s Servicemen. Function: Four main things, to me, a non-Supply type, looking at how it affected my life:

• Ship’s Barbers
• Ship’s Laundry
• Ship’s Store Operator
• “Gedunk” Machine Fillers

First: Ship’s Barbers – Yes, they cut hair. Somewhere on the ship, there is a small to medium sized space, in my case I have seen from 3 chairs (on an AOR) to one (DDs/FFGs). On the door, the day’s appointment times, maybe tomorrows, too. Walk by and scribble your name in the 15 minute block. Some ships allow call in appointments to all, some to officers and chiefs. The shop isn’t open 24/7, but usually human like “business hours” and some evening periods, too. For me, an an XO, the Barber shop had more than one purpose. It was a 15 minute Q&A period with an SH1, plenty seasoned and with a finger on the pulse of the crew, where information flowed both directions. He would clue me in on issues not getting a fair shot, I could provide more detailed explanations for situations/operations for the general edification of those not getting the gouge via the chain of command, or in need of clarification. It was a great safety valve. Not only was this a feature I used, but one day, the CO asked me to schedule him for a haircut. I later provided him the time. That evening, as we sat after 8 o’clock reports covering the day, he commented: When you set me up for a haircut, it’s with SH1….we smiled, knowing why. Done, was the response, and it always was henceforth.

Readers: Got a good “sea story” about the barbers aboard? Drop it off in the comments. I know there are plenty. Other SH stories? Hold them and come back weekly to connect them to the functional areas above, please! The last week of SH stories will be noted and then batteries released for any topics not covered.

Next week: The Ship’s Laundry and activating the bleach.The Fog hd Juno ipod

Required reading: Fred Fry’s Maritime Monday 104, Eagle1’s first person report of being captured by modern day pirates and now, CDR Salamander opens fire on the new Maritime Strategy document. Toss in Eagle1’s Sunday Ship History: Aerial Mining post, too (with an old post of mine related to the subject, because it discusses one Navy admiral’s view on the minings in Vietnam).
BT
Last week, I reported on Father O’Callahan, one of the Medal of Honor awardees aboard USS FRANKLIN. There is background information there, and links to other references about the attack on the FRANKLIN, which support this post as well. Consider it pre-reading to frame the writing below.

Born in July 23rd, 1903, Donald Gary enlisted in the Navy in 1919.

Serving in the enlisted ranks, he eventually was commissioned in 1943 to Lieutenant (Junior Grade) in 1943. His assignments, prior to the one that is the subject of this week’s story were: Third Naval District, New York City; the Office of Assistant Inspector of Machinery, B&W Company, Ohio; the staff of Commander Submarine Group ONE, New York; and the Naval Disciplinary Barracks, Terminal Island, California. His sea duty tours included ELCANO (PG 38), HANNIBAL (AG 1), SWAN (AM 34), IDAHO (BB 42), and INDIANAPOLIS (CA 35) for two tours.In 1944, LTJG Gary was assigned to the USS FRANKLIN (CV-13) in the Engineering department.Aboard the FRANKLIN on March 19th, 1945, he survived the attack by the lone Japanese dive bomber, and was instrumental in saving the FRANKLIN. Not only did he save 250-300 men trapped below, and organizing firefighting on the hanger deck, he found his way to below to one of the boiler rooms and got one boiler on line, thus providing a source of power for the ship.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as an Engineering Officer attached to the U.S.S. Franklin when that vessel was fiercely attacked by enemy aircraft during the operations against the Japanese Home Islands near Kobe, Japan, 19 March 1945. Stationed on the third deck when the ship was rocked by a series of violent explosions set off in her own ready bombs, rockets and ammunition by the hostile attack, Lieutenant Gary unhesitatingly risked his life to assist several hundred men trapped in a messing compartment filled with smoke, and with no apparent egress. As the imperiled men below decks became increasingly panic-stricken under the raging fury of incessant explosions, he confidently assured them he would find a means of affecting their release and, groping through the dark, debris-filled corridors, untimately discovered an escapeway. Staunchly determined, he struggled back to the messing compartment three times despite menacing flames, flooding water and the ominous threat of sudden additional explosions, on each occasion calmly leading his men through the blanketing pall of smoke until the last one had been saved. Selfless in his concern for his ship and his fellows, he constantly rallied others about him, repeatedly organized and led fire-fighting parties into the blazing inferno on the flight deck and, when firerooms 1 and 2 were found to be inoperable, entered the No. 3 fireroom and directed the raising of steam in one boiler in the face of extreme difficulty and hazard. An inspiring and courageous leader, Lieutenant Gary rendered self-sacrificing service under the most perilous conditions and, by his heroic initiative, fortitude and valor, was responsible for the saving of several hundred lives. His conduct throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and upon the United States Naval Service.

From the WW2DB, this bit on the later part of CDR Gary’s career:

Gary was subsequently promoted to the ranks of lieutenant and lieutenant commander. After the war, he remained with the ship until she was decommissioned in Feb 1947. He was then assigned to the Naval Disciplinary Barracks at Terminal Island, California, United States, where he served until retirement in Jun 1950. He was promoted to the rank of commander while on the retirement list. He passed away in [April 9th,]

Collapse dvdrip

1977. He now rests at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California, United States.

Around the web, there is little information about Donald Gary. The Naval Archives does have his collection of his personal papers,

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but they are not published.

On November 17th, 1984, the USS GARY (FFG-51) was commissioned to honor CDR Donald Gary, USN. GARY is part of the OLIVER HAZARD PERRY guided missile frigate class and remains in active service today, stationed at Naval Station San Diego, CA, having spent much of her service time forward deployed to the Naval Station at Yokuska, Japan.One of the GARY’s historical missions was to be the first US warship to visit Cambodia since the Vietnam War. She made a port visit to Sihanoukville in February, 2007.

300 hd

ships belong at sea.

One of “our own” (a MilBlogger that is: LCDR Chris van Avery), heads out on an underway period as Executive Officer aboard USS RUSSELL (DDG-59). The Ship’s blog will provide some just about real time details of life at sea. Favorite/bookmark Destroymen The Invisible Boy hd The Ballad of Josie release now and check the posts often.

So far, there are three authors identified for the blog, Chris, ET3 Kirkland and ENS Scheimer. That provides a cross section of the crew, but missing is representation by the backbone of the Navy, a member of the Goat’s Locker. I bet there will be great sroties for all coming our way.

Robin Hood dvd

Brian Regan: I Walked on the Moon move

Required reading: Airborne mine sweeping history by Eagle1 and Maritme Monday 103 by Fred Fry.
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Born May 14th, 1905, he was destined to serve his Maker and our nation many years later.

LCDR Joseph T. O’Callahan, USNR (ChC) in 1945 Shortly after completing high school, Joseph entered the Society of Jesus shortly thereafter, to begin a 13 year path to ordination as a priest in 1934. Earning his Bachelor’s and master’s degrees along the way, he specialized in mathematics and science, as well as religious studies. In August, 1940, he entered the Naval Reserve as a LT(jg) in the Chaplain’s Corps.Father O’Callahan’s assignments are listed at CatholicMil.org:

At the outbreak of World War II, Fr. O’Callahan entered the chaplain corps and began a ministry focused on the sailors destined to serve in the Pacific. He was assigned to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, from 1940-42, then served at sea aboard the U.S.S. Ranger from 1942-44, and returned to shore duty at Pearl Harbor into early 1945. His final assignment of the war was to the carrier U.S.S. Franklin, which was given orders taking it close to enemy territory.

Arriving aboard USS FRANKLIN (CV-13) seventeen days before March 19, 1945, LCDR O’Callahan was assigned duties as the Ship’s Chaplain. On the 19th, while sailing close to the Japanese coastline, a lone Japanese dive bomber penetrated the defensive screen of the allied forces, and dropped a single bomb on the aft of the FRANKLIN’s flight deck.SteelJaw Scribe detailed the struggle for the very life of the ship that resulted in his recent post. SJS gives a brief description of a bomb, slicing several decks down, wrecking combat loaded planes on the flight deck and ripping open AVGAS fuel lines below, which began an inferno that killed many of the crew, and threatened to sink the ship. The training and response of the surviving crewmen, working alone, in small and large groups, ended up saving the ship, with essentially no command level direction due to the battle damage.

This past week, I found the Spring 2008 issue of MHQ has an article by Joseph Springer about the attack on the USS FRANKLIN, too, but that is but an extracted piece from a newly published book: “Inferno: The Epic Life and Death Struggle to Save USS FRANKLIN in WWII” by Springer.

Chaplin O’Callahan was everywhere. Besides performing his duties to the dying and wounded, he helped jettison munitions into the sea, and made several trips below decks to lead his shipmates to safety. He organized firefighting teams to water down ammo magazines and was credited with saving 700 men. The Commanding Officer of the FRANKLIN said of him: “he is the bravest man I have ever seen.” As a result of his heroic efforts, LCDR O’Callahan was awarded the Medal of Honor.Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Chaplain on board the U.S.S. Franklin when that vessel was fiercely attacked by enemy Japanese aircraft during offensive operations near Kobe, Japan, on 19 March 1945. A valiant and forceful leader, calmly braving the perilous barriers of flame and twisted metal to aid his men and his ship, Lieutenant Commander O’Callahan groped his way through smoke-filled corridors to the open flight deck and into the midst of violently exploding bombs, shells, rockets and other armament. With the ship rocked by incessant explosions, with debris and fragments raining down and fires raging in ever increasing fury, he ministered to the wounded and dying, comforting and encouraging men of all faiths; he organized and led fire-fighting crews into the blazing inferno on the flight deck; he directed the jettisoning of live ammunition and the flooding of the magazine; he manned a hose to cool hot, armed bombs rolling dangerously on the listing deck, continuing his efforts despite searing, suffocating smoke which forced men to fall back gasping and imperiled others who replaced them. Serving with courage, fortitude and deep spiritual strength, Lieutenant Commander O’Callahan inspired the gallant officers and men of the Franklin to fight heroically and with profound faith in the face of almost certain death and to return their stricken ship to port.

Retiring from the Naval reserve as a Captain in 1953, he passed away March 18th, 1964.

The Navy honored the life of Father O’Callahan with the GARCIA Class frigate USS O’CALLAHAN (DE-1051) (later FF-1051), commissioned July 13th, 1968. Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, she was stationed in San Diego, CA. In 1968, she was decommissioned from service in the US Navy, then leased to the Pakistani Navy as Aslat (F-265). Eventually, she was broken up for scrap in Hong Kong.

Required reading: Eagle1’s tale of the “MoBoard”

• Moondance Alexander dvd

The Brothers Solomon move

, the indispensable tools of officers and enlisted alike, who made a profession of handing ships at sea and Fred Fry’s Maritime Monday 102 @ the gCaptain Maritime site.
BT

Arthur J. Elliot was born April 9th, 1933 in Maine. The oldest of three boys in the family, and a sailor at heart, having grown up in and around the family owned shipyard Dunn and Elliot in Thomaston, ME. Completing his Bachelor’s degree in 1955, he applied several times to the Navy Officer Candidate Program and finally was accepted in 1956. Arthur was began his commissioned career in the Engineering Department of the USS LYMAN K. SWENSON (DD 729) in 1956, where he also served as Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and Gunnery Officer. After this tour, he resigned from active duty, but retained his Naval Reserve commission, only to volunteer to return to active duty in 1960, when he was assigned to the USS LITTLE ROCK (CL-4). Other assignments followed as the Flag Aide for Commander, Service Forces, Pacific Fleet, and then Operations Officer aboard USS JOHN KING (DDG-3) (One of my sea stories about my interactions with USS JOHN KING (DDG-3) during my career is here). LCDR Elloit volunteered for duty in Vietnam and in 1968, was assigned as Commanding Officer of Patrol Boat Squadron 57. On December 29th, LCDR Arthur Elloit was killed in action in the operations in the Mekong River Delta area. He received the Bronze Star with Combat “V” for heroic achievement in coordinating suppressing fire and personally directing his patrol boat to provide covering fire for the other units during the action in which he was hit by enemy rocket fire. In honor of LCDR Elliot, the fifth ship of the SPRUANCE Class destroyers was put to sea: USS ELLIOT (DD-967).The USS ELLIOT was assigned to the Pacfic Fleet and conducted 12 forward deployments after her commissioning on January 22nd, 1977.One of the highlights of the ELLIOT’s service was the detection of the newly built Soviet aircraft carrier, the MINSK

in the Indian Ocean. In addition to just locating the ship, ELLIOT’s embarked SH-2F Sea Sprite helicopter was able to photograph the MINSK and a Soviet frigate conducting alongside underway refueling operations. The method of refueling while alongside and underway had long been the domain if the US and Allied Navies, but was still in it’s infancy in the Soviet Navy at that time, so this was quite an intelligence gathering opportunity. More details of that story in the Ship’s history are found here.The USS ELLIOT (DD-967) was decommissioned on December 2nd, 2003 and sunk in the Coral Sea as a target for US and allied forces on June 24th, 2005.Update 3/25/2008: RMCM Robert Grey, USN (Ret) left me a note about RIVDIV 572’s web site Just Buried ipod , where LCDR Elliot served as Commander of River Squadron 57. Get over there and read and see more about the Navy’s “River Rats” in Vietnam.

• Yes Man video

Required reading: Maritime Monday 101 by Fred Fry posted at gCaptain Blog and a story of the lowly barrage balloons download Bathory from Eagle 1.
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Admiral Paul Foster was born in March 25th, 1889 in Wichita, KS. He attended the University of Idaho, and later was accepted to the Naval Academy, graduating in 1911. Initially assigned to the surface navy aboard the USS WASHINGTON (CA-11) and the newly commissioned USS UTAH (BB-31). The USS UTAH participated in the Mexican Campaigns and Ens Foster went ashore with a landing party at some point and demonstrated a significant amount of courage on the 21st and 22nd of April, 1914, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.ADM Foster then transitioned to the “Silent Service,” taking command of the G-4 in February of 1916. Folling that tour, he had command of the USS AL-2 (SS-41), and, while operating in Bantry Bay, was credited with the sinking of German U-Boat UB-65 on 10 July, 1918. The UB-65 was one of three enemy subs sunk by the US Navy in WWI.
In 1924, ADM Foster was assigned as the commissioning Engineer Officer aboard USS TRENTON (CL-11). In January, 1927, he was awarded the Navy Cross for his efforts in a gun turret explosion aboard TRENTON. At this point in his career, then LCDR Foster became the first man to be awarded all three of the top awards for his service time; The Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal.Resigning his commission in 1927, ADM Foster left the service, but was recalled in 1941, where he went to work on the staff of the Navy Inspector General, conducting three inspecptions at the personal direction of the President.ADM Foster served until 1961. He passed away in 1972. To honor this man, the USS PAUL F FOSTER (DD-964), the second ship of the SPRUANCE Class destroyers.

Spun the movie

was commissioned February 21st, 1976.Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, FOSTER conducted 13 deployments to the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. She supported both Desert Storm and Desert Shield in 1990/91. She was decommissioned in March 27th, 2003, and now serves as the Self Defense Test Ship for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, CA.

Warm up reading (after you finish this one!): Fred Fry’s Maritime Monday – his 100th edition, btw.

The Land Before Time full movie

and Eagle1 tells some tale of how the ground pounders horned in on nautical work for many, many years.

A blast from the past, or more precisely post #1 in this series.

• Booty Call download

Foreign Exchange full movie

Still getting the lay of the new land out here, so the postings time for research is at a premium. If you follow the link, I began with some history of the beginnings of the US Navy, when we began to consciously design and build warships. Harken back to the days of wooden ships, iron men, and the decision making process in Congress, and other places, that may remind you of some events today, or not. It was an exciting time, when a particular shipwright created a great design and got the ships to sea, where they performed remarkably well against the former motherland and other enemies in the foreign way.

Today was the day of the time honored tradition of christening of a US Naval vessel, in this case, the one day to be the USS NEW YORK (LPD-21). House of 1000 Corpses divx I Wanna Hold Your Hand

In Memory of My Father ipod

Sniper 2 psp

NEW YORK will carry to sea 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the Ground Zero site in her stem, a reminder for all the days of her service of that day in our history. CDR F. Curtis Jones, USN, will have the honor of serving as the PCO.

History…plenty of it was on display today to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11.

The Navy remembers Lt Spence Dry, USN, for his part in the secret Operation Thunderhead Trainspotting ipod

Ouija video

, a plan to send in SEALs to rescue POWs.

He died June 5th, 1972.

In the Heat of the Night ipod

His father, a WWII Skipper has kept his memory alive.

While other MilBloggers get their beauty sleep, the great news is the AEGIS/SM-3 combination has successfully engaged the failed spy satellite at about 10:30PM EST today.

From CNN:

WASHINGTON (CNN) — An inoperable U.S. spy satellite orbiting about 150 miles above Earth was struck Wednesday by a missile fired from a U.S. Navy cruiser, military sources told CNN.

A Delta II rocket lifts off, carrying a reconnaissance satellite that failed hours later.

The Pentagon said the window of opportunity to strike the 5,000-pound satellite opened Wednesday, when the space shuttle Atlantis landed in Florida. The Pentagon wanted to be sure the shuttle would not be struck by any debris from a destroyed satellite.

But earlier the official said conditions had to be perfect, and that was not the case Wednesday with swells in the Pacific Ocean west of Hawaii running slightly higher than Navy would like.

CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said six- to eight-foot swells were reported in the area through Wednesday night and were not expected to come down until Friday or Saturday.
[…]

Great news. In a scenario where two fast moving objects have to make a “skin-to-skin” meeting on the end of space with a closing velocity of 22,000 mph, it happened, even while the ship wallowed about in moderate seas in the Pacific.

So, BZ to the crew of USS LAKE ERIE (CG-70) and their supporting tracking units, USS RUSSELL (DDG-73) and USS DECATUR (DDG-59)!

And, just in case you wondered, China has voiced “concerns” over this act to the US. You know, the country who already shot down a satellite, but without notification to the world community and no regard for the debris field it left in orbit to possibly damage other satellites and space vehicles. Anyhow, since they used a land based silo system, and not a mobile, sea bore one, I’m sure they are concerned, since we have engineers who can solve for an intercept between a mobile launch platform and the target.