COUGAR SCREAM

Following is the Citation of Captain Arthur Granville Robinson, U. S. Navy, by the Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox for the President:

"For distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U. S. S. Marblehead on February 4, 1942, during an engagement with superior Japanese enemy forces. While subject to heavy bombing by enemy aircraft, during which his ship suffered severe damage from two direct hits and one near miss, the personnel under his command strenuously engaged a large attacking force of Japanese bombing planes, and by effective use of the anti-aircraft batteries, destroyed two enemy planes and inflicted damage on others. The excellent seamanship displayed by Captain Robinson combined with the prompt and effective actions of his well trained officers and crew resulted in saving his badly damaged and crippled ship."

Ralph LaVerne Cosgrove put in a busy day when the Japs raided Pearl Harbor.

Cosgrove's record, as received at the Navy Department, revealed that--

He rendered "valuable service" in clearing a traffic jam about the Receiving Station during the enemy's first strafing attack.

Reported on board a nearby ship and voluntarily assisted in obtaining needed machine gun ammunition.

Discovered a truck load of ammunition abandoned in the Submarine Base, commandeered the truck and distributed the ammunition to ships requiring it.

Seized a rife and opposed the second enemy bombing attack upon the fleet base at Pearl Harbor.

Then, finally, assisted in the care and transportation of those wounded in the raids.

Cosgrove was promoted from Carpenter's Mate 1st Class, U.S.N.R., to Chief Carpenter's Mate as reward.

I have been asked to give my impressions of some of the Washington boxers. There is a bunch of good looking fighters now working out in the mess compartment, and many of them show considerable promise.

Henneckes, with his southpaw style looks to me as good as some of the class that used to be billed at Madison Square Garden. What the old Palace theatre was to vaudeville, the Garden is to fighters from every section of the country. I fought over a hundred professional fights and won almost all of them, but when I was billed for the Garden, I figured that I had attained national recognition.

Fuller is a peppy lad who is a hard worker and who has the spirit it takes to win. Fagen is a smooth working boxer who is good. He has been improving constantly, particularly during the past three months. Beacht is a fighting sailor who has proved he can take a punch and come back fighting. Jacob, Davidson and Maurice also are lads who step in there and show that they like it.

With some more training, these lads seem set to go far and it seems to me they will be able to give a good account of themselves whenever we happen to have a smoker with another ship.

Some of the lads at the last smoker yelled for me to give an exhibition. I'll be glad to do so at the next smoker when we hold one, for I have found someone for a partner. Any critic of our fighters, however, is cordially invited to step in the ring for an exhibition.

A visiting Naval Chaplain will conduct Protestant Divine Services on board on Sunday, August 2, at 0900. There will be a special musical program. Catholic Services will be held as usual at 0650 and 1000.

Send home the "Scream"

The Macmillan Company recently published an autobiograhy by Chaplain Wm. A. Maguire, Captain (ChC) U. S. Navy, who is known to many of the personnel in the U. S. S. Washington.

According to a newspaper account, surveys show that "Rig for Church" is already among the nation's best sellers, and is fast becoming the leader. Because of its effervescent style in reporting the adventures of one in the Navy, it is stated that it is bound to reach the top.

Chaplain Maguire was on duty at Pearl Harbor on the now historic December 7th as Fleet Chaplain, Pacific Fleet. An account of some of his experiences on that day is contained in his book. He received the Distinguished Service Medal for heroic work at the burning of the "Florence H" in Queberon Bay on April 17, 1918.

Captain Barry Wilson, U. S. Navy, wrote the book's foreword.

Peter Julius Gregonis, Chief Water Tender, U.S. Navy, was commended by the Secretary of the Navy today for risking his life to rescue another sailor from the icy waters of a New England harbor February 15.

In addition, Gregonis, 32 years old, of San Diego, California, was recommended by the Secretary for award of the Silver Life Saving Medal issued by the Treasury Department.

Gregonis jumped overboard and swam with a life ring to Lewis Itzin, 25, Water Tender 1st Class, U. S. N., when the latter fell from on oceangoing tug carrying crew members from shore to their ships at anchor in the harbor.

Gregonis and Itzen were then hauled to safety.

"The Department," the Secretary declared in Gregonis' letter of commendation, "commends you for your prompt action and disregard of your own safety, which undoubtedly saved the life of Itzen. Such conduct is in keeping with the best traditions of the Naval service."

To help obtain five hundred thousand men for the Navy, the member of the Police Departments of Seattle and Tacoma are vying with one another for the honor of securing the most men, according to the Northwest Naval Recruiter. These men appointed themselves unofficial assistant naval recruiters in an effort to secure men of the highest character for the Navy.

For a long period the Bureau of Navigation, now the Bureau of Naval Personnel, encouraged men new in Navy to help obtain additional recruits for the Navy from among their friends back home. A cheerful letter, perhaps to a high school friend, may lead a young man to seek out a recruiting station and offer his services to his country. The Navy is building more ships and is expanding its air force. It needs more and good men to fit in with its rapidly enlarging program. Helping the Navy in this regard means a noble addition to the service you are rendering your country. The Navy recognizes that one of its best sources for securing additional men for the Navy is from among the men who already are in it.

Those multi-colored ribbons sailors wear aren't merely decorative. They are prized recognition for service rendered during various campaigns involving our armed forces or else mark good conduct records, or denote marksmanship with the weapons of our service. One of the latest ribbons to be issued, and one of which is much in evidence on board ship, is an American Defense Service bar, awarded to men on active duty between September 8, 1939 and December 7, 1941. The ribbon is golden in color, to represent the golden opportunity that is offered to American youth of today in the service.

The ribbon has red, white and blue vertical stripes, 3-16 of an inch from the end. A bronze star or clasp represents duty on the high seas in that period, or service on bases outside the continental limits of the United States.

Civilian:	"What ship are you from?"
Sailor:	"U. S. S. Schaghticote."
Civilian:	"How do you pronounce that ?"
Sailor:	"Skat-i-kut."
Civilian:	"What kind of a name is that? Is it a city? I thought cruisers were named after cities."
Sailor:	"It's named after an Indian Chief. One of the heroes of the famous tribe of Stockbridge Indians. In Indian language, it means 'Flying Fish'."
Civilian:	"What kind of a ship is it?"
Sailor:	"It's a secret. Don't tell anyone but it's something new --a flying submarine."
Civilian:	"A flying submarine! I never heard of one."
Sailor:	"Few have, so don't mention it."
Civilian:	"Is it any good?"
Sailor:	"It Still has some drawbacks. Its best flying altitude is between 52,000 and 60,000 feet and that's rather high for accurate scouting and bombing. Its underwater shell is designed for heavy pressure at great depths in the oceans and also keeps it from caving in, in the rarefled air of high altitudes."
Civilian:	"Do you use gasolinel"
Sailor:	No it's a secret fuel called Chrzyszbrzine. It can be used under water too."
Civilian:	How does it get out of the water? Isn't it heavy?"
Sailor:	"You notice most transport planes are shaped like submarines with wings. The flying submarine comes to the surface, pumps out water from its tanks and uncovers eight fore and aft propellers. The wings roll out like a steel tape."
Civilian:	"I find this conversation interesting and instructive. What won't they think of next ?"
Sailor:	I'm sure you'd be interested, but don't tell a. word. Someone might tell Hitler. There are only six inches of armor on it and the danger is that if we are hit before we submerge, the ship might leak. We can't be too careful what me say these days"

Born in Minnesota, Lieutenant (jg) M. L. Olson later moved to North Dakota where he attended high school. While in high school, he played forward on the basketball squad--prefering a fast break method of play, so popular in western states. He was also active in dramatic arts, having appeared in several school productions.

Mr. Olson attended the University of North Dakota, where he took accounting-. From there he went into the field artiliary with the army. After serving in the army, he went to the University of Washington, where he was an honor student. Work and studies kept Mr. Olson occupied, so he had little time for outside activities. However, his recreational interests are skiing, ice skating, and hunting; with preference for the latter. He is an upland game hunter, and has a steady eye for pheasant, prairie chicken, and partridge. His favorite "scatterblaster" is a 20 gauge pump gun. Mr. Olson also plays the piano and a baratone horn, and prefers his music on the sweet and solid side. He is fond of the light classics.

Mr. Olson took his naval training at Northwestern and was stationed there before coming aboard. He later attended gunnery school and is a qualified machine gun instructor. He is very interested in naval gunnery and would like to remain in the service.

Lots has been said about our "Muscle men," the ship's boxers and wrestlers. But we have a lot more muscle men than those who climb through the hempen arena. And as most of them deserve a pat on the back, we shall herewith try to acquaint you with some of them and the muscles required to carry on their job aboard this vessel.

TAILOR SHOP--
First we have that efficient tailorman, genial "Curley" Mantooth, who has kept all his muscles working overtime these many months seeing the little boys' blues are kept in proper repair.

Then there is "Vince Deno, alias "V. J.", who kept in condition by sweating over the pressing machine all day, and some times half the night. He never lacks for proper muscle work.

"Dale Bennett, of the Buckeye State, gets his workouts by both pressing and tailoring in being a jack of both trades by assisting Curley and Vince.

LAUNDRY--
Handsome Harry Harrison, the Macon, Georgia Kid, gets his muscles from handing out about 5000 pounds of finished laundry a week.

"Snag Tooth" Wiley is the real hemen of the laundry corps. His muscles are kept in shape by handling ALL the laundry to be washed around 20,000 pounds a week!!!

Grouchy Groucho Scott, Empire Sate politician and washroom supervisor extraordinary, gets his muscles from assisting Wiley, and growling!

"Long Horn" Spears, the Texas Wildcat, (while on liberty only), gets his strength from handling shirts. Weight of shirts -- one pound net!

"Smiling Bob" Flynn, the Jersey Jitterbug, stays in the pink by his snappy maneuvering of the five pound flat iron. Not the mention chasing that certain senorita!

"Lochinvar" Loer, who has such a time beating off all those girl friends, also keeps fit by tearing merrily around on the body shirt presser!

"Iodine State" Whilley, the adopted pride of South Plutly, uses his muscles pressing the white and khaki uniforms of the officers and the CPOs.

"The real" Johnny McCoy, (who reels whenever his wife goes after the rolling pin), always stays in the muscle gang by handling the heavy collar dept. The weight of an average collar being about three ounces.

"Swede" Banewood, the Minnesota Man-o-Warsman, is chief starch cooker and keeps in the running by paddling around in the starch mixing tub.

"Silent" Suelling, that quietly infective lad from good ole Virginny, keeps in top shape by handling most of the flat work with aplomb and good humor.

Then, of course, there's affable head laundryman Louie Mouten, who sagaciously bears the weight of his entire laundry family, and in the most capable manner--as anyone can judge by having had contact with other Navy laundries!

COBBLER SHOP--
"Suitcase" Simpson, the wry faced cobbler is no mean man of muscles. He keeps right in the running by capably using all the complicated machines in our modern cobbler shop -- that the "boots" may always be in 4.0 condition.

SODA FOUNTAIN--
"Blaine" Coffee, (no gag), is always assured of having a stiff workout with the soda fountain cash register, with many gross of men daily guzzling gallons of "coke"-or any other available liquid.

And all the old timers know tall, dark and handsome "Jerk" Moore, the New Mexico good humor kid. If you don't think Moore has muscles in dishing out boo-coo ice cream, ask to shake hands with him sometime.

"Coins" Barnes, the mix 'em up supervisor, exercises both mental and physical faculties seeing the condiments are made and issued in properly appetizing condition.

CANTEEN--
"Bobby Thomas the nerveless wonder canteen yeoman, gets as stiff a workout as the dole man on the ship. Assisted by "Happy Jack" Couglan, this department is well in the running for muscles.

There will be more of muscles in another issue.

Johnson of the First Division is contemplating sewing on a wound stripe after dropping a block on his toe up on the forecastle.

The Tailor Shop Trio have been spcializing in steam baths of late.

Is it Rodney up on the Pay Office who can smoke a cigar under a shower without getting it wet?

Jack Jordan should rate a campaign bar for his efforts to make man-o-war's-men out of the boys aboard in his "Jottings".

The Zoom-Zoom boys say that the last word in airplanes is "jump"

A recent news item states that the Navy is preparing to recruit women for shore jobs so officers and men can be released for sea duty.

Before it can go ahead, however, it is necessary for President Roosevelt to sign the bill to create a. Woman's Naval Reserve.

If the bill becomes law, the Navy expects to get ready, the news item states, 10,000 to 12,000 women for a host of tasks now performed by men.

The WNRC members, counterparts of the WAAC, will be trained to do everything from cooking to bookkeeping and from laundering clothes to writing and translating code messages.

In communications work alone, it has been estimated, the women will release 1,000 officers for combat service.

Although the WNRC is to the Navy what the WAAC is to the Army, the the two units will be different in many respects, including the following:

1. Overseas Service -- The women will be limited to shore duty within continental United States. They will not serve on combat ships or in airplanes. The WAAC's, on the other hand, may be sent abroad.

2. Pay--Members of the WNRC will receive equal pay with naval men of the same rank. The WAAC auxiliaries start at only $21 a month, while their navy sisters will start at $50.

3. Age--For the Woman's Naval Reserve Corps: 20-50; for the WAAC: 21-45.

4. Organization -- The WNRC will be a part of the Naval Reserve, and will be under the same rules and regulations as govern all naval personnel. The WAAC is not integrated into the Army, as, for example, the Army Nurse Corps; it is an auxiliary to the Army.

5. Size--The WNRC of the Navy wilt probably not exceed 12,000. The WAAC bill stipulates 150,000 as the maximum size of the Woman's Army auxiliary.

Similarities of the two corps also appear: Women have been accepted in both branches of the service to do "sit down" jobs; they will be entitled to all benefits prescribed by law for civil employees of the services; members of both corps will serve only for the duration of the war, plus six months; neither corps will replace civil service personnel now employed by the Army or Navy.

What fifth columnists don't know wont hurt you.
Beware of inquisitive friends.

"On February 7, the Marblehead limped into Tjilatjap. The dock was too small to accommodate the entire ship, so only the bow and a portion of the amidships section could be worked upon. Sufficient temoprary repairs were accomplished to enable the Marblehead to proceed to a British base on the Island of Ceylon. The rudder still could not be used on this portion of the homeward trip."

So she "limped into Tjilatjap." And on the way put out two fires. And kept the bucket-brigade going to keep her from swamping. And dodged Jap scouting planes as well as she could. And the Skipper spent 60 hours on the bridge without relief. (Try just staying awake that long!) And then they got her into dry-dock at Tjilatjap. As easy as that. A tiny floating drydock that would barely lift her nose enough to let welded patches be placed over her gaping holes.. "Every time the tide changed, we thought she'd slip out," the skipper recalled. "Soon as she left drydock she filled up again, but the pumps-were able to take care of her." So she went on to Ceylon. Still unable to use her rudder. But everything was soft and easy now, by comparison with what she's been through already. Sure, soft and easy.

"Further repairs were made at Ceylon, putting the Marblehead in condition to make a 4,400 mile trip to the southern coast of Africa. There, still further repairs were made and the Marblehead was able to proceed to an East coast port of the United States."

That tells it in forty-five words. Two sentences. One short paragraph. About eleven thousand miles. Just routine. The Marblehead was built to sail the seas, all of them, and across them. What if she had been hit a few times? Patch her up a bit, and she could go back to doing her job. Her routine job.

She's in home port now, being repaired and refitted so she can go back again to that job. And the Navy Department has stretched one of its strictest rules a little, so that the names of some of her officers and men can be mentioned. Not all of them, of course. Not even all the heroes. Just some of them. "Nothing has impressed me so much," said the Marblehead's skipper, "as the continued cheerfulness of this crew. They were called upon to work day and night. They worked, ate, and--when they could find a place to lie down, and time, they slept -- in their oil-soaked clothing. There was neither time nor fresh water for bathing. There were numerous acts of individual heroism which contributed much to the rescue of the wounded and the saving of the ship. Some of the men who performed these acts are known. The identity of others has never been determined. The people of this country can well be as proud as I am of the courage and accomplishments of the Marblehead's crew."

Proud? Sure they're proud, Skipper. But not the same way you are. Theirs is a good pride, a fine pride, and a useful pride, too, because it’s helping the men in the shops and the factories to work a little harder and produce a little more to help with this war we're fighting. But it isn't the pride of a Navy man in the Navy crew of a Navy ship. That isn't their fault. You see, it takes a Navy man to understand that kind of pride. There's so much more to it than just glory. The man in the street can call the story of the Marblehead a saga. It's all of that. Or maybe an epic. It's that too. But to a Navy man it's more than either a saga or an epic. It's a Navy tradition.

The names the department released ? Oh, yes. There's the skipper, of course. Arthur G. Robinson,'13, Captain, U.S.N. Born in Brooklyn, now lives in Washington D.C., when he's ashore.

And William B. (Bill) Goggins,'20, Comdr., U.S.N., who was Executive officer. He suffered severe and painful burns, and was relieved of duty, but kept coming up to the bridge, begging for something to do, until the Skipper had to order him below.

And Nicholas B. (Nick) VanBergan, '21, Lt. Comdr., U.S.N., who took over after Bill Goggins was wounded. "He was a tower of strength," said the skipper.

And Martin J. Drury,'25, Lt. Cdr., U.S.N., the Damage Control officer, who freed the jammed rudder and brought the fires under control.

And Hepburn A. Pearce,'31, Lieutenant, U.S.N., who took charge of a repair party and aided in checking the spread of the fires.

And Francis G. Blasdel, ’37, Lieut. (jg), U.S.N., who entered burning areas to find out what repairs were necessary.

And Lieutenant Commander Frank R. Wildebusch, the ship's surgeon whose "hunch" saved the lives of the wounded in his care.

And Harvey M. Anderson, Chief Boatswain; Elliott P. Annis, Machinist; Herman E. Hock, Chief Boatswain's Mate; Frederick H. Bitter, Chief Elecrician's Mate: Hale T. McCully, Chief Shipfitter; Paul P. Martinek, Turret Captain; Dale L. Johnson, Machinist's Mate; Matin Moran, Metalsmith; Lester J. Barre, Quartermaster, 2nd class; Claude Becker, Seaman 1st class; and Fock Liang, the Chinese cook, who without being told, stepped forward to act as nurse.