| VOL 1I | 18 May 1942 | NO. I |
Our First Anniversary Number
Article Index
Commander Dell Speaks
At Wardroom Dinner
Interesting incidents that occurred at the time of the commissioning of the Washington a year ago were described by Commander T. M, Dell in a happy speech in the wardroom at dinner on Friday. The speaker was presented by the Executive Officer, Commander A. D. Ayrault.
Commander Deli explained in detail the steps followed in drawing up the program upon the occasion of the commissioning of the ship and referred to measures taken for the reception of the celebrities who were present. He voiced the pride all feel in serving in this smart ship—one of the mightiest vessels in the world--and expressed the determination of all hands when the occasion arises, to fight it with the utmost efficiency.
J. Arevelo OS2c, Wardroom Steward, prepared an excellent menu for the birthday dinner, including mixed fruits en tasse, cream of tomato soup, Washington fried chicken, supreme stuffed potatoes, goldenrod asparagus, vanilla ice cream and, for each table, a beautiful birthday cake. The design upon one of the cakes was a iced replica of the ship.
Dr. T. J. Cantv, Mess Treasurer and Lt. F. N. Phillips, Mess Caterer, caused cigars to be passed out and superintended pictures that were taken of the birthday cakes.
PROUD FATHERS
Lt-Cdr. C. L. Carpenter and Lt. G. C. Ellerton, Jr. both passed around cigars recently when they learned they had become proud fathers. All hands extend congratulations and best wishes to these shipmates and to Mrs. Carpenter and Mrs. Ellerton.
ANNIVERSARY PICTURE
A sound motion picture taken upon the occasion of the commissioning of the U. S. S. Washington was shown on board on the ship's first anniversary. The Commanding officer, crew and visiting dignitaries were pictured and the ceremony of commissioning reenacted.
Commanding Officer's
Birthday Greetings
At 1530 on Friday, 15 May, the Commanding Officer from a microphone on the bridge, extended greetings to the crew upon the first birthday of the U. S. S. Washington.
The Commanding Officer recalled that one year ago the crew hailing from all parts of the country, and assembled from many units of the Navy, took over from the builders who had built it so ably and so well, one of the most powerful warships in the world.
The Commanding Officer described the cruises of the Washington and the thousands of miles she has traveled since the mighty ship went into commission.
He congratulated all hands upon the splendid work of the past year.
DEEPEST SYMPATHY
The personnel of the Washington extend deepest sympathy to their shipmates in recent bereavements--to Julian Filip upon the loss of his father; to Claude D. Anderson, upon the death of his father; to Joseph J. Karpovitch upon the loss of his father; to Donald A. Clark upon the death of his step-father; to Alonzo Curry at the news of the death of his grandfather, and to Harold D. Boyd at the demise of his grandmother.
Huge Cake Baked For
Ship's First Birthday
Prefaced by remarks from the bridge over the loudspeaker by the Commanding Officer, Captain H.H.J. Benson, the ceremony of cutting a birthday cake in honor of the First Anniversary of the commissioning of the Washington, was held on board on Friday 15 May at 1530 in No.7 Mess Compartment. Commander A. Y. Ayrault, U.S.N., Executive Officer was in charge of the festivities which witnessed the Supply Officer, Commander M. M. Smith (SC) U.S. Navy cutting the first slice of cake.
The huge cake was beautifully decorated. Being cooked in our own bake shop, needless to say, it was pronounced extraordinarily tasty and was eaten to the last crumb.
The cake was a multi-layer yellow pound cake, shot through and covered with beautiful rainbow-hued icing. It was 45 inches long, 25 inches in width and 20 inches to the base of the single birthday candle.
The following is a list of the ingredients that went into the cake.
Sugar 150 pounds, Butter 150 pounds, Flour 150 pounds, Eggs 60 dozen, Baking Powder 6 ounces, Corn Starch 9 pounds, Milk 3 gallons, Mace 1 ounce, Vanilla 3/4 quart, Powdered Sugar 225 pounds, 789 1/2 pounds total weight.
The cake was baked at night under the supervision of R.E. Newton, Jr, Chief Commissary Steward and the bakers were Lange, F.W., Bkr 2c, Wojtyniak, S. W., Bkr 2c and Durgan, H. J., Bkr 2c.
A picture of the cake was taken by Dr. T.J. Canty. The Victory motif was predominant, the sides being covered by "Vs" and the dots and dashes symbolizing Victory. The inscription "First Birthday" was written across the top and figures mere iced, listing the number of miles the Washington has steamed during the year since she went into commission.
15 MAY, 1941--15 MAY, 1942
One year ago, on 15 May, 1941, the U. S. S. WASHINGTON was commissioned in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Most of the personnel now serving this battleship remember that day. Though war clouds were gathering, our Nation was still at peace. There was crystalizing, however, a realization that the time was near when our country would be forced to depend upon its armed might to maintain its freedom and its democratic way of life.
There was nation-wide interest in the commissioning of the vessel. With its sister ship, the North Carolina, it was hailed as the most powerful and fastest battleship in the Navy. It was a solemn and stirring moment when the crew and spectators assembled on the main deck aft beneath the powerful after guns, watched the Stars and Stripes unfurl as the mighty ship went into commission.
In the presence of Hon. Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, Rear Admiral Adolphus F,. Watson, commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard turned the ship over to our Commanding Officer, Captain Howard H.J. Benson. Captain Benson comes of a Navy family. His father, the late Admiral William Shepherd Benson, Chief of Naval Operations in the last World War, formerly had been commandant of the same yard where his son's new ship was built. A younger brother also is in command of a warship.
The major broadcasting companies and reporters for the newspapers gave the commissioning wide publicity. For example, a full page picture in color, together with an entire page of other pictures, depicting commissioning scenes, appeared in the Sunday supplement of a Philadelphia newspaper. The newspapers pointed out that the mighty ship carried nine sixteen-inch guns in its main batteries, twenty five-inch guns in its secondary batteries and many anti-aircraft guns. Foreign sources commented upon its heavy belt armor, its armored decks and great speed. It was mentioned that other ships in its class, besides the North Carolina, due to be commissioned in 1942, are the South Dakota, Indiana, Massachussetts and Alabama. Six more ships ordered in 1939 and 1940 and called the Iowa class have been named the Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois and Kentucky. These have been rated at 45,000 tons--or 10,000 tons heavier than the Washington--and 880 feet in length, in contrast to the Washington's overall length of less than 750 feet.
The press recalled that five battleships known as the Montana Class of 1940 were ordered on 9 September 1940. These are the Montana, Ohio, Maine, New Hampshire and Louisiana. The reports indicated they will be super-battleships, probably 58,000 tons. No official data has been released but the press stated they will be built in huge graving docks and floated when nearly complete. Their completion, it was said, will coincide with the opening of the new third locks at Panama.
The mighty Washington, however, is not a ship of the future but of the present. Her shake-down trials are over; she is actively engaged in the service of our country. When our country was forced into war, she was ready. Together with all other ships in commission in the Navy, she carries with her the hopes and good wishes of one hundred and thirty million Americans.
During the past year her officers and men have come to know and respect one another. Through battle drills and exercises and in active service, all have come to love the ship. Her first birthday is celebrated with deep satisfaction and confidence.
The American people have placed in our hands a mighty weapon, second to none of its kind in commission. It is our duty to use that weapon to the fullest of its possibilities. History we hope, shall show that we have been and will be faithful to that trust.
The birthday of the Washington is also a birthday for her crew. Working together, striving together, at battle quarters together, we appreciate the truth of the saying that battles are won by officers and men, each one performing his assigned tasks, ably and efficiently. More important than leave or liberty is duty. But duty performed to merit from our country the accelade of "well done," implies intelligence, zeal, cooperation, loyalty, perseverance, moral courage, and other characteristics such as were exemplified in an eminent degree by that foremost American—George Washington.
God grant that the second and subsequent birthdays of the Washington may recall to all Americans a story of fidelity, valor and victory!
A THOUGHT
Life is a tender thing and is easily molested. There is always something that goes amiss. Vain vexations --vain sometimes, but always vexations. The smallest and slightest impediments are the most piercing; and as little letters most tire the eyes so do little affairs most disturb us.
---------Montaigne
KING XERXES
The important Battle of Salamis, between Persians and Greeks in 480 B.C., was a big affair. Nearly half a million men and over a thousand ships were involved.
King Xerxes (pronounced "Zurkseas") started out from Persia with the idea of blitzkrieging Greece and getting rich and famous in the bargain. The Greeks had a very small army and navy but some very talented leaders -- Leonidas, who was the MacArthur of his day, and Themistocles, who might be compared to Admiral Nimitz.
Xerxes had something like 1,000 war galleys against which Themistocles, the Greek admiral, could only muster 300. Besides, in his army Xerxes had about two million soldiers, and Leonidas, the Greek general only a few thousand.
Xerxes heavy, powerful fleet chased the smaller, light Greek ships along the Greek coast, while the Greeks darted back now and then to whittle down the odds. During this delaying action, Admiral Themistocles used a trick not unknown to modern warfare.
In all the ports and harbors where the Persian ships had to put in, he put up signs on the wharves, in plain view, made by chiseling letters on large stones -- the signs called on the Persian soldiers to turn against Xerxes. Whether this had any effect on the Persians is not known.
Finally the Greeks decided to stop playing around and fight it out. They picked out a narrow strait about 1200 yards wide, near an island called Salamis.
The Greek ships lined up across the strait in ranks of about ten ships deep. Xerxes' captain, with their many more heavier warships, were forced to line up in ranks of thirty or forty ships deep. Old King Xerxes himself was perched on a throne set up on a cliff overlooking the strait, all set to watch a glorious viceory.
The Greeks employed the simple tactic of boarding the Persian ships and closing with the Persians single handed. This was too much for Xerxes' men. They were unable to stand up, and panic swept through their fleet. The ships in front tried to turn and escape, while those in back – because their king was watching--tried to come forward. The result was that the two parts of the Persian fleet started ramming each other.
In another hour or two the Greeks had demolished most of the Persian ships and the others were forced to retire. And in a year or two the Nazi invaders--or rather, the Persian invaders were driven back home and Greece remained a tough, self-respecting nation.
-----------------Norfolk Seabag
Who's Who
Hobbies of Washington Personnel
Raised on a ranch out in Idaho, R. T. Knox, Second Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps, early learned to ride. Hence it is only natural that riding should be his favorite sport. When he was younger he often followed the drives as his rancher father and hands drove the cattle from the winter feeding grounds to the summer ranges. One of the stories he tells on himself is the time he was showing a "city friend" how to ride. Lt. Knox's horse bucked him off much to his own embarrassment and to the amusement of his friend. A lover of the wide open spaces, Lt. Knox also enjoys hiking and mountain climbing. Among other sports he likes fencing and target shooting. He fenced foil while in college and says that he is interested in continuing it while in the service. At target shooting, he uses a 45 caliber automatic.
Lt. Knox worked his way through the University of Idaho where he majored in accounting with a minor in English. Prominent in campus activities, he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon social fraternity, President of the Blue Key, and Captain of the Pershing Rifles. He was a reserve officer in the army, but resigned to join the marines. He received training at the Marine Corps Basic School at Philadelphia.
His musical accomplishments are piano, violin, choir and chorus His favorite band is Artie Shaw and he prefers his "jive" on the solid side.
A NOTED BOXER
Lawrence George Duffy Sea 2c, 3rd Division; born in Whitford, Michigan in 1906; enlisted December 17, 1941.
As a professional fighter, Duffy had 113 fights, and won all except 19. He fought three champions in no decision bouts meeting Sammy Mandell in ten rounds in 1926, defeated Tod Morgan in 1927 in ten rounds and in the same year obtained a newspaper decision from Mike Ballerine. He lost only eight of his first 100 fights when he received a broken vertebrate.
BIRTHDAY DINNER
The Commissary Department of the Washington never known to have consideration for the waist lines of the crew, produced the menu printed below for the Birthday Dinner on Friday. Mothers who have sons on board, upon reading the menu, probably will sent to the corner drug store for reducing tablets for themselves. Even thinking of a meal like this may add weight.
With every item perfectly cooked or tastefully prepared, the word that "holiday routine" would be observed was welcomed by all hands, for who would want to work after a meal like this?
Menu -- Cream of Tomato Soup, Celery Stalks, Mixed Sweet Pickles, Assorted Olives, Southern Fried Chicken, Pork Sausage Dressing, Baked Sugar Cured Ham, Pineapple and Raisin Sauce, Boiled Pork Loin, Applesauce, Dressing, Creamed Whipped Potatoes, Glazed Carrots, Buttered Asparagus Tips, Steamed String Beans, Shirred Lettuce Salad, Mayonnaise Dressing, Apples, Oranges, Apple Pie With Vanilla Ice Cream, Ship's Birthday Cake, Bread, Butter, Coffee.
FLYING WATERTENDER
Ace Tojo LeClair CWT who recently took up flying is now an authority on matters aeronautical. He is not only willing to discuss his knowledge with anyone; he will launch into a technical discourse without any encouragement whatever. The fact that his flying experience has been limited to a single day in one of the Washington planes does not seem to deter him from speaking as an expert to us poor ship bound sailors. It is rumored that he has already chitted out a few reams of paper and started a complete revision of the present standard text books. The C.P.O. Mess is trying to have a few of his more advanced ideas published for the benefit of all.
He (reading from the paper)"I see that scientists have discovered over 10,000,000 germs on a single dollar bill." She--"Heavens! I wonder how many would be on a five? |
YOUR UNIFORMS
The practice of sailors wearing trousers with bell bottoms dates back as far as the 17th Century: the origin of and reasons for this custom are at Present a matter of some conjecture. The explanation may be that this type of trousers can be easily rolled up by the men when scrubbing down decks in bare feet. They can be more easily kicked from the sailor's leg when he has to swim and the lacing on the back is similarly explained. Another tradition for the wearing of trousers with wide legs states that this practice dates from the days when men made their own clothes by doubling broad length strips of cloth, sewing two inner leg seams, and cutting between them, thus making the waist dimension the same as the leg widths.
Prior to November, 1813, there appears to have been no prescribed uniform for enlisted men of our navy, each ship dressing their men differently. The crew of Commodore Stephen Decatur's ship, the Macedonia, in January, 1813, wore "blue jackets, scarlet vests, and straw hats." Sailors who had circumnavigated the globe wore hats of light lacquered bamboo from China or East Indies as a mark of their travels.
An order of the Secretary of the Navy, dated November 13, 1813, prescribed a blue coat with six buttons on the lapels, blue pantaloons, white vests, and round hats with cockade.
Gold letters of the ship's name adopted in 1886, and the present type of white hat was ordered in 1886. The flat wide and stiff crown blue hat gradually evolved from the soft narrow crown hat of the Civil War period. We now have a more sensibly designed "flat hat."
The double breasted coat for Chief Petty Officers, which appeared in 1839 was prescribed by order of J. Branch, Secretary of the Navy. These coats had lapels that could be buttoned back. The combination of the blue jackets, white vest, and white trousers was introduced about that time.
| TO MY SAILOR BOY AND HIS SHIPMATES |
Oh where is my sailor boy tonight? But the waiting and watching is hard. To save us -- our home land so fair. My heart lifts up in a prayer tonight
|
----Mother of Robert F. Hatch, 6th Div.
I am for each individual doing just as he chooses
in all matters which concern nobody else.
--------LINCOLN
The following new books will be ready for issue in the Library beginning Wednesday noon.
| Advance Agent | -- | August, John |
| Air Ministery Room | -- | Frankau's, Gilbert |
| Columbus | -- | Sabatini, Rafael |
| Dragon Seed | -- | Buck, Pearl S. |
| Frenchman's Creek | -- | DuMaurier, Daphne |
| Justice Deferred | -- | Raine, Macloed W. |
| Murder with Southern Hospitality | -- | Ford, Leslie |
| Money in the Bank | -- | Woodhouse. P. G. |
| Pied Piper | -- | Shute, Nevil |
| Silver Tip | -- | Brand, Max |
| Stampede | -- | White, Stewart |
| The Shadow Rider | -- | MacDonald. W.C. |
| The Scarlet Imposter | -- | Wheatley, Dennis |
| The Quick Brown Fox | -- | Burnett. W. R. |
| The Mystery of the Red Triangle | -- | Tuttle, W.C. |
| The D.A. Cooks a Goose | -- | Gardner. E.S. |
| Trail South From Powder Valley | -- | Field. Peter |
| The-Sea and The Shore | -- | Marmur. Jackland |
| Young Ames | -- | Edmonds Walter |
| Action At Sea | -- | Johnston George |
| From the Land of Silent People | -- | St. John, R, |
| How To Do Practically Anything | -- | Goodman, G. |
| Honorable Enemy | -- | Hauser. Ernest |
| Introducing Australia | -- | Grattan, Harley |
| Mr. Churchill | -- | Guedalla, Phillip, |
| Mission to Moscow | -- | Davies, Joseph |
| Rendezvous | -- | Hudson , Alec |
| This Chemical Age | -- | Haynes, Williams |
| The Unknown Country | -- | Hutchinson, Bruce |
| This Writing Game | -- | Tunis, John R. |
| Westward the Course | -- | McGuire |
Have You Written Home This Week?
