"Because"

Part of Signal Gang - L to R - rear - Doherty - QMSN; Polleta - QMSN; Nepi - QMSN; front - McShea - QM3; Tomczac - QM3; and Chief Lay.

Chief Marvin C. Lay; Doherty - QMSN; Mike Polletta - QMSN

Me - QMSN; and Cox - QMSN Check Out Cox's Ghost Story.

Snowden - QMSN; T. Joseph - QMSN; Nepi - QMSN

From June of '52 to October of '53, the Arneb was my home, and my life. How I managed to get into the signal gang without Quartermaster/Signalman School is documented here.
I figured it's about time, after a half-century, to give some of my shipmates at that time, some exposure. For the record, I think I have all the guys recorded here, and if there be any missing, it's only because they dodged my camera purposefully. Ha ha. Notice, except for one officer, it's just the "guys". On occasion Officers would achieve the Flying Bridge...here's a good story.
The C/Os I had while aboard, both great guys also, was for the latter five months of '52 - Captain Harry Meeker Steward Gimber, Jr; and for almost another year, Captain J. C. Wylie, whose daughter - Captain ( Commodore ) Betsy Wylie was COMSCLANT for a couple of years while I was sailing.

Snowden - QMSN; Me - QMSN; Hollywood - QM1

Snowden - QMSN; Hollywood - QM1; and Nepi - QMSN

Marvin C. Lay - QMC

Lowering, or recovering an LCVP

Terwilliger - RMSN; and Malik - QMSN

Mike Polleta - QMSN; Adams - QM2

Just as depicted in the photos, everyday was a good day...a happy day. I can't remember one bad incident, and that's saying something. Some of these fellows may have been in the Bridge gang...it's been a while, however, I'm pretty sure of the RMs, who spent alot of time up on the flying bridge.
I will admit that I did spend quite a bit of time when I could, in the Radio Shack, tweeking up my typing skills learned in Jr. High, and copying morse on the radio....Of course, not to mention that that's where the coffee pot was.

Waters - RM3; and I - QMSN

Cox - QMSN; Rivers- RM3; Doherty - QMSN

Foreground - Makin - RD2; squatting - LtoR Nepi - QMSN; Hollywood - QM1; standing - Peters - RMSN

Lowering LCM

Doherty - QMSN; Polleta - QMSN; Lycan - QMSN; Weiss - QMSN

Cardinal - RM3

The Arneb of course, was an "Amphib"...a working ship not too far removed from a Merchant freighter. With its five-hatches, and Jumbos at four of them, she could handle eight LCMs, and fourteen LCVP - eight nested, one each in an LCM, and six in davits. Two other boats - the same size as LCVPs, but without ramps served as the Officers launch, and Captain's gig. The Arneb was a C-2 class vessel...Marad built. Strangely, I was to command one - the USNS Bald Eagle years later.

Lt. Bass - Comm Officer; Weiss - QMSN; Cox - QMSN; Hollywood, QM1

Semaphorist

Of course, a book could have been written, but wasn't only because I'm too lazy...to be honest...but it would only have been good plain reading, and who wants that? I must mention the Operations Officer - Lt. Cmdr. Semon, a fellow who held a Merchant Marine Officer's license, and who sailed, I think, with Esso - Exxon today....His permission got me into the Department. I must also mention that the First Lieutenant - the skipper's right hand man...more so than the Exec...also held an MM license, and had sailed as Chief Mate. Both had somehow or other managed "Regular Navy", when at the time many Merchant Marine Officers were only "Reserve", and discharged after the war.
A funny thing, when I left Mobil Oil, and shipped with Grace Line, a Government subsidized outfit, I had to accept a Commission...something I neither needed, nor wanted, and told them so. I held Lt. Jg. for ages...probably still do. Ha.

For more photos, and history Click here, or on the Ahead button below to go the "Bridge Gang".