NOW THAT THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE SHIP’S PAPER IS OUT THE BIG QUESTION IS WHAT CAPTION SHALL IT CARRY. THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION LIES WITH THE CREW, AND A PARKER FOUNTAIN PEN BELONGS TO THE MAN SUBMITTING THE BEST NAME.

A COMMITTEE WILL BE SELECTED CONSISTING OF ONE MAN FROM EACH DIVISION TO CONSIDER AND DECIDE THE BEST NAME SUBMITTED. SO ALL THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS THINK UP A NAME YOU BELIEVE BEST FOR THE PAPER AND HAND IT TO THE GUARD ON WATCH IN CIC. HE WILL PUT THE DATE AND TIME SUBMITTED ON YOUR PAPER AND PUT IN THE NAME CONTEST BOX. THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO GET AWAY FROM THE POSSIBILITY OF DUPLICATION. NATURALLY THE FIRST OF DUPLICATE NAMES SUBMITTED WILL BE THEONE CONSIDERED. ALL NAMES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 2400 1 NOVEMBER, 1945 TO BE CONSIDERED.

THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE NEXT ISSUE AND WILL RECEIVE THE PARKER FOUNTAIN PEN AS A PRIZE.

ENSIGN HAROLD J. ELLISON A MEMBER OF THE FAMED TORPEDO SQUADRON 8 THAT LOST ALL BUT ONE OF IT’S THIRTY OFFICERS AND MEN AT THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY, WAS BORN IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK 17 JANUARY, 1917. HE ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE AS A SEAMAN SECOND CLASS AT THE NAVAL RESERVE AVIATION BASE, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK ON 4 MARCH, 1941 AND ON 1 APRIL OF THAT YEAR BECAME AN AVIATION CADET. ON 20 OCTOBER 1941 HE WAS COMMISSIONED AND ENSIGN TO RANK FROM EO OCTOBER. HE RECEIVED HIS FLIGHT TRAINING AT FLOYD BENNETT FIELD, NEW YORK AND THE NAVAL AIR STATIONS AT PENSACOLA, FLORIDA AND MIAMI, FLORIDA.

THEN ENSIGN, NOW LT., GEORGE H. GAY, THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF THE SQADRON WRITING IN THE AUGUST 31, 1942 ISSUE OF LIFE SAYS THAT ENSIGN ELLISON WAS KNOWN AS "ELLY" AND THAT HE WAS "HANDSOME, SLENDER AND FIDGET AND HAD LEFT A WHITE COLLAR JOB IN AN INSURANCE OFFIE IN UPPER NEW YORK STATE".

TORPEDO SQUADRON HAD IT’S BEGINNING IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA IN THE FALL OF 1941. WHEN LT. COMMANDER JOHN CHARLES WALDRON WAS ORDERED TO ORGANIZE A TORPEDO SQUADRON.

SQUADRON 8 WAS ATTACHED TO THE CARRIER HORNET AND SAW IT’S FINAL ACTION AT MIDWAY IN JUNE, 1942. A LARGE NUMBER OF PLANES HAD BEEN SENT OUT FROM OUR CARRIERS TO FIND THE JAPANESE. THERE WERE TORPEDOS, PLANES AND DIVE-BOMBERS. ALL WITHOUT FIGHTER PROTECTION. DUE TO FOUL WEATHER SQUADRON 8 BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE PLANES AND ALSO FAILED TO FIND THE JAPANESE. WALDRON REASONED THAT IF THE JAPS WERE NOT WHERE THEY WERE LAST REPORTED THEY MUST HAVE TURNED BACK SO HE PROCEEDED ON THAT THEORY. THIS REASONING PROVED CORRECT FOR HE FOUND THE JAPS, FOUR CARRIERS TOGETHER WITH THEIR PROTECTING SHIPS.

THE SQUADRON HAD GONE SO FAR IN FINDING THE ENEMY THAT THE GAS WAS GETTING LOW AND ASIDE FROM THAT THERE WAS NO FIGHTER PROTECTION. WALDRON WAS RAIOED, "REQUEST PERMISSION TO WITHDRAW FROM ACTION AND REFUEL." THE ANSWER FROM ADMIRAL SPRUANCE WAS, "ATTACK AT ONCE." THE ADMIRAL FELT THAT SINCE THE JAPS HAD ESCAPED FROM OBSERVATION ONCE THAT THEY MIGHT DO IT AGAIN AND RETURN WITH THEIR SUPERIOR FORCE--SO ATTACK WAS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE.

THE ENSUING BATTLE WAS ONE OF HEROISM AND DEATH. ALL PLANES OF TORPEDO SQUADRON 8 WERE LOST AND ONLY ENSIGN GAY SURVIVED, BUT THE ATTACK HAD CAUGHT THE JAPS COMPLETELY OFF GUARD AND IT SERVED TO ROUT THE JAPANESE FLEET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE WAR.

DEAR EDITOR:

I READ IN YOUR RIVAL PAPER THE NORFOLK LEDGER DISPATCH THAT THE GOOD SHIP ELLISON "NEVER FIRED A SHOT AT THE ENEMY".

I’M ITCHING ALL OVER WITH CURIOUSITY. WILL YOU PLEASE TELL ME JUST WHO IN THE DEVIL WAS PILOTING THAT "TARGET PLANE" OFF CUBA????

ITCHY

THE EDITOR WELCOMES ANY LETTERS OR SUGGESTIONS. THIS ISSUE WAS EDITED BY KLEINKNECHT, RDM 3/C WITH ASSISTANCE FROM SPANO, RT 3/C, HARRIS, S 2/C (RDM) AND COOPER, S 2/C (RDM) TOGETHER WITH THE CONTRIBUTIONS INDICATED. NATURALLY MORE WORKERS ARE NEEDED AND ANY AND ALL STAND READY TO RELINQUISH THEIR JOBS TO ANYONE WHO CAN DO A BETTER JOB. THAT SHOULDN’T BE HARD.

ED.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST FIGURES APPROXIMATELY "25" MEAN ABOARD THE ELLISON ARE TAKING STUDY COURSES OFFERD BY THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES INSTITUTE. THE US A.F.I. IS AN ORGANIZATION ENABLING SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY ON THEIR SCHOOLING WHILE IN THE SERVICE. THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN COMPLETING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE CREDITS OR JUST WISH TO STUDY IN PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE LATER ON ARE HAVING A CHANCE TO DO SO.

LT (JG) MCKINZIE, THE EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, IS IN CHARGE OF THE PROGRAM ABROAD THE SHIP. HE HAS FULL INFORMATION ON THE COURSES OFFERED BY THE U.S.A.F.I. THERE IS A CHARGE OF $2.00 WHEN YHOU BEGIN YOUR FIRST COURSE, BUT ALL COURSES YOU MAY WISH TO TAKE LATER ARE FREE.

IN ORDER TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS FOR GRADUATION YOU MUST FIRST HAVE A LETTER FROM YOUR PRINCIPAL STATING THE NUMBER OF CREDITS YOU LACK AND A LIST OF COURSES WHICH ARE RECOMMENDED FOR YOU TO STUDY. ANYONE THAT IS INTERESTED MAY SEE MR. MCKENZIE FOR OTHER DETAILS.

ALTHOUGH IT US NOW RATHER LATE IN THE SEASON PLANS ARE AFOOT TO ORGANIZE DIVISIONAL BASEBALL TEAMS. IF ENOUGH INTEREST IS DISPLAYED AND ENOUGH MEN EXPRESS A WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE A SCHEDULE WILL BE MADE AND PLAY WILL BEGIN, CUMULATING IN PLAY FOR THE SHIP’S CHAMPIONSHIP.

ENS. BROWN IS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE, AND HE STATES THAT THUS FAR LITTLE INTEREST HAS BEEN SHOWN. SO IF YOU HAVE THE COMPETITIVE SPIRIT AND WOULD LIKE TO PLAY BASEBALL JUST LET YOUR DESIRE BE KNOWN.

SHOULD THE PLANS MATERIALIZE THE SHIPS PAPER WILL CARRY THE STANDINGS TOGETHER WITH A WRITE UP OF EACH GAME.

"IN COMMAND OF THE HAROLD J. ELLSON, SLEEK NEW DESTROYER WHICH CARRIED THE FLORAL TRIBUTES TO SEA IN THE NAVY’S MEMORIAL SUNDAY SERVICES, WAS COMMANDER JERRY CURTIS SOUTH, USN, OF NORFOLK", SAID THE NORFOLK VIRGINIAN PILOT ON TUESDAY. THE ABOVE STATEMENT CORRECTED MONDAY ACCOUNT OF THE CEREMONIES WHICH CREATED CONFUSION WHEN A TYPGRAPHICAL ERROR CONVERTED THE NAME SOUTH TO SMITH. YOUR EDITORS, FEELING A WARSHIP WAS NO PLACE FOR CONFUSION, ASSIGNED THEIR ENTIRE STAFF TO THE STORY AND CAME UP WITH THE FOLLLOWING:

THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF CONFUSING OUR SKIPPER WITH CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH IF YOU WILL KEEP THEIR AGES IN MIND. THE ELLISON’S C.O. IS 36 YEARS OLD, WHEREAS CAPTAIN SMITH, IF STILL KICKING, WOULD BE 336.

FURTHER, THERE WILL BE NO CONFUSING OF COMMANDER SMOUTH WITH THE SMITHS OF COUCH DROP FAME IF YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT THE SKIPPER IS BLOND, WITHOUT FACIAL SHRUBBERY, AND HAS THE GENEROUS DIMENSIONS OF THE MAN YOU DON’T SEE WHEN LOOKING FOR A FIGHT.

WITH THE SMITH BROTHERS DISPOSED OF AND THE SUBJECT OF FIGHTING INTRODUCED, WE FLASH BACK TO ANNAPOLIS AND THE CLASS OF 1931. THERE WE FIND CADET JERRY CURTIS SOUTH ON A TEETER-TOTTER, NEATLY VACILLATING BETWEEN MIDDLEWEIGHT AND LIGHTWEIGHT IN THE WEEKLY BOXING EVENTS.

A STUDY OF THE ABOVE PROCESS DISCLOSES THAT CADET SOUTH’S APPEARANCES IN THE MIDDLEWEIGHT RING CURIOUSLY COINCIDES WITH THE APPEARANCE IN THE LIGHT-HEAVEY-WEIGHT RING OF A PARTICULARLY FORMIDABLE OPPONENT. THIS LEADS SOME OF THE MORE DISRESPECTFUL ONLOCKERS TO SUGGEST THAT CADET SOUTH IS DELIBERATELY STARVING FOR A WEEK BEFORE THE EVENTS.

ANYWAY, ALL GOES WELL UNTIL ONE FINE DAY NAVAL INTELLIGENCE GETS THE FACTS TWISTED AND CADET SOUTH FINDS HIMSELF IN THE RIGHT RING AT THE WRONG TIME, LEARNING THE IMPORTANCE OF DAMAGE CONTROL. THIS SUDDENLY INCREASES HIS INTEREST IN LACROSSE, WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BOXING.

LAUNCHING INTO A BLOODY LACROSSE CAREER, AN EXCELLENT FORM OF CONDITIONING FOR THEWARD JUST CONCLUDED, CADET SOUTH GAINS SUCH DISTINCTION PLAYING CENTER THAT IN 1931 HE IS CHOSEN CAPTAIN. WHEREUPON HE DECIDES THAT PLAYING CENTER IS FAR TOO STRENUOUS FOR AN OLD MAN (HE IS NOW A SENIOR) AND SHIFTS HIMSELF TO GUARD POSITION "TO LET SOMEONE ELSE TAKE THE SPOT LIGHT".

GRADUATION, HATS FLY THROUGH THE AIR, AND ENSIGN SOUTH WENT ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP PENNSYLVANIA FOR 22 MONTHS OF DUTY VARIOUSLY ASSIGNED TO ENGINEERING, COMMUNICATION AND NAVIGATION.

AT THE SAME TIME HE FORMED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FORMER MISS DORIS HUTTON OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, THOUGH HIMSELF BORN IN MOUNTAIN HOME ARKANSAS. TODAY THEY BOAST A DAUGHTER, RAYMONDE SOUTH JR., 9.

THE USS ELLISON, WHICH COMMANDER SOUTH PUT INTO COMMISSION LAST JUNE, IS THE SKIPPER’S 4TH DESTROYER AND HIS SECOND COMMAND.

FROM 1933 TO 1937 HE SERVED IN TURN AS COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, FIRST LIEUTENANT AND GUNNERY OFFICER ABOARD THE USS TREVER AND THE USS PRUITT. DURING THE FIRST TWO AND A HALF YEARS OF THIS WAR ABOARD THE USS HACOMB, THE LAST FIFTEEN AS SKIPPER, HE SHOT HIS WAY THROUGH THE ATLANTIC AND MEDITERRANEAN CAMPAIGNS.

BETWEEN 1937 AND 1941 COMMANDER SOUTH SAW A VARIETY OF DUTY ABOARD THE SUBMARINE TENDER USS BEAVER, POST GRADUATE STUDY AT ANNAPOLIS, THE HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, AND ABOARD THE SURVEY SHIP USS BOWDITCH.

THOUGH CONSIDERING HIMSELF PRIMARILY A DESTROYER SAILOR, THE CAPTAIN EARNED HIS BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR THE NORMANDY LANDINGS, AND IN LIEU OF A SECOND AWARD, THIS GOLD STAR MEDAL FOR THE SOUTHERN FRANCE INVASION, ABOARD THE HEAVY CRUISER TUSCALOOSA AS CHIEF OF STAFF OF COMMANDER CRUISER DIVISION 7.

NO STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR COMMANDING OFFIDERS IS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR AND AN ABILITY NEVRE TO GET EXCITED. BUT COMMANDER SOUTH HAS BOTH AND WE SUSPECT THESE QUALITIES ARE REPONSIBLE FOR HIS SURVIVING 19 YEARS IN THE NAVY, A WORLD WAR, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE $11,000,000 ELLISON.

LEAST ANYONE THINKS OTHERWISE, HOWEVER. LET US RECALL THAT THE SKIPPER ALWAYS GETS WHAT HE WANTS….EVEN IF IT’S A TEN-FOOT SECTION OF A TANKER’S FUEL LINE.

NOTE; THIS ARTICLE ON THE SKIPP WAS CONTRIBUTED BY ENSIGN CRANE. WE EXTEND OUR THANKS.

ELLISON PARTICIPATES IN
TRIBUTE TO NAVY DEAD

LAST SUNDAY IN 28 PORTS ALL AROUND THE WORLD, THE NAVY PAID TRIBUTE TO IT’S DEAD HEROS OF WORLD WAR II. NORFOLK, VIRGINIA WAS ONE OF THOSE PORTS, AND THE ELLISON WAS DESIGNATED AS THE SHIP TO CARRY THE FLOWERS. HONORING THE DEAD, OUT TO SEA.

THE SHIP WAS BEAUTIFULLY DRAPED WITH FLOWERS BEFORE DIVINE SERVICES WERE HELD ON THREE DIFFERENT PIERS. THE PROTESTANT, CATHOLIC AND JEWISH FAITHS EACH ON A SEPARATE PIER. AFTER THE SERVICES THE CHAPLAINS OF THE THREE FAITHS CAME ABOARD TOGETHER WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN LEGION AND THE SHIP SAILED OUT TO SEA.

OUT OF SIGH OF LAND THE ELLISON AND THREE NAVY PLANES HAD A RENDEZVOUS. PRAYERS WERE THEN OFFERED AFTER WHICH THE FLOWERS WERE DROPPED INTO THE WATER BY THE PLANES AND THE SHIP IN A VERY IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY.

HERE IS A SUGGESTED DIRECTIVE IN LINE WITH PRESENT DISCHARGE PLANS----------EFFECTIVE 2122 ON 30 OCTOBER, 1945 ANY MAN HAVING ALL OF THE FOLLOWING LETTERS IN MIDDLE NAME Z R Y U V C T Q WILL BE ENTITLED TO DISCHARGE PROVIDED HE HAS AT LEAST 47 3/8 POINTS AS OF THAT DATE, AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT HE HAS A MINIMUM OF 50 MONTHS 21 DAYS, 11 HOURS 30 MINUTES AND 7 SECONDS OF CONTINUOUS SEA DUTY. *** THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF THIS DIRECTIVE WOULD BE TO SPEED UP THE RATE OF DISCHARGE.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MEMBER OF THE BALANCE CREW WHO ASKED WHETHER THE SEA PAINTER WAS FIRST OR SECOND CLASS? *** I BELIEVE TOP HONORS FOR BEING TOLD TO LAY DOWN TO THE QUARTER DECK THE GREATEST NUMBER OF TIMES GOES TO THOMPSON, GUNNER’S MATE STRIKER. HE IS EITHER A GOOD MAN OR HE GETS INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE. YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE! *** GET BELZ, RDM 2/C TO TELL YOU OF HIS EXPERIENCES ON SHORE PATROL THE OTHER SUNDAY. ---REALLY RUGGED*** ONE THE SP(S) WAS TELLING THE OTHER NIGHT THAT AN OFFICER ONCE STOPPED HIM ON THE STREET AND SAID, "CALL ME A TAXI". THE SP SAID, "YOU WANT ME TO CALL YOU A TAXI?" THE REPLY WAS "YES" "OKAY, YOUR’RE A TAXI!" ANSWERED THE SP AND WALKED ON.

IN THE CHOW LINE IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF YOUR GETTING THERE EARLY TO GET AT THE HEAD OF THE LINE, BUT RATHER OF A "FRIEND" OF YOURS GETTING THERE EARLY.

RECORD FOR THE LONGEST OOD WATCH MUST GO TO MR. MERKEL WITH 15 HOURS WHEN WE WERE AT EARLE, N.J.

NEXT WEEK THE PAPER WILL CARRY A STORY ON THE LATEST OFFICIAL DISCHARGE NEWS SO LETS NOT BREAK ANY ARMS REACHING FOR THE NEXT ISSUE!