*%d WEEKLY ET - - NalBa, A WEEKLY PUBLICATION U. S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba December 28, 1963 .AND A HAPPY 1964 TO ALL OF GUANTANAMO BAY 49~606 / N"S 6* 00 -7N-.6 Page Two THE GITMO REVIEW December 28, 1963 Page Two THE GITMO REVIEW December 28, 1963 JUST WONDERIN' SHIP OF THE WEEK. CHAPLAIN'S CORNER ABOUT CHRISTMAS FUN THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE BY CHAPLAIN G. H. SARGENT THE "SPIRIT OF 62" AND Everything is important. The little commonplace things we so easily take for "OPERATION CHRISTMAS DINNER" granted are really significant, because the larger things of life are made up of BY D. KOZE, JOC the little things of life. Frequently WHEWjI Santa made it and without the small is what makes the great possi- snow, Now the pooped and tired parents ble. "The creation of a thousand forests can sit back, just watch the kiddies is in one acorn," said Emerson. play with their new toys while visions Little things have a far- reaching of the budget dance through their heads. significance. A tea kettle singing on And so it goes.,,year in and year out, the stove was the beginning of the steam But wouldn't it be terrible if we didn't engine. A shirt waving on the clothes have a Christmas.in more ways thanone. line was the beginning of the balloon-- I happened to be at the VictoryHill the forerunner of the lighter-than-air School a couple days before the Christ- craft. A spider web strung across a mas vacation started and what a contrast garden path suggested the suspension of human emotions. The children ran, bridge to an engineer. A lantern swing- jumped and danced, just waiting for the ing in a tower was the beginning of the big day to come while the teacher, with USS VITAL (MSO 474) pendulum. An apple falling fran a tree a smile on her face, was more or less The Wooden ship, seemingly primitive was the cause of the discovery of the saying."Woe is me. a 2 week vacation in today s modern United States Navy, law of gravitation. and I still haven't done my shopping still has its job and stands with no Perhaps some of you are probably yet." But smile she did. lesser importance beside the Navy's nu- thinking--well--soon he will be quoting The past week children throughout clear carriers or newest missile-toting that old nursery rhyme, "Little drops of the Base were treated to all sorts of cruisers. water, Little grains of sand. Make the parties and visits from Santa Claus. If This wooden ship, the Ocean-going mighty ocean, And the pleasant land." other parties went as well as the party Mine Sweeper, has as its job the detec- Now that I think of it--there is held by Naval Station, then there tion and destruction of enemy mines, more truth in that little jingle than shouldn't be an unhappy child in Gitmo The VITAL (MSO-474), one of almost most of us ever stopped to real ize. For Bay. A special "Just Wonderin'" salute a hundred 172-foot wooden hulled MSO's it is the little commonplace things that to the wives, mothers and Santa's help- built since 1953, is the result of make great living possible. The impor- ers that made this party so pleasing for bitter lessons learned by the Navy dur- tance of a small life well lived, or a the kiddies. ing the Korean War. Red mines, laid by small part well played cannot be exag- For those not in Gitmo last year the almost non-existent North Korean gerated, or too highly praised. Too for the holiday season believe me there Navy,caused 70 per cent of all U. S. Na- many people sigh for the wealth, the is a decided difference in the general val personnel casualties in the first position, the personality of someone appearance of the Base. There weren't two years of the Korean war. In addi- else and minimize the importance of the too many lights adorning the homes main- tion, all U.S. ships lost in Korea were life they can live. It is a great day ly because we didn't have time and all victims of mine warfare. for the world when any person says to the Christmas ornaments were either en A look at these figures caused the himself, "I shall be a lamp in the room route or at an address in the statesI Navy to re-examine its mine warfare cap- if I can't be a star in the sky." But let me tell you, there was plenty of abilities and resulted ir the post-war Christmas Spirit.,the real spirit, when build-up of its mine warfare fleet, families united after a sudden jolting Support of our free world allies de- WELCOME ABOARD. separation. Who needed presents or pends upon the ability of the Navy to The following personnel have reported aboard lights when Momma and the kiddies were move, unhampered, towherever it is need- Guantanamo Bay: back home again. So newcomer, if Gitmo ed to support American foreign pol icy. Bay seems bleak and un-Christmas like It is the job of these wooden ships Naval Station-- to you., rejoice that you were able to to make sure that the seas are kept open HAMBROCK, E., SA, Lewiston, New York have Christmas together in a free and to maintain the mobility of our fleets; peaceful way. The true meaning of it is from this mission that the Mine Security Group-- Christmas couldn't have been felt more Force has earned the motto: "Where the BARDIN, P. W., CTSN, Hazen, Arkansas than at Gitmo Bay in 1962. Even. Santa fleet goes, the Minesweepers have been". ZERA, E. J., CTSN, South Amboy, New York Claus took a back seat, and rightly so. The VITAL, built by the Burger Boat From all indications "Operation Company, Monitowoc, Wisc., was launched Naval Air Station-- Christmas Dinner" went over well although Aug. 12, 1952 and is presently assigned BURCHETT, F. D., AOAN, Ema, Kentucky we really don't know how successful. to Mine Division 81. CORNWELL, G. J., AK3, Rudyard, Michigan The Public Information Office wasn't She was placed in commission June 9, CORTADO, C., TN, Philippines plagued with calls as we had anticipated 1955 at the Boston Naval Shipyard. DAVIS, D. B., AN, Easley, South Carolina but I did find out that many families After an intensive post-commissioning EASON, R. T., SK3, Angier, North Carolina invited unaccompanied men to their homes overhaul at Charleston Naval Shipyard, ELLIS, W. T., AA, Richland, North Carolina without our help. I must -mention one VITAL departed for a 5 month tour with GRIGSBY, R. R., III, AMSAA, Morristown, Tenn. gracious lady in Gitmo Bay who called us the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. KINDRED, H. E., JR., AA, Ferguson, Missouri up and extended an invitation to three ,Before reporting to the Med she took LEE, G. F., AOAN, Panama City, Florida of the eight men we had on the list. part in a NATO Mine Sweeping Exercise. LILBURN, G. D., AEAN, Nowata, Oklahoma Have you made your New Year's resolu- In March 1957 VITAL departed NELSON, G. D., AEAN, Evansville, Indiana tion as yet? If not PLEASE write it Charleston, S.C., for a three month PETERMAN, R. W., ADJAN, Erie, Pennsylvania down and send them to me at the ComNav- training operation in the Gulf of Mexico. SCHEIDERMAN, R. E., ADRAN, Green Village, N.J. Base PIO. Call if you like on extension On return to Charleston the ship provide STAHEL, C. E., AEAA, St. Paul, Minnesota 8-5334, that's a new number for the ed services to other Naval activities THOMPSON, B. J., A01, Sioux City, Iowa Office in the Admin- including playing lead in the production Public Information PUZZLE ^" -P- 1P.i."P"N istration Building. As of the time of of a training film describing an MSO type CROSSWORD minesweeper and its capabilities. ACROSS 4-RageP', RN APOHIW this writing, I have received ONLY one 5-Open PETvewE REINA Changing its home port to Panama -IEquality n-P vre w rln7-oloe'of resolution from close to 10,000 people 4 Shae- 44494,.9) A T TA at Gitmo Bay. If they are received.be- City, Fla., in July 1958 the ship has i fore Tues., Dec. 31, I can still use rendered various services to the U.S. 9-Container 8-enu of Naval Mine Defense Laboratory where mine them. .13_13 4 44-0,09A N S SAR warfare gear of the future is being de- My New Year's resolution is: "Just 4"'eefit 9-Galled1 Wonderin'". veloped. In Aug: 1960 the ship paid its first visit to the Caribbean, operating as a . 226 - oebe 25etwrk 9 unit of Mine Division 81. At that time 14-Number 23-Ext ATTEND THE CHURCH OF she underwent intensive training exer- 9-istane 2E7-O n defat e 4 -Rdent.t54- Unmrried cises, (pl) 3-Weaken' 47-Wandi mmo4445 In Feb. 1962 VITAL departed for the 3 -11kbeetle onflic viede - 9 Mediterranean where she operated with 3-- i,,'i,4emet1 istr. b 44yUnit eature449 Sa 49. -044194, In.4oy YOUR CHOICE ON SUNDAY the Sixth Fleet and provided services for the Hydrographic Office. VITAL re- U. S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba turned to Panama City in August 1962. A four month deployment to the Caribbean :;I-l" 'll 2Armed 56-L .%Ioa-e RADM J.