A WEEKLY PUBLICATION U. S. Nasal Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba December 31, 1964 FAMILIES RETURNING Best Possible Christmas Gift THE WORD EVERYONE AT GUANTANAMO BAY HAD BEEN HOPING TO HEAR CAME WITH RESOUNDING IMPACT OVER THE CHRISTMAS WEEKEND, WHEN THE NAVY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT THE GRADUAL PHASE-OUT OF DEPENDENTS WOULD CEASE AND THAT PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO DUTY HERE COULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR DEPENDENTS. "This is a wonderful way to end the old year and begin the new one," commented RAdm John D. Bulkeley, Base Commander, when the news was made public in Washington. "What better Christmas present," he added, "than to have our dependents be able to come to Gitmo.to have the self sufficiency in water . stabilization of the base labor situation.and, to top it all off, to have Cardinal Spellman andthe Chief of Navy Chap- lains, RAdm Dreith, come down here for. a Christmas visit with us. I just think this is all splendid!" Soon after the news was received the base was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. Many were the suppositions about the obvious problems concerned with reactivating fami- ly housing, enlarging school facilities and other considera- tions involved with accomodating new arrivals. When would the first ones arrive? Who is eligible? Can I extend? Should I extend? Is it too late to extend? These were just a sample of the thoughts of everyone concerned that will be answered as soon and as fast as possible by local of- ficials. Harried personnel officers, neck deep in a paper deluge of requests, testified to the fact that few waited for a full green light before getting their name on the lists for mama and kids to join them.or for extensions so that their fami- lies could spend a goodly portion of their tour here. One thing was certain! Whatever the problems, they'd be overcome. And to those who would soon be joined by their wives and kids, no problem seemed insurmountable. CHRISTMAS IN GITMO. His Eminence Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, and Military Vicar to the Armed Forces, meets Marines on visit here. COUNCIL duty at defensive positions during his three day Christmas CIVIC ~1 smile, Cardinal Spellman made the day 1 word and a hearty 31!!f With a cheerful a little brighter for Marines on guard duty with his visit and special here XMAS AWARD Christmas gifts which he distributed along the fenceline. While The Chief of Naval Opera- Cardinal Spellman saw every aspect of life in Guantanamo, celebrated tions announced that effec- Catholic Mass and, together with Navy Chief of Chaplains, RAdm J. Floyd WON BY COOK tive Jan. 1, the postal ZIP Dreith, who conducted Protestant Christmas services, helped give more Code will replace FPO and APO meaning to the Christmas season for all Gitmo residents. Winners of the Naval Base numbers now being used by Civic Council Christmas home military activities overseas. decorations for 1964 are 'SK2 SAMPLE: and Mrs. Roy E. Cook of GP3B. Present Address A cash prize of $25 will be presented by the Civic John R. Jones, BM3, 381-92-00, Council to the Cooks for U.S. Naval Station their efforts in making their Box 117 home the most decorated in Navy No. 115 Gitmo this Christmas season. Fle: L Post Office Cook, who has been sta- New York, N.Y. 09593 tioned here for 31 months, is New Address assigned to the material de- partment of the Naval Supply John R. Jones, BM3 Depot. 381-92-00, USN His decorations were cen- Box 117 tered around the theme of U.S. Naval Station Santa Claus with his reindeer FPO New York 09593 positioned high on the roof of the house. Well placed- . i _/__ _____ lights took in the Cook home and their neighbors. Other houses earning hon- LA FONDA FIESTA. A sumptuous Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings orable mention were VL278D, GMG at the Cuban Fonda was the order of the day Wednesday, December 23. This VL1228a, TP55, LP556 and annual affair provided a free meal and gifts to all Base employees. LP551. commng,_soon 0 Page Two THE GITMO REVIEW December 31, 1964 Editorial A New Year Every Day Strengthens Resolutions MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD GO THROUGH A RITUAL EVERY YEAR ON OR ABOUT DEC. 31 - THE MAKING OF RESOLU- TIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. How many of these resolutions are kept is impossible to '_I _: tabulate, but still we "faithfully vow" to stop smoking, be more considerate to others and many more great objectives. Yet, if you stop and think, is "next year" any different from "tomorrow?" Why not make your resolutions "today" and stick by them "tomorrow" or "next year?" We in the armed forces can use every day as a "resolution day" to enhance our country's position in the eyes of the world. By our actions on and off duty - wherever we are sta- tioned - we can help maintain resolutions which will, in turn, support and back up those of higher authorities to maintain the purpose and ambition of the United States. No matter where we are stationed and no matter what our The USS Papago (ATF-160) and her skipper, Lt. H.J. Roberson. particular job may be, we still are a team composed of in- dividuals - individuals who can resolve to do that job better and with greater results. On Dec. 5, 1964, an Army captain was awarded this Nation's SHIP OF THE WEEK. highest honor because he did better at his job than was expected of him. USS Papago (ATF-160) was built by the Charleston Ship- We all may not be able to perform our jobs as gallantly as building and Drydock Company in Charleston, S.C. She was the captain, but we can resolve to try to obtain that extra commissioned Oct. 3, 1945, and has been assigned to the drive it takes to do a job "above and beyond the call of Service Force, Atlantic Fleet since that time. As all ATF's duty." are named after Indian tribes, Papago takes her name from a So, if you're thinking about making New Year's resolutions group which lives in Arizona and Mexico. this year, perhaps this excerpt from Helen Hunt Jackson's The ship is 205 feet long, displaces 1,650 tons, has fouW proplusion unit which "New Year's Morning" may influence your thoughts: diesel engines and an electrical produces 3,000 horsepower, has a top speed in excess of 16 knots and carries a peacetime crew of 68 officer and men. for ocean towing, and can move "Only a night from old to new She is designed primarily Only a sleep from night to morn the largest ships afloat. The new is but the old come true, Four divers are normally assigned to the ship, and various Each sunrise sees a new year born." types of heavy slavage equipment are always on board. During more than 18 years of active service Papago has also performed duties including search and rescue operations, goodwill functions, drone launching and recovery, torpedo re- U. S. S. EXULTANT (MSO-441) covery, torpedo recovery and security patrols. She has assisted in the refloating of at least six ships. NEW YORK. NEW YORK The best known operation in which she participated was the refloating of USS Missouri in 1950. In 1962 she was one of the six Service Force ships which refloated USS Monssen. For 24 December 1964 her participation in that operation she received a citation from Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. .val Lase personnel Commanding the Popago is Lt. Harold J. Roberson. Lt. Rob- Guantanamo ray, Cuba erson enlisted in the Navy in June 1963 and attended various Navy training schools before reporting to Patrol Bomber Dear Friends, Squaron 102, ,in the Pacific. As a flight engineer and gunner during that tour he was Your most thoughtful assistance and cooperation, awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with one gold star, among both military ano civilian personnel alike, in donat- stars, Combat Air Crew Wings ing Christmas ecorations to the US lULTAT is deeply the Air Medal with three gold appreciated. The response of the entire base following with three gold stars, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal the requests made over R1acio ana TV Station WGBY and with two bronze stars, and the World War II Victory Medal. published in the Gitmo Gazette was overwhelming. On behalf In November 1945, he was discharged from the Navy as an of -y officers and crew, thank you very much, You have aviation machinist's mate second class. After graduation made Christmas away from home much brighter. from high school in Ozark, Alabama in 1946 he reenlisted 19 the Navy. With all best wishes for the holiday season ano the enlisted service, during coming new year, I am After an additional 11 years which he was advanced to chief training devices man, he was Very truly yours, commissioned in 1957 through the Integration Program. JUST WONDERING BY ). KOZE, JOC Lieuten t Co nander, U. 1savy WOW! What a year 1964 has Whichever, it was a won- Comanning Officer been in Gitmo Bay. If you derful announcement. Actually were to write a book you'd it goes just beyond the mean- physi- have a difficult time coming ing of the dependents up with such suspense as we cally coming back. that the THE GITMO REVIEW had here. It has 'been dif- To me it means United States meant every RA DM .'.DIt. 1.LKELEY ferent. - _ -ComiNavBase they announced many CDR.