DOI: 10.25549/examiner-m21367
title: Merchant marine officer's training ship "Golden Bear", 1952

description: 15 images. Merchant marine officer's training ship "Golden Bear", 31 March 1952. Kenneth Doty -- 19 years (Los Angeles); Norman Sherer -- 20 years (Santa Monica); Walter Newton -- 18 years (Los Angeles); Robert Hahn -- 19 years (Oakland); James Williams -- 24 years; John Ryan (San Pedro); Richard Jacobsen (San Pedro); James Patterson -- 22 years (Pomona); Barry Faber -- 23 years (Los Angeles); Robert Schisler -- 20 years (Sacramento); Colin Campbell -- 21 years (Los Angeles); Ivan Dalgren -- 20 years (Astoria, Oregon); Supplementary material reads: "Gershon. illus. Golden Bear. Merchant Marine Officers of tomorrow! Midshipmen of the California Maritime Academy are shown at various tasks on board their training ship 'Golden Bear' during annual cruise which took them to Lima, Peru, and Acapulco, Mexico. These pix taken during run from San Diego to Long Beach. Midshipmen call 'Golden Bear' the Academy's 'glamour girl' because they enjoy cruise on her more than pouring over textbooks and chalk talks in Academy which is located near Vallejo, Calif. Midshipmen take three year course, emerge as Third Mates in Deck Department, and Third Assistant Engineers in engineer room. They automatically earn commissions as Ensigns in Naval Reserve's Merchant Marine Reserve, are subject to Navy call-up. 1: Midshipman Signalman COlin Campbell, 21, of Los Angeles, is shown poised to answer call from passing ship while Midshipman Signalman Ivan Dalgren, 20, Astoria, Oregon, waits to take down message. 2: Captain Ralph M.G. Swany, commander of training ship Golden Bear, looks in direction that Midshipman Norman Sherer, 20, Santa Monica, is taking a bearing to locate ship's position at sea. Capt. Swany keeps sharp watch on midshipmen's activity after he has turned operation of ship over to them in practical training program. 3: Midshipmen enjoy passing knowledge gained in California Maritime Academy studies to Sea Scouts as part of program to interest them in striving for Academy entry when 'they grow up'. Here R.F. Luckey, left, midshipmen, explains how magnetic compass is constructed and operates".; Supplementary material continues: "4: R.F. Luckey, tallest of group, explains bridge procedure to Orange County Sea Scouts during Golden Bear's cruise from San Diego to Long Beach. 5: Midshipman Commander James Williams shows sea scout Allen Nies, 14, how to take a bearing to plot ship's position off shore. 6: After ship gets under way, spare lines are stowed on reel. Here front, l. to r.: Midshipmen W.L. Gahart, 20, Exeter; Robert J. Leibel, 21, Alameda; center, Gene Kline, 18, Nevada, handle line while upper, left, DOuglas Maloney, 18, San Francisco, and Marvin Hyman, 18, Los Angeles, operate reel. 7: Midshipmen Kenneth Doty, 19, Los Angeles, bridge talker, waits to get order from Midshipman Norman Sherer, 20, Santa Monica, who in this instance is Officer of the Deck, in charge of training ship Golden Bear. 8: Midshipmen Have to learn to take bearings and part of job at sea is to pass on knowledge to Sea Scouts. Here R.F. Luckey, left, explains bearing circles to Sea Scouts Richard Madden, Ronald Pee, Alan Mes, and Richard Madden. 9: Everything must be orderly and shipshape during cruise. Here Midshipman Walter Newton, 18, Los Angeles, is shown 'flaking down' line ready for use when ship ties up. 10: Robert Hahn, 19, Oakland, bow-talkers, gets message from Bridge while Midshipman Commander James Williams, 24, in charge of bow line detail waits to hear if it is command to 'take in one or all lines forward'. His duty is to relay commands to detail and oversee proper handling as training ship Golden Bear prepares to leave San Diego pier".; Supplementary material continues: "11: Two San Pedrans shown in Bridge Duties as Golden Bear heads for Long Beach. Midshipman John Ryan, son of Dr. C.J. Ryan, is at wheel, while Midshipman Richard Jacobsen, son of Capt. J.A. Jacobsen, Long Beach port pilot chief, is checking compass to make sure Ryan is holding ship on course. Ryan with two years pre-med behind him switched to sea, intends to make Merchant Marine career. 12: Midshipmen handle all details in engine room, too! Here Midshipman James Patterson, 22, Pomona, is shown at generator in answer to call from bridge for power to winches for line handling as Golden Bear gets underway. 13: Barry Faber, 23, Los Angeles, lights up boiler as Golden Bear gets underway. 14: Robert Schisler, 20, Sacramento, is waiting word from bridge to get ship moving. He has throttles in both hands".