The Wilmington morning star., 1945-10-27
OLD, YOUNG ENJOY
VISIT TO SHIP
Officers, Men Of USS Har-
Ian R. Dickson Play
Host To Visitors
Bv MARIAN FRINK


tonians swarmed over the Uss
Harlan r. Dickson, the Nays
newest and largest class destroyer,
now locked at the Customhouse
pier.
From the time the ship arrived
early in the morning until the
ships officers gave the go
ahead" signal for general visiting,
hundreds of onlookers lined the
street and sidewalk, ready to grab
the first chance to 60 aboard.
The Dickson's officers relented
about l pm. and hundreds Of men,
women and children streamed up
the gangplank. Crew members
acting as guides conducted the vi.
sitors over the ship in groups and
answered countless questions.
They also served as a safety pa.
troll, warning excited children
when they were in danger OF fall
ing down a hatch or tumbling out
of a gun mount.
One little boy had a rather uni
que accident. He got stuck in a
portfolio. Seeing an open portfolio
while he and some chums were
walking around the deck. he
promptly climbed on the shoulders
of one of his buddies. stuck his
head and shoulders through the
opening and surveyed the officers
stateroom into which he was In
truding. Then, having satisfied his
curiosity, he started to withdraw.
But it was not all that simple. He
was not at all cha rined, however,
when he had to enlist the aid t
both the officer and his chum in
order to get out and continue his
tour.
A small Negro boy also had lots
to tell when he got home. OF all
the wondrous sights on the ship, |
a set of 20-power binoculars, the
most powerful on the Dickson, held
the greatest fascination for him.
Appealing to 1t. Cmdr. S. B. War
rem, executive officer, to let him
"see something, the little Negro
was instructed in the art Of look
ing through binoculars. But, al
though the child obviously appre-
ciated the officers attention, he
was very disappointed that he
could ''see the 'ouses but no
boats.
The 1900 ton Dickson is small
municipality in itself. Fully equip
ped with living quarters, cafeteria
style galley, movies and other re-
creational facilities, the ship fur
nishes her own fresh. water and
electricity by steam generators.
Crews quarters are located
throughout the ship and accomo'
date the crew of 300 men. Light
sleepers might object, however, to
the crews after living space which
is in close proximity to the ships
magazines.
Also located below-deck IL the
rsdio room, where skilled radio
men handle secret messages, dis
paches and battle orders.
Moving on through the ship, one
enters the galley, where one lady
visitor was heard to remark
that she wanted "a little gal
ley just like this for my home"
That little galley can feed $40
men in an hour and-a-half. One
way traffic is even necessary to
prevent jams on the ladders.
Coming up on deck. one realizes
the Dickson is certainly we'll
equipped for protection against
enemy surface craft, submarines
and planes. The main battery Of
guns, fore ON the ship, is COM |
prised of six five-inch SO calibre |
dual purpose guns in twin mounts. |
There are a number of depth |
charge projectors for use against
submarines, several 40 milimeter
twin mount and quadruple mount
anti-aircraft guns and a torpedo
mount mid-ships which is
equipped with five torpedoes.
So proud are they of their fight |
ing equipment and proves that
the officers and crew members
nlodestly attribute the japanese
surrender to the fact that the Dick
son was on her way to the Pacific
to join the fleet when the surren-
der was announced! The Dickson
men say the "Japs knew When
they were licked"
Commanding officer of the Dick
son, Cmdr. Paul G. Osler, USN,
has been in command of destroy
ers for the last three years, in
both the Atlantic and Pacific, and |
has received many decorations. |
These include the Legion of Merit,
q commentator ribbon awarded |
by Admiral Halsey for participa-
ton in the repelling of a Jap aerial
attack, the National Defense rib
bon with the IA" for North At
lantic duty prior to Pearl Harbor,
Asiatic Pacific area ribbon with |
eight major engagement stars, |
European theater ribbon, Ameri-
can theater ribbon, expert rifle |
and expert pistol ribbons.
He received the Legion Of Merit |
while in command of the USS Ed
wards, which sank Jap subma-
rine off Attu island in the Aleu-
hans. Cmdr. Osler is justly proud |
of the fact that there were no per.
sonnet casualties aboard the Ed |
wards while he was in command. |
The Dickson, built by the Fed
arn1 Chirh,1ildino and Drudook