The Times from Munster, Indiana • 70

ON DECK WITH HAMMOND SAILOR My Mo Life Aboard the Another year and a half or so and Bob rhillips of Hammond will be out of the Navy. But right now he's in the Navy in the middle of the activity in the Far East Robert Lee Phillips, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Russell, 6S31 Wavcland is an en-gineman third class aboard the USS Missouri.

The "Mighty Mo" recently was in the headlines because of its duels with North Korean shore batteries. The "Mo" has been Phillips' home ever since 1950. During that time he had made two trips to I iz: 15 7- 1 the Korean figthing zone. But in May he expects to be 41 9 i 1w .1 hi a home for 30 days. After that he anticipates being sent to South America and Europe before being released from active duty.

When he gets out he hopes to I "V-j I i 4 get -a job working with diesel motors, a job he is doing on the Missouri. xie lias ueen iu uic iiovj cv since he was 17. He attended Hammond High School for three it 'V- vears and then completed his iK, studies in the Navy to earn a high school diploma. In letters to his folks, rhillips tells about activity aboard the ship, what the men eat and what i VjVX Jit 4 fei: if ri mm "-Oi lO. he does.

For instance, he wrote that before Christmas he was as- signed to decorate a portion ot the ship and was praised by an 1st officer for its appearance. in turn, reports on the activities of her other children: Wayne Russell, 20, of 1516 169th Hammond; Judith Ann, 15; AT.TIIOTTflll PRACTICAL experience is important, it isn't Bonita Mane, 12; David Lee, enough, and Bob must make frequent trips to the ship's educational office for courses and latest training aids to help his study program. Harold E. Zechel, personnelman third class, of Pound, assists Phillips with his selection of courses at. the Missouri's educational office.

Bob has completed machinist mate and engineman schools while in service. He has enrolled in courses for advancement in rate and taken business BOB AND HIS TWO buddies from Munster, Elwood E. Alex-anderson (left), and Don E. Baker (second from left), view with interest the famed surrender plaque (above), as Ensign George P. Payne of Franklin, Ky.

(third fromieft), Bob's division officer, points to the inscription which reads: "Over this spot on 2 September 1945 the instrument of formal surrender of Japan to the Allied Powers was signed, thus bringing to a close the second world war the ship at that time was at anchor in Tokyo Bay." WITH TI.E GREATER part of the day behind him, Bob sits down to enjoy a last smoke and write a letter to the folks back home in Hammond (at right). Soon taps will be sounded and men will turn into their bunks. The floating community will be darkened. The sounds of human activity will fade, and the noise of humming engines and the occasional knocking of a pipe will become more pronounced to the skeleton force that must stay awake and stand the night watches. The ship will be quiet, resting for tomorrow.

ON SUNDAY MORNINGS, Bob (center of front row) and two other Missouri men from the Hammond area, Elwood E. Alexan-derson, electronics technician seamen (left of Bob), son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Alexanderson, of 8334 Harrison Munster, and Marine Sgt. Don E.

Baker (right), son of Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Baker of 8213 Highland PL, Munster, attend Protestant divine services. While the ship is in Korean waters, church services are conducted in the mess halls, but when the "Mo" is outside of the battle zone and weather permits, services are held on the main deck. Conducting the religious ceremony in bottom picture is one of the Missouri's two full-time chaplains, Lt.

Adam J. Schutz of Rockville Centre, N.Y. One hour before Bob, who attends the First Baptist Church in Hammond, attended services, his Catholic shipmates used the same spaces for their services. Catholic, Protestant and Jewish services are held every Sunday. lis AT THE MISSOUUI'S machine shop, which houses the machines used to repair and make parts needed for successful operations of the man-of-war, Bob Phillips of Hammond busily attends a metal lathe during the ship's working hours.

Although he isT the division police petty officer, and has general administrative duties, the specialty requirements of the Navy rate require him to keep in close contact with the ever changing methods and equipment. 19; Brian, 8, and Bradford, 4 2-To show just how a Navy man like Bob Phillips, lives, works and plays aboard a ship, the Public Information Officer on the USS Missouri had the accompanying official U.S. Navy photos taken. ciS cf3 r-5 if iiMMogKwnww" V' 9 WIIKN THE MISSOURI participates in heavy bombardments of Communist installations north of the 38th parallel, Phillips serves as a battle telephone talker near tne snip numoer live repair station. As a talker, he relays information from the cen- -v tral damage control station to repair station personnel who are posted there in the event of battle damage to the ship.

Here, he wears an inflatable life preserver that the Navy calls the "Mae West" and uses the battle telephone, operated by the power generated from his voice. fl I a is X.JB y. 1 fir vt 1 i if i If i A I 0 Jr I tf 4 4 I ess "ify- a2J UHRKlXfi DAY over, a hot shower and the evening un BOB DIGS INTO HIS noon-day meal of meat loaf, mashed potatoes, brown gravy, fresh frozen spinach, salad and raisin cake in one' of the ship's six mess halls. During a two-hour break in the working day, the Missouri feeds 2,300 men, who each week consume 650 gallons of soup, 17,000 pounds of meat, 75.00C pounds of vegetables, 3,500 loaves of bread, 65,000 pounds oi fruit and 5,250 gallons of coffee. der his belt, Phillips sits back for a few hours of pleasant relaxation, puffing his pipe and playing a few games of checkers with a shipmate.

Off-duty hours offer varied programs of interest aboard the Missouri. Model builders find the ship's hobby shelves stocked with kits for everything from Spanish galleons to modern racing cars, while the library has an ample supply of literature to meet the needs of the book worms. MINUTES BEFORE starting a tjpical Navy day, Hammond's Robert L. Phillips, engineman third class, sleeps soundly in his bunk on the battleship Missouri which is now operating in Korean waters on her second U.N. cruise.

Reveille for the 22-year-old engineman and his 2,300 shipmates is usually at 6 a.m., about an hour and a half before daylight during the Korean winter. "Lights out" on the battlewagon is at 10 p.m., allowing an eight-hour sleeping night for the crew..