Page 2 & 3, December 9, 1943

THE FIRST 300 ARE THE HARDEST


	GRAVEYARD SHIFT PUBLICITY Quite a few of the employees on the graveyard shift have been wondering why the third shift is never spoken of in the Bo's'n's Whistle and other shipyard news. I would suggest that they be given a little consideration when these papers are being printed. -- W. B. Ford, Shipfitter Leadman. O.S.C. Editor's Note: Bo's'n's Whistle is produced by a small staff, all of whom spend the principal part of their time on other daytime shipyard jobs. Editors would welcome ideas and suggestions for stories from graveyard and swing shift employees.

	WATER WANTED Remembering the cold weather of last winter when many of us drained radiators while on shift, and not forgetting the probability of such a cold spell this winter, may I suggest that we have a standpipe located outside the yard fence for the convenience of the workers on coming off shift to refill their radiators. One could easily and cheaply be installed near the welding school and one also at the training school. -- Ira Luna, Guard, Vancouver. FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC Sirs: This letter comes from a former welder on the outfitting dock at Oregon, now with the American forces in the South Pacific. He writes : "I read where you beat all other yards in the output of ships for September, and I'll bet six months' pay you do it this month, too. It sure makes me proud to know that my sister is doing a man's job, and making world records at it, too. I have at times given up hope of getting home, when the odds were stacked too high against us, but with people like you doing the wonderful work you are doing, I know the Japs can never win even a decisive retreat." "I will be seeing you soon because I know the materials brought to us in the ships you make will keep coming, no matter what happens." --David Q. Baldwin, Seaman, First Class.

8 more at Oregon

... and Oregon Shipbuilder join?the "30 Day Club", win a Gold Wreath Award, and get well under way with America's first Victory Ship

A Mrs. Harry H. George, christened the SS "John Ball" on November 17. Her attendants were Miss Marie Lessing and Mrs. C. D. Cummins. Descendants of the late John Ball were introduced during launching ceremonies.
A The SS "Segundo Ruis-Bel- vis," Oregon's 296th Liberty, was launched on November 19. Sponsor was Mrs. H. E. Ahlen, wife of the O.S.C. safety engineer. Matrons of honor were Mrs. Inez Scothorn and Mrs. R. S. Bailey.
Miss Ardyce M. Fleener, clerk in the personnel department, christened the SS "Frank V. Linderman" on November 20. Miss Fleener's attendants were Mrs. Margaret A. Crowe and Miss Imogene 1. Gilbert.
Mrs. Ethel Eliason, mother of C. W. Eliason, regional industrial adviser, U.S.M.C., christened the SS "John B. Kendrick" on November 22. Principal address was by Mr. Eliason.
The SS "Simeon G. Reed" was christened on November 24 by Mrs. Simeon R. Winch, wife of the Oregon journal executive. Principal speaker was Dr. Arthur F. Scott of Reed College.
Mrs. Merton C. Adams, whose husband, graveyard shift Unionmelt foreman, accepted the "Gold Wreath Award on behalf of O.S. C. workers, christened the SS "Lewis L. Dyche," Oregon's 300th ship, on November 26. Principal speakers were Mr. A. J. Fraser, U.S.M.C., principal machinery inspector, and Edgar F. Kaiser, yard general manager. Attendants were Mrs. J. E. Ciaganno and Mrs. Anne Kingsbury.
Mrs. Ruth Wilson Apple, wife of Lawrence A. Appley, executive director of the War Manpower Commission, sponsored the SS "John Straub" on Nov. 27.
The SS "Wilbur O. Atwater" was launched on Sept. 28th. Miss Florence B. Olson, daughter of a swing shift time checker was the sponsor in a program m in honor of bond buyers in the time check department.

IF you can imagine a line of Liberty ships over 25 miles long and 24,000 solid freight cars of material?enough' to make a train 210 miles long, the distance from Portland to Pendleton - you'll have some idea of the meaning of the 300 Liberty ships that Oregon has built to date.

The tremendous job represents over 13,000 miles of welding - a solid seam that would stretch from Portland to Calcutta.

To top off her many other honors, Oregon received the rare Maritime "30 Day Club" award and the special *at Wreath Award" on November 26 at the launching of the SS "Lewis L. Dyche." Said A. J. Fraser, principal machinery inspector, U.S.M.C., "I know of many shipyards in existence for 50 or more years that have not built an amount of ships comparable to this number during their entire program."

Said Boss Edgar F. Kaiser, " . . . I

do not like to think of this operation as streamlined production. I don't think that is what did it. I think it is the heart and mind of 33,000 men and women from every walk of life who gathered together and built spirit and morale and really worked as a team."

A. J. Fraser, principal machinery inspector. U.S.M.C., presents the coveted "Gold Wreath Award" to Merton C. Adams, O.S.C. Unionmelt employee.

The first week in the life of Hull 1001

.... America's First Victory Ship ....

300

History in the making. The keel plate for
America's first Victory, Hull 1001, was laid on the afternoon of November 19.

Looking forward. Double bottom sections vary from 10 feet in forward deep tanks to 4 feet deep astern.

In a matter of hours the flat keel had been laid and supports prepared for bottom shell sections.

Side shell goes up amidships and America's first Victory rapidly takes shape.

Flat keel and strakes in place, the first inner-bottom section goes in midships.

The first of five transverse bulkheads goes in amidships, less than a week after keel laying.

More innerbottom assemblies are added. Note the "marginal plates" where the innerbottom edge joins the shell sections.

Another view of the transverse bulkhead looking aft with Hull 1001 already ahead of schedule in less than a week of production.