More Jason Pics

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Jason boys jamming in Sasebo in the early '50's. L to R: Jim Searles, Cal Baker, Gene Sharp and Carl Gradick. (Photo courtesy of Carl Gradick, ME3)The "J" seen from a liberty boat. John Copeland is on the right. (Photo courtesy of Carl Gradick, ME3)
Carl, Gene and Jim playing somewhere in Sasebo. Carl was on the "J" from 1951 to 1954. (Photo courtesy of Carl Gradick, ME3)Bill Graves, Carl Gradick and Jim Graves posing on the foc'sle. (Photo courtesy of Carl Gradick, ME3)
Jerry Bybee and his pal Chuck Burk after a wild and strange night in Honolulu 1956, ha ha. (Photo courtesy of Jerry Bybee, IC3)Carl (R) and his brother Bob (L) in the blacksmith shop with their pals, Bill and Joe. Bob was on the "J" from 1952 to 1955. (Photo courtesy of Carl Gradick, ME3)
 
Jerry and his hometime buddy Ed Galberth posing 1955. (Photo courtesy of Jerry Bybee, IC3)Jerry in the Gyro Repair Shop 1956. (Photo courtesy of Jerry Bybee, IC3)
 
Jerry in the Projector Repair Shop 1956 doing what all good sailors do. (Photo courtesy of Jerry Bybee, IC3)Some members of the original Jason crew on deck shortly after she was commissioned in June of 1944. Seaman 1c Ralph John Hawkins is on the left in the front standing row. (Photo courtesy of John M. Hawkins, Ralph's grandson)
 
The following cartoons were drawn by Dennis Kelley, IC3. Dennis was a proud Jason crew member who was aboard from 1966 to 1968. He obviously has a fine talent for drawing. The first cartoon is scanned from the 1967 Jason cruisebook. The other cartoons show life as it was in Navy boot camp. Dennis drew them when he was a lowlife "boot" in San Diego, ha ha. The pages are scanned from his copy of "The Anchor", the boot company yearbook. Thanks, Dennis, for sharing your great drawings with your fellow Jason crew members. It's much appreciated.
 
  
The following 6 images are from a 1956 booklet that told the history of the USS Jason ARH-1. In September of 1957, the "J" was redesignated AR-8. The photos are courtesy of Jerry Bybee, IC3. My sincere thanks go to Jerry for providing this very interesting history for all fellow Jason sailors to read and enjoy.
 
       
Cover
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
 

The aftermath of a major paint spill into the Valve Repair Shop in 1969. (Photo courtesy of Steve Rebmann, MR2 and Don Herr, MR3)

1967 Cruise Book page of the Gallery Machine Shop crew. (Photo courtesy of Steve Rebmann, MR2 and Don Herr, MR3)
The happy crew of the Jason Gallery Machine Shop in 1970. (Photo courtesy of Steve Rebmann, MR2 and Don Herr, MR3)Taking on fuel from the USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) in the late 1980's. (Photo courtesy of Ericka (Zallar) Yoder, BM2)
 
Yokosuka 1989. (L to R) BM1 Robert Pearson, BM3 Charles House and BM2 Ericka Zallar. Ericka was on the "J" from 1985 to 1991. (Photo courtesy of Ericka (Zallar) Yoder, BM2)
Jason coming home. Year unknown.
 
Jason coming home. Year unknown.General appearance of the "Vulcan" class of repair ships.
 
A drawing of the "big" aft 5" gun as rendered by Tom Kay who was a Radioman on the "J" from 1966 to 1967. (Photo courtesy of Tom Kay, RM3)A whimsical drawing of a possible "J" ship's patch done by Tom. Might have looked great, ha ha. (Photo courtesy of Tom Kay, RM3)
 
A terrific print of the Jason as drawn by George E. Bieda of Windjammer Arts for Mike Price, RD3 . Mike was a proud crew member of the "J" from mid 1966 to early 1968. (Photo courtesy of Mike Price, RD3)
    

If you would like to get a great drawing or painting of the Jason like the one above, contact the artist, George Bieda (pictured at right), via his website, mail or by phone.

http://www.windjammer-arts.com

George E. Bieda
9092 Washington Ave.
Studio 7
Silverdale, Wa. 98383

1-800-595-0042
1-360-613-5787

The following photos are courtesy of Ed Hamblin BM3. Ed was a Jason crew member from 1975 to 1977. He worked in First Division. These great photos were taken in October of 1976 in San Diego when our gal, the Jason, played a part in the movie "MacArthur" starring the late, great Gregory Peck in the title role. Ed says that it took most of a Saturday to film a scene that lasts about 5 minutes in the movie. He and a bunch of other guys were picked to be extras. He and the other Jason boys had fun and made a cool $20 on top of it! The scene is one where Douglas MacArthur traveled to Hawaii to meet with President Franklin Roosevelt. Next time I see the movie, I'll be sure to look for this scene! My sincere thanks and gratitude go to Ed for providing these wonderful and fascinating photos of the Jason on the day when she "starred" in a Hollywood movie!
A photo of the set on the Jason.The scene being filmed.
    
Ed trying to "steal" the scene from Gregory Peck, ha ha. Actually, Mr. Peck is going to lunch after posing for photos with the guys. What a great actor he was!  
The following are a few more photos taken by Ed Hamblin BM3. Most of them were taken in early 1975 right after Ed came aboard. Great shots, Ed! Thanks for sharing them with your fellow Jason sailors.
The "J" tied up at Pier 1 at the 32nd Street Naval Station.Nice view of our gal.
 
Interesting shot.This lifesaver would make a nice memento.
 
Two cool Jason sailors. Ed is on the right.Some of the boys of 1st or 2nd Division posing for the camera. I'd love to have that sign. It sure would look nice in my den!
 
Jason sailor taking a break after lunch.Homesick Jason sailor writing home to his mama, ha ha.
 
Jason "deck ape" doing what "deck apes" do, ha ha.Liberty boat making a maintenance run while in Yokosuka Japan.
 
Jason sailor asking Santa for some goodies in Yokosuka, ha ha.On the way from Yokosuka to Taiwan in February of 1976.
The following great Jason photos are courtesy of Jim Woolsey MM3. Jim was aboard the "Jolly J" from April of 1985 to August of 1988. Jim started out in the Valve Shop and later on got into the Repair Supply Office. Jim, many thanks to you for sharing your fine pix with me and all of our fellow Jason sailors. Your kindness is very much appreciated.
Great shot of the Jason taken at Pearl Harbor in the fall of 1985.Jason out to sea.
 
Some horrible initiation rites being inflicted upon some lowly "polliwogs" while crossing the Equator. That boy sure is pretty, ain't he, ha ha?More unspeakable tortures being forced upon these belly-crawling lowlifes!
 
Looks like fun to me, ha ha! Reminds me of the time I was initiated into the realm of Neptunus Rex, Ruler Of The Raging Main!Don't worry guys. The "fun and games" will soon be over and you'll become official Shellbacks!
 
A great shot of the aftermath from the collision between the "J" and the USS Willamette AO-180 on February 10, 1986. A "J" sailor, CPO Susano Valdez, was killed and 8 others were injuted.