SERVICES WHOLE FLEET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 26 November 1942, Page 5

SERVICES WHOLE FLEET

I.S. OFFICER’S IMMENSE JOB EVERYTHING AT FINGERTIPS Auckland, Nov. 25 An American naval officer with an immense job is Vice-Admiral William Lowndfes Calhoun, U.S.N., who has been in New Zealand during a visit to the South Pacific area. As commander of the Pacific Fleet service force, Admiral Calhoun’s task is to provide everything needed to keep the navy running everywhere in the Pacific. Though his visit to New Zealand was crammed full of duty, Admiral Calhoun found time to meet civic as well as service chiefs and to attend the requiem mass held in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Auckland, for the repose of the soul of Rear-Admiral Daniel Callaghan, U.S.N., killed in action in the Solomons.

The scope and detail of Admiral Calhoun’s job are tremendous in complexity. He is responsible for the maintenance of all the ships in every advance base. He has to attend to the repair and alteration of damaged ships, airfields, hangars, oil tanks, barracks and docks. He has to anticipate repairs and replacements and b* ready to provide them e\ery time a task force returns to port. He has to deliver all the equipment invasion forces may need. Other duties are the delivery of mail everywhere in the Pacific to the fleet and Marine Corps units, the refuelling and re-supplying of ships at sea, provision of hospital ships during every action to take serious cases from warships’ sick bays, and the establishment of complete hospitals ashore. He also heads the organisation which places police forces to maintain order in any captured hostile territory.

After graduating from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Admiral Calhoun during the last war became subbase commander at Coco Solo. Panama Canal Zone. He is credited with having everything, not only under control but at his fingertips. He keeps his own index of navy tankers and knows at any minute where every one is. No man is said to dare tell him a job is done if it has not been done, though it is possible that half an hour after delecting an offender Admiral Calhoun has him out to lunch. He does not drink or smoke and lives on an athlete’s diet of plain food. Every day he is said to be out for a walk, and every Sunday, except on 7th December last, to be in church.—P.A.