OL Division
Boatswain's Mate
OL division is comprised of men from each of the seven deck divisions, all of whom work together under the leadership of Boatswain Mesler in their most-important jobs.
WO1 William P. Mesler
Ship's Boatswain
As lookouts, they are ever on the alert in the forward and after lookout stations. They scan the sky and sea with binoculars, searching for contacts previously sighted by radar or for those which might somehow have been overlooked. On this past cruise they have aided in searches for lost pilots and have been HELENA's most vigilant guards during the many Condition III watches necessitated by the flare-ups in the Quemoy area.
When the ship steams into port, the men of OL know their work is merely beginning, for it is their task to keep the sides of the ship in top-notch condition. Working long hours, often swinging perilously on a staging ladder only a few feet or inches above the water, OL's men keep the flagship up to standards. Whether maintaing the ship or watching out for her crew, these men can always be counted upon to turn in an outstanding job.
OL DIVISION
ever alert and watchful, lookouts remain an
imoortant part of every Navy ship
