Admiral W S Benson (AP 120) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE SAGA OF THE BENSON (Continued from Page 24) long way around the southern end of Kyushu, for the Inland Sea was closed to all traffic. Arriv- ing at Matsuyama, we found that the Army had only just occupied that area a few days pre- vious, consequently no one was allowed to go ashore. Here we peddled a few more passengers to assembled ships in the harbor, and then continued on our way across the Inland Sea to the port of Hiro Wan. Wan means harbor and on this wan is located side by side, the cities of Hiro, Kure, and Hiroshima. This was an important naval base and manufacturing center, and visible everywhere were scuttled battleships and other naval craft, and one huge plane factory at Hiro had been reduced to a mass of twisted steel and embers. Hiro escaped damage, but Kure nearby was over half destroyed, and Hiroshima simply exists no more. One single atomic bomb has left only the remains of eight buildings and a small fringe of dwellings on the outskirts. A few more passengers peddled to nearby ships here, and then off again, this time to Waka- yama, Honshu. Here we found a Japan more as we expected it should be. Wakayama is ten miles inland, and not too badly damaged, and on the waterfront is Wakanoura, a fashionable resort, and untouched by the ravages of war. Fashionable hotels and fine homes dot the hill- side, while along the beach a re a series of small fishing villages. We found no end of souvenirs available at Wakanoura and at outrageous prices, and the way the sailors were spending their money for these useless wares must surely have brought on the greatest wave of prosperity these parts have ever known. This was the Japan of quaint little bridges, wind blown pines, impressive Shinto temples, and kimona clad natives. We enjoyed ourselves here. Shopping was much easier too. for in the better shops, English was spoken. In fact, one of the Jap sales- ladies claimed to be a graduate of UCLA in Los Angeles. A few more passengers got off here, and then we were off again. This time to Nagoya, the third city of Nippon. Here we found another mute witness to the efficiency of our bombers. This once modern city was a rubbish heap with only a few ten and twelve story buildings still intact. Nothing much of interest remained here. Our occupational forces had only taken over a few days prior to our arrival, but had things pretty well under control. At last we were able to dispose of our remaining passengers, except for 76 which we had decided to return to the States because they had almost acquired enough points for discharge by this time. Now we were heartily sick of Japan, and ready to go home. We had had no trouble with mines except for a close call enroute to Matsuyama, when we sighted one floating near us. This, our following escort destroyed with gunfire. November 8th found us underway for Okinawa again, this time to pick up a load of soldiers due for discharge, and we arrived off Naha, the capitol city of Okinawa on the morning of the 1 0th. There was no delay this time. Within 36 hours we had our load and were on our way to Seattle. Again we encountered a floating mine over a thousand miles at sea, and we sank it with gun- fire, as usual. No other event transpired while homeward bound, and we arrived in Seattle on 21 Novem- ber, after crossing in I I calendar days. On previous trips, the first thing most of our homeward bound passengers were anxious to see was a white woman, but not these veterans of Okinawa and many other island campaigns; they had been so steeped in wreckage for so long they wanted something entirely different — the sight of a complete building devoid of all damage and shellpocks. IN APPRECIATION in years to come the voyages and accomplishments of the Admiral Benson will recall pleasant memories. By photographs and articles it is hoped this book will bring back to you the doings of the Mighty B and her people. A lot of work goes into preparation of this kind of a book. Lt. Stone and Father Nemecek, Army Transport Chaplain, took the pictures we reproduce. Beauporlant, A., S I C, 2nd Division, did much of the necessary darkroom work. Nickerson, E. M., BM I C, of the MAA force, contributed The Saga of the Benson . Spaulding, K. A., QM 3 C, N Division, wrote Crossing the Equator and devoted much time to composition and layout. The sugges- tions of Lt. Macllwinnen had a lot to do with the final makeup and content. And we hope you like the result! 71

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CONDENSED LOG OF THE U.S.S. ADMIRAL W. S. (AP-120) BENSON Commissioned 23 August, 1944 af Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Alameda, California. Arrived Departed 23 Aug. ' 44 I Sep. ' 44 2 Sep. ' 44 18 Sep. ' 44 18 Sep. ' 44 30 Sep. ' 44 30 Sep. ' 44 1 4 Oct. ' 44 1 5 Oct. ' 44 30 Nov. ' 44 16 Dec. ' 44 1 8 Dec. ' 44 30 Dec. ' 44 5 Jan. ' 45 1 7 Jan. ' 45 19 Jan. ' 45 2 Feb. ' 45 3 Feb. ' 45 3 Feb. ' 45 27 Feb. ' 45 14 Mar. ' 45 16 Mar. ' 45 27 Mar. ' 45 31 Mar. ' 45 14 Apr. ' 45 1 6 Apr. ' 45 70 Location-Employment NSD, Oakland Fiffing oui and provi- sioning San Pedro, Calif. Shakedown with Cofc- pac Todd Shipyards, Wil- mington, Calif. Shakedown availability San Pedro Area Training vessel for APA crews. Operating un- der SCTC, San Pedro, Calif. Todd Shipyard, Wil- mington, Calif. Availabilify and embar- kation of troops Melbourne, Aust. Fueled and provisioned Bombay, India Debarked and embarked troops Melbourne, Aust. Debarked and embarked troops Los Angeles, Calif. Debarked troops Todd Shipyard, Wil- mington, Calif. Availability and embar- kation of troops Melbourne, Aust. Fueled and provisioned Bombay, India Debarked nnd embarked troops Brisbane, Aust. Debarked and embarked troops I 8 Apr. ' 45 21 Apr. ' 45 22 Apr. ' 45 22 Apr. ' 45 3 May ' 45 I 7 May ' 45 23 May ' 45 24 May ' 45 3 June ' 45 4 June ' 45 I I June ' 45 6 July ' 45 14 July ' 45 I 7 July ' 45 27 July ' 45 28 July ' 45 I 5 Aug. ' 45 26 Aug. ' 45 20 Aug. ' 45 20 Aug. ' 45 21 Aug. ' 45 29 Aug. ' 45 3 Sep. ' 45 3 Sep. ' 45 14 Sep. ' 45 28 Sep. ' 45 I I Oct. ' 45 20 Oct. ' 45 22 Oct. ' 45 25 Oct. ' 45 26 Oct. ' 45 27 Oct. ' 45 27 Oct. ' 45 30 Oct. ' 45 31 Oct. ' 45 3 Nov. ' 45 4 Nov. ' 45 6 Nov. ' 45 8 Nov. ' 45 10 Nov. ' 45 jjiiii: ; K .!ii Ot V V ttT Noumea, New Cale- donia Embarked troops Espirito Santo, New He- brides Is. Debarked and embarked troops Los Angeles, Calif. Debarked troops Naval Drydock, Son Pe- dro, Calif. Panama Canal Zone Fueled and provisioned Le Havre, France Embarked troops New York, N. Y. Debarked troops and availability Marseille, France Embarked troops Panama Canal Zone Fueled and provisioned Ulithi, Caroline Is. Fueled and provisioned San Fernando, P. I. Debarked troops Manila, P. I. Debarked and embarked troops Ulithi, Caroline Is. Embarked Navy Person- nel San Francisco, Calif. Debarked and embarked troops Buckner Bay, Okinawa Debarked troops Sasebo Kyushu Is. Debarked and embarked troops Matsuyama, Shikoku Debarked troops Hiro Wan, Japan Debarked and embarked troops Wakayama, Japan Debarked and embarked troops Nagoya, Japan Debarked and embarked troops Naha, Okinawa Embarked troops Seattle, Washington

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