Benham (DD 796) - Naval Cruise Book

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Mt. Fuji reflecting its beauty upon Lake Shaji ft © © o o © © © o o o Japanese Cinema Soviet Embassy Religious Shrine

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JAPAN The orrival of the BENHAM in Yokosuka marked a big event in our cruise, because it wos our first For Eastern port. It is sometimes called the Secret City because it is sur- rounded by immense hills and mountains. During World War II it was the Annapolis of Japan and it was a mighty novo! for- tress. Adapting themselves to Oriental ways came quite naturally to the crew even though it was the first time in the Orient for nearly oil of us. Everyone was pleased with the quiet leasure and humble politeness of the Japanese. The houses of paper and wood with straw matting on the floors, the trishaws, the weird, mysterious music all called for close attention. It was so different from the United States that we were at a loss as to where to begin. Those who could tear their eyes away from the brilliant banners and signs that hung on the hundreds of shops filled with curios and oriental gifts, found a trip to the outskirts one to be remembered. And night life was indeed a new experience for us all. Ninety minutes from Yokosuka was Tokyo with its well known sights and modern architecture blended against the ancient. There was much to be seen there, but we could only scratch the surface in the few days we hod at our dispos- al. We left Yokosuka, quite happy with the news that we would return. Papa-Son ' s day oft

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' . -.S J f- Center of A-Bomb Explosion Nagasaki SASEBO High Dry Sasebo was a port that we looked forward to visiting very much and we were not disappointed as evidenced by its being voted the Number One Cruise Port. The Navy clubs featured fine food and drinks at extremely reasonable rates, but before many liberty hours had passed most men were out on the town discovering new haunts. Sasebo was similar to Yokosuka, but yet, it offered something dif- ferent. Perhaps it was the overnight liberty plus our newly-mastered fluency in Japanese which we had to learn in our first Japonese port. Our ten days stay was not only for liberty however, because there was a dry docking period for our rudder job and much work had to be accomplished to ready us for our return trip. It was also here that our many, veteran Kumshaw ar- tists received their basic training. It was work hard and play hard in a port which we enjoyed very much and the BENHAM steamed out of Sasebo harbor, a smart, clean ship with a happy, but somewhat reluctant crew.