Benner (DD 807) - Naval Cruise Book

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S ORY OF THE RLII E On September 27, 1960, a Destroyer moved smartly away from Pier Seven at Long Beach, California. The USS BENNER CDDR-8075 was underway for six months of deployment to the Western Paciflc. Slowly the wives and sweet-hearts and families grew smaller as we backed out into the stream. Ahead of us lay almost 6,000 miles of ocean, with only one stopover, at Pearl Harbor. After clearing the breakwater, we joined company with the PROVIDENCE and the LARSON, and headed West. The first lap to Pearl Harbor didn't seem too difficult, we were still occupied with thoughts of home, as well as being busy with work on the ship. But arrival in Pearl Harbor was welcome. And, though the stay was short, many of us made the most of the time: some visiting Waikiki Beach, the Hawaiian Village, Don the Beachcombers, and several other fine spots. After taking aboard stores, fuel, and MPC to be spent in the Far East, we again cast off lines and turned toward Japan. Eleven days later we entered Yokosuka, Japan. Once a small fishing village, Yokosuka expanded with the establishment of iron foundries, and is today a principal port for commercial shipping and the U.S. Navy. Many attractions were found here. ,By virtue of its reputation and location, Thieve's Alley seemed to be the first discovered. Here we could bargain with hundreds of small shopkeepers, flirt with equal numbers of at- tractive hostesses in the many bars and night spots, and purchase literally anything we desired, from engraved chopsticks to a shiny tin steamer trunk. And if they didn't have what we were looking for, they would make it overnight, and have it ready the next day. Prices seemed to depend on how many ships were in, we soon discovered. Yokosuka had fine clubs, for Ofhcers, Chiefs, 'Petty Officers, and enlisted men. Two ship's stores afloat offered fine quality foreign merchandise of controlled quality at reasonable prices. Recreation facilities were to be had for the asking. Tours to near-by Tokyo were arranged. In all, we stayed over two weeks, and enjoyed every day of it We left Yoko on the last day of October and headed southward toward Kobe japan By this time all but the very greenest were over any seasickness encountered Although not familiar to most of us Kobe is the sixth largest city in Japan and her port IS the finest and largest in the Islands A few of us visited nearby Kyoto an ancient capital of japan and the acknowledged cultural and artistic center of Japan Many arts and crafts are still flourishing in Kyoto that had their origin 1n China and Japan many centuries ago Kyoto is also famous for her many shrines and temples spared by the allies from bombing during the last war e 24th of November found us underway again participating in Operation Treble Clef along Wlth Olihe task force exercises We stopped overnight briefly in Buckner Bay Okinawa remaining on 30 minutes notice r m l t d si u a e war operations during the night We departed at dawn and continued various operations until re entering Yokosuka on the 2nd of December T , , r fo' ' ' ' i i . ' , . , . 1

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