Benner (DD 807) - Naval Cruise Book

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BENNER was relieved as plane guard ship on September 19 and transited to Hong Kong where we arrived on September 21. Our visit to Hong Kong was for most, a five day shopping spree. The entire crew took advantage of the many bargains to be had in Hong Kong. While in Hong Kong, Mary Soo Incorporated painted our sides and the Hong Kong Red Cross chapter came aboard to collect blood. It was a busy period to be sure and BENNER turned reluctantly to sea on 26 September for transit to Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. I

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Our Subic Bay stop was almost strictly a business stop. BENNER tied up outside the Destroyer Tender USS DIXIE for a logistics upkeep tiefore returning to Yankee Station. Our Steward Personnel, being of Philippine origin, took full advantage of this period by taking maximum liberty and leave. During our third trip to Yankee Station, time was beginning to slip rapidly by. From October 5 to 18 BENNER again acted as plane guard ship. On 18 October we encountered rough seas and they remained with us through our transit to Yokosuka. This rough weather period enabled the crew to witness the strength and might of the sea. This was typified by the enormous swells that left the entire ship dripping in salty brine. Another clue to rough weather was the discomfort of rolling from one side of our beds to the other and hopefully no further. The supreme test of our sea legs was when eating meals. With one hand holding our trays on the table and the other holding our forks, and our eyes watching for sloshing food, the prospect of eating was not always looked forward to. In Yokosuka we unloaded information gathered in WESTPAC, delivered it to our relieving ships and did last minute shopping BENNER was beginning to look like a department store. Eagerly, BENNER turned her bow toward home on October 28 hoping to arrive in Long Beach on November 9. The transit was a busy time with last minute drills to complete and lots of DASH operations. Busy as it was, the days seemed to creep by so that by November 9th, as Long Beach came in sight the long weeks of toil and little sleep seemed well worth the effort. We were all extremely proud of our ship, our Navy, and our Country. BENNER had traveled over 47,000 miles in 6 months, expending over 2.8 million gallons of fuel. Now a rest and we ' ll be ready again to put forth maximum effort to keep America free. It was a happy crew that pulled into Yokosuka on 25 October. Happy that the rough weather was over and happy that our cruise was finally taking us closer to our homes.