Braine (DD 630) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 16 text:

,, W, A ff, K X:'l' 'f I - N and his helpers standing a taut mid-watch in spite of numerous attempts by the Bum Boat skippers to board the ship without ID cards. 1 JAN. 1964 NEW YEARS DAY IN KAOI-ISIUNG. After the last six days at sea chasing a couple of evading merchant ships and standing the tiresome con- dition three watches, we pulled into port, having had a most quiet New Years Eve at sea. Al- though it still was New Years Eve in America Shima, most of us decided to help bring in the New Year back home by hopping on the masses of pedi-cabs and gathering at the EM Club to have a few or more toasts to Auld Lang Syne. 5 JAN. A tour to Pi Pieg Lake in the distant mountains from Kaohsiung brought us to a Taiwanese Aborigine Village. The people, being quite ritualistic, gave us the opportunity to share in their native customs and actually take part in their rhythmic tribal dances. After a day well spent, we returned to the ship only to stay up most of the night in preparation for tomorrows Captain's inspection. 12 JAN. This is the last day of our rolling and pitching Formosa Patrol, the condition three watches , and probably the last time through the T. V. re-runs for our nightly movies, because DesDiv ll is waiting to relieve us. As we pull into the smallest, most crowded harbor in the world, we pass the halfway sunken merchant vessel, the over-crowded, port listing, passenger ferries, the fish- ing junks Cone-lungersy , and the infant san-pan divers diving for any denomination of money, realizing that this stay will be remembered for quite some time. 15 JAN. To commemorate our stay in Kaohsiung, Chief Cargle, an ex-crew member of the BRAINE held a 5 NTS QS. 15 USD night at Nancys. I think the whole crew must have been there for this memorable sendoff. Also today, we presented as a good will gesture, a S300 scholarship to Mr. Chow Tsaw Mo, a dental student at Kaoshiung Medical College. Other goodbyes were said to the Mayor of the city and the Foreign Affairs Police QFAPJ with whom we worked quite often. 16 JAN. With our official relief by DesDiv 11 we wished them a happy condition three watch and lots of crypto. Standing out of the harbor we bid farewell to Taiwan, home of the most beautiful women in WestPac, and our last memory was the green water taxi escorting us out of the harbor with the S +4 f crew in their BRAINE caps, shooting a multitude of fireworks for our safe journey. After dodging many a fleet of fishing boats and their undisclosed nets, we entered the ultra-modern Victoria Bay in the British Crown Colony of I-long Kong. While mooring we were showered with pamphlets from just about every establishment within ten miles, revealing Hong Kong's exotic atmosphere during our awaiting week of R and R. 19 JAN. After converting our money into HKSQ5. 68 HKS to ISUSD and hailing a water taxi QWalla Wallal to Fenwick Pier, we all sought to take advantage of the many bargains that soon would fill up our magazines. Items of main interest were the tailor made clothes, tailor made shoes, and complete stereo sets. 22 JAN. The scenic sights of Hong Kong Bay, Kowloon and its surrounding New Territories, Victoria .J 4--SM

Page 15 text:

Y PRESIDENT QI. F. KENNEDY, our Commander-In-Chief, was assassinated as announced to us by the Armed Forces Radio Broad- cast. Every one in Sasebo mourned the loss of this Great President, and Memorial Services were scheduled. 26 NOV. With BRAINE'S Tours Inc. , directed by the memorable I-Iokimoto, we saw the famous oyster beds and pearl farms, the fac- tory which manufactures delicate Fukagawa China. A day at Nagasaki took us to such historic 'scenes as the Peace Monument, Madam Butterfly's l-Iome, WW II Ground Zero , and various Jap- anese shrines. 28 NOV. TI-IANKSGIVING DAY. After church services., the crew enjoyed the best meal they'd had so far in WestPac. Later some of us went bike riding and discovered many new muscles while touring the beautiful, but hilly terrain surrounding Sasebo, others went shopping at Sasebo's many intriguingshopsg while still others explored the fascinating novelties offered in Thieves Alley including the many stand bars. 3 DEC. While preparing to get under- way for Taiwan, we bid Sayonara to japan, her Asahi's and the wonderful l-Iottsie Baths for which japan is famous. 6 DEC. For the salts that had been there, the familiar odor of Kaohsiung, Taiwan drifted in the air as we stood into the harbor ready to relieve DesDiv 211 for six grueling weeks on the Formosa Patrol. During the chaotic relief at our buoy, herds of merchantmen came out to us in fleets of Bum Boats and boarded, or at least tried to board us wherever possible. Meanwhile the OOD and his watch were frantically trying to bong the brass on and off the ship. After relieving 211, and holding a general field day, we hailed Kaohsiung's only water taxi and went into town, with its twenty nine drinking establishments in addition to the O , EM, and KRC Clubs. 10 DEC. We left Kaohsiung to start our patrol in the rough straits near the Communist China mainland. With condition three set, the gentle deep blue seas changed into salty green whitecaps as the bow plunged into the huge troughs and gigantic waves crashed above the pilot house. Most of the crew just gave up trying to eat until things calmed down a little. 15 DEC. Back in Kaohsiung we took a tour to Tainan, thirty miles north of Kaohsiung and saw the tall sugar cane fields, rice paddies with the familiar farmer working My ffflo, 3... ix YW, L, A x V f , . ,... 1 N77 Fw ., . w . 'ff .3-if 'ffm ,. f . . 'W YH:-1 ' My l V 2 A ,N , . - QW .. , A... .. , Ml' . 7fWfw4a sbt 5 ' 'G ,L I ,N J -yy X f T' i ,cu , 'f ew. f t:f'...,,,' ' 4 . i vb W .fm WW. I, 1 'f 1244 , X , '- , ff www A vmmp' - -K Nm,...M f' ,. ' .LLM ' - 'Ng 2 'V'f 4171 3' K f - ,. Q 'X ff 1 . w 'f' f ZQWN N QW- i T912-sf fx! ,.,. K f-QM ff 4 1 ,IX 5 4 . jx' N f S . ' ff? W1 3- ff M.. f . asv X -49? . f t ya- M ,- xv... 1- f. M. ew-.W--. .. 'X' .4 Vw f' ,1 7 fA.A3f'Q ' X f. S.. -f , Wk' fM.wfx+.f.af2r-V iw. H X fr 'M'-wfvwow .W V., . 2 X fsgmfj, ,. ZA ffbgfwgfgftww Q ,, . X, t ,,,X W I . .f I. 4 ,, 715, G A fN 1M,.-.x.,..M .f W NK., wf,.W,.Y,,,gx amlwjl, , 2 M fs , ,V-., Q' 1, .f I, ' ,,, wfwf, 5-ar--f 1, me we ..- Z.-. CVWE !!0,,, !Zf.M55. fryiywx VM., . ...W-sWx?.,,,j..,. 7,Tl':h,mv , . .W W ,,...:s.ffAq as-A.. f ' .. fi ,. rf nw- - Ks f f,:rwz..m.M,.., , . , X .Q-.N , 1-1, ' .H 1 with his water buffalo in the wet gumbo, a Confucianist Temple, a Dutch Fortress, and several Buddha Temples. 17 DEC. An all hands wetting down party was held on the port side of the quarterdeck for all those who advanced in rank, including officers. The XO even decided to join the party. 19 DEC. While on patrol, with winds up to 50 knots and 12 foot waves, type- writers and every other available missle hazard suddenly flew through the air as the BRAINE recorded her first and next to last 45 degree roll of the cruise. 25 DEC. CHRISTMAS DAY IN KAOI-ISIUNG. Our ship's party was being held at Nancy's I-Iarbor Hotel where everyones spirits were pretty high, even though it wasn't like Christmas at home. To spread the good tidings of the yule tide season through the city of Kaohsiung we formed a group and went caroling. On our return to the ship, we saw the unforgettable BRAINE decked out with a colored array of dress ship lights as well as the highly decorative christmas tree atop mount 52 and Santa Claus F vi. t.i5 , . l Q, g 3 ' - ,,,, f 2 f . ' X. ' ' f Vi- 17 .J X.. bi. Z , Xi 4 5 2 45 Y I is I . . I - 'Ot' x, 41 ' 2 ' I 1 3 xi: L X if ff Z i f ' Y ' ' X f fs. Q ' QW. 1' -Qi X ' X1 it ' .4 1 ' 4 , :L ,.., 'K . I .,.. , S 35 X. , . 'M-. , .K . , l , ,,,, , ,,, NS S' ss f f , ix wus . L. ..,.. ..,. . . -.... ..r. .,,, .-.. .1 . 1... .... W. .... ...N-2.. ..-...... .

Page 17 text:

Peak, Tiger Balm Gardens , the floating village of Aberdeen and expensive Repulse Bay will long be remembered, as will the World of Suzie Wong, Hilton Den and the Kings Grill. QI say there ole chap, Hats off to the Lymey's! J 27 JAN. After four G. Q. 's and plenty of stack gas since I-long Kong, we pulled into the crowded bay of Yokosuka, japan, mooring alongside the oldest oiler in the fleet QUSS CIMARROND and just across from COMSEVENTI-IFLT in the USS PROVIDENCE. 2 FEB. A tour to Tokyo, home of the 1964 World Olympics and largest city in the world, revealed to us a View of the famous Tokyo Tower, the colorful illuminated Ginza, and many modern buildings like those of our famous city of New York. That night, we enjoyed a japanese style Sukiyaki dinner as we were entertained with a 300 girl show at the Kocopa Theater. Some of the crew even managed to see a most confusing, but dramatic Kabuki play. 7 FEB. A japanese train ride was a must on our list of experiences to be tried. Board- ing the train at Yokosuka, it sped off in the direction of Kamakura , where the famous Buddha over looks the town. The train was crowded but very interesting because of the most friendly people. japan has many train rides that run every fifteen minutes and on many different tracks at the same terminal, so the lesson to be learned is to make sure that you get on the right train. Its quite an experience. 14 FEB. Almost finished with a badly needed availability, we again started to look good. Today Moats Inc. , received all of our A-33 purchases and the smallest spaces were almost too full already, but you can't beat his credit. One of the novelties in Yokosuka was the French T. V. juke boxes that showed a movie to the record selection that you made with 10 Yen. 16 FEB. After a four hour train ride and trying to snap a few pictures of Mt. Fuji, some of our officers ended up in a small town named Gotemba at the base of the mountain. After meeting some marines based at Camp Fuji, it seems as though they took a ride on the city's local fire engines. l9 FEB. Into the second day of ASW exercises, we were ff ' i S. 2 . rw 6 fi S, is f ' MQW :wi 1. , 5,1 ., . 4, i 4 , . If ,WW fwmjiwllw K 7' . .3 East, xi. .I VVS X X f V'-' E A . in , - A iiirii a i - working with one of our submarines preparing to compete for the Gold hash mark for six con- tinuous years of outstanding ASW on BRAINE. We did alright, but right after we finished, a cold snow-filled fog bank slowly closed us in, and the long johns were soon broken out in order to stand our watches. 23 FEB. With our work finished in ASW, we pulled in Beppu, japan, a famous resort area noted for its natural hot springs and the beautiful snow capped mountains surrounding the city. Since we were anchored out in the bay, getting ashore was somewhat of a problem for the crew, especially after the gigs started to breakdown due to their continuous running to the beach. While we were there, the mayor of Beppu called on us and toured the ship The people of Beppu were very friendly to the BRAINE and made the liberty worth our while.