Brown (DD 546) - Naval Cruise Book

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September lst came only too soon. We were ordered to join the screen of fast carrier Task Force 77, operating in the Sea of Japan. This SCI-'eening operation was highlighted by a bombardment mission with the battle- ship U.S.S. Iowa, one of our heaviest dread naughts. This was quoted as a fast hit-run Two incidents of a curious nature occured raid which inflicted considerable damage to here, The Brown poking in close to the beach when a lookout spotted a small sampan drifting near the shore. A closer look showed many people in the boat frantically waving white flags. Captain Hayes called away the boarding party which set out in the motor- whaleboat to ascertain the intentions of the strange occupants of the craft. Further ob- servation determined that these ill clothed, half frozen people were fleeing to South Korea and freedom. Ensign Oh Hjoung Won, our South Korean Naval Laison Officer, spoke to the leader and discovered the entire group of thirty-eight people were all of the same family, an old couple and their de- scendants of three generations. While effecting the transfer, both ships I were necessarily dead in the water. Being very close to shore we presented a fine target. If the enemy had intentions of unlim- bering their guns, they soon changed their minds, for commencing to circle us as our screen was the unmatchable U.S.S. Iowa. The operation was completed without mishap, an- other example of Navy teamwork at its best. ' 14 enemy coastal rail lines and fortifications. ' Captain Hayes offered these refugees aid in reaching South Korea. When brought aboard they were fed their first meal in many hours their only provisions being one apple clutched possessively by a small child. All ties with their former world were severed when their boat was destroyed! this had to be done to prevent their abandoned craft from becoming a navigational hazard The forty millimeter gun crew found it a very able target. Later, they were trans ferred to the appropriatly named, H.M.S. Charity, a British destroyer, which was to carry them to a South Korean port.

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After two days at sea, the elements began to work. The force encountered a tropical storm which roughed the DD'S considerably, although the CVA was hardly aware of the destroyers or storm.ln fact, one airdale was overheard to shout while the Brown was alongside, 'Shove off coxwain, your boat's loaded! ' c The storm was highlighted by a 47 degree roll causing damaged to twenty five feet of the port railing, which was mild compared to the chaos created in the crew's dining lounge. Also of note was the laik gf fresh water on this leg of the journey, many bathless days re- su e . Neverthless, on July 17th Subic Bay greeted us. Despite the heat, many enjoyed San Miguel's abundant hospitality. The next morning brought 'H farewell to the Phillipines as we left to carry out our special assignment. By now our force had swelled to eight destroyers and two carriers. We had join- ed the Phillipine Sea, another of our CV class carriers, and were proceeding to the Formosa Straits. The object, an air de- monstration for the Chief of Naval Operations to impress the chinese Nationalish leaders , whom he was conferring, that our Naval Air Force is a vital and powerful link in Formosa's defense. After receiving a well done from the Chief , our divison set course for Sasebo, Japan, one of our Fleet Support Centers in Southern Japan. The lines were over and secured on July 26th for a 48 hour stay to allow provisioning and refueling. Leaving Sasebo on July 28th, we pro- ceeded to our next destination, the front lines on the East Coast of Korea. At the bombline our primary purpose was to assist the advance- ment of ground forces by utilizing shore fire spotters. Six 'days of bombardment showed the effectiveness of our five inch batter while blasting targets near Wonsan and Kosong. A challenge by two of the enemy's seventy-six millimeter guns proved ineffective. In short order, counterbattery fire was silenced by our observant fire control team. This was the initial skirmish with the Red forces in Korea on our second cruise. As the third of August rolled around, our relief arrived and DesDlV 132 headed for Southern Japan for anti-submarine war games. A break in asw operations on the weekend of August 9th and 10th provided an opportunity to enter Kobe, Japan. The two major Japanese cities of Kobe and Osaka proved excellent for liberty, having many variations in recreation and souvenir hunting. With our anti-submarine warfare completed, we set sail for Yokosuka, Japang anixiously awaiting two weeks liberty. On arrival, we joined the nest of the U.S.S. .Bryce Canyon, a large U.S. repair ship who assisted us with our upkeep. A While here, many of the 'facilities such as Navy Exchange, swimming pool, tennis courts, theatre, clubs, andathletic fields, were utilized. Much competition was given these activities by the interest taken in bargaining with the Japanese shopkeepers. 13

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On September 28th, our task force assig- ment finished, we again returned to Sasebo. Three days later the Commodore received a special dispatch ordering us back to 77 . A round the clock work schedule was set up to complete repair work essential for battle effi- ciency. The Bryce Canyon's efforts were again helpful and the deadline found us fully pre- pared to do battle. Our October trip to 77 involved a most interesting mission. We were selected to par- ticipate in a mass amphibious demonstration at Kojo, Korea. I Arriving on the scene several days prior to D-Day, we shelled predetermined targets in a softening up operation. Counter-battery fire was experienced again with nil effects to the Brown. The USS Perkins and a minesweep were not as fortunate however, as they both took hits which caused loss of life. , Dawn on D-Day saw a large assemblage of naval vessels ranging in size from amphibs and minesweepers to such heavies as the U. S. S. Iowa, the Toledo, and the Helena, arrayed along the coast. Air- craft carriers much further out from shore launched their strikes which pounded the beaches and hills with tons of high explosive bombs and rockets. Due to rough weather, landing craft were delayed five hours. Finally, at 1400, the operation got underway. Under the 'cover of heavy supporting fire the landing craft maneuvered to within a few hundred yards of the beach, then they reversed course and headed back to their mother ships. Undoubtedly the Reds were surprised by this reversal, since the preliminaries were completely realistic in in- dicating a major landing was taking place. After the smoke had cleared and our units had retired, Admiral Clark, commander of the Seventh Fleet, gave a well done to all participating. Worthy of mention also, was the appearance of four Russian built Mig aircraft which surveyed us from the healthy altitude of nearly forty thousand feet. They did not attempt to come within range of our eagerly waiting five inch anti-aircraft battery. Several weeks later on October 26th, the division left the Korean area to take up previously assigned patrol duty in the Formosa Straits. We assumed patrol after an un eventful trip to the Straits. The two weeks we spent on patrol were characterized by the consistently rough seas we had to put up with. We were rocking and rollin con- stantly except for the few hours we spent in the Formosan port of Kaoh- siung ton two occasions. We were relieved from patrol on November 10th, and on the Ilth with refueling completed at Kaohsiung, we proceeded to Hong Kong The morning of the 12th found us entering the famous British Crown Colony on China's south coast. Victoria, a city of foreign intrigue and oriental splendor, was one of the higher points of interest on the island. The entire colony was very impressing with its blending of modern Western culture and ancient Chinese custom. Upon arrival, the harbor became a beehive of small bum- boats carrying merchants and their wares. They all ,converged on our ship, it seemed, and there was a mad scrambling among the merchants to try to be the first one aboard. We eventually resorted to the use of firehoses and clubs to control the surging, shouting mob. .15