Comstock (LSD 45 LSD 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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At this time the thought that occupied our minds most was our scheduled three weeks in Hong Kong, B.C. as station ship. We finally left Okinawa and began the 800 mile stint to the last western outpost in China we had been looking forward to seeing for so long. Here was probably the closest many of us will have been to Communist China, passing down their coast while transiting the Formosa Straits. The passage was uneventful and our ship arrived in Hong Kong on a beautiful, slightly warm day. Hong Kong, though a part of the Far East, was still different from the other cities of the Orient we had visited. Hong Kong was much more the continental city. Probably the English government and the fact that it is a free port contributed a great deal. In Hong Kong there can be found merchandise from the four corners of the earth, but still the best buys are the tailored clothes, made from the finest materials. After the first few days of enjoying the sights, we got to work adjusting ourselves to being Station Ship Hong Kong . This we found was not the picnic we thought it might be, but rather a great amount of work for a limited number of men. Still we were able to station the shore patrol, handle the mail, accept the communications responsibility, orient visiting military, make extra boat runs, board incoming ships, disseminate information, enjoy ourselves, (I could go on) and do the many other duties assigned the station ship. After three weeks we saw our relief enter the harbor, the USS WASHBURN. In the most ex- pedient manner possible we turned over our post and departed the city and Island of Hong Kong, most of us elated since this marked the half way point in the cruise. Off again for Buckner Bay, Okinawa and another load of Marines for Numazu, after which we spent a little of our time in Yokosuka. Next we began to prepare for our first Amphibious Operation of Fiscal Year 61, Pack Board . Departing for Kimmu Wan Bay, Okinawa, we made ready to launch an assault on AWANIKO. All preparations were made in Buckner Bay and we set sail by a round - about route to the Rehearsal Area. During our movement we were exercised by submarines giving us a chance to practice evasive maneuvering. Eventually after some rough spots had been smoothed out we proceeded to launch a most successful amphibious assault. After the day of the unitial attack we practiced warding off swimmers afforded by our own UDT units. When the exercise was completed we packed up and were anxious to return to Yokosuka, since this marked the near end to our cruise. After we completed our voyage repairs it would be only a month of 5500 miles before we saw our families and friends once more. During our stay in Yokosuka, the Commodore, Phibron I, was relieved. Captain E. B. RITEENHOUSE turned his command over to Captain J. T. BULLEN Jr. It was also learned at this time that the new Commodore would return to CONUS on board the COMSTOCK. Well, to make a Jong story as short as possible our cruise ended as all cruised do, with the sighting of Point Loma and the Channel Fever and finally the reunion. 35

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