Jenkins (DD 447) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 17 text:

Our next transit was to Buckner Bay, Okinawa, and it had its share of ASW exercises and night steaming. There is little to say about Buckner Bay except that, if one makes enough trips there, improvements in its facilities can be noted, and that it is dry land and a sraple plat- form for sea-wearied legs. After our departure from Buckner Bay, we experienced a hectic week whose operations were usually comprised of typhoon evasion, causing cancellation of most events. On 24 July we eagerly entered Hong Kong harbor with bulging billfolds and mile-long shopping lists. The visit was a tremendous morale boost, for everyone enioyed the magnificent and inexpensive selection of merchandise and the unique feeling of being part of the British Empire. During this period, JENKINS was an integral member of several SAR missions, and in one, she effected al night rescue of three crewmen from a downed helicopter. This unfortunate incident seemed close to home since the rescued co-pilot had ridden us during a previous transit. During every replenishment, JENKINS established and enhanced her reputation as an expeditious and well- organized customer ship. On 6 July we set a SEVENTH Fleet replenishment record during a freight transfer with the uss GRAFFIAS qAF'29p. ln early october we bade farewell to our almost constant companion Cespecially Sundays ID, the USS MANATEE CAO 58D. We missed the MAMATEE very much on our first refueling without her. The rigfunrig time we attained with MANATEE would elude us the rest of the cruise. Hong Kong is truly an international meltingpot, its ex- pansive building grogram still is barely adequate to meet the ever-present population explosion and refugee pro- blem. One remarkable quality of Hong Kong is its tremendous, bustling atmosphere, standing high in Victoria Peak one hears a sound emanating from the metropolis which resembles that of a gigantic beehive. Most of us bustled madly about, trying to fit two weeks activities into one. Tailors...shoemakers...shirt makers...all had to be sandwiched in between excursions to Repulse Bay, Tiger Balm Gardens, and Aberdeen. The intrigues and inticements of Hong Kong were too soon left behind us as we departed its harbor only to meet with the turmoil of another typhoon which delayed our return to Sasebo by two days. The months of August, September, and October con- tained several ioint exercises-Operations TIRE IRON, GILL NET, and CHECKERTAIL, along with combined oper- ations with units of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. Operation TIRE IRON saw us operating in con- iunction with Fast Carrier Task Group 77.6, but somehow both the tactical and strategic significance of our presence in such a complex exercise eluded us and we bobbed like a cork on the perimeter of action. .

Page 16 text:

Midway Island, lonely and obscure, but still echoing the sounds of a war not too long ago, soon stood out in greeting to us as our first refueling stop. The island has little to offer-few except the gawky gooney birds realized the invasion. The beaches, with water of con- trasting hues, supplied the few necessary hours of recer- ation, while the gooney birds provided the laughter with their erratic fiight maneuvers registering a consistent 2.0. The nine days from Hawaii to Sasebo, Japan, with one day lost in crossing the International Date Line, were among the most pleasant of the cruise. We looked with eager anticipation to sighthing the first off-shore islands which would announce our arrival in the land of the Rising Sun. We entered Sasebo Harbor under a cover af clouds, ready for our first stop alongside a tender. A week was spent making necessary repairs so that we could shine in our first antisubmarine warfare exercises as part of Task Group 70.4 Sasebo was dot new to most of us, all had fond memories from previous visits to that port or had heard stories of its many pleasures' and facilities. Here many had their first acquaintance with Japanese food- sukiyaki, tempura, sushi. This year the term had been changed from deployment to employment, but the urgency and intensity of Oper, ations, necessary to mold a cohesive and coordinated ASW fighting unit in a six month period had not changed, To the veteran of past cruises, this employment may have seemed routine but to the novice, the advanced ASW actions conducted under the shadow of the two Red giqnfs of the East and the visits to exotic ports provided ample thrill and delight. On 4 June, after a morning of tearful alohas , the JENKINS got underway in fine weather with a crew enlivened by thoughts of renewed friendships in distant ports, shopping sprees, and new loves. 1 Early Monday morning, 26 June, we sortied from Sasebo with our constant companions of the next six months, USS KEARSARGE and Destroyer l53. Tedious periods of JSE: Ping Time, and type training occupied most of OUI' hours during this transit before we had to flee from the fl-'TY tYph0.0fl Rose, Rose and her succeeding orienifll madames would cause quite a few cancelled exercises,- Ond GUQUJSJWG-d moments for all skippers throughout the cruise. The city of Kobe, ancient capital of Japan and truly ci pearl of the Orient, was our second stop. Kobe is famed for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, it features taverns in Old English motif, steaks ala western style, and shopping areas with an amazingly vast international selection of merchandise. Kobe was also a good iunction for excur- sions to such places as Takarazuka, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Himeii. Trips to temples, castles, and shrines broughf us close to the history of Japan, while daily encounters GQUJH Gnd again demonstrated the courtesy and congeni- ality of the Japanese people.

Page 18 text:

' By the end of October, the tempo of operations had markedly increased, for the .end of the competitive year was quickly approaching. Formal gunnery, engineering, communication, and ASW exercises kept us'alI on our toes. The JENKINS had acquired a reputation as a scrappy ASW combatant. KEARSARGE aircraft were always eager to work with us because we constantly found the action. Our W-2-U and Z-20-C done, we retired in force to the tropical climate of Subic Bay for a thorough tender availability that was urgently required. Typhoons and heavy weather had taken their toll. After exhibiting SEVENTH Fleet's strength and flexibility in the Joint Task Group Exercise YELLOW BlRD , we sortied north for our last entry into Yokosuka. Since our INSURV inspection would follow shortly after our return to.Pearl Harbor, this final WESTPAC tender availability permitted the correction of many existing discrepancies. Our WESTPAC employment completed, all hearts lifted as we turned homeward. The JENKINS team could rightly be proud of their performance for they had demon- strated the record breaking replenishment capabilities and formidable ASW attack capabilities of JENKINS. t Our mostl frequent liberty ports during this time were the Naval Bases at Sasebo and Yokosuka, where every- one continued to spend and also fruitlessly attempt fo. save. A bright spot in our usual fare of ports occurred when we visited the city of Hakodate on southern Hokkaido, Its' citizens welcomed us with open arms and genuine smiles. The U. S. Navy is held in high regard in Hake. date, and American naval ships visit there once every six months. Consequently, the crew never lacked friends nor requests to speak English and sign autographs. On the morning of our reluctant departure, the townspeople threw brightly colored paper streamers to JENKINS crew members and held them until they broke. As the pier became distant, we all felt a warm sensation, for the people still stood waving goodby to us. 1, r 5.