John Thomason (DD 760) - Naval Cruise Book

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CRUISE HISTORY On the warm spring morning of 8 March, I96l, the USS JOHN W. THOMASON IDD-760D departed for the Western Pacific-the first FRAM MK II destroyer to do so. As we passed Point Lomql to the old Destroyermen it was a familiar feeling, to the raw recruit the beginning of an unforgettable adventure. After nine days of steaming, the THOMASON entered Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After two weeks of an intensive Operational Readiness Evaluation IOREJ in MIDPAC, the THOMASON headed for the Far East, losing the 28th of March enroute crossing the International Date Line. The THOMASON's first port of call was Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, where we spent two days, We then proceeded north to Yokosuka, Japan, where we spent a I0 day availability in dry dock, repairing all items that needed attention and installing a new sonar dome. After leaving Yokosuka on the 27th of April, the THOMASON headed south where we spent twenty- one days patrolling the South China Sea. With COMDES DIV SEVENTY-TWO embarked, we operated as part of 'Task Group 70.4, which consisted of the USS KEARSARGE CCVS-335 and embarked Air Groups, Destroyer Division SEVENTY-TWO and Escort Division THIRTY-ONE. We again entered Subic Bay, P. I., on the I7th of May for two weeks and then proceeded enroute to Hong Kong, B. C. C., for six days of rest and relaxation. When the 6th of June rolled around, we, amid boxes, presents, fond memories, and empty wallets, weiged anchor and sailed for Beppu, Japan. During the first few months of our cruise, we had distinguished ourselves by becoming an effective member of our Ready HUK Group. With our Variable Depth Sonar and advanced Combat Information Center, we were repeatedly able to track and hold enemy submarines during our various ASW exercises. After four days in the little Japanese port of Beppu, Japan, we once again engaged in ASW exer- cises enroute to Buckner Bay, Okinawa, where we spent three days. The highlight of our cruise was our visit to Kobe, Japan, where we met our exchange student, Miss Noriko Minekawa, whom we are sponsoring for one year of the school at Racine, Wisconsin, this fall. We held a dayligdt cruise for Miss Minekawa and forty other exchange students and their parents. This was part of the president's People to People program, which THOMASON, alnog with the other units of the Task Group, has supported very enthusiastically during the entire cruise. After our wonderful stay in Kobe, we again headed north for Yokosuka, Japan, for fourteen days tender availability. After seven days in Sasebo, Japan, and two days in the war-torn city of Hiroshima, Japan, we proceeded north for Yokosuka, Japan. After four days of chipping paint, loading stores, and in general getting ready for our return to San Diego, 5200 miles away, we headed east on the 6th of September. The trip home was uneventful, and on the I8th of September, we again passed Point Loma. We were home at last.

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Now, if we charge S2 for ecich egg, fhe Officers mess bill should go up fo SSO. I keep felling you l'm cr cook not Q TM! Try fo leove my leff ear. You're the sixth guy today fhof scrys his collor fell off his shirt! l wonder how long this chit for 50 borrels of grog hos been laying around ?

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