Manatee (AO 58) - Naval Cruise Book

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The narrow harbor entrance to Kaohsiung requires expert navigation. KAOHSIUNG TAIWAN After a two day delay, the ship pulled into Kaohsiung for a three day stop. Kaohsiung is the major Nationalist Chinese harbor and homeport for the Nationalist Navy. The narrow muddy harbor teemed with cargo and fishing craft. After contact with Subic and briefly with Sasebo, Kaohsiung was the first place with the look (and smell) of an Oriental port. It is a favorite R R port for US Ships, since besides the exotic entertainment, Kaohsiung is the center of a well developed furniture and woodcraft industry. With the ab- sence of copyright agreements, the streets are lined with bookstores and record shops selling pirated editions at a fraction of their US cost. Unfortunately, purchase of these items was illegal for US crews. Many crew members took at least one ride in a pedicab, a combination bicycle-taxi that is one of the major means of transportation in the city. The fare is open to debate and, of course, the drivers are extremely proficient at bargaining with the US servicemen. 26

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STANDBY TO RECEIVE THE USS GEORGE MacKENZIE The MACKENZIE begins her op proa ch into the ten foot seas picking up speed to come alongside. The waves get choppier as siie closes the gap. ALONGSIDE STARBOARD ' '

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Fun ride, isn ' t it POGENESSE? MANATEE HELPS A HOSPITAL During the 1968-69 cruise, the MANATEE ' S crew helped paint and rebuild a small hospital for crip- pled children in the city. As a Christmas gesture, the crew sent over $200 to buy supplies. Those who had worked during the last cruise found is very rewarding and many offered to help again, sacri- ficing part of their liberty. Signalman First Joe HESSEN and Chaplain HEDWIG organized twenty men to build a sun porch and to work on the garden and grounds. The children and the crew managed to communicate despite the language barrier. After leaving Kaohsiung, the MANATEE received an embroidered pennant with the inscrip- tion, Thank You MANATEE, Friend of the Sick. Kaohsiung was the scene of the first real chal- lenge to MANATEE ' S softball squad. The team had played a few warmup games in Subic and efforts by coach Ernie FINKBEINER arranged a contest with a local team. Despite heroic efforts of SHL3 LOPEZ and others, MANATEE lost to the home team. It was a game enjoyed by all and added to the MANATEE ' S goodwill efforts toward our Southeast Asian allies. SN OCONNER makes a friend.