Manchester (CL 83) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 101 text:

The capture of Sin Do Island would be a swift and lasting insurance against further enemy fire from that sector, and it would be an advantageous position from which to observe the movements of native small craft believed to be still engaged in night mine-laying missions. We could waste no time with Sin Do. On the morning of our first day at Wonsan February 22nd the Manchester opened fire on Sin Do gun emplacements at point blank range with her six inch, five inch and 40 mm batteries. Right: The planners discuss Sin Do landing. Naval Officer in center is Manchester ' s South Korean inter- preter. Commander Lee. Bottom Left: Staff Sergeant George Anderson, Tech Sergeant Gunny Barker and Staff Sergeant Dick Martin ot the Manchester ' s Marine detachment were Captain Hansen ' s valuable aides-de-camp. Bottom Right: A squad of ROK Marines muster behind their boss. Lieutenant Shm He Taek. None of them spoke English — a situation which was no small head- ache for the Captain. Admiral Smith ordered Captain Hansen to nearby Yo Do Island, which was in friendly hands, to rehearse South Korean marines for an amphibious assault on Sin Do the next day. nrr

Page 103 text:

Within several hours, Captain Hansen reported to the Manchester by walkie talkie that Sin Do had been taken with no opposition. The Red crews who had manned guns on Sin Do had either evacuated, or become part of 94 civilians the marines found on the island an old change-of-clothes trick popular among North Koreans. Destruction was king on Sm Do. But in the shambles and twisted trees lay tin- remnant Id and new . . . Above. i long underground hunker that was used to store ammunition tor several 11-inch mortars HI one below. These Japanese-made guns once rendered Sm Do a near impasse to those who threatened Wonsan from thi