Manchester (CL 83) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 143 text:

We will never know, however, exactly what the mission of these people was. Some theories, based on examinations of boat (above) and the heavy, athwartship timbers recently installed in them, indi- cated a large-scale mine laying scheme. Others, view- ing the quantity of rifles, machine guns, ammunition and grenades found in the boats, suggested a sui- cidal raid on our hated siege ships.

Page 142 text:

At dawn of the next day, a grim, clear picture of what had happened in the darkness was laid bare. Many bodies of the Communist night squadron and their bloody sampans were float- ing around us in the harbor. Our boats brought them in, and their clothing was examined for documents, among which were found Communist Party cards and pictures of celebrated Chinese Red leaders. Corpsmen found the man being pulled out of the boat at right still alive, and he was taken to an emergency dressing station for treatment.

Page 144 text:

The hist five days ill Wonsan had been fortunate foi the Manchester. Further enemy efforts to mine the harboi were foiled, as were invasion attempts on ROK Marine held Hwang ' to Do, where Captain (now Major) Hansen had directed landings in March. We never heard again from Kalma Gak; possibly because the Manchestei and destroyer Duncan had made direct hits inside several of the peninsula ' s gun caves . . . By May 31st, we had steamed south, and after assuming command of Task Element 95.28, com- menced bombardment at the front lines ... At 1831 that afternoon, the Manchester fired her last round into Communist Korea, and soon after was underway to rendezvous with the heavy cruiser Los Angeles . . . our long-awaited relief.