Nicholas (DDE 449) - Naval Cruise Book

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WESTPAC 'I959 At approximately II00 on I8 February I959, Chief Mitchell bellowed out, Take in two. Wilkerson, SN, on orders of the Captain indicated back two-thirds on all engines and with Betterton, MM3, and Sullivan, MM3, answering the bells in their respective engine rooms, the NICHOLAS slipped away from Baker 24. With buoy one on our starboard beam, we turned West and set ai course for Yokosuka, Japan. On Saturday, at midnight, we entered the realm of the Golden Dragon. Beauchamp, PNI, awoke the next morning wondering what had happened to Sunday's holiday routine. A rendezvous with DESDIV 253 and General Quarters at 0400 in flqe morning made us think briefly of our return in five months. The day before entering Japan was a rough one and the crew got their holiday routine through courtesy of the elements. The only man up and about besides those on watch was ENS Stuart, hunched over his abacus in preparation for the coming pay day. Fuii, with its snow-capped peak, appeared on the horizon on the 28th of February, and a few hours later the NICHOLAS was tied up next to the destroyer tender DIXIE for a two week availability and some much needed rest and recreation. Yokosuka was much the same as we left it last year with the busy shops on Thieves' Alley, the night clubs with their aesthetic art forms, the race back to the Fleet Landing to make the 2400 dead line, and the never ending search for a stand-by or some yen so we could get on the beach again. Many of us took advantage of trips to Tokyo or Kamakura to see some of the sights. An added attraction this year was the ship's party, at the Club Alliance with floor shows from Tokyo, delicacies from Chief KelIer's cuisine and narrative translation from Chief Loughmiller's gifted repertoire of repartee. Bidding sayonara to what we thought was our last visit, we pointed our bow south and headed towards Okinawa. We hoisted the absentee pennant once on the way when the captain left the ship by heio for a conference on the carrier YORKTOWN. An early detachment from the HUK group resulted in an extra day's liberty in Buckner Bay. Utilizing greenbacks again our biggest decision was whether to go to village I, ll, or Ill. Most of us never got that for as the golden dandies were much cheaper at the EM club and O club at White Beach. Fritsinger, SK3, couldn't believe it when 0400 reveille was sounded and the anchor heaved in at 0500 for a HUK to Subic Bay. Subic Bay, with all its tropical splendor, offered a lush paradise for the NICHOLAS' arrival on 3I March where we tied up next to the BRYCE CANYON. The California, Tia Juana and Mocambo were much same as last year for those who got past the new EM club. With its air-conditioning, San Miguel was hardly needed to relax us for our coming iourney to Singapore. On 6 April we left for Singapore. As the southern cross

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', .,,,,,,, . X, J . QM4' , lst Row: LTJG Whitten, Engineering Officer, LT Ritter, Operations Officer, CDR Kelley, Com- manding Officer, LCDR Peniston, Executive Officer, LTJG Morgan, Gunnery Officer, ENS Stuart, Supply Officer. 2nd Row: LTJG Di Palma, 2nd Division Officer, ENS Yarbrough, lst Division Officer, LTJG Hough, Communications Officer, LTJG Kershner, CIC Officer, LTJG Bussard, ASW Officer, 0Fr,cE R lst Row: Johnston, MMC, Randall, MMC, Clement, ETC, McCIanahon, SFC, Farrall, HMC Blanken, QMC. 2nd Row: Pennington, MMCS, Salisbury, FTC, Mitchell, BMC, Rolen, EMC Keller, CSC. -

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loomed high er and higher onthe horizon, we knew that soon we would be entering the domain of Neptunus Rex. The 9th of April, King Nepturne and his Royal Court came aboard to serve iustice on slimy pollywogs, who the night previous had incited a mass uprising. Shellback CDR Kelley greeted the Royal Court when they came aboard and then escorted them back to the fantail where the trials began. After a small amout of bloodshed the pollywogs were duly initiated into the solemn mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep and the NICHOLAS then proceeded into Singapore. Two days later, we went through Johore Straits to Her Maiesty's Royal Dockyards, passing many ships of other Navies reminding us of the coming SEATO operation. One and all were ready for a Tiger beer to alleviate a parched throat. Those of us who braved the T7 mile taxi ride to town visited the Tiger Balm Gardens, Raffles Museum, American Club, and various other sights to be found there. Four days later, all the ships present pulled out of the dockyards to commence Phase I of Operation Seademon. International co-operation was at its best. After Morrison, RM3, and Stanford, RM3, were able to tune the Enlish accents in on the proper frequency, Phase l of Seademon got well underway. A brief rest was granted the following weekend when we anchored in Johore Straits. LTJG DiPalma and Chief Holmes were frustrated not being able to get ashore on a non-duty day, but various exchanges between ships for dinner and movies provided entertainment for all. Pennington, MMCS, and Pallo, MMT, made a remarkable repair on our number one generator during anchorage that enabled us to get underway on the 20th with both generators on the line for Phase ll. The trek to Manila was as hectic an operation as the NICHOLAS has ever had. Even Halpin, SK3, with a shock of disbelief, was put on watch in combat. Once we learned to covert long tons to gallons, refueling from the RFA OLNA went smoothly. A lot of beneficial lessons were learned, but all hands were glad to tie up in Manila on the 28th, thus ending Seademon. Two days of liberty in Manila hardly gave Case, YNSN, and Olson, ET3, time to sightsee along Dewey Boulevard or Godfrey, SM3, to sip a glass of cherry brandy in the Jungle Bar of the Manila Hotel. Kennedy, our new GMT, met the shi here in time to dodge a few natives with special sales on pesos or cigars before we steamed out of the harbor for a payday and Hong Kong. The 2nd of May started one of the highlights of the cruise. With a warm greeting from Mary Soo and her side cleaners, we tied up next to the EPPERSON for a seven day stay in the Pearl of the Orient. ENS Keasler rejoined the ship here in time to enjoy with the rest of us sightseeing trips to Victoria Peak, Kowloon, the fishing village of Aberdeen and Tiger Balm Gardens. McColl, GM2, celebrated his shipping over and several Lieutenant Junior Grades threw their wetting down party. The shore patrol appeared to be getting a rake off from the nearby barber-they even looked twice at LT Ritter, two hours after Jett, SN, had performed his tonsorial mastery on him. Some ot us were clipped again by local tailors, but most of us were happy with our purchases from British Textiles or James S. Lee. Two days steaming and on the Tlth we were back in San Miguel land where Blackburn, BT3, and Shipe, EMFN, went on leave. Most of us were broke, but Colburn, BM2, had enough pesos left to celebrate his impending advance to first class. LTJG Whitten relieved LTJG Horowitz as chief engineer, and Mitchell, BMC, took over the reins as CMAA when Loughmiller, SFC, left for his new duty station in Pearl Harbor. The ship pulled out of Subic and headed north towards Sasebo, Japan, and cooler weather. Some of us renewed acquaintances from two cruises ago while others, there for the fisrt time, took sightseeing trips to nearby Nagasaki.