Porterfield (DD 682) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE CRUISE Those aboard the USS PORTERFIELD who made the last cruise will agree that there was a definite contrast between the ship's departure from San Diego for the past two cruises. Our departure this time was more of what we like to call normal, that is, de- parture on schedule instead of after rushed, all night preparations. And so, after our good-bys, we left the land marks behind. Shelter Island, Ballast Point, Point Loma, ISD and at last, the watch in Combat lost sight of San Clemente on their radar. The trip from the mainland to Hawaii was literally, 44 just what the doctor ordered because there were still many aboard who had not yet acquired their sea legs. Those days on the way to Hawaii, the seas were calm, the weather warm and fair. In fact, it become boring to be able to look out at any time and see the USS TWINING off the port bow, about half a mile away, and the USS SI-IIELDS off' the port beam the same distance. We arrived several hours ahead of schedule oif Pearl Harbor, so in view of Diamond Head, the side-cleaners made good use of the time. The Captain was heard to say, 'S Undoubtedly, one of the men working on the stages over the side will Gaccidently' fall ini' Sure enough, it wasn't more than thirty minutes until the 44 accident 3' hap- pened. Oh well, there is no soap in the ocean so no harm was done. The stay in Hawaii was just long enough to give us a glimpse of what the Islands are like. We also realized that we would have to considerably adjust our budgets if we ever intend to stay there on sailor s pay. Two days in Pearl gave us all time to relax a little and to propare for the next leg, the trip to Midway Islands. I-C6275

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The trip to Midway was short, a little rougher and was interrupted one afternoon by some engineering drills. That's about all there is to say about this leg of the journey. We arrived at Midway about 1000 on a dark and overcast day. After refueling came the familiar words, Go to your stations, all the special sea details,', commencing the last leg of the trip to our first WestPac port, Yokosuka, Japan. On a misty morning we arrived in Yokosuka, but the stay, much like Midway, was ex- tremely short. That same afternoon, with the fuel tanks once again full, we headed south to Sasebo, Japan, for a two week period in which to get ourselves, as well as the ship, ready in all respects for the hard days we knew were ahead. The crew was looking forward to this two week stay in Sasebo, a stay which had much for the men in blue. Tours were made available to a china factory, a pearl farm, and Nagasaki, the site of the second atomic burst in Japan. A U.S. Navy Display Room and Purchasing Branch was at our disposal. Many took advantage of this service and it was estimated that several tons of china and other products of Japan came aboard during those two weeks. Most of all, Sasebo in itself, provided good liberty for the crew. Grand Zero, Nagasaki Peace C 23 7