Porterfield (DD 682) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 37 text:

The task group left Subic and once again, hunter-killer operations. Something new was added, we had joined up with a Task Force and Commander SEVENTH Fleet, to parti- cipate in tractical maneuvers including formations for photographic purposes, but there was one drawback: Typhone Freda. At last we left the KEARSARGE to go to Buckner Bay, Okinawa. It was Christmas time, and for us Christmas in Okinawa. There is a pretty nice club at White Beach, although the clubs at Kadena Air Force Base were the star attraction. The exchange at Kadena, we found, had a very complete stock of almost any U. S. item one might want to buy, but by now, most of us were saving our money for I-long Kong. Except for those attractions, Okinawa was about the last place in the world that any of us would like to be for Christmas but that's the way it goes, some ports are good and some are poor. The day before Christmas, there was a DESDIV 172 gig race. The course was from the destroyer nest to and LST anchored in the bay, and back. The gig crew had done all they could to get the top performance out of the engine and it turned out that we needed all we could get, for our valiant gig crew did win, a close race with TWINING. The Commanding Officers of the three destroyers were passengers in the gigs and all pressented quite a sight after the race. It was a good race and there was a lot of excitement for all hands. C3-2D

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With four memorable days left behind in Kobe, the task group continued hunter killer operations. This period at sea provided very rough, and we were battered by heavy seas. A thirty foot section of the bulwark on the port side was carried away. After taking such a beating, the task group steamed for Subic Bay in the Philippine Islands, where needed repairs could be made. While at Subic the everyday routine of repairs and upkeep was briefly interrupted one day by a special noon meal. To complete the sketch of this meal, we must journey back to Sasebo for a bit of information. While in Sasebo, we had taken on lube oil. An empty barrel had been 6' borrowed ,' by the S Division men and carefully stowed aboard ship. Now back to Subic Bay. A welder was seen putting in his own time cutting this barrel lengthwise, and rigging a stand for it. After this was done, CGS Division took over again and we had a real cook-out, which served also as a birthday party for men who had a birthday during the past month. Steak cooked over charcoal was our lunch that day, and it was some time after 6' Turn to 'i was passed, that anyone was in a mood for any kind of work. 30 feet of bulwczrlc Commodore and C. Ops l 1' aww ff f Those steaks were good! Cookout C315

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Christmas day was overcast and somewhat cool, but all hands arose to find a Christmas Party on the fantail, much like the one last year in Guam. Egg nog, cookies, a Christ- mas tree, presents, and even Santa Claus! As the gifts were passed out, every now and then there was one that drew quite an audience. One of the ship's bongo drummers receieved a spare instrument, and a junior officer, most youthful Boy-san, received a gift from Santa that will long be remembered aboard PORTERFIELD. He blushes nicely! Although nothing is like Christmas at home, this did help somewhat to make it seem that it actually was Chiristmas. The Christmas dinner served that afternoon had all the trimmings. When leaving Buckner Bay we knew we were just eight days from Hong Kong, the high -light of our WestPac cruise. The eight days went fast as we exercised with submarines and aircraft, then Hong Kong. fngww 'Wil ff A C335