Thomas Jefferson (APA 30) - Naval Cruise Book

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SASEBU HEVISITEII Q The rumor was widely circulated that extensive liberty would be granted in Iapan this time, and it proved to be true. After unloading the Army troops the ship granted liberty to as many as the Port Director would allow, and every man on the ship had at least one chance to go ashore. When you approach the city of Sasebo from the waterfront you do not notice the effect of the American bombings. Instead you come to a rather shabby dock-like structure which has not been damaged, but needs repair badly. A large clock points eternally to ten minutes of ten. The hands are rusted. The dock leads through an archway into a building which must have been a customs house of some kind, but now is the station of Shore Patrols and Military Police. Through the archway and through the building walk hundreds of American sailors. Into the streets of Sasebo, on the island of Kyushu in the Empire of Iapan, walk the boys of this ship and other ships, who, several years ago, thought that a trip to the nearest large city was a great event. The street winds onward into 'the city. On sunny days, there is a Hne, gritty dust on the road. On wet days the dust turns into twenty times its volume of mud. in t at 1 ..,. , . gp p, . 5 -, ' V 'A ' E rms .. - - ,lf A 'Q-wavy' I -Af -' X Q .E a 'mf -aa. Y-ff ,f-21 f ,. ' us ew , ,,,,,. V ,. ....fE.jI., 1 f V 4, rxiygiww ff ,, 'Nwuma www . ., aff' ..fr7 'fl?' ' ,...,..,w M ,f f59fv ' 0 N. :wit , fx O- ' 4, '- .. ,, uw. .Z , AU' A 'Z -if 'Ch-A ' ' V 1- ' ,vm-.1 QQ.. THE LIBERTY LANDING AREA 35 i 4 Near the waterfront there are no Iapanese. But on the winding, slowly uphill climb into town they are to be met, women, old men, and many young children. The young men are absent, not having been demobilized. Amazingly, most of the people smile at the Americans. You wonder what sort of people they are. The women and old men smile humbly, like people who wish to be forgiven. The little boys salute you with a wide grin and remind you of the kid brother who brags on you and Wants you to go out to see him play baseball with his gang. The little girls titter and run when you speak to them. You are more than amazedg you are aston-

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JAPANESE PETTY OFFICIALS THE B-29's MISSED THESE OII. TANKS 26