Washburn (AKA 108) - Naval Cruise Book

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i Our first visit began 28 November 1961. It was early winter and the weather was excep- tionally nice. The major purpose of our stay was for voyage repairs and maintenance, and of course, the much deserved rest and relaxation, better known as R5zR . We had two personnel inspections, one by Captain Reilly to the tune of Hlingle Bells , and a second by Commodore Bullen. When December 'Yth approached, we could not fail to remember the significance of that day, especially since this year was the twentieth anniversary of the Second . World War. Time is certainly a great healer of wounds. We found the town very exciting and soon became familiar with the customs and habits k I of the Japanese people. They made our stay interesting and it was fun to shop in their stores and dine in their intriguing restaurants. There were many naval facilities for us to enjoy on the base and in Sasebo, most of which have been built since the Korean War. The Navy Exchange, the Fleet Display Room, and the Ship's Store Afloat, which later became another Navy Exchange, were all fabulous sim. fFf3r ' ' 1 CDC Ei' ., W , I t Q 1 3. 5: r-rr L. . 5 f' N ,' 'qqdfirw 4 l 'T g 16

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1 li st iii tajn's Cap X gan., M Personnel xi.. A, Inspection I 'Q 1 ,Fr '25 s ,....g .Steer-wi-1-' World War. lust recently, the largest ship in the world, RIZU MARUH, an oil tanker, weighing 130,000 tons, was completed. Cther than ship-building then, Sasebo is known tor little else. The Takeshirna Pearl farms, not too far from Sasebo, use tiny irritants to agitate oysters, thereby creating 1apan's renowned pearl industry. In nearby Arita, the Fukagawa Company displays some of the world's finest handpainted chinaware. Nagasaki, one of the larger cities in the area, located three hours from Sasebo, is a popular tourist attraction. It is the oldest trading port in lapan, dating back to 1750. Here can be seen the atom-bomb site ot World War Two, Madame Butterfly's home, and the oldest Catholic church in lapan. V- 'f ' r- - , an f, - 1 l A ,M , , r f' ' , , 1, iv g V , 'A lf! ' ' . Commodore Bullen and Captain Reilly Business was unusually good 15

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,'-N, PM places to shop. The Anchor Club, PO. Club, EM. Club and the Town Officer's Club offered fine food and recreation. The base had facilities for nearly any indoor sport. Everyone had a wonderful time. The town was not a booming metropolis equipped with luxurious shops and buildings like those seen in Tokyo, but Sasebo was very interesting. The friendship and warmth ot the people compensated for anything the city lacked. We shall always look forward to return to Sasebo. -3 wi 44.1-J.. 'Q'