Washburn (AKA 108) - Naval Cruise Book

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31 March. WASHBURN completed off-loading and with a damaged causeway pontoon in tow proceeded to DaNang. 1 April. Arrived DaNang and delivered the causeway pontoon to a repair group. Under- way for Subic Bay in the Philippines. In getting underway for Subic Bay we were to close the last page in the most eventful and meaningful chapter of our cruise. There would be more important assignments but none that would provide the sense of per- sonnel accomplishment to each of us as did our operation in support of WUNDER BEACH fnamed after LT. COL. Sunder USA3 at Thon My Thuy. We had arrived in DaNang with the 27th Marines at a crucial time. The enemies TET offensive was still rolling and the usual lines of logistic into the Northern First Corps Tactical Zone over roads and up riv- ers were being continually interdicted. A new line of logistics was urgently needed and we were the key on the scene for the establishment and development of it on the beach, near the village of Thon My Thuy. We worked around the clock most of the month and shared the dangers not only fl-Gm the enemy around the perimeter but also from the periodically deteriorating weather. The urgency of the tactical situation forced us on occasion to continue off-loading and operating our boats in high winds and heavy seas. The strong determination of every man to see the task through resulted in WASHBURN alone lifting some 5,5055 tons of supplies, 46 vehicles and 150 US Army personnel to that beach at Thon My Thuy, This is not even counting the many other vehicles and tons of cargo our assault boats moved ashore from other ships in the area. As we left DaNang for Subic Bay we were tired but proud and satisfied that we had ex- pended all of the energy available to us in the most efficient ways we could find and in doing so had very significantly contributed to a tremendous feat that was very impor- tant to the U.S. effort in the Northern First Corps Tactical Zone at the time. 1 'Hr- ,rt-Y 2 April. Diverted again, this time to Sasebo, Japan instead of Subic Bay-HURRAH!! I ,ff -I. . rn is ,J- iw. If , 4. rr !4

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w 6 April, Arrived Sasebo, Japan and com- menced a repair period that accomplished many important jobs including the repair of our jumbo boom on hatch 5. We no longer would have to sling Mike 7 and Mike 8 at the rail from booms on other hatches. Sasebo provided many of us the first real liberty in 1 over two months. Only some of our lucky shipmates had had a day or two in Pearl Har- bor back in February. It was here in Sasebo that the buying started: Hi-fi sets, cameras, china etc. For some it was careful comparing and selectingg for others it was like a buying stampede. This pattern was to be repeated in every famous shopping port. v . D l LEIF.-jf?-'Qt' M V:',,i,. . .- if . 3, 4 l 4 M-Uh' ,, .- it--f: . A cy- a , 1 156,-. ' f 'ff 'nl 61, ffl 3 9 as-3Qi1nf 'i if 1 E ' r 1 Y, w af- ' F Q Y, Al- V' 1 , I . JZ :a 16 April. Tested boom on hatch five - test satisfactory. EW..a1-i'+f!:.'?--M.-'mf '. -.I.Q-'All ,yxu 4 , i,.Tff'1 -' f--avg. ', If ...A-Jfvrqq i ,:,..,,.5 a ff isa..- si' 3: 1-xg ' V h , Y, V v. b'r, 4 1 . --4' , -.A, X .v , , ,WW