Arnold J Isbell (DD 869) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 39 text:

JTtdas ! Citv is e of lie riotllie Imperial OIL KOBE Kobe is one of the largest merchant seaports of Japan and the world. However, Japanese would probably consider this insignificant beside the fact that their modem city forms one of the three cities — Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe — triangles of the cultural center of Japan. Everything that was old Japan — torris, temples, castles — and new Japan — large de- partment stores, theaters, wide boulevards, could be found within this area. DESDIV 112 ' s five-day visit to Kobe was strictly for rest and recreation.

Page 41 text:

SUBIC BAY, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Subic Bay, located on Luzon Island near the city of Olongapo, provided ISBELL with two weeks of repairs and gave all hands a chance to recuperate from the stormy weather of Operation Mantle Rock. The scorch- ing January heat caught several sailors by surprise, but perhaps not as many as did the 0500 reveille. When the afternoon rolled around, though, there was time off to drop down to the club for a cool glass of milk or the beach for a refreshing swim. FORMOSA KAOHSIUNG. (TAIWAN) FORMOSA Kaohsiung is on the west coast of Formosa or Taiwan. It is a major port of this island stronghold for the Chinese Nationalists who were forced from their mainland home by the Communists. ISBELL ' s visits into this port were for preparations and replenishment during our turn at the Formosa Patrol off the Red China mainland. Kaohsiung provided brief periods of rest for personnel who were standing war- time watches around the clock and kept a con- stant vigil of all activity in the area. Not many souvenirs were bought on the is- land. There weren ' t many to sell. The Na- tionalists were at war and didn ' t have time lo enjoy the advantages that visiting American sailors bring.