Calvert (APA 32) - Naval Cruise Book

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A Navy-Marine landing exercise requires a lot ot planning and work, but above all, coordination and cooperation of all units participating. This was very true ot the operation I we held on Okinawa. The tollowing are a tew pictures taken on that operation which proved to be so highly successful. Okinawa as it looked to us when we arrived at Naha, the capital, on June 5th 1955. N A V M A R L E X 1-55 Marines debarking into the boats as they leave for the beach on D Day. Y The landing craft hit the beach.

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- KUBE The city of Kobe is one of the two largest ports in Japan, the other being Yokohama. Kobe harbor is divided into two sections: The southern portion which is devoted to domestic trade, and the I northern portion, which is devoted to KOBE HARBOR foreign trade. The city is hemmed by Local color in Mt. Rokko Park steep hills on the north and so has spread east and west along Osaka Bay which is on the south. The business district is situated near the waterfront, and the residential quarter on the slopes of the foothills. ln the heart of the business district is a long narrow street called Motomachi-dori, which is the great shopping district of the city. Here an endless variety of merchandise can be purchased, such as chinaware, fine silks, jewelry, cloisonn, and perfume. lt is a veritable paradise for souvenir hunters. Also in the heart of the business district, near Sannomiya station, is the lkuta Shrine, a very ancient and famous Shinto Center, from which Kobe seems to derive its name. The city was originally called Kamibe, or H Keepers of the Gods , the H be referring to a community dedicated to the upkeep and protection of the shrine, where the Kami Qgodsy are enshrined. Within thirty minutes travelling time from Sannomiya station is the famed Mt. Rokko Park, considered to be an excellent place for rest and recreation. The mountain has an altitude of 3,057 ft., and the summit may be reached by way of a cable car. In the park is an eighteen hole golf course which has a very peculiar uphill layout, an exceptionally beautiful Alpine Botanical Garden, and the Rokko Oriental Hotel, which is an excellent stopping-over place. Takarazuka is another popular pleasure resort, located about forty minutes away from Kobe by electric railway. The greatest attraction there is the all-female theatrical company, which is famed throughout the Far East for the magnificent and spectacular stage plays which it presents daily. The large opera house there contains three theatres: the largest for the girls theatrical company, the second- largest for movies, and the smallest for variety shows. Other points of interest there are the zoological and botanical gardens, public and private baths, a library, dining room, and a childrens recreation ground. Nara and Kyoto are two very interesting cities, located quite close together and within less than an hour's time from Kobe. These cities played an important role in the early development of Japan's arts and crafts, and religion. Kyoto was the capital city of ancient Japan, and in Nara can be found the largest Buddha in the Orient, and many classical Shinto Shrines and Buddhist Temples. 'f 1 The Fabulous Motomachi The Great Buddha of Nom

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NAVARLEX l-55 was the second operation we held on Ckinawa and was similar to the first except the participants were different. This time it was the Army instead of the Marines. This operation was completed with the same smooth- T i ness and effectiveness as the preceeding one. Being the largest such operation held on Okinawa since World War 2, a lot of work went into the execution of it and the crew highly deserved the HWell Done given to them by the Squadron Commander. The Calvert anchored in Buckner Bay in preparation for our second big amphibious operation. NAVARLEX1-55 Troops anxiously await the landing craft Once again troops go over the side and into to TOUCl'l Clown. They will go into Q simu- the waiting boats which will carry them into lated but Very realistic battle. ' the heart of the mock battle.