Catamount (LSD 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE 38th PARALLEL For six weeks Saseho was the home port, but any monotony which might ha ' e arisen from the fact was handily flushed into the East China and Yellow seas. There were three daylight runs to Kuro Shima to keep the MSB crews in practice; an overnight trip to To Jang Po, Korea, in preparation for entering Pusan harbor the next day; a quick trip back to Sascbo to pick up mail for the USS Prarie (AD - 15); flank speed back to Korea and Pusan harbor for an afternoon; and two days steaming to within binocular - sight of the infamous 38t]i parallel on tlic western coast of Korea. Paengyong Do was the destination; mission - delivering two LCM ' s to a Marine detachment and bringing back two used models. South of Paengyong Do was equally unpronounceable Taeyon Pyong Do, which pro ided another brief anchorage imtil the Catamount was on her way back to Sasebo. One more trip - to a rendezvous point off the Korean coast with the USS Mainstay (AM - 261) for delivery of a vital spare part - and the Catamount was ready to receive the USS Fort Marion (LSD - 22) for transfer of minesweeping gear. The Fort Marion scooted alongside finally, the cranes yo-yoed equipment back and forth all morning and afternoon, the crews of each LSD looked down their noses at each other ' s ship, and Sasebo became a memory. The mine sweeps, a tamiliar sight in the well A Sasebo shoe repairman sets up shop on the port wingwall Hi B irtc:;: ■ ::: ' .-.iiiitummk 1 PI t .;- .■Jii ljli BHh jjl lglgg l — 24 -

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An ur.ident ' lied Marine and friends Honey salesman Ensign Brirgman on a typica ' . liberty What a 3-da lea e and friends that can shoot retted LTJG Rouchon rear Sacebo 23 -

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A Pusan Mamacan and cffaprirgsan A Paengyong Do pipe s-no ' ter Too rear the parallel lor a smile - 25 -