Catamount (LSD 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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located halfway up Korea ' s east coast. Seven Seas was a joint Army-Navy operation; since our helicopter deck was the only one available at the scene, several generals ' including the Commanding General of the Eighth Army, viewed the Operation frorn the Catamount. As in every operation during the cruise, the Catamount acted as Primary Control Ship. Completing Seven Seas, we returned to Inchon, offloaded the Army personnel, steamed back to Pusan, reloaded the LCD ' s and began the trip to Subic Bay, via Buckner Bay. However, typhoon Sarah interfered; this time several days were spent in Sasebo, Japan. After waiting five days for the typhoon to change course, we were given the green light and at ten minutes past midnight on 22 August, the Catamount again headed for Buckner Bay. After loading Marine personnel and equipment we proceeded to Subic Bay. The same day we arrived in Subic the mail arrived in Sasebo, one of few times our mail was waiting at the wrong port. Our stay in Subic Bay lasted only long enough to load Marines for the usual milk run to Oki- nawa. Ten days later, after fighting typhoons Wanda and Amy a tired ship finally anchored. The fatigue came not only from rolling and pitch- ing but from catching soup in our own laps. During this time, the famed Catamount racing north message was sent from the Commodore, while the Catamount was racing south evading typhoons Amy and Wanda. This trip was to lose us the Hong Kong station ship assignment, and the original 17 days became only 5. After stopping to offload the Marines, the Catamount steamed around the southwest tip of Okinawa to Naha for refueling. Leaving Naho, we finally steamed for Hong Kong. Five days there and everyone was broke. At times it appeared that the boat crews were running a delivery service for Macy ' s, and few boat runs were made without a load of pack- ages. It was a busy five days and was made enjoyable since the English language is quite in fashion here. After leaving Hong Kong on the 16th of September, back we steamed to Subic Bay; five days later came the regularly scheduled v isit to Sasebo. While there, many made visits to Nagasaki and were soberly impressed by the peace statue and museum there. The first ship ' s party also took place, along with the usual number of private ones. By this time, almost everyone had found the yen store and packages of every size and description began appearing throughout the ship. From Sasebo the Catamount steamed to Beppu, which we had visited one day previously. After two day of seeing monkeys and hot springs, we moved further south

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The Story of a Cruise June 11th — the day awaited for so long had suddenly arrived. With wives, kids, dogs, and sweethearts waving farewells, line three was clear of the pier at the scheduled 0855, the whistle sounded, engines answered all bells, and the Catamount left pier 6 for points west — Hawaii, the Philippine Islands, Japan, Hong Kong, South Vietnam, Okinawa, and Korea. Eight days later the Catamount steamed carefully into Kaneohe Bay for opera- tion Flying Disc; the Operation was completed on 22 June. During Flying Disc we acted as Primary Control Ship. Completing the three-day operation, the Catamount passed Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, and entered Pearl Harbor on 23 June, moor- ing 500 yards from the newly completed Arizona battleship memorial. Four days of Hawaiian liberty were both busy and enjoyable, and more than one member of the crew spent too much time in the sun. The morning of June 27th began the long run — the 16 day trip to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. This was to be the longest period during the cruise without mail, and both Beedy and Brown were kept busy on the 1 3th of July, arrival day. The Cata- mount spent nine days in Subic Bay. The air conditioners were also installed and remained until the end of December, when they were removed just prior to our return to the United States. On the 16th of July, the RED E award was presented for Engineering Efficiency; Lt. Thompson, the Engineering Officer, donned a pair of white shorts and climbed the starboard stack to paint the E. On the 27th of July, exactly one month after leaving Hawaii, the ship arrived in Yokosuka, Japan after a brief stop at White Beach, Okinawa, scene of much World War II action. The first stay in Yokosuka lasted five days, long enough for payday to be awaited anxiously. However, as always seemed to happen, payday came one day too late, so much buying had to be postponed until the next time. During the five days, several ventured as far north as Tokyo and Yokohama, discovering to their amazement that there is a country where trains operate EXACTLY on schedule. For many, the turkish bath was tried, and enjoyed. The time came to again answer bells; this time the Cata- mount steamed for Operation 2 — Seven ' Seas off the coast of Korea. Typhoon Nora however, altered plans; we spent the evening of 2 August anchored in Beppu Bay, near the famous Japanese resort city Beppu. Reports of liberty there were quite positive; we all hoped to return. The next day we continued to Korea, stopping first at Pusan to offload LCU ' s. We then steamed around the southern coast of Korea and continued north to Inchon, where the Catamount was loaded for the Operation. The operation took pbce near Po-Hang,

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to Kagoshima, a large industrial city. The people of Kagoshima were very cordial, and many groups visited the ship, including English-speaking col- lege students. Several members of the crew were invited and visited Japanese homes in Kagoshima. While there a bus tour took 50 of the crew to Kirishima National Park, which proved a pleasant contrast to the honking horns of Japa nese cities. Completing a circle around the island of Kyushu, we stopped briefly in Sasebo, then headed south to Okinawa for the big one — Operation Lone Eagle, which involved 40 ships and 15,000 men, including the Marine Ready Force. The Catamount arrived at White Beach on 10 October; the next three days were spent loading. The Operation itself, during which we again acted as Primary Control Ship and as an emergency boat haven, began on the 13th and was completed on 22 October. That same day, after welcoming aboard 17 South Vietnamese naval officers, the Cata- mount began the week-long trip to Saigon, capital of South Vietnam. However, plans were changed abruptly when President Kennedy established the Cuban Quarantine. We were ordered back to Oki- nawa to await further instructions. After spending one day anchored off White Beach, we were again dispatched to Saigon with a scheduled stop in Danang, a small city in northern South Vietnam. Arriving there on the 31st of October, the Catamount had an enjoyable afternoon in Dan- ang. Then departed for Saigon, arriving there after a four-hour special sea detail on the 2nd day of November. While going up the Saigon River, it was almost amazing to see the miles of wet swampy land bordering the river and even more amazing to realize that people live in such areas. Saigon, a French-oriented city, was a pleasant surprise; no one told us to go home, shot at us, or threw hand grenades, although some grenades were thrown while we were there. The people were friendly. On the 7th of November the Catamount made the three-hour trip down the river and pointed to Subic Bay. After arriving, talk was about possible extension in WestPac; most agreed that we would be affected in some manner. On the 10th, the day after arrival, we received the news that the Colonial, our relief, had been sent to the Atlantic and would not be available to relieve us on the scheduled date. During the nine days in Subic, we held a ship ' s party at Grande Island, and upkeep work was again emphasized. Fingers were crossed that the air conditioners would be