Catamount (LSD 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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Hawaii The first stop during the cruise was in Kaneohe Bay, where we loaded for Operation Flying Disc. After the Oper- ation, during which the Catamount acted as Primary Control Ship, we steamed past Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, and Honolulu, mooring in Pearl Harbor on 23 July. Our berth was only 500 yards from the newly completed memorial to the battleship Arizona. Arizona battleship memorial. The island of Oahu is covered with natural beauty. Covering the island are large fields of sugar cane and pineapple, cocoonut trees, white, sandy beaches, and small, quaint shacks. In the Kaneohe area ore found canyons, craters, and coral gardens. Some of the most spectacular scenery in the world may be found in Hawaii, our newest state. Nuuanu Pali Lookout, Oahu. Pearl Harbor is a short drive from Honolulu and Waikiki Beach, so m ' ost were able to see commercial Hawaii at least once. Nightclubs were colorful and expensive, but there ap- peared to be an abundance of tourists. Judging from the sunburns as we steamed for Subic Bay, many swam in the white sand, wide beaches, and clear water of Hawaii. Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, Honolulu 11

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taken off, but when we left for Yokosuka they were still aboard. The upkeep period in Yokosuka was badly needed; much work was completed by the ship ' s company alone. During the I 7 days there, many traveled to Tokyo, at present the world ' s largest city. Yokohama proved to be a popular liberty city. Some made weekend trips to Mount Fuji and Lake Hakone; others saw the famous Buddha at Kamakura, only a 10 minute train ride from Yokosuka. After leaving Yokosuka, the Catamount went west to Kobe, Japan ' s most important shipping city. Many felt that Kobe provided the best liberty of the cruise; Kobe steaks were consumed in great quantities. English style pubs as Clancy ' s and King ' s Arms were also popular. While in Kobe, several large groups went on tours; one traveled to Takarazuka, home of the world-renowed Takarazuka Review. The show, which lasted 4 hours, cost only 250 yen for the best seats in the house. Others went to Kyoto, once the capital of Japan and the only major city not bombed during World War II. In Kobe emphasis was again placed on a people-to-people program. As in Kagoshima, several groups visited the ship, and many members of the crew spent an afternoon in Japa- nese homes and leading Kobe universities. Forty-two of the ship ' s company also donated blood on 14 December, and we received nationwide press coverage when two pints of the blood were given to a newly-born Rh negative baby, helping save its life. Leaving Kobe on the 19th of December, we returned to Yokosuka, stopping at Numazu to load several LCM ' s and LCPL ' s. From Numazu we had probably our best view of Mount Fuji, and she was a breathtaking sight with her snow-capped peak. After spending two days in Yokosuka, we steamed to Subic Bay for the final time. The air conditioners were removed, maintenance and upkeep work completed, food and fuel loaded, and late in the afternoon of 3 January we steamed for San Diego. After a refueing stop at Pearl Harbor on the 16th and loading a group of Marines for transport to the States, the lookout sighted Point Loma on the 23rd of January. The Catamount, a little tired after a 35,681 mile cruise, steamed into San Diego harbor, moored to the pier, was given a brow, and thus ended her 1962-63 WestPac cruise. 10

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Korea Operation Seven Seas was held in early Aijgust near Po-Hong, Korea. The Catamount went first to Pusan, where 2 LCD ' s were offloaded. Then she went to Inchon, loaded for the operation, and proceeded to Po-Hang. After the Operation, during which we were Primary Con- trol Ship, the Catamount returned to Inchon, offloaded, and steamed to Pusan. The 2 LCD ' s were backloaded and operation was completed. Okinawa Okinawa, which has an area of 454 square miles and a population of 758,000, is the largest island in the Ryukyus, a group of 64 islands taken over by the Dnited States after World War II from Japan and administered by the Department of the Army. BUHTJJ BEHcn During mid-October, Operation Lone Eagle took place near White Beach, Okinawa. Partici- pating were 40 ships and 15,000 men. The Cata- mount, as we did throughout every operation, acting as Primary Control Ship. The night of 17 October the Catamount also acted as a boat haven for 15 boots participating in the Opera- tion which, because of the heavy seas, were un- able to return to their own ships.