Consolation (AH 15) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 26 text:

6-12 March — At Yokosuka, Japan 12-22 March — En route, Yokosuka, Japan, to Pearl Harbor, T. H. 22-24 March— At Pearl Harbor, T. H. 24-30— En route. Pearl Harbor, T. H., to San Francisco, California 30 March to 1 April — At San Francisco, Cal ifornia 1-2 April — En route, San Francisco, California, to Long Beach, California 2 April 1955 — Arrived home in Long Beach, California ANCHORS A WEIGH! Hawaii — • Philippine Islands - Japan — Korea. • Indo-China — With many new faces on board and many old ones conspicious by their absence, the Consolation departed Long Beach on the morn- ing of 10 August 1954, sailing westward to Pearl Harbor. On this particular morning thoughts and emotions were reminiscent of previous years when the Consolation had sailed out of Long Beach for foreign shores; wonder and excitement about the months to come tempered by fond memories of the past and sober thoughts of families and friends left behind were, to a certain extent, shared by all hands. 22

Page 25 text:

29 November to 28 December— At Yokosuka, Japan 28-31 December— En route, Yokosuka, Japan, to Inchon, Korea 31 December 1954 to 28 January 1955 — At Inchon, Korea 28-31 January — En route, Inchon, Korea, to Yokosuka, Japan 31 January to 1 February— At Yokosuka, Japan 1-3 February— En route, Yokosuka, Japan, to Sasebo, Japan 3-16 February— At Sasebo, Japan 16-17 February — En route, Sasebo, Japan, to Hiroshima, Japan 17-21 February— At Hiroshima, Japan 21-23 February — En route, Hiroshima, Japan, to Inchon, Korea 23 February to 3 March— At Inchon, Korea 3-6 March — En route, Inchon, Korea, to Yoko- suka, Japan

Page 27 text:

During the six-day trip to Pearl Harbor we were favored with calm seas and fair weather. Hospital wards were placed in readiness for receiving patients, and indoctrination lectures covering the many phases of our mission were conducted for our staff personnel. Upon our arrival, and subsequent liberty, the crew departed to tour the island of Oahu. Amateur photography was in evidence every- where the Consolation personnel were present. The native luau, with its excellent roast pig eaten with the fingers will not be forgotten. We departed Pearl Harbor on 18 August 1954, continuing our westward journey to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. During this lap of our voy- age, chest x-rays were conducted and inocula- tions were given staff and ship ' s company personnel. The Consolation crossed the International Date Line at 1201 on 21 August 1954, losing Sunday the 22nd in making the crossing. Divine services were held on Monday. With birthdays to be celebrated the supply department served a special noon meal which was a treat for all hands. On 25 August word was suddenly passed that the ship was passing through a large school of whales. Starboard rails were manned on the double; amateur photographers were immediately on the job clicking shutters to preserve the scene for posterity. Some of us were seeing our first whale.