Consolation (AH 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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It was hot in Tourane Bay, to say the very least; but the U.S.S. AJAX had sized up the situation and provided a recreation area on one of the wide white beaches. Every afternoon liberty boats hit the beach and sailors swarmed ashore for some good swimming and refresh- ments. Others found the city of Tourane busy and somewhat alive in spite of the intense heat. A smile from a lady shopkeeper, with her black teeth and gums, was one for the photo albums. Betal nut is their favorite chew. French Foreign Legion troops were something to see as well as the natives who raised their families on small boats in the oily harbor. I suppose we looked as strange to them as they did to us, and we both wondered what the reasons were for the unexpected smiles and grins. Morale improved as the screw began to push the waters of Tourane behind us and we ap- proached the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. While en route the following message was received from Commander Task Force 90: YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OPERATION PAS- SAGE TO FREEDOM APPRECIATED X BON VOYAGE X Ask a man about Hong Kong and his re- sponse will be a great big AH! punctuated with a smile. While we roamed around Hong Kong we discovered that what our travel folders told us about Tiger Balm Gardens, swanky clothing stores, split skirts, coolie drawn rickshaws, in- expensive hand-carved ivory, etc. was surpris- ingly true. To save money we spent money, and it was worth it. On October 2nd liberty was not granted because the Communists were celebrating a National Hol iday. e 25 I 3 1, I . 1

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An albatross landed twice on the life rail of the ship, which to all Old Salts is a symbol of good luck. At 0700 on the 27th, three islands of the Mari- anas group were sighted and four days later, we steamed into Subic Bay for refueling, sup- plies, and — two days of torrid tropical rain. Departing for Tourane Bay, French Indo-China, the ship ran into heavy seas which lasted for two days. Many of the nurses, and many of us experienced an old malady of the sea; seasick- ness. Gwynn and Harry Martin, brothers and CATS from North Carolina are seen quite frequently around the ship. Gwynn has been aboard for about four years. Quite a few times, it was doubtful how long he would survive, for when it got rough he became the HOUDINI of the deck department. Never did know where he disappeared to. It has been said that he and Russell were consoling each other while hang- ing over the nearest rail. Arriving in port, the Consolation received orders to participate in Operation Passage to Freedom, and admitted four patients. Arrange- ments were completed for medical consulta- tions. Colonel Esplain, Medical Corps, Com- manding Officer of the French Military Hospi- tal, Tourane Bay, with a group of his officers and nurses visited the Consolation. Shortly after their arrival, they were conducted on a complete tour of the ship. Captain Lawler and some of the ot her doctors returned the visit and were given a tour of the French Military Hos- pital in Tourane. Shortly afterwards the ship was visited by RADM L. S. Sabin, USN, and RADM Roy Gano, USN.

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sCi - . Another first for CONNIE. While Joe Cos- tello, HN, and former 11th Naval District Fly- weight Champ was chatting with fellow British Armed Forces personnel in their club at Hong Kong, he inadvertently got himself scheduled for a bout with the British Armed Forces Fly- weight Champ at one of their smokers. During the second round of the bout, Joe stepped in- side the Britisher ' s powerful haymaker and, with two powerful well-placed punches, walked off winning the bout, among a very quiet group of spectators. Back in Sasebo, Japan, for refueling and sup- plies we received our first mail in three weeks — another good morale booster. Arriving in Inchon Harbor on 10 October a message announcing our arrival and mission was transmitted to all activities concerned. Letters of appreciation were received from the U. S. Army Liaison Office in Hong Kong and the U.S.S. WALTON (DE-361), expressing their appreciation for annual physical exam- inations conducted on officers of these com- mands and for the chest x-rays taken of Amer- ican civilian dependents in Hong Kong while we were there. The American Consul General also expressed his thanks for x-rays taken of the American Consulate staff and dependents. On 22 November, after a six week period in Inchon Harbor providing medical support to the First Marine Division and U.N. Forces in Korea, the Consolation departed for Japan with 120 patients on board for transfer to the U. S. Naval Hospital at Yokosuka. Fair weather and calm seas favored us on the first four days of our voyage, but on 26 November we hit stormy 26