Consolation (AH 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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weather and heavy seas. Again our nurses were seasick. We ' ll never forget seeing one of them going about her nursing duties with a pickle in one hand and a soda cracker in the other. Immediately after docking, the patients were transferred via waiting ambulances and busses to the various military medical facilities ashore. Overhaul and repairs commenced and R and R was granted to the crew. Various R and R hotels under Army supervision are located throughout the main island of Honshu. For about $3.00 a day we were able to relax and enjoy the comforts of a home that was once the mansion of a Japanese baron, or even one of the more exclusive Japanese resort hotels. Good old American dishes were meticulously prepared and served by the Japanese in Amer- ican style. The Japanese have a world wide reputation for unexpected courtesies. Our asso- ciations with them will long be remembered. When the sun begins to set some of the girls of Yokosuka become active in a big way. Their male assistants also begin to mingle in the multitude of people. One evening our young Chaplain Howard, a Southern Baptist by de- nomination, was taking a walk through the side streets of Yokosuka. Soon after it began to get dark Chaplain Howard was approached by a young man who said, Naval officer, naval officer, would you like to see a good girl? Would you like to see a good girl? Chaplain Howard in a most positive fashion pointed to the cross on his uniform and showed some indigation. The young man then said, Oh! That ' s all right. That ' s all right. 1 get you good Christian girl. 1 get you good Christian airl. • . 4: TM iSW; pf |=Fff !=I= ' -- ' - ' ' •s y- ' ' ;d

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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

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Oriental department stores were strangely enough preparing for the Christmas shoppers in the land of Buddah and Shinto worshippers. How different, seeing shopping sailors among kimono clad orientals. In Tokyo or Yokosuka our sailors found themselves trying to hold their own at a busy bargain counter, avoiding the wooden getas clacking at their feet. There were subways in Tokyo too, but just as in New York or Chicago we discovered the Japanese dropped their usual courtesies at the station entrance. The Consolation ushered in the Christmas holiday with Christmas trees throughout the ship. Catholic Midnight Mass and Protestant Christmas Eve Services were conducted before an altar bedecked with poinsettias, manger scene, and illuminated trees. Both choirs ren- dered music that had been rehearsed during the previous months. The ship, having undergone considerable overhaul and repair, departed Yokosuka on 28 December 1954 for Korea to resume its mission. The anchor was dropped in the muddy water of Inchon on New Year ' s Eve and the crew gathered in the mess hall for Auld Lang Syne. Refreshments were served and while Father Time was ushered out by Baby New Year, the ship ' s band played on. Even though we were away from home we kept the tradi- tional spirit. The icy cold had caused its accidents and the Consolation continued to render her serv- ices until the latter part of January when we hoisted up the hook and departed for Sasebo, Japan. Incidents in Formosa caused us to remain there on a four to twelve hour sailing notice.