Consolation (AH 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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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.

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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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Operation Drawback was in effect at this time and men from the Connie were trans- ferred on Temporary Additional Duty to ships of the 7th Fleet. On 9 and 10 February the Consolation was given the over-all grade of EXCELLENT on its Annual Administrative Inspection by COM- SERVRON THREE staff personnel under RADM Chester C. Smith, USN. The time: 0945, 17 February 1955. The place: Hiroshima, Japan. The purpose: To promote good will among the people of this unfortunate city. Yes, they called it a good will tour, this visit to Hiroshima. It was that and more. For on the morning of the 17th day of February in the year 1955 the U.S.S. CONSOLATION anchored off Hiroshima for four days, very few of the city ' s population will forget for some time. Captain W. M. Gullett, commanding of- ficer of the Consolation, and Captain M. R. Wirthlin, officer in command of the Naval Hos- pital on board, began this memorable visit at the office of Shizuo Miura, Deputy Chief of the 6th Regional Maritime Safety Headquarters in Hiroshima. Governor Hiroo Ohara and Mayor Shinzo Hamai played host to Captains Gullett and Wirthlin on our first day in this Far Eastern port by discussing Japan ' s civic problems, edu- cational system, and Japan ' s modern hospitals. This particular visit left a feeling of pride. Pride among the Japanese because although they stood defeated in battle they could recognize a country who holds no vengeance but only for- giveness and rehabilitation aid to the unfor- tunate. And pride among the ship ' s crew be- cause they were able to promote good will. 29