Consolation (AH 15) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 34 text:

gain new friends, and create a lasting impres- sion among the p eople of Hiroshima. When liberty boats disembarked at the land- ing there were looks of bewilderment. Some expecting to see a large newly built city found instead many remnants of the historic and destructive bombing that took place ten short years ago. There was definite evidence of that disastrous bombing and although the city hasn ' t completely recovered from the bombing we could see many signs of restoration among the city ' s ruins. We also know that someday in the not too distant future it will once again become one of the more important industrial centers of Japan. One of the signs of the city ' s restoration is the establishment of the Atomic Bomb Casualty commission in Hiroshima. Many of the ship ' s crew were fortunate enough to be able to pay a visit to the ABCC and see for themselves just how much hope there is for the citizens of Hiro- shima. Many of the bomb casualties have been restored to health and many more will eventu- ally follow as exhaustive studies and research are continued by both governments. The real high spot of the visit did not come until the second day, when Captain GuUett in- vited one hundred orphans per day to visit the ship over a period of three days. To these un- derprivileged youngsters, the invitation brought enthusiasm equal to that of a four year old stateside child at the coming of Santa Clous on Christmas Eve. Each minute of thei boat ride from Ujina Pier to the ship meant getting closer and closer to happy hours which they had never before experienced. The crew members were amused by their antics, from the time they were handed from corpsman to corpsman, bucket brigade fashion up the gangway until 30

Page 33 text:

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

Page 35 text:

the time they left the ship. They smiled among themselves later thinking of the one little lad, oblivious of his chums, trying hard to fashion out the problem of eating his cup of milk with the chop sticks he had so carefully brought with him. He and a few others also found that chopsticks were not effective for eating ice cream . . . and the men remembered warmly the surprise and excitement of the children whose lives, although happy, are com- monplace and routine, when movie time came and perhaps for the first time they saw a Walt Disney or Terry Tune Cartoon come to life on a big white screen. It was a rewarding and not easily forgotten experience. The children spoke very little English, but there were two words they could speak and these were all we needed to increase our pride for the expressed appre- ciation . . . the words? . . . Thank you! The trip back to Inchon was without incident and we arrived there just as the First Marine Division had completed their shore based hos- pital and placed it in commission. Embarka- tion of units of the First Marine Division for transfer to the United States had begun. On 3 March, we proceeded to Yokosuka to debark patients that were to be transferred to the Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, and embark those that were to make the return trip home with us for further treatment stateside. After repairs to the ship by the Yokosuka Navy Repair and Over- haul Facility had been completed and stores had been taken aboard, we departed Yokosuka on 12 March for Pearl Harbor and home. The Golden Gate Bridge spanning San Fran- cisco Bay was an eight month dream come true and we were glad to be back. The Army band was playing on the dock at Fort Mason and anxious loved ones were there to greet husbands, brothers, sweethearts and friends. 0