Cotten (DD 669) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 60 of the 1953 volume:

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Cotten who contifibated their jine and anfeljish ejjfoitx in the Korean Conflict to biting about the eotteetion of the age old adage - A wrong innft be 1f'igiJted F2 E! 5 5 5 S SI L 2 x 3 3 X 3 I , K W r A A u.s.s. COTTEN QDD 6691 1 HE U. S. S. COTTEN QDD 6695, a 2050-ton destroyer of the Fletcher class was built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company of Kearny, New Jersey, her keel being laid 8 February 1943. Only one hundred and sixty-six days passed before the ship was officially launched on 12 June 1943, setting a new record in shipbuilding. The ship was christened by Mrs. Bessie Henderson Cotten, widow of the late Captain Lyman Atkinson Cotten after whom the ship was named. Captain Cotten served on twenty-three Navy ships during his long and honorable career and among his decorations and ribbons is the Distinguished Service Medal With citation. The U. S. S. COTTEN was first commissioned on 24 july 1943 and after a brief shake- down cruise off the East Coast, set sail for the Pacific War zone via the Panama Canal. She operated in the Pacific for the remainder of the War, playing her part Well as a fight- ing destroyer and earning six battle stars on the Asiatic-Pacific Area Service Medal. When hostilities had ceased, she continued operating in occupied Japanese waters until December of 1945 when the word to return home was received. The U. S. S. COTTEN was finally placed out of commission in reserve at the Charleston Naval Shipyard on 15 ,luly 1946. The de-mothballingn of the U. S. S. COTTEN QDD 6695 has been performed under the supervision of Commander Charleston Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Little more than a year after the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, the U. S. S. COTTEN QDD 669j was recommissioned as a member of the Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet, on 3 July 1951, at Charleston, South Carolina. Since that time she has been operating in the Atlantic and Caribbean areas. Her Commanding Officer is Commander Walter Rountree, jr., U. S. N., a native of Decatur, Georgia, who graduated from Georgia Tech in 1939. Her Executive Officer, Lt. Cdr. Paul Ramsey, U. S. N., Annapolis Class 1943, is a native of Columbus, Ohio. PAUL J. RAMSEY Lieuienczniz Commander, USN Executive Officer WALTER J. ROUNTREE, Jr Commander, USN Commanding Officer HEN FIRST informed' that CGTTEN was scheduled for a tour of duty in japan and Korea and in connec- tion therewith a trip around the world, it became immediately apparent to me that this was an opportunity that the majority of today's sailormen will never -have throughout their entire naval careers. P I am grateful that I had the opportunity to make this trip and I sincerely hope in the years to come when you open this book that it will bring back to mind many cherished memories. I would like to commend those of you who put your efforts into making this book and to say further that I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the privilege of serving with such a fine group of olhcers and men. WALTER J. ROUNTREE, JR.- Commander, U. S. N., Commanding OUR OFFICERS T HE CHIEFS FIRST DIVISION The Fighting First can always be found on the forecastle either shining the windlass drum or cleaning salt off afterfa heavy storm. These boys can always find work to do even if heavy weather forces them indoors because of the big demand at all times for boatswain stores or odd paint jobs. The word let go can alwaysbe heard up forward and then a big splash from the anchor dropping. Everyone then knows that the teamwork of this divi- sion has once again paid off and liberty will soon begin. QW 3 SHIP'S OFFICE Got a piece of scotch tape? Can I borrow the scissors? Sharpen my pen- cil. Those above are always a few of the hair raising and trying oddities that can be heard during the always busy hours of the day in the office. Besides doing personnel work, .these boys can even stand watches in CIC and main battery when I their help is needed. Always working diligently, they can find time to pass a little bum dope around to keep up the bum dope artists' morale. GUNNERS MATES As is the custom, every lighting ship must have guns and it is the job of this gang to take care of them and be ready at all times for occuring target prac- tices. The five inch and forty milli- meter guns must be spick and span at all times. All of these jobs are taken care of with great enthusiasm because there is always the danger that an emergency might arise. I x N 6' SECOND DIVISION Known as the workhorses of the fantail, these boys are always on call whether it's to prepare for heavy weather or to swab down. Chipping and painting are the two main jobs expected of them but there is always something new to do on the fire. Also, being the largest division on the ship, they' are blessed with some pretty fine card players always on the go during their spare time after working hours. The speed and skill of handling the lowering and hoisting of the boats is just one of the many jobs these boys can be very proud of. QUARTERMASTERS Taking bearings, hoisting flags, shooting the stars, sending flashing light messages and all around helping on the bridge are all important duties of the quartermasters. On hand at all times for first hand information and gossip, these boys can always be found doing their very best at all times. One of the main sources of scuttlebutt is the usual everyday volunteer job which can always be an exciting one espe- cially if many listeners are available. Shining brass and paintwork is always seen up there on the bridge because the industrious working of this gang is always up to par. Rat si-115155 3 FIRE CONTROL When it comes to aiming guns and repairing gear, these boys really know their job. Many sleeves were shot down and numerous hits on targets were scored by the main battery cuties. One of their favorite pastimes is photography and it isn't unusual to see a number of them heading for the beach overladen with all their equip- ment from Hash bulbs to light meters. -,.,....J . --,,. ....--N.- ....-.- -v gm-5-W --.-,, ,--,- COOKS - LAUNDRY - and THE BARBER Getting up at 4:30 a.m. is always the duty of the oncoming cook so he can get the crew's first meal of the day together. Getting thrown around dur- ing a storm is just one of the hardships they have to take, but always smil- ing , they take all kinds of criticism and griping. Even if you don't like their famous stew, it's tough, because there just isn't a second choice. That's okay boys, as long as we pulled through these past eight months, welll never have to worry. No tickie, no washie and we hope it comes out clean. The washday blues isn't Monday for these boys, it's every day. If itls a scalping you want, it's a scalping you'll get. See the barber - no charge. Q ,X 5-,L QF Y E . - SUPPLY-DISBURSING-CORPSMEN If you need something from soup to nuts, and they can't be found just drop into supply and you'll find some around. If something you've purchased from the store turns you green at the gills, just drop into j21kC,S GICCD Room. He's sure to clean you out from top to bottom. Thatis for sure and if that doesn't work, well-there's always an APC. Last, but not least, there's plenty of embalming fluid and a lovely cooler. The problem now is the geedus for liberty and this problem is well taken care of by our boys from dis- bursing. Anything from a dime to a million, you can bet they'll total it right to the penny. j . I Mi-4 ,.....,....,-K Hr .J-fb l l ELECTRONIC TECHNICIANS These boys are on call twenty-four hours a day. It may be a blown fuse or a major catastrophe but whatever the case, they will have the situation well in hand. RADARMEN The TV Kids! What with the rotating scopes, strange noises heard from radio speakers and other unmen- tionable places, these boys are looking forward to an asylum. Being an information ,center for the bridge, they're on call for all types of situa- tions whether it be navigation by radar, or range and bearing to the man over- board in a drill. The boys themselves will remember one phrase for a long time and if per chance they do make the asylum, you can bet that the phrase you'll be hearing from them will be: Range to the Guide, Combat! SONARMEN Standing watches during normal steaming will always be boring for these underwater searchers but a change in the usual pitch in sound can turn out to be a very exciting one. Immediately things begin to happen. ASW 1 is set and the sound jokeys begin their chase. K- r... !.fIf.,f,f,,,. 1 .1 V -,-,i .,, 1 .W 7 -Ig I T' si Mai TORPEDO GANG Never has a day passed on the Cotten that you haven't seen these boys turning to. Every piece of equipment that is under their care has a glow of perfection to it. The Cotten is noted for excelling in ASW and these boys are one of the principal reasons .she is doing it. You can be 'almost certain when the time comes for torpedo action to starboard or port it will be a direct hit as these guys are really gone cats when it comes to that torpedo Jive 1 E Fifa C9 Q. :rf i aww RADIOMEN Whether it be the dit dah dit of the radio circuit or the gentle hum of the teletype machine these boys are always on hand to keep a steady flow of information to the captain and exec. News of goings on in the outside world were few and far between until the telemen and radiomen compiled and edited the Cotten Chronicle. This little paper was the gem of the far east as it contained the latest in news and sports. These boys are your best guarantee 'for reliable scuttlebutt so stand by and give them a listen. U xx . SHIPFITTERS Another small group of men but always on the go, these boys are re- sponsible for keeping the ship water- tight, fixing leaky faucets, plus many more duties. Their shop, better known as the ucoffee room is located in the last compartment aft and whether calm or rough seas, you'll always find yourself rolling around trying to bal- ance your coffee in one hand and a poker or pinochle hand in the other. A GANG Whenever pulling into port you'll always find at least one of these boys on hand to run the boats for liberty. just a small gang, they always put their best in everything to keep the crew happy. Taking care of the ice cream machine and keeping constant temperatures in the fruit and frozen food lockers are just two of the many duties always on hand for them to perform. ELECTRICIANS Replacing light bulbs after gunnery practice is only one of the many jobs for Sparks, just a small gang, these boys work together in harmony no mat- ter what job is undertaken. Oh yes, charging the boats' batteries is most important for the crew because if it weren't for them, we couldn't go on liberty. Keep 'em charged, guys. AFTER ENGINE ROOM The other component of engineers, the after engine room boys, perform the same tasks as up forward except for making the water. This space, although filled with numerous types of machinery, can always be found spic and span because there just isn't any laying down on the job. Taking orders from the forward engine room is never griped about although at times there seems to be an insufficient number of hands to do all the work at once. However, we always get along well and being off a few turns can always be caught up the next hour. FV ' f-figs' I FORWARD ENGINE ROOM just another group of engineers, these men are always on the alert for any odd sounds. It is in this hole where the ship is continually raising or lowering the throttle. Also known as great coffee drinkers, they always have some of this wonderful stuff around. Distilling water is also one of the more important duties of these boys. Keeping the crew happy is good for morale and these men do just that by providing us with sufficient water. We have never been forced to go on water hours to date. FORWARD FIRE ROOM B-1, this is the bridge, you're smok- ing. That is one of the casual remarks that can always be heard in the for- ward hole. Whether itls cleaning bilges or changing water for coffee, these men are always on the alert be- cause One can never tell from way down therei' what's going on on the outside, Blowing tubes is their de- light, especially after the deck force has just finished painting. QW l 4:18 0 ess? 1 AFTER FIRE ROOM The other part of the Black Gang, these boys are just as alert as up for- ward. If they aren't on their usual watch, they are punching tubes and cleaning firesides or performing some other clean job. Even so, when liberty commences you'll always see these boys up on the quarter deck showered and clean shaven. n e agen: The rumors started in july of 1952 that the U. S. S, COTTEN, 210118 Vlfithlqthe rest of DesDiv 302, would depart for a trip around the .world with a tour off duty in 015621 Sogne- time in early 1953. When they were made official, the date was set or iiiuaflll dr ' t ue to reasons unknown to the crew it was postponed until April. Then in arc ue o .a cracked starboard screw and defective boilers the jaunt to far eastern shores was again e et for Ma . A . . cancelgpiraiiehding approilcimately three weeks inudrydockn at Boston and obtaining an .'EXCELLENT in the Admiral's departure inspection held in! that great liberty .port,Hbetter known to all as Beantown U. S. A. , the ,ready ship and the Im .not so sure willing crew departed on May 18, 1953 from Newport, Rhode Islandfor the distant shores of Korea. H After an uneventful and beautiful trip which was hindered only by one small storm o Cape Hatteras the ship arrived in Cristobal Harbor, Canal Zone on May 23. The trip through the famous canal was no less than fascinating as the whole crew turned to their cameras to capture on film many of the beautiful sights seen only to .those who pass through the Canal. The ship as seen from the beach must have looked like the bleachers at Yankee Stadium during a World Series. It seemed as though the Sightseers were everywhere, from the main deck to the mast. The forty-one mile trip through the Canal will probably be some of the best remembered mileage the ship will put on during the course of this cruise. f . . n . c . The port and ustarboardn sections split the two daynliberty while the ship was in Balboa. Most of the crew took the short trip to Panama City for their liberty, but 1t IS understood that the best time had by all was only a matter of 1000 yards away from the ship. A great time was had by everyone who participated in the so called softball game at Black Gnat field, Balboa. It seemed that the real contest was an eighteen inning fiasco saturated by an overabundance of beer. The outcome was never determined as the partici- pants, arbitraters and spectators could not recall the score. The BLUE RIBBGN was awarded Mr. Pabst , to the victor belong the spoils. On May 25th the Cotten turned her bow north, bound for San Diego. The crew experienced a very calm and sunny trip on the way to this Southern California sea port. We entered San Diego Harbor and tied up alongside the tender U. S. S. Prairie for the duration of our five day stay there. Since San Diego is not one of the better towns for liberty most of the crew journeyed to other points to enjoy their liberty, such as the famous town, Hollywood and Los Angeles. It was also noticed that quite a few of the Peach fuzz boys made the trip to Tijuana. . The ship departed sadly from San Diego on june 6, not to see the shores of the United States again until january, 1954. After two days at sea DesDiv 302 joined the U. S. S. Mt. Katmai and proceeded westward. The journey westward was interrupted for three hours with a stop at Midway Island for refueling. Here the members of the Cotten encountered the strange specimen of fowl aptly named the Goony Bird. Each section was granted one-half hour liberty. These birds are the most Hat footed, knockneed, bowlegged, top heavy and ugly birds known to man. How they fly is a mystery but it is sure they defy all laws of gravity upon leaving the ground. Yes, everything was Goony that day. We soon left Midway and the Goonybirds far behind as we headed for Yokosuka, Japan. , After sixteen days at sea the ship proudly headed up Tokyo Bay to tie up in Yokosuka for seven wonderful days in which we learned much about the ways of the japanese. 3 y. sf I 1 ii 5 LX 'A i I E -x 1 ll k il wa rl ,L :Z ,- ,1 P' v W A . G U4 U L ,, , H , . -. - . - V H , H, . .-.. ,,.,, -4,,,.,-- --', X - ' k J, ,. .,, ----'--M .,,...-Q..- 4' , A.,-.V -.-- - ,.. .A V- f 4 V. ,gr V -- , ,. Y .., 1 alciion in flue gat Cad! On 29 June the ship in company with the U. S. S. DALY and U. S. S. SMALLEY, departed for the Korean operational area. Behind us we left the U. S- S. BRONSON which had developed boiler trouble and 'needed repairs. - Our nearness to the war started manyheads thinking and wondering why we, who live thousands of miles away should worry about a small. war in Korea. Actually the area it covered was small but it was a world wide affair. Ithas been concluded that our enemy has but one objective. That being to gain all the power and land possible. This may be clearly seen in both Europe and Asia where the Russian government either politically or by measures of force, has overtaken many countries. The reason for the United Nations in Korea is to stop aggressions such as this before they enlarge themselves. We must realize that our men would much rather fight here than on our own native soil. Perhaps at this time, before we go back to the U. S. S. COTTEN it might be well to describe the type of war we were about to Cflgagff in- UPOH OUI aff1VHl 111 the Korean theatre the fighting had slackened and the front line had remained fairlyfstable for a con- siderable period of time. Of course the patrolling activities were carried on and occasional skirmishes were to be seen. These were the only moves made by either side. It was known that our enemy was building up his forces. To remedy this the air and sea war was quite active. His supply lines were continually harassed from both air and sea. Our enemy's coast was blockaded by the U. N. naval forces, which consisted of ships from several coun- tries. These always achieved complete harmony of work in all of their operations. Another fact that should not go unmentioned, was that we were up against an enemy who showed herself only in the form of guns, planes, and shells. We were not fighting Russia, but the Russian backed puppets of Red China and North Korea. As we entered the operational area the ship joined forces with the mighty and well known Task Force 77. We were immediately given a screening position to afford protec- tion to our fast carriers. We then settled down to the many tasks and new jobs which lay ahead. For several days we cruised north and south on the Sea of japan with little or no excitement. Only an occasional battle-beaten plane going to a final resting place in the cruel sea broke the monotony. When this did happen a helicopter or an ever' ready destroyer was on hand to rescue the crew of the downed plane. This soon became a fairly common occurence as we did lose several planes in the time spent in Korea. With this exception nothing else occurred other than the usual tasks the Navyis all purpose ships, the destroyers, encounter while operating in a war zone. It seemed odd that we were operating in a combat zone, yet not seeing any action. All queries to this were soon answered when on 6 July the following message was received from COMDESDIV 302: Your prospective duty will probably make you the first Thunder- bolter to engage the enemy X The DIVCOM expects that your performance will be far superior to the best so far produced X To COTTEN and her men I wish good luck, a hot fight and God speed BT . . . Yes, this meant that the COTTEN was assigned to a special task and would soon see some real action on tlrfe coast of North Korea. The COTTEN rg N R B ii z F X -E E R ?f 52 I 5 UT wi Z. is 1 1 4 E F 'i . V 8 if 5' . if i , I 5 l I 5 was picked for this mission on a basis of her outstanding performances during past train- ing maneuvers. On 7 July the COTTEN turned south to meet and escort the U. S. S. ST. PAUL. After the cruiser we then retraced our steps and headed for area S, this being a point on the chart so designated for strategic reasons. Upon arriving at Kosong the ship was assigned missions for the coming two days. We then proceeded to shell gun emplacements, supply lines, storage areas and other targets of vital need to our communist enemy. joining As soon as our mission at Kosong was completed we again headed our bow north for the now perilous Wonsan Harbor. It was this now famous harbor that was the target of the longest siege of any port in naval history. Also most of the hits scored. on U. N. ships during the Korean War were inflicted while our naval forces were shelling supply lines in this area. Once at Wonsan the ship was again given a specific area to concentrate on. Radar installations were now added to the previous list of targets which we were supposed to try to destroy. Evidently our tries were of great success according to the reports of spotters in helicopters and shore fire control parties on the beach who observed the damage done by our shells. We were reported to have scattered troop concentrations, hit storage areas, and completely broken up a convoy of trucks laden with supp-lies for our enemy forces. On the second day of shelling we received counter battery fire from shore installations which scored one hit on the ST. PAUL. Luckily damage was slight and there were no casualties. Immediately the Big J, better known as the battleship NEW JERSEY, leveled her huge 16 inch guns shoreward. This was all we needed and the batteries that were firing on us were soon silenced. It sure was a nice feeling to know those big 16 inchers were on our side. - Thirteen july saw the ship relieved to return to the bombline at Kosong. As darkness enclosed the sea of japan, the COTTEN arrived off the coast at Kosong. We were immediately given our assignments for that night and the following day. Once again we proceeded to shell the afore mentioned targets with great success. Upon completing our missions at Wonsan and Kosong we returned to TF 77 on 15 july for two more days of screening duty, before a well deserved seven day rest in Sasebo. At this time it was not known but upon completion of our operations in Korea, the CGTTEN was the only ship of DesDiv 302 to be detached for shore bombardment duties. This we consider an honor, for it is known that only the most efficient ships are selected for missions such as that which we had just successfully completed. On 24 july the revamped DesDiv 302 hoisted anchor and headed north to the port of Hakodate, on the Island of Hokkaido, to prepare for the forthcoming Anti-Submarine Warfare training. On 26.July after over 5 years of bloodshed an armistice was signed in Korea at 10:01 A. M. An immediate wave of joy and relief swept through the ship upon receipt of this long awaited news. It is felt that during the short time we did see action we all benefited from the experi- ence. It was our pleasure to fight side by side with such ships as the NEW JERSEY, ST. PAUL, MANCHESTER, WILTSIE and IRWIN. Hostilities having drawn to a close, we must remember always to be ready. I I l 5 sg .y f . : 5 -x nfefzlucle . . Lf - X. if ai 1 A J L 1' 1? 9' c 4 :Ly ' JQN. 'W Q' 7 Y , , M, ..,4 ' ' ,. ,.,,.,,n.-,. . K -.----- M - U Q - - 0 W - - - . -- V ibefziy rlvbglzliglzfd an the gan gud! Our arrival in Yokosuka apan on une 27 1953 Offeled UCW 21dVCUtUfC5 111 11bCftY f0f the greater majority of the crew Naturally after sixteen days at sea everyone was anxious tg get with it for a change especially here as it was to be our first opportunity at liberty in the l'ar East Also all hands were eager to see for themselves what we had previously heard so much about At precisely 1300 the liberty party hit the beach with a bang' The beer flowed freely to quench the thirst acquired after long days at sea Wrtli their return to the ship came reports of some of the finest liberty ever experienced by many The rest Of the CICW S0011 found these reports to be true as everyone took his first chance at liberty in apan They came back to the ship with everything from a white mouse via one of our deck apes t some of the finest china made in the country All prices were found to be very reasonable and were taken advantage of One of the highlights of our stay in Yokosuka was the ships party held at the E M Club The chow was good the floor show great and last but by far not least the beer free What more could one want? A hearty well done t Mr Malone and his Rec gang for their time and help in making the party a big success On une 29th our short but well enjoyed stay in Yokosuka came to a screeching halt as we hoisted anchor and sailed for our first operations in Korea O-ur next time in brought us to Sasebo which is situated on the southern end of the island of Kyushu. This port we were to see many times more as it was more or less our home port during our operations in the Far East. Sasebo, we found, had more to offer than Yokosuka but prices here were a little higher. This we attributed to the greater amount of service personnel present. Also the nightlife was a bit better and the entertainment in the various cabarets of better caliber than that in Yokosuka. We soon found out from Special Services that overnight trips to various places of interest throughout the island could be undertaken. The recreation committee set up a trip to Nagasaki, some sixty miles distant, for those interested. On July 18, twenty-three men departed by bus to view the city on which the first A-Bomb was dropped. Contrary to what many people think, Nagasaki was found to be a completely rebuilt and thriving city. The only evidence of the big bomb as the japanese call it, was a burned out p-lane factory and a small memorial park in memory of the more than 70,000 people who lost their lives in that tragic, but war ending event. All in all the trip was a big success with only one complaint, that being the condition of the roads of which 95270 were under construction. Nobody could figure out how two buses could pass each other on a road barely wide enough for 'two people to walk side by side on without one of them falling off into a rice paddy. Incidentally one bus was viewed lying on its side in about two feet of mud, rice stalks and water. v J J . u ' ' Y' ' - 7 7 . ' 4 , , . . - u ay 7 7 O - 9 . . . 7 3 7 u as , . . o ' u n ' ' ' .' ' J , - - u ' 77 On july 24th, after several more days of liberty and recreation Des Div. 502 departed for Hakodate on the northern island of Hokkaido. Liberty was not expected, but Was granted upon arrival. Although not a town for entertainment Hakodate afforded many beautiful photographs to the men who went ashore armed to the teeth .with cameras. The big event of this brief stay in port was the news that a truce had been signed in Korea. ' A l 1 Q' i r . I P s l s I L Y I- F x E r I i i A . I L' V -' -- .. V , 1, ,,., ..,. , 1 A f , . .....,,..-,-N.,.,,, ., 4 4 N x,..,.,,-.,.i..n-Vw., .. f - ., :'....,,..,X. Lf-.N -M, , ., 1. . ,4,..,A:- -f' ,, . A ...,4:--fa-,g: .N V. . q : '--.1 Mx.:-,:,-.',:.,p:, , A .. . . , - . ' R-'-V - We commenced nine days A. S. W. training on july 27 and concluded with a two day stay in Sasebo, mainly for fuel and supplies, though liberty was granted. August 8th through the 21st saw us operating with TF 77 prior to a fourteen day period for upkeep in the now well known port of Sasebo. They called it a rest period but very few got much rest. The main feature of this time besides the amount of Asahi beer consumed was an overnight trip to Unzen National Park. The men who took this trip rode horseback, played golf, went swimming, took pictures or just relaxed and enjoyed the many sulphur baths. On the whole, the trip was very educational as well as extremely relaxing for those who participated. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all. At the end of this wonderful stay in the fascinating city of bright lights, we proceeded to the west coast of Korea and anchorediin Inchon Harbor. On each of the three days in that port from September 5-8, 1070 of the crew was granted liberty. Although not a liberty port, this gave the crew a chance to go over and see the ravages of war. The town, though fairly well rebuilt still showed much of the damage inflicted during the U. N. recapture of this well known Korean seaport. The main reason everyone took liberty was that we had thirty days at sea staring us in the face. We left Inchon on September 8 and commenced a very long month of combined operations on both the west and east coasts of Korea. Although we had seen land many times, as our operations brought us close to several islands, it was a pleasure to see terra firma on October 4th as we knew that liberty was only a short time away. This day found us entering the harbor of Beppu, a resort town in southern japan. Here we would stay for ten days of liberty and recreation. Beppo was found to be one of the cleanest and best liberty towns yet visited on this cruise. The sights were many, the beer plentiful and steak dinners could be had on the Army Base for about 31.00. Ah, what other desires could possess a sea weary sailor? The companionship of a beautiful girl you say! Yes, they were there too. Among the most visited sights was the largest stone Buddha in japan. It measured 80 feet in height and was 55 feet in diameter. Also, many of the sightseeing sailors took the train up Lookout Mountain. Here they were afforded a wonderful view for miles of the surrounding countryside. Our stay in Beppu was extremely enjoyable and all were sorry to leave. But leave we did, and by October 15 Des Div. 502 was back with TF 77 for the last time. , Our twenty-one days of continuous operating was broken only by a brief day in Sasebo for repairs on the water intake for the starboard engine. Liberty was granted fgf the one night in with no spectacular events taking place. We returned to 77 to finish off our duties there and October 5th found us back in Sasebo. This being our last fling in japan everyone made it good, We Wined dined and danced in the many cozy cabarets in Sasebo. For those in the duty sections on the ,shi s things were not so pleasant. There was fuel and supplies to be taken aboard and all hanlils turned out to complete the task. On one particular day all hauds turned to until 2000 Upon final tabulation it was determined that we had stocke ' ' . Cl th b ft ll of stores in less than 10 hours. up W1 C er t an Sixty tons On November 10th, after f1ve days of combined merry making and hard work the ?gi1En371P1l3gIii.DCS Div. 502 bid Sasebo and japan its last farewell and commenced the long Finis empefz afzaiid With the termination of the war in Korea all forces both land and sea automatically went into what is known as a state of combat readiness. We were not under wartime con- ditions but ready for combat at any said moment as the truce, at least for the present, was not final. This meant that our enemies' intentions were not known and we had to be ready for the worst. We were and always will be. Our group of eight destroyers, two subs and one escort carrier, at the time lying at anchor in Hakodate Harbor, was no exception. To -continue our training in Anti-Submarine Warfare, the Cotten along with DD's Smalley, Bronson, Daly, Summer, Ingraham, Purdy and Moole, the SS's Tiru and Queen- fish, and the C. V. E. Point Cruz put to sea on 26 july for nine days of A. S. W. operations. Resembling a pack of dogs chasing a fox, we tracked the two subs for nine days. Oh yes, we always found them! After a two day break spent in Sasebo for fuel and supplies we proceeded to rejoin the now more relaxed but by far not idle Task Force 77. I There was no action to keep them busy but the pilots of the various squadrons were now used to fly the necessary patrol missions over the cease fire line. As a result of continued operations the destroyers were still a necessity for baby-sitting and we were doing just that. Also, we were obtaining vital training and were not going to be caught with our hands down. Our present operations with 77 lasted for fifteen days before we dropped back into Sasebo for a fourteen day rest on 22 August. At the end of our stay in Sasebo, the Cotten and Smalley had orders to proceed to Inchon while the Daly and Bronson were to continue patrolling duties with TF 95. Three days were spent at anchor in Inchon Harbor while awaiting the carriers U. S. S. Point Cruz and HMS Ocean. Upon their arrival on 8 September the Cotten joined the Ocean for operations and the Smalley went her way with the Point Cruz. The ten days that followed were found to be very enjoyable as far as operating is con- cerned. Often the Cotten and Ocean swapped. several personnel for a day's visit aboard each other's ship. This brought about a better understanding between the two ships and our education in British accent and idiom increased greatly. During these swaps the British sailors received our usual noon dessert, Ice Cream. Our sailors received the customary British rum ration. Which navy would you rather ship over in ? ? P P ? As we closed out our duties on the west coast of Korea the two ships proceeded to rejoin TF 77. Soon after our arrival with that group the Cotten received word that she had received the DesLant Battle Efficiency placque for fiscal year 1953. On 25 September Admiral Hickey then commander of TF 77 was transferred to the Cotten by high line. Upon arrival Admiral Hickey presented the to the Captain in behalf of the proud crew who had worked long and hard to achieve the success now being awarded them. It was indeed a distinct honor to have the Admiral on board. It was a visit that will long be remembered by the men of the Cotten. Our 30 days at sea came to an end on 4 October when we arrived at Beppu for a well deserved and awaited 10 days of liberty and recreation. As usual things were too good to last as we left for old 77 on the 14th. With twenty one days at sea ahead of us one might think things were mighty gloomy. Actually they were not, as this was to be our last tour of duty in the far east. October 16th found the ship resuming her normal screening duties and condition III watches, which continued for eight days unmarred by any extraordinary incidents. On 23 October, the task force was scheduled for drone practice which was better known to the crew as a turkey shoot. On this day the Cotten's gunnery gang had the pleasure to down one of these fast moving targets. Upon retrieving the target the drone's parachute was sucked into the main circulating pump of the starboard engine. After an unsuccessful attempt to remove the chute it was determined that the ship would require the assistance of a diver. That night we were ordered to proceed to Sasebo for necessary repairs. The pump was soon fixed and the following day we rejoined 77 to continue our job. Although only a one day break in operations, it was enough to break the monotony of the long days at SCH. Normal operations followed until 4 November when a sudden wave of happiness overcame the crew. The reason ? ? P It was our last day of operations in the Korean Theatre. Also with several messages such as the following received, how else could we feel? COMMANDER SEVENTH FLEET CONGRATULATES THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF DESDIV 302 FOR PERFORMING MANY DIFFICULT ASSIGNMENTS IN A MOST CREDITABLE MANNER, WHICH CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO THE SUCCESS OF THE U. N. NAVAL EFFORT DURING THE RECENT HOSTILITIES X WELL DONE AND BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY VOYAGE HOME X VADAM CLARK BT... We were soon detached from our employers of the past five months with the feeling that we had done our best to uphold the free world. However we must always be prepared for outbursts of aggression such as the one in which we had helped to compel and more recently kept in check. Yes, we would always be ready in the future as we had been in the past to uphold freedom and democracy throughout the free countries of the world. Q? xv ,Ir 1.3. LL, - e WWW W ,Z ,' N 'W -1- , ? Q.. 1. U l K 1 -4 -2 z 4 5' fi nl F 6 ' -, X . , , ,, . X, , . -f -' V , . .. ,.........,':, .-..,,-.,., . , Y..,,4,...'.,w - - - , ,, 4....,-..,-,,.,,...-...S-N- ' Amiv .-V.. - - - , :Jaw---.. s- , V , . ,,,,:.,,.1.w-.f-f A -A V , . ,,.. ,q.. ,Q.,..q ,Aug-M ,, ,.,, ,. , ,.. D 1 , f -v,..- 1.,-5 J, yoi Kokai on oyage All good things must come to an end as did our stretch of Wonderful liberty in Japan. On November 10, 1953 after 5 days of combined merry making, hard work and fare- wells, the well supplied DesDiv 302 departed from Sasebo, leaving behind many pleasant memories. a What will be remembered most? - - The beautiful creatures in silk kimonos. They entertained us with their talents. They served us food and drink. They were our companions for dancing, both American and the native style, which they so patiently taught us. Yes, Without them our stay in japan may not have been so pleasant and enjoyable. Now lay ahead the ever welcome arms of the continental United States. With the blue coastline of japan slowly sinking far astern, hearts were 'filled with remorse and sadness for the many months We had spent in the land of the rising sun. Here was liberty at its best. Yes, Japan would long be retained in the memories of all. ,, CREW TAKING ON STORES iinefzafzy Lefi Arrived Newport, R. I. 18 May 1953 Canal Zone Canal Zone 25 May 1953 San Diego, Cal, San Diego, Cal. 5 june 1953 Midway Island Midway Island 14 june 1953 Yokosuka, japan Yokosuka, japan 29 june 1953 Sasebo, 'japan Sasebo, Japan 24 july 1953 Hakodate, Japan Hakodate, japan 28 july 1953 Sasebo, japan Sasebo, japan 8 Aug. 1953 Sasebo, japan Sasebo, Japan 11 Aug. 1953 Sasebo, japan Sasebo, japan 4 Sept. 1953 Inchon Harbor, Korea Inchon, Korea 8 Sept. 1953 Inchon, Korea Inchon, Korea 12 Sept. 1953 Beppu, japan Beppu, japan 14 Oct. 1953 Sasebo, japan Sasebo, Japan 25 Oct. 1953 Sasebo, Japan Sasebo, Japan 10 Nov. 1953 Hong Kong, B. C. C. Hong Kong, B.C.C. 19 Nov. 1953 Singapore, B.C.C. Singapore, B.C.C. 27 Nov. 1953 Colombo, Ceylon Colombo, Ceylon 4 Dec. 1953 Ras Tanura, Saudi,Arabia Ras Tanura, S. A. 12 Dec. 1953 Aden, Aden Protectorate Aden, Protectorate 16 Dec. 1953 Port Said, Egypt Port Said, Egypt 20 Dec. 1953 Pireus, Greece Pireus, Greece 26 Dec. 1953 Cannes, France Cannes, France 2 jan. 1954 Gibraltar, B. C. C. Gibraltar, B. C. C. 4 jan. 1954 Bermuda, B. C. C. Bermuda, B. C.C. 13 jan. 1954 Newport, R. I. 23 May 1 June 14 June 22 June 17 July 26 July 6 Aug. 11 Aug. 23 Aug. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 4 Oct. 24 Oct. 5 Nov. 14 Nov. 23 Nov. 1 Dec. 10 Dec. 16 Dec. 20 Dec. 22 Dec. 29 Dec. 4 jan. 12 jan. 15 jan. 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1954 1954 1954 ang Kong y City of excitement intrigue adventure city of sin These are the things that the travel folders told us about Hong Kong our first port of call after operating for four months eagerly awaited liberty call to hit the beach for some glorious liberty and adventure We no sooner moored to the buoy though when we were attacked from all sides by a fleet of bum boats, the likes of which we had never s en It seems that every merchant in Hong Kong had turned out to meet us and was trying to get aboard and sell his wares. Little did we know then the fate that awaited us. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts to board us, the boats backed off a little ways and regrouped for the next attack. They came on about an hour later and this time were successful in persuading the O. O. D. to let some between japan and Korean waters. Arriving there on the 14th of November, all hands of them aboard. Immediately they set up shop and within a few minutes the whole after part of the ship was cluttered with objects of all sizes and descriptions. Predominating among the merchants were the tailors. It seemed as if every other person in Hong Kong was in the tailoring business. This was the downfall of the ship. Never had we seen such bargains in clothing. Talk about Women in a bargain basement! They should have seen us there. In four days the whole ship was filled with suit boxes and just plain suits. The 15th being payday, we spent our complete pays and then some. Some of the lucky ones who saved a few paltry dollars got over on theibeach to 'find the adventure and intrigue, but found instead that whatever adventure was there was carefully concealed from the eye of the casual observer, and that the greatest thrill came from trying on civilian clothes again for the first time in many months. Leaving there four days later, we carried with us, on the labels of our clothes, the names of the famous men of Hong Kong, johnny Ford, Gorge S. Young, Kimmins, and Tommy Lee. '- W5 ' :fr 'Ay i 1 l 1 . l x ? Q f ,.,.., 1 J 1,,'..,....f.w.-- 'f ', . ,....,, N: N ,.- --, f.--- .--4rz- fi, L, 4 T,,f -f - . ' J' - -4:5- -23 1. E, v. ' , .. Q.. Q-.x,., , M3555 -Ekwiirbzfzlxe - 'Q ' ': 91:9-'Tf 9'I'5i:8EE1?-IM ' 1-Y-rm Q V.: X K fa XX ,SX gms. A- , :-4532: ,g4i,SP?f:.a W-.w.-AVA-A-,:.ix5..,.-.Wm 'B af' W 4. W , Q- .4,-1.:,,N,-.-M-XQM..M 1 'K--52. '- mm c r f Q xffx x ewg mp, .- v Mom- ms. 5 V. A., UK.- ,.,,..vN.+ -'-Y , . WMA- L-QA , ,,.. ' -Jvh '-- , . -... .- -'V'-A-,, ., . if.--Lg. .phvfg -,,..... -, - ,:,ac: -'f 11 IQ.. ,un-11-,za :QW-I Eifal-fo-fxnqoerrclr.-. ..--f- :iw - .ZLg,gg:gCis.1.AY-- l 4 l 4 i l nieung epiune A omam The mysteries of the deep were amply explained to all slimy pollywogs one Sunday afternoon as the Cotten crossed the Equator enroute to Slngapore British Crown Colony King Neptune Davy jones and all the royal family were welcomed aboard by the Captain. After the welcoming the royal family journeyed to the fantail where they set up shop for the purpose of initiating those who had dared to enter their royal domain Pleas of hard-bitten royalty and punishment was meted out on a bountiful basis From the first sting of the paddle to the court for punishment kissing the royal baby a thorough dunking to be sure every one saw Davy ones the barber shop shearing plus a good wash down with oil graphite garbage and the like warls of anguish were heard but no mercy was shovvn After rounding up by various methods some of the more difficult pollywogs the 8 . , L . Mercy, I have a wife, three children and a sick cat at home, were ignored by the callous, J , , decks were cleared and everyone was now a crusty trusty Shellback ,It will be a long time before anyone forgets the crossing of Latitude 000-OO' and Longitude 1060 40.5'E. -Y. ham Q Fl ow QM 1 1 of N J C ll Q. 1 C Q S ...sa . Singappie - HUB OF SOUTHEAST ASIA Sunshine weather and daily 1000 liberty combined to make this port of call one long to be remembered. Such places as the Britannia Club, the Singapore Swimming Club and the world famous Raffles Hotel soon became a rendezvous for many of the crew. A British Crown Colony, it gave an opportunity to meet at first hand some of the Englishlwho operated businesses in the area. It wasn't long before the presence of several contingents of British womens' military organization was discovered and Cotten sailors got busy in an attempt to better the relationship between England and the United States. Many shops located throughout the city gave ample opportunity to purchase souvenirs. Those who purchased Star Sapphires at the fleet landing at a good price soon found they had highly polished glass from a coke bottle. The Lion City as Singapore is sometimes called, is composed of many races. Strangely enough, the Malays find they are a minority in their own country, being outnumbered by the Chinese 7 to 1. Singapore served to introduce us to the Moslem faith. The usual amount of shutter clicks were heard when the camera fiends sighted their first statue of Mohammed while visiting several of the domed mosques. S The morning of our departure found many red eyes and bedraggled faces bidding a fond farewell to South East Asia. A ' K W xml gmllllllf N I Xb L i 2 ll, l y 51 llll V l fi immltgvvgi Q- 1 ET'-' '--' Y-,,..f 1.9 Q- f sl :es 5- Ship 3 Waflfy Playing host to a number of English servicewomen, the officers and crew of the U. S. S. Cotten held a Thanksgiving ship's party in Singapore, Malaya, on November- 26, 1953. Dancing to the music of a local orchestra on the roofgarden of the beautiful Embassy Hotel overlooking the seashore, everyone p-resent enjoyed a wonderful evening. H Luxurious companionship, beer, and sandwiches prevailed for the initial hour of the fracas. Companionship prevailed when the beer ran out. Under the able direction of Lt. jg. J. D. Stocker, U. S. N. R., however, the situation was returned to a normal status, and the recharged liquor locker received an approving glance from all hands. During the course of the evening, a remarkable array of talent was displayed by crew members and guests alike. The ship's trio, The Aristocrats, ' fBob Lanz, Larry jo Hilenski, and jerry Ling, put the floor show underway in grand style by singing several popular numbers and receiving well rounded applause. Not to be outdone by this effort, a curvaceous mass of feminine tranquility in the guise of an English nurse gave a dancing rendition of Hawaiian War Chant with a Jersey Bounce! . After their eyeballs were properly placed in their sockets, R. J. Tierney pro- ceeded to hilariously pantomime famous personalities with uncanny accuracy. The evening's entertainment was brought to a fltting climax when Willie Davis and Jerry Ling presented a skit entitled Green Bananas and imitated various and sundry officers of the line serving with this command. Alas and alack . . . All good things must end, and after bidding a fond adieu to the lovely guests, some two hundred assorted Valentino's Qand one weary shore patrol officer, were herded into a bus and brought back to the ship. God save the Queen. gg 'YI , ..,Y,. f V - A - 1 , . , J A ,.,,,,,5,.,..,3-9.7.2,-N ' F A .L : 5-6.6747 -5,5 j f-',- - ,, 1 WCW K .,,,h ,-.-4 .ff i F J f N , ,. , , , , ,.-,..-,. 4. ' 1- ... .Q -- -'-,j,,,V..,.h-K.- -1 Y, x---..x---' ,.,., b- - .--Af-f---'-' ' ' -,., ,H--.-Y----Q'-- '.QW L-N--AQ'-A-'X-12.1 ,.,...,.----Qftg.. --,Q-,+- fx-4 f: f -en:--' ' , . V, X-Aix., ---Jn ' . ,. b - - 4N.:::,-..,..-.,-- - .. ,1f4Au.1-N..- A . - gg ififgflg 1115 : rt- A ww Eft- Lv-515-45:21. - - - Co ombo, ey fan Colombo a tiny island inthe Dominion of Ceylon presents one of the broadest vistas of the entire trip Seacoast civilization gave way to tropical jungle and then to rugged moun- tains all in the scope of a days journey , Most of us will remember Ceylon as the land of elephants and precious stones Upon leaving the ship we were approached by many gem merchants with so-called bargains The bargains were gems elephants of ebony rosewood and other rare woods I C I Those who made the trip to the ancient tropical city of Khandy in the mountains saw elephants bathing in the river and a few rare mountainous beasts. The town itself was not without picturesque scenes for those who did not stray so far. Snake charmers along the streets, with their deadly cobras were objects of curiosity for the camera fans. The more sedate were content to sit on the veranda of one of the famous hotels, sipping cool refreshments. Our three days visit there passed quickly, and though intrigued by the novel,'we left with little reluctance for the next leg of our trip home. s T l f? . l T is ln u iliil nl 'I it 111 :gig E... aa Gznwza Six days after departing from Colombo found us at Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia. This sandy spot of land did not present a particularly welcoming appearance, with no vegetation in sight, no scenery, no bars and a cold drizzle to completely dampen the outlook. After being warned not to leave the Aramco compound, we went on liberty to find athletic facili- ties, an interesting guided tour of the refining plant, buffet suppers, and a generally good time considering the facilities at hand, Sports played the largest part in our entertainment with bowling, a tennis match against Ras Tanura's tennis team, and an unfortunate basket- ball game, again against the best of Ras Tanura. We learned from Aramco personnel that although their wages were plentiful there were many hardships in living in Saudi Arabia, namely, a lack of news, magazines, bonded spirits, and a general curtailment of freedom. The three months leave that was due every third year was as welcomed by them as our one month a year. After two days in this oil city, we and the Smalley set out to rendezvous with the Daly and Bronson, who had been visiting at the nearby island of Bahrein, and then the division proceeded back down the Persian Gulf, around the southern tip of Arabia to Aden. ,,57,5S:l?.,, mf 1 f'ff' .J ' ei wf fff' 2- yt? '- li J U I 1 r -x. -1- 78866 Christmas in Athens, Greece, 5000 miles from home - a lonely prospect with loved ones far away. But how could the Christmas spirit be better aroused than by bringing a little joy into the lives of others. This the Cotten sailors accomplished with great success, entertaining thirty Greek orphans and under-privileged children on board ship Christmas day. The party was a typical American type Christmas celebration with ice cream and cake, movies in chief's quarters and wonderful Christmas toys brought 8000 miles from japan for the occasion, distributed by a jolly, white-bearded Santa. The husky sailors who led the tots around the ship by the hand and saw to their needs felt many times rewarded in the spiritual lift they got from this experience and the looks of awe and thanks which the children gave their American hosts bridged any language barrier which may have existed. Of course one could not stay in Greece, the center of ancient civilization, without at least a quick glance at the surrounding remains of the golden era and many braved the rain and icy blasts to tour the ruins of old Corinth and the Acropolis. Every day, busses left the pier loaded with shutter-bugs bound for Athens and the wonders of the Parthenon, the temple of Dianna and the ancient stadium. In all respects the Cotten men found Greece a warm and friendly land and if ever again it became necessary tospend Christmas in a foreign land, Greece would be a first choice for a great many of the Cotten sailors. A f ' -Cx , '. , , I . Q P-W ' I I I - anned By this time we were all a little weary. We had traveled a long way and had seen a great variety of peoples and places such that the thrill of a new port no longer carried the fine edge that went along with previous stops. In general, we were a long time and a long way from home and ready to return. ' Surely, there could be no better port in the world to be scheduled at this particular time than Cannes, for here at the queen city of the Cote D'zure we experienced a needed morale boost by absorbing a little of the atmosphere that goes along with the playground of the world. Unfortunately the winter season denied us the use of the fine beaches and summer sports facilities, but the French hospitality and genius for happy living knows no season and we wasted no time in becoming a part of it. Now that we had returned to western civilization, things about us were quite a bit more familiar g sightseeing and curious onlooking took second place to enjoying the ubiqui- tous fine food, drink and companionship of the Riviera. Many of us took advantage of the ready access of Nice and Monte Carlo to visit the world famous gambling casinos and view some of the homes 'belonging to international social figures whose names are common place in our home town newspapers. And, when it came to shopping around town, it would be hard to find a man who did not fall victim to the attractive odors and prices of French perfumes. , New Yearis Eve saw many a bottle of French champagne serve the cause of interna- tional good will, and the following morning there were many of us who were wishing that these relations were not quite so good. But, apart from any vineyard stimulus, when january second came and we departed for Gibraltar there were many who were not quite as anxious to beheading home as they had been, and all of us were saying Thanks, Cannes, for a good time, we will be looking forward to seeing you again on our next Mediterranean cruise. -xr 3 Q-1 i if -v up A Z-, X ll: 1 XXXX X f, Q , N E7 E : Q Q Wh idfle esiopd ADEN, the first of our fuel only stops lies on the shore of the Gulf of Aden near the southern end of the Red Sea. It is non liberty in nature. Our appraisal had to be across 50 feet of sea water, nonetheless it proved a very pleasant experience. Then to business, with our fantail assuming the air ofa teeming native bazaar and attired in the traditional Fez of the country, the for you a special price contingent lay aft to- pit American Wit against an Arabian Shrewdness carried down through the centuries. From the tons of beau- tiful rugs, leather work, and woodcarvings we acquired, one can only surmise that Young America had made its point. 0-ur tanks full, we said goodbye to Aden steaming up the Red Sea, through the beautiful city of Suez and into the canal called very rightly one of the wonders of the world. Its long straightaways, gentle turns and even stone-lined banks made it one of the high points of the trip. Finally to the Mediterranean end of the Canal. PGRT SAID was our second whistle stop. As we steamed up the main street we knew we were nearing home. Large neon signs struck our eyes bearing such welcome greetings as Buy Johnny Walker's and Vacation in the Swiss Alps. Large beautiful buildings and parks combined to give Port Said an air no American city could duplicate. 'One had only to admire the broad, straight, palm-lined streets, giving way to a shaggy camel and its ancient two-wheeled cart to realize the wondrous paradox that is Egypt. Another milestone past and with happy anticipations of Athens and the Riviera while still retaining a great admira- tion for the Arabian peoples we humbly took our leave. GIBRALTAR. A jutting fortress guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean at which we stopped for fueling purposes and a brief period of liberty, was this town. It was quite small but had a hospitable air. The town was taking her morning breather upon our arrival but it swiftly came to life, opening its curio shops and taverns for the sailor trade. The usual purchasing of souvenirs and whistle wetting were carried out to the fullest. The best buy seemed to be the fourteen day clocks and many sailors returned to the ships laden with the large boxes containing the clocks. The liberty party, satisfied with her brief rest on dry land, returned to the ship with swift feet in order to commence the last leg of the journey homeward. As we departed from the rock the camera cuties captured a few last minute snaps of the gigantic spectacle The ship was lashed down for heavy weather and the Cotten in company with DesD1v 502 headed west to meet the heavy seas of the Atlantic and the welcome arms of the Continental Limits of the United States 7 7 i THE ROCK CHANGING THE GUARD BERMUDA Situated approximately 700 miles due east of South Carolina is the famous honeymoon isle of Bermuda. Although not a scheduled port of call it was decided that we would make afueling stop here due to rough weather in the Atlantic. Due to the fact that we arrived late and the Weather was bad, the day afforded little or no pictures for the camera bugs. Among the things of interest that were to be seen Were the Devil's Hole, the Crystal Caves, the perfume factory and the various places of entertainment. Night life on the Whole was poor here as almost all of the larger hotels and clubs were closed to enlisted personnel. However, under the conditions, a fairly good time was had by the majority of those who Went on the beach, y ,Cooking ac The U. S. S. Cotten left Newport ont e eighteenth of May To venture to lands far over the way, The weather grew hotter day by day, Soon to be in Panama but not to stay. Refueling soon done, a liberty we had, The skies were clear but the air smelled bad Bring in the lines we are off again, To where the sun shines bright and our trip began We left California on the fifth of june, To a foreign land we'd be there soon, On our third day out, a ship we spied, An AE far off on the starboard side. We guarded her closely for we all knew, A heavy load she was carrying too, We stood our watches condition three, And all grew tired of the roving sea. Alas, land dead ahead was the report, T'was the voice of the lookout and his message was short We pulled into Midway till the fueling was done And left again by the noon day sun. Now our stay in Japan was very brief, We were off to Korea, some other ship's, relief We sailed through the dark like a thief in the night Our five inch were ready but there was nothing in sight A letter each day was a thing of the past, Though Uncle Sam gave us free Air Mail at last We'd talk about liberty though our thoughts were of home And wondering what it'll be like to spend Christmas alone Each midnight into the beach we'd glide, The St. Paul and New jersey at our side, We'd shoot until a quarter of four, Until another midnight then back for more. Now the Generals decided to sign a truce, We were all happy from Captain to deuce Still we hung around with seventy seven, Carriers, Cruisers and Destroyers eleven. !! We all knew our ship was the best, Even Admiral Hickey put us to a test, But he finally brought over the Navy E , And even stayed with the Captain for tea. On November fourth we left the task force, Straight for japan we set our course, For five long days we loaded stores, And took our last look at japanese shores. A few days at sea seemed very long, But we soon entered the port of Hong Kong, We bought our tailor made suits with pride, From the dozens of merchants that came along side. November 22nd, a date never to be forgotten, Especially by the crew of the U. S. S. Cotten, First the ' pollywogsi' had their say, Then the 'shellbacksn had their day. The royal baby we did kiss, Bow to king neptunen whom you couldnit miss, Then off to the royal barber with you, And a flogging from the royal cops too. All this happened when we crossed the equator, Davy Jones must have laughed at us later, But a crew of merry shellbacks we now are, Sailing ever homeward by sea and star. The next day we entered Singapore, She showed no trace of the last world war, Though many thousands had been killed, A modern city the British rebuilt. Ceylon, a land of spice and tea, Is a tropical island rising from the sea, Its jungles are full of wild beasts, Its cities a paradise and year round feasts. Ras Tanura, Arabia, a desert land, With oil fumes flowing o'er sea and sand, Where people bow and the women wear veils, As a boy in school we read of these tales. Refueling again in an Arabian port, The port of Aden, our stay was short, The month of December was fading fast, Already the half mark we have passed. From the Red Sea into the Med, By way of the Suez, our stop Port Said, Our stay in Egypt was but a few hours, From the ship you could see the steeples and towers Each man said his prayer on this Christmas day, Some alone, some together, each man had a way, In the town of Athens somewhere in Greece, Four Destroyers rested this Christmas in peace. We started the year of ,54 in Cannes, France, Wine for your dinner, Chanel for romance, Oui Oui, it was time for us to depart, We're heading for the place most dear to our heart. To Gibraltar, Bermuda then a place called home, To the men who don't travel this is but a poem, But the sailor who has seen the foreign lands, ' Is always glad to be back to Shake familiar hands. 04 gfzancf Recap lion CLARKE, RICHARD W. Jena tea Katonah, N. Y. HERZSTEIN, SIGMUND E., jr. 1 Denver, Colo. JONES, ARTHUR D., Jr. KELLY, THOMAS P. E. KILLIAN, MICHAEL J. MARTIN, THOMAS E., Jr. Camillia, Ga. Gardner, Mass. Havertown, Penna. Chelsea, Mass. MASON, S. R. 1 Rockville Center, N. Y. NOLAN, RICHARD W. O'BRIEN, JOHN W. Sparta, N. J. Winchester, Mass. OFFICERS ROSENBLOOM, MARVIN 1. Washington, D. C. ROSS, JAMES D. ROUNTREE, WALTER J., Jr. SHLOSSMAN, BERNARD qrrp STOCKER, JAMES D., Jr. WALGREN, KENNETH L. MALONE, JOHN S. MQGEHRIN, EDWARD E. PERRINE, WILLIAM A., Jr. ROSSETTER, FREDERICK N. Sanford, Fla. ABSHIRE, HERMAN D. ADAMS, JERRY L. ENLISTED MEN Tennyson, Ind. Higbee, Mo. ADKINS, CURTIS Oaks Hill, Ohio AHLHAUS, JAMES J. ALEANO, ANTONIO ALLEN, JACK L. ANDERSON, FRANK B. ARTHUR, LEWIS D. BAILEY, LEON C. BAKIS, LOUIS J. BAMBERSKI, JOSEPH E. BANDELOW, ORVILLE O. BARRY, ROBERT T. BAUER, ALFRED K. Louisville, Ky Norfolk, Va Mt. Vernon, Ill . Halifax, Va Westville, Va Belen, N. Mex Boston, Mass Philadelphia, Pa Mt. Pulaski, Ill Buffalo, N. Y White Plains, N. Y. BEI-IRENS, HERMAN H., Jr. Mankato, Minn BERGER, MARVIN J. BERGSTROM, PAUL R. BERTRAM, ALVIN R. BIEDERMANN, C. G. BILLIN, KENNETH W. BOWERS, DONALD E. BOWERS, RAYMOND E., Jr BOYD, SHIRLEY E. BRADY, JOHN M. BRANT, ELROY s. BRINKMAN, RICHARD R. BROOKS, LAWRENCE L. BROWN, RALPH K. BROWN, HOWARD M. Hollywood, Calif Bethany, N. Y. Havana, Ill. Detroit, Mich Grand Rapids, Mich Morgantown, W. Va Morgantown, W. Va Crewe, Va Indianapolis, Ind New Bedford, Mass Quincy, Ill St. Helens, Ore Ereeburn, Ky Camden, N. I BRTOS, RAYNOLD A. BURGER, HARRY L. BURKHART, KENNETH C. BURNS, LEO J. BUSH, EDWIN BUTT, JAMES E. CARPENTER, ROBERT D. CARRELLO, NICHOLAS CHATTICK, EDWIN O. CLAPP, STEPHEN D. CLARK, WILLIAM H., Jr. CLUBB, J. E. M. COATES, WALTER L. COCHRAN, JONATHAN M. COKER, DON E. CONWELL, HUGH J. COPLEY, ROBERT E. CRALL, CLARENCE' W. CRAWFORD, WILLIAM D. CRUTCHFIELD, HAROLD E. CRUZ, FRANK J. DARGOSKIE, LAWRENCE DATTILO, ANTHONY J., Jr. DAUGHERTY, GORDON E. DAUGHERTY, JACK D. DAVIS, HENRY DAVIS, WILLIAM A. DAVIS, GEORGE W. DAVIS, ELMER C Rutland, Vermont Newport, R. I. Irvington, N. Rocky River, Ohio Pearl City, Illinois Des Moines, Iowa Philadelphia, Pa. Jamestown, N. Munster, Ind. Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Peoria, Ill. Danbury, Conn. Portsmouth, Va. Carthage, Mo. McPherson, Kan. Syracuse, N. Y. Onida, S. D. Cabery, Ill. Greensville, S. C. New Orleans, La. Washington, D. C. Fort Worth, Tex. Winnsboro, S. C. Rock Island, Ill. Fall River, Mass. Bellairo, Ohio Andrews, N. C. Adamsville, Tenn. Whitehall, Mont. Shamokin, Pa. Emerson, N. Indianapolis, Ind. Tulsa, Okla. Charleston, S. C. Waycross, Ga. Cleveland, Ohio Papazibah, Ga. DEMAGISTRIS, F. C. DEVOLDER, RICHARD C. DIMMICK, EDWARD L. DODEK, JOSEPH T. DORCY, RAYMOND M. DUDLEY, BEVELY T. DUNKER, LESTER A. DYSON, ALBERT G. ECKARD, RICHARD C. EICHELE, CHARLES W. ELROD, JAMES E. ENGELL, ARTHUR J. EVANS, JON A. EAUST, CHARLES H. EILIPPO, JOSEPH A. EINN, JACK A. PLACK, DAVID W. FRIEDMAN, JOSEPH E. FRIEND, GERALD M. GADDIS, RICHARD H. GARCIA, ROJELIO GARNER, CLAYBORNE B. Providence, R. I. Newark, N. Dunmore, Pa. West Natrona, Pa. Butler, Pa. Houston, Pa. North Seattle, Wash. Petersburgh, Va. York, Pa. Glen Ridge, N. Indianapolis, Ind. Suisun, Calif. DeSoto, Mo. Mahanoy City, Pa. Trenton, N. Hamilton, Ohio Hatfield, Pa. Long Island, N. Y. Petoskey, Mich. Cincinnati, Ohio Harlingen, Tex. Englewood, N. GARREN, JOSEPH C. Hendersonville, N. C. GIFFORD, JOSEPH W., Jr. GODEREY, GEORGE M. GODFREY, HOWARD R. GORHAM, LINWOOD M. GRATER, GEORGE R. GRAY, DONALD P. GREER, WILLIAM J. GRIFFIN, ROBERT D. HARMS, GEORGE E. HAYES, ROBERT M. HELTON, THOMAS V. HERBERT, NORMAN L. HICKS, LEONARD P. Bridgeport, Conn. Boston, Mass. Charlotte, N. C. Alexandria, Va. Collegeville, Pa. Brooklyn, N. Y. Philadelphia, Pa. Reading, Pa. A Bronx, N. Y. St. Louis, Mo. Clermont, Ga. Jewett City, Conn. Prattsville, Ala. HICKS, FREDERICK C. Great Neck, L. I., N. Y. HILENSKI, LAWRENCE Lorain, Ohio HOLMES, WILLIAM C. HONKANEN, PENTTI A. HOWZE, JESSE N. HUGGINS, ELMER A. Augusta, S. C. Brooklyn, N. Y. Washington, D. C. Baltimore, Md. HUMPHRIES, WILFRED K. Columbia, S. C. HUNT, THOMAS E. Alexander Bay, N. Y. ISHERWOOD, NORMAN R. Laurel, Va. JANSSEN, EDWIN R. Brooklyn, N. Y. JOHNSON, JAMES H. l Latta, S. C. JOHO, EUGENE' G. JORDEN, DENTON K. KANE, GENE E. KEELER, ROBERT R. KINCAID, JOHNS R. Plainfield, N. Staunton, Va. Mount Vernon, Ill. Duquoin, Ill. Tuscaloosa, Ala. KLIMEK, RAYMOND N. Parkers Prairie, Minn. KLUENDER, JOHN J. KOLESAR, .NICHOLAS R. KOLINSKI, JOHN W. KOPISH, STEPHEN A. KORNELY, JAMES J. KOUFOS, JIM P. KOUIS, ANTHONY P. KRANKER, FRANK A., J LADA, CASIMIR T. LANE, HARRY T. LANTAGNE, DONALD J. LANZ, ROBERT D. LATONA, TAVI S. LAWS, CHESTER C. LAWS, CHARLES E. LEDYARD, ROBERT H. LEHR, CHARLES W., Jr. LESLIE, CHARLES R., Jr. LEVY, PRESTON LEWIS, WILLIAM K. LEWIS, WILLIE A. LILLY, VAN D. LIMING, DAVID W. LINEBACK, JAMES C. LING, BUEL J. LISI, MICHAEL N. LITWAITIS, MATTHEW LOEPEEL, EDWARD A. LONG, EVERETTE J. LORENZ, ADOLE A. LUDWIG, OTTO J. LUEVANOS, PETER LUKERT, GEORGE J., Jr. MANNING, JEROME R. MARINO, JOSEPH S. MARTEL, ANTHONY MARZOLA, ANTHONY MATTEY, JOHN MAURO, ALFRED E. Michigan Pittsburgh, Pa. Pontiac, Mich. Marionette, Wis. Richmond Hill, N. Y. Hammond, Ind. Newport, R. I. r. Detroit, Mich. Detroit, Mich. Ashland, Va. Niagara, Wis. Philadelphia, Pa. Buffalo, N. Y. Newport, Ky. Newport, Ky. Cazenovia, N. Y. Mass. South Boston, Mass. Chicago, Ill. Cincinnati, Ohio Richmond, Va. Beckley, W. Va. Lynchburg, W. Va. Cleveland, Ohio Kewanee, Ill. Newburgh, N. Y. Detroit, Mich. Ashtabula, Ohio Evansville, Ind. Round Top, N. Y. Milwaukee, Wis. Detroit, Mich. Philadelphia, Pa. Westchester, Pa. Gloucester, Mass. Moline, Ill. Baltimore, Md. Cleveland, Ohio Philadelphia, Pa. MCCHESNEY, C. P., Jr. A South Weymouth, Mass. MCDONOUGH, JOHN E. Cleveland, Ohio MCGILL, JAMES A. MEEK, ROSS E., Jr. MEISNER, RICHARD P. MEUNIER, ROBERT E. MILLER, ROBERT A. MORGAN, RAYMOND L. MORRISON, P. MOTT, GERALD A. A MOYER, DAVID O. MULLEN, MICHAEL P. MUNN, BOBBY L. MUSICK, GEORGE A. Knoxville, Tenn. Staten Island, N. Y. Easton, Mass. Easton, Mass. Mankato, Minn. Elkhorn City, Ky. Cortland, N. Y. Tuckerton, N. J. Boston, Mass. Omaha, Neb. Newport, R. I. Jackson, Ohio MUSYT, WILLIAM Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio NEUBAUER, DONALD C. Milwaukee, Wis. NEWLAND, CHARLES S. Richmond, Va. NICKERSON, STUART H. Norwalk, Conn. NUSS, STANLEY A. Pittsburgh, Pa. OARE, JOHN W. ' Champagne, Ill. OFFUTT, OLLIE', jr. Millstone, W. Va. OMAHONEY, STEPHEN C. PARKER, ELMER W. PARSONS, RICHARD L. PARTLOW, DONALD I. PASTORE, RAYMOND PEARSALL, JOHN W. PEDRICK, RAYMOND M., PELLERIN, ARTHUR J. PERRY, ROBERT D. PLACE, CHARLES L. PODYMA, ANTHONY J. PONIKVAR, EDWARD M. PRICE, JOHN E. PRITCHARD, J. N., III PURSELL, MARVIN A. RAZMUS, CHARLES J. REED, WILLIAM J. REILLY, DONALD R. RENDER, WENDELL L. RESSELL, FREDERICK H. RICE, MAURICE A. RICE, OLIVER R. RICE, RICHARD L. jr. New York, N. Y. Kingston, N. C. Brattleboro, Vt. Dayton, Ohio A Newark, N. Philadelphia, Pa. jersey City. N. Worcester, Mass. Monticello, Ind. Nesty-Glo, Pa. Providence, R. I. Leadville, Col. Worcester, Mass. Kingston, Tenn. Muscoda, Wis. Westville, Ill. Milwaukee, Wis. Newark, Wis. Hopkinsville, Ky. Indianapolis, Ind. Covington, Va. Austin, Tex. RIVERA, JESUS S. Quam I., Nimitz Beach RIZZO, NICHOLAS A. Detroit, Mich. ROBINSON, LEON Louellen, Ky. RODGERS, DANIEL W. Americus, Ga. ROGERS, WELDEN E. Barron, Wis. ROLFE, BURTON P. West Bethlehem, Me. ROOKS, NOLAN C. Breckenridge, Mich. ROWDEN, RUSSELL G. ROWE, JOSEPH H. ROY, EDWARD C. RUTH, CHARLES A. Lebanon, Mo. Reading, Pa. Bayfield, Wis. Raleigh, N. C. SABLAN, TOMAS C. Santa Rita, Guam M. I. SADDORIS, RAYMOND E. Sullivan, Mo. SADLER, EUGENE' SALONIA, AFRED SANDERS, BOBBY G. SANDERS, ROBERT J. SANDERSON, W. J. SANTELLI, M. T., Jr. SANTOS, GILVAN SARGENT, JAMES W. SAWICKI, CASIMIR J. SBARRO, JOSEPH J. New York City, N. Y. Brooklyn, N. Y. Pekin, Ill. Gettysburg, Pa. Devon, Conn. Hammonton, N. Brooklyn, N. Y. Ossining, N. Y. Newark, N. Union, N. SCARAVAGLIONE, JOSEPH A. Bronx, N. Y. SCHAFER, EUGENE W. SCHLEIE, JOHN H. Emmaus, Pa. Ottawa, Kan. SCHOONOVER, DARREL F. Harrisonville, Mo. SCHOTT, WILLIAM P., Jr. Long Island, N. Y. SCHWARTZ, HAROLD SCOTT, RADER W. SEABORG, ROGER L. SHARPE, CARL R. SHAW, FREDERICK SHEPARD, JAMES H. SHIFLETT, R. E., Jr. Bronx, N. Y. Leroy, Ill. Chicago, Ill. Richmond, Va. Detroit, Mich. Suffield, Conn. Staunton, Va. SHIPLEY, LEON R. Sacramento, Calif. SHOEMAKER, MARION E. Toledo, Ohio SMITH, HOWARD E. SMITH, RICHARD L. SMITH, STANLEY L. Hiram, Ga. Hertford, Ill. Windber, Pa. SMITH, WILLIAM A. Pompton Lakes, N. SNELSON, BILLY F. SORENSEN, EDWARD H. SORENSEN, JERROLD L. SORRELLS, WILLIAM SPEAR, JOHN L., Jr. SPONSLER, DOUGLAS A. STALEY, RICHARD E. STARUCHOWICZ, S. R. STEVENS, ROBERT A. STIVER, JACK L. STRICKER, EDWARD H. Grand Falls, Tex Sandston, Va. Ardmore, Pa. Cincinnati, Ohio Painesville, Ohio New Kensington, Pa. Haggerstown, Md. Brooklyn, N. Y. Stafford, Va. Dayton, Ohio Quakertown, Pa. .wi .. STUART EDWARD J J STUART GEORGE W STUDDS CHARLES F SUBLETTE THOMAS E SULLIVAN JAMES P SURPRENANT R J SZYMKO BENJAMIN E TARANTINO ROSARIO TAYLOR JOHN B TEAGARDEN RAYMOND E ersey City N ersey City N Washington D C Binton Va Philadelphia Pa Lowell Mass Utica N Y Brooklyn N Y Hagerstown Md VINCELETTE T W VISLOSKY THOMAS W VISOKEY EUGENE J WAITE RONALD D - WAITE ROGER K WALASAVAGE STANLEY- WALLACE CULVYI Jf wARNAGIRIs CARL J WATSON HUGHI WEAVER ASHBY H R WEBB VERNON F Springfield Mass Winber Pa Pittsburg Pa Newark N Chester W Va Milton W Va Wyoming Pa' Debo N C Beckley W Va Mexico N Y l ff , ., f. J 9 - J' 7 ' ' . 7 ' 7 ' J 7 ' , . , . SUPPLES, THOMAS M. Buffalo, N. Y. , Keaff1eY, N- J- TE'AGUE, VICTOR E. TEEL, GARLAND w. THOMAS, RICHARD H. THORNTON, E. L. TIERNEY, ROBERT J. TOMLINSON, GERALD TRAEICANTE, GENE A. TROUPE, DONALD L. TURNER, JACK TUTTLE, BOBBIE G. TYRIE, JAMES E. URATO, JOHN UTECHT, DONALD L. VADEN, JAMES E., Jr. VAN HILL, JOHN VAUGHN, ANTHONY Kernersville, N. C Huntington, W. Va Washington, N. J Seattle, Wash Cambridge, Mass Rockford, Ill. North Bergen, N. Hagerstown, Md Lenoir, N. C Albans, W. Va Indianapolis, Ind North Bergen, N. J Brokaw, Wis Plainfield, N. J Valley Springs, S. D East Orange, N. J ZEISSE, HAROLD P. WEBBER, RICHARD E Jamaica Plain, Mass WESTERMAN, I. W. WHITCOMB, GORDON F. WHITE, ODO R. WIERBINSKI, A. R. WIGGS, CALEB WILKERSON, JAMES W. WILLIAMS, DALTON P. WILLIAMS, JAMES O. WILSON, CHARLES E. WILSON, CHARLES WILSON, JAMES W. WOOD, HARRY H. XVORTMAN, DAVID L. YEATER, JOHN P. YOUNGKIN, CALVIN Milwaukee, Wis. Boston, Mass Driftwood, Pa Louisburg, N. C San Luis Obispo, Calif Middlesex, N. C Finchley, Va Newport, R. I Brooklyn, N. Y Philadelphia, Pa Teaneck, N. J Newport, R. I Bronx, N. Y O'Fallon, Mo Marion, Ind Freemansburg, Pa 1 I W ' 921 '3631 -17