Cotten (DD 669) - Naval Cruise Book

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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.

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' 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. '