Cotten (DD 669) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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 .