Eldorado (AGC 11) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 27 text:

I. S S I5 'fl U , 'it ll pl llll li QI ,gn ,al ll' in .Q X ,'4. !i L , ffsif, ' ' ,'f ',- Once again in Yokosuka where we make ready for the POW repatriation in the event of the oncoming armistice....groups of us go inland to the R and R hotels for days of re1axation....only to return and wonder why it is termed rest. Toward the end of the month we return to the seas....an we are almost to Pusan when the historic armistice is signed in the Peace Pagoda at Panmunja . Man plans are in the mill .... for Task Farce 90 ships are to carry the Chinese and Na th Korean POWs from Gheju Do and Koje Do to the part of Inchon for repatriation at nearby Mnnsan. The first part of August we visit the island camp of Koje Do .... and watch ships leading with POWs for the water lift to Inchcn. .

Page 26 text:

ef? with a tentatively planned itinerary including Manila and Hong Kong, we start out for Inchon - half way we divert to Pusan as the 'News' was out that the Powers and their prolonged talks of peace are nearing an armistice. ' In Pusan, our trip to the south is cancelled....and we sit and wait. Finally we go to Sasebo for a few welcome days ashoreg yet we remain on call....and then back to Pusan, and more waiting.... later, we anchor off Fukuoka for liberty.... surprise rains come and we are called upon to assist in rescue work du ing one of the worst floods in the history of modern Japan. we provide emergency communications for the stricken area. Later we are dispatched to Kokura to pick up stranded allied personnel a d take them to Sasebog included among them soldiers, sailors, marines, an Admiral's wife and a small dog. The Fourth of July in Sasebo with a holiday mealg skyrockets, gun salutes an flares....many of us go to the place of 99 islands - to swim and sail and drink the cold Asahi in the vibrant sun of su mer. 1? 5 15: - X xx I5 '-:fl-fgXf.f 1-,A I. f5'QpeCg5SSSg2,, 2g?, f - ' 1 Q tx ef Er X- X , , - -4 if 513: 5, 5 X Lx 1 f' o 'tc J ssgsrsa. l it ffusm ly IUDESZKN, 1 5 irjfkf HSQ1 f 'Q:' E - Li ,, . er Y '- . -f 9-1:-:2':h?Qi 5 ! tg, , '-u1-- 'Il-L-471 L 1Ll-- N v 1 2 fgi V '51 - N Nick X X .ff5'-5 Q iii' 4 Ln -uri -H H Q 2 iii? J- 'D 4 s : +f' 9413 x s a----- an xo e - H-, X, J Qgiiiessiiss lr,e so iN fr--al :----1i'r1-r:: 1T?HJX'els : ey, 3 - K - sv, 'ixfq ztigfgiariag - .xl-N ,X

Page 28 text:

4? By now Operation Big Switch is well underway ....and we are in the war zone to coordinate and supervise this unp ecedented operation. During these nine weeks near 100,000 POWs are transported on Task Force 90 ships, including 75,000 Chinese and Korean repatriate POWs, 14,000 non-repatriates, and 7,000 retu ning South Koreans. Over ninety percent of the task force labors in this joint operation. . K . ,Q 5 . in ll ie-tif fr ft -A iptn 3, L, w 1' 1 W 1 if 1. W