Endicott (DMS 35) - Naval Cruise Book

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Ckerrg gdddom ime in Kirin .jslae On the morning of Friday, IO April, the Endicott sailed from Sasebo on a trip destined to break the monotony of our Yang Do defense patrols. Rear Admiral C. E. Olsen, Commander Task Force 95, needed transportation from the west coast of Korea to Chin Hae and Pusan, South Korea. The 'luxury liner Endicott was chosen for obvious reasons. A day after departure, we rendezvoused with the British aircraft carrier HMS Glory and accompanying escort vessels off the west coast of Korea. We were to take station alongside the carrier to receive Admiral Olsen and two aides by high line. Nothing to it, we thought. But, as we approached the carrier, she sent out an Aircraft warning Red, to general quarters we went, not knowingwhat to expect. lt was merely a false alarm, however, and we secured from GQ able to approach in a more relaxed manner. We were nearly in position, lOO0 yards astern of the carrier, preparing to go alongside, when she changed the formation course to launch planes. Despite the unexpectedness of the maneuver, we were quickly in position lOO feet off her starboard beam. A high line was rigged, and our passengers were brought aboard. With the Admiral safely aboard, we left the carrier and headed south to the principal South Korean naval port of Chin Hae, located west of Pusan on the southern end of the Ko-rean Peninsula. The Admiral was going to Chin Hae at this time to confer with Admiral Soong, Chief of South Korean Naval Operations, to inspect the naval facilities there, and to attend the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The happiest of all aboard the Endicott, when we learned of the proposed trip, was Ensign Kim Moo Jin. Ensign Kim had been training aboard United States ships since his graduation from the South Korean Naval Academy, located at Chin Hae. Being a native of Chin- Hae, he was now able to ride the Endicott back home. lf Ensign Kim is a sample of the product of the South Korean Naval Academy, that institution may be proud of the caliber of their graduates. Ensign Kim was intelligent, eager to learn, courteous, and well-liked by officers and men of the Endicott. Ensign Kim, instead of going home to his family immediately following our arrival, took a group of Endicott officers to his Alma Mater to proudly show it off. The school, formerly a Japanese seaplane base, is today closely modeled after Annapolis in curriculum and smartness. The course of study is similar to the intensive three year :program at Annapolis during the years of World War ll The main objective of the academy is to produce a nucleus of highly trained naval officers to insure the place of the ROK Navy -of the future In addition to the facilities for officer training, there are twenty-two 0 0 0 K 9 I . U g V . . - . . g . .

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ISLANDS. The island is a beautiful semi-tropical island two and one half out nine and one half square miles The terrain is rugged, with many hills and valleys. There are i miles wide and i ve miles long and has an area of ab ' - a number of mountainous peaks, and the highest, Asaki Yama, rises to 1,050 feet. The plains are few, but their soil is very fertile. The island is composed generally of trap rock intermingled with amydaloid and green stone. Tutami Bay, on the west coast, provides a lovely natural harbor. Many tropical fruit-bearing trees and dense vegetation are found along river valleys and supply much of the natural food supply of the island. The first American ship visited the Bonin Islands in l836. Many have been seen there ever since, except during World War ll when the island was strongly defended by the Japanese, but, luckily, our troops never attempted. a landing there on the march toward Japan. At the present time, there are many of the original natives still on the island and a small number of Naval personnel, some of whom live there with their families in modern bungalow-type homes. All contact with the outside world comes when, about twice a month, a small ship arrives to bring food, mail and other supplies, and returns to Guam with the natives' catch of fish to be sold there. As the Admiral and his staff returned to the ship, we were once more on our way to lwo Jima to complete our tour as Admiral PHILLIPS' flagship. Next stop-KOREA VIA SASEBO, JAPAN. STEVE COPELAND, HMC

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' service schools for enlisted personnel. Included are all the shipboard rates, even those of radarman, sonarman and electronics technician. The Korean Navy is modeled after our own. We have personnel stationed at Chin Hae to help direct both officer and enlisted training, and officer graduates receive further training on United States ships. Vessels of the ROK Navy often operated with the United Nations' Escort and Blockade Force, of which Endicott was a part. The ROK Navy of today is young, but gaining experience rapidly. How ever, this navy has a guiding spirit dating back to the l6th century. The day we arrived in Chin Hae, there were festivities representing a dual cele- bration. It was the time of the annual Cherry Festival that takes place in Korea and Japan during the picturesque period when cherry trees are in full blossom. More important, however, the festivities that day were in com- memoration of a day more than three hundred and fifty years ago when the guiding symbol of the present ROK Navy was born.