Endicott (DMS 35) - Naval Cruise Book

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i ' 1 that San Miguel is brewed and bottled in Manila. When we heard that we were going to Manila for rest and recreation, it was almost as if we were going to see an old family friend. A few of the men visited the brewery while in Manila, and they were told that the brewery was having to work overtime, while the Endicott was in port, to meet the demand-. This may sound a little far-fetched, but anyone who went to Manila with us, will verify it. The opinions of San Miguel are many and varied, but they are all good. We also lmy good friend and kindred spirit, Gaylord Goetz, and myselfl felt that we couldn't leave Manila without a visit to General MacArthur's former headquarters, the Manila Hotel. This is an impressive pile of brick surrounded .by palm trees, Cadillacs and bellhops. We had a very good, unobstructed view of the entrance from the bar where we could watch the comings and goings of various Philippine and American government officials. We soon decided that this activity left us with much to be desired, so, with a final Martini, we bade a fond farewell to the former headquarters of Mr. MacArthur. i l haven't covered all of the activities pursued by the officers and men of the Endicott because l have neither the time nor space. But sometime, when you have nothing better to do, make your husband, father, son, or whatever the case may be, sit down and tell you all about our trip to Manila -l'm sure they will. l donft think any of us are apt to forget Manila any time soon. I know l won't. s Jos STEED, HM3

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anifa lt was a hot tropical day when, on May 19, the Endicott dropped anchor in Manila Bay between Songley Point and the City of Manila. We had just come from forty days of patrol duty in Korea, and everyone aboard was eagerly anticipating liberty. The next day, we moved into Manila and tied up at Pier 5, for which all hands were grateful. lt was the first pier we had seen that close in quite some time and, incidentally, we haven't seen one since. Manila is a picturesque city of some 623,000 souls of Filipino, Japanese, Chinese and American extraction. lt has three seasons, wet, dry and drier. An average rainfall of 93-l0O inches. We of the Endicott will vouch for this last statement. Pity the poor soul in a, pair of whites who gets caught in the deluge. lt appears every afternoon like a thief out of the night, and ceases just as abruptly. So, as a result, most of us tried to be under cover whenever possible. Preferably, in quaint little bistros such as the Yellow Bar, Bill's Place and the Seaman's Club, to mention a few. Two camera and sightseeing trips were arranged for us by the Captain. One to Lake Tagatay, and the other to Corregidor. Lake Tagatay is an extinct volcano located in the mountains about three hours from Manila by bus. There is an attractive park here, with pavilions for dancing and facilities for picnics. The park is surrounded by a dense jungle, except for the one road leading into it. Sandwiches, beer and a horde of cameras of all sizes, shapes and descriptions were taken along. A few of the' hardier among us tried their hands at some horseback riding, but, for the most part, everyone doted on his camera, sandwiches and beer, with special emphasis on the last item. A good time was had by all. Corregidor being an island, the trip to Corregidor had toibe taken by boat. The two-hour boat ride out was uneventful, except for several com plaints of seasickness The Philippine Government has set Corregidor aside as a memorial to World War ll, and no restoration or rebuilding has been done where the American Army barracks or gun installations were. Everything is just as it was following the Japanese bombings and the subsequent surrender by General Wainwright. lt was an impressive sight to see, and everyone enjoyed the trip Manila boasts of having one of the best golf courses in the world, and rumor has it that Lt. Van Eaton received a few lessons on this course from his father-in-law who is an official with the Veterans' Administration in Manila. Don't fret, Mr. V. E., golf lessons can be pretty expensive, and l hear you got yours for practically nothing. We are still waiting for the Exec to tell us about the l9th hole there. Rumor has it that he won that one. Now would be a good time to mention one of the dearest friends and severest critics of the crew of the Endicott San Miguel Beer. Quite a few of us first encountered San Miguel at the E.M. Club in Pusan, Korea, and we might add it was a very pleasant meeting. lt washere that we learned Q33 .. I I ' I ,. , .. . 13: 5-25. r 1 . f5'1i?1' , v Jw- .r:'1-- . ' -S 'iii n.,v ,fy - ' r Q 44 1 ', 'n '15

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HW- A To Be Entered in The Library of Congress Pulitzer Entry By the Greatest Living Journalist Since Ernie Pyle :Jaw 0uerAeacl- Wanifa v While the Endicott was in Manila, a little episode took place that most of us would rather forget. However, it must be made public, if for no other reason than to inform the people that a sailor is not the most business- minded guy in the world. I doubt if most housewives, after' reading this article, will trust their husbands down at the corner grocery, for fear the butcher or baker will con him. As is customary an most ships of the fleet visiting a foreign port, they allow a certain number of the more prosperous merchants aboard to sell their wares to the ship's company. Such was our case in Manila. A group of tailors approached the executive officer with a very sincere and, l might add, profitable offer. He, upon granting permission to these honest, merchants, would receive a new suit free of charge, and all he had fo do was give the word to come aboard. As soon as these merchants came aboard, they laid out their wares for the crew to see, and l must admit we were shocked to find the most expen- sive fabrics available, even in the U.S., laid out on the main deck. Almost immediately, the crew asked about prices, delivery and tailoring, and, boy, did these guys lay it on. We could have a new gabardine for forty dollars, and that included the cost of tailoring, etc- A lot of the boys thought the English tweed was a steal at forty-five and placed orders for them. Now, we've seen con men who were con men working at their trade, and, believe me, these guys must have been trained in Chicago or New York. They received a small down payment, as is customary, to show the customers' good faith, and left with their order books full and their pockets bulging with our dough. ...A Now here is the secret of operating a tailor shop at absolutely no over- head. First, you don'tihave to deliver any material, second, there are no lighting or appliance bills to pay, as you are conducting your business on DMS's and Uncle Sam usually takes care of that, third, you don't have to pay any tailor, because he doesn't have to do any work. Needless to say, dear reader,- we never saw those tailors again, or our money either. A day of general wailing and moaning was set aside by the executive officer, and the main deck, was alive' with cries of we've been taken, I want my suit, or just general promises to never again go to a tailor shop, or better yet, never let another one step aboard the Sanju Go aru. - A few of the boys did make out, however, as a matter of fact, the Chief Master-at-Arms had a bathing suit made per gratis, but l think this is. the only appearance of any tailoring done in Manila. A parting bit of advice we might add is this: if you do go to Manila, take your own tailor with you. .