Epping Forest (LSD 4) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 74 of the 1953 volume:

t M USS EPPING FOREST OUR FAR EASTERN CRUISE 1952 and 1953 LSD 4 COMMANDER JOHN A. HACK USN Cleveland, Ohio U. S. Naval Academy A deeply religious man, Commander Hack never rested when it came to helping the members of his crew. His greatest concern was the welfare and happiness of the men he led for nearly ten months. His career included many schools and training programs which account for his expert command of the ship. In April of 1952 he was relieved of this command by Commander F. C. Fallon USN at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, and is now at ComCruDesPac. He has the hearty well wishes of the crew for the continuation of his success throughout his Naval career. FOREWORD This was but one of many cruises to the Western Pacific by ships and men in the Navy ' s fight against com- munism — but to us it was the most important one. It is hoped that the pages which follow will always recall the comradeship aboard and the spirit which lived in the Epping Forest during these days. In work, in prayer, and in play we made many happy memories together. To these memories of our ship- mates this book is dedicated. J. A. HACK Commander Fallon came aboard at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, to relieve Com- mander Hack as Captain of the Epping Forest. Commander Fallon graduated from Tuft ' s College in Medford, Mass. He then went to the Naval Academy from which he graduated in 1939. He then started his career at various duties and stations, ending up here as Captain of the U.S.S. Epping Forest (LSD-4). CDR FREDERIC C. FALLON, USN 18 years service Point Loma, California Commanding Officer One could never begin to ennumerate oil the duties and responsi- bilities of the Commanding Officer. Every situation, be it of primary importance or of lowly insignificance, is the direct re- sponsibility of the Commanding Officer and each case must be met with the integrity and judgment of on expert. For he is the Captain of his ship; it is up to him to take core of it. To help him in this terrific task, the Captain has an Executive Officer and other junior officers who ore placed in charge of certain departments throughout the ship. When the Captain has the cooperation of these officers, as well as the cooperation of every enlisted man aboard, the job becomes routine and you can look for a good ship and a happy crew. Since his primary duty is the morale and general welfare of every crew member aboard, the Captain must insure that justice reigns over all. Naval discipline is a primary factor in keeping up the morale of a ship. Rewarding the good may be easy, but pun- ishing the bad is an unenviable task. The Commanding Officer must be an expert navigator, engineer, and seaman. Many a sleepless night is spent by him when the ship is underway, while he diligently mans his conning station, guiding the ship through all kinds of weather. He directs his junior officers not to hesitate to call him out of his slumber if a questionable situation arises while the ship is at sea; he finds out that many times these situations do arise. An engine suddenly becomes inoperative; an evaporator motor foils; on anchor will not respond; these are just a few of the many situations that arise in the course of the Captain ' s daily pitfalls. It is up to him to make the right decisions, to correct the defi- ciencies, many times with little or no time to think it over. The Captain, therefore, must be a man of action. He must keep a clear and cool head at all times. He must know how to handle men. For it is in no small measure that the Commanding Officer will moke the difference between on ordinary ship of the fleet or on outstanding ship with a contented crew. ' How many people in civil life Will take the time to think, That Sailor Men do other things Than bum around and drink? Don ' t judge us by the one or two You see that act the fool. For is it not that exception That proves most every rule? When you see a man in civilian life Go staggering down the pike, You don ' t run down the civilian man And say they ' re all alike. Now most men of the uniform Are really pretty good. They ' ll never steal your chickens Or carry away your wood. And yet in time of peace We are as welcomed as the gout. You wonder what we ' re drilling for And what ' s it all about. But let there be a sound of war You make a lot of noise. And strain your lungs and voices While cheering for the boys. And yet there is just one more thing That should be understood. They send us back to Civil Life If here we don ' t make good. The executive officer of any ship or station must be a man of many capabilities. It is up to him to take much of the load off the shoulders of the com- manding officer. Together they must work dili- gently to keep a good ship running smoothly and efficiently. The primary duty of the executive officer cannot be singled out as one particular job; there are too many of them. Since the next step in the chain of com- mand is that of commanding officer the exec must have more than a working knowledge of every detail associated with keeping the ship up to naval standards. Administration, personnel welfare, and the morale of the crew are just a few of his many tasks. He is the man who controls the liberty of the crew, through him must go every piece of correspondence for approval before being submitted to the captain for final signature. The executive officer must be a man of high moral character, as well as an outstanding leader and busi- ness man. He must be able to make the right deci- sion at the right time on a moments notice. If anoyne on the ship must be a jack-of-all-trades , it ' s the executive officer. LCDR ROBERT A. DAVIS USN 19 years service La Mesa, California Executive Officer LT. CLARENCE C. FELDHAUS USN 27 years service San Diego, California Chief Engineer The duties and responsibilities of the chief engineer consist, mainly, of the readiness of all engineering spaces for steaming and supervision of damage con- trol. He keeps all engineering records, logs, and statistics in his custody and, through subordinates, is responsible for the care, maintenance, and per- formance of all the machinery aboard ship. Electric power, fresh water, and the machinery required to provide these things are in his care. The ballasting of the ship for participation in amphibious invasions and the repar of any damaged craft that are brought aboard for repair are other duties of this officer. He is ably assisted by junior officers and crew members of the engineering force. A great deal depends upon whether or not these things are accomplished in the correct manner, thus: a constant vigil must be held by the crew members and officers of the Engineering Force. The duties of the navigation officer are to designate the best course in nautical miles that the ship should go between two places and with his instruments and the assitsance of the men assigned to him, see that this course is followed. He has in his hands the responsibility of the ship, under the Captain, as much or more so than any other officer on board. He is also the postal officer and takes responsibility of the guard mail that is sent between the other naval activities and the ship. LT. (jg) HENRY W. MARBOTT USNR Canfon, Ohio Heidelberg College Navigation Officer LT. (jg) E. B. CARPENTER USNR Boomingfown, Pennsylvania Penn State University Operations Officer The operations officer is the man assigned to the brain- wracking job of planning and executing the operations and maneuvers of the ship. To assist him in doing this job he has the radarmen, radiomen, telemen, and quartermasters who keep the ship on a safe course by tracking and plotting the contacts on the radar equipment, keep the ship well informed by receiving all the despatches and guard mail, and send and receive all the visual signals sent to the ship. These men, in doing their job well, are the basis of a smooth operation, and without them the ship would be greatly hin- dered and of little use to the Navy. The first lieutenant is in charge of the activities of the ship ' s deck force. The men assigned to him are required to stand the watches necessary for the safety of the ship both underway and in port. They operate the cranes, boats, anchoring gear and mooring lines, as well as assist in bring- ing small craft into the well deck. They maintain cleanli- ness about the main and weather decks along with the boats, cranes, and the well deck. In port, they may be found over the side cleaning or painting the sides of the ship. The boatswain ' s mates and deck seaman make up an important part of the ship ' s activities. ENSIGN MARVIN W. RICKLING USNR Hamilton, Ohio Notre Dame First Lieutenant LT. H. F. CONLEY USN Long Beach, California 19 years service Supply Officer The supply officer is responsible for the procurement, stowage, issuance, and records of all the stores necessary for the best operation of the ship. To aid him in this task he has the commissarymen; who stow, issue, and prepare the food; the storekeepers who stow, order, issue, and keep records of the general stores, spare parts, and ship ' s store material; the ship ' s servicemen; who run the laundry, ship ' s store, barber shop, and ship ' s fountain; the steward group; which prepares the food for the officer ' s mess; and, through the disbursing officer, the disbursing clerks; who aid the disbursing officer in the handling of the pay accounts and other disbursements. He is usually on the prowl for any way to make his supply system run more smoothly. v)ccic DePT ChBos ' n JAMES C. BRUNER USN San Diego, California 17 years service 1st and 2nd Division Officer It is the duties of the 1st and 2nd Division to maintain the general appearance of the ship. To handle and care for the boats and their duties. To handle lines entering and leaving port. To bring small craft into the well deck and arrange their placement. The petty officers stand quarterdeck watches with seaman under instructions as messengers. They stand gun watches at condition III. Wheel and lookout watches underway. The BM ' s are a jack of all trades. 1st Row: Hamilton, Olsen, Green, Ferrill, Gross. 2nd Row: Lawson, Cornett, Burton, Woods, Cunningham. iiUJium 1st Row: Bowers, Haltiwanger, Dunn, Parker, Morgan. 2nd Row: Scarbrough, Farris, Good- man, Marshal, McEntee, Munford. ENSIGN THOMAS N. TORGLER USNR Portland, Oregon Oregon State Gunnery Officer The gunnery officer is responsible for the maintenance and care of all the ordnance material aboard ship. Its operation and readi- ness are part of his job. All ammunition for the guns and spare parts with which they are repaired are, through his subordinates, in his keeping and must be kept at an operating level for the emergencies that may arise. Such material as gas masks, small arms and other equipment that may be needed for an amphibious landing are also in his care. To assist him in his responsibilities he has under his direction the gunner ' s mates and fire controimen necessary as well as the armories around the ship and are required to keep the records, maintain the proper temperatures for safety in the magazines and keep the spaces assigned to them clean and free from rust. They keep the guns in firing condition and the sighting instruments in correct alignment. The safety of the ship ' s crew depends greatly on the manner in which this job is done. miiiuiuTi 1st Row: Mills, Rusch, Harvey, Clouse, Rains, Leonard, Johnson, C. W. 2nd Row: Johnson, 0. E., Gardner, Cobb, Conway, Miller, Downs. 2nd DIVISION v . v. v . y - .v V • -. y . ' 1st Row: Watkins, Winton, Schneider, Riffle, Defwiller, Banister. 2nd Row: Eichenburg, Buda, Kelly, Bruce, Lynch, Nash, MacDonell. 3rd Row: Jones, Hill, Buckley, Spady, Drumond, Taylor, Waller. 1 ;■ ■ ' - . , ---x r % . 1st Row: Reedy, Folsom, Draper, Gon- soulin, Powell, Camp. 2nd Row: Howard, Powers, Thornton, Vinson, Martin, Bynog, Smith, McCarty. 3rd Row: Stevens, Lee, Wright, Owens, Kyle, Hoolahan. 1st Row: Speckbrock, Sullivan, Fridgen, Nally, Marlette, Durm. 2nd Row: Holt, Robb, Gray, Pachol, Daw- ton, Cox. ENSIGN JOHN F. LA CLAIR USNR Uniontown, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania State College C Division Officer The duties of the communications officer are the receipt and sending of all dispatches involving the ship. He is responsible for the decoding of all coded messages and must have an intensive knowledge of the methods used to do so. He is responsible for the exactness of the radiomen who are under his supervision when re- ceiving messages. In the division for which he is responsible are the radiomen, radarmen, quartermasters and yeomen. These men have in their care the ship ' s logs, the visual signalling equipment, the ship ' s radios, the ship ' s radar equipment, and the manuals, periodicals, ledgers, and other reference material necessary to carry out the different jobs that they have to do. 1st Row: Caldwell, Miller, Gill, Carda- man. Shyer, Wallace, LeBlanc, Stutsman, Pitts. 2nd Row: Williams, Enfinger, Manley, Deason, Watts, Dearing, Ash, Flynn, Eirhart, LT. (jg) ROBERT M. LINDSAY, JR. (SO Maryville, Tennessee Vanderbilt University and University of Pennsylvania S Division Officer Disbursing Officer The duties of the disbursing officer consist of the maintenance of pay records for the personnel aboard ship. He supervises the pay- ing of the crew, collects and keeps in his custody all funds attained from ship ' s store, clothing and small stores, and the recreation and welfare fund. He makes ail the disbursements necessary to keep th ship operating and keeps all records of these transactions. He is also S division officer and has under his direction the ship ' s commissarymen, storekeepers, servicemen and disbursing clerks. Their duties consist of supplying the ship with food, ship ' s store goods, and general stores. The laundrymen, barbers, and ship ' s fountain operator are all members of this division as well as the cooks, stewards, butchers and bakers. iitt r 1st Row: Bradley, Thurman, Wing, Majeski, Milke. 2nd Row: Lucero, Nuttleman, Robin- son, Cofer, Hancock, O ' Neil. 3rd Row: Guy, Smith, T. M., Bro berg, Flannely, Hunt, DeLong. V _ -• . ,—- :.- 9c i ' V ' 1st Row: Duncan, Hamilton, Noland, Upchurch. 2nd Row: Evans, Bakke, Glass, Reyes, Sisson, Cabral, Smith, R. G. 3rd Row: Reddic, Houk, Nichols, de- mons, Romar, Gerhardt, Sylvester, McKever. LT. J. KENDALL STEVENSON (MO USNR Seattle, Washington University of Washington and University of Rochester School of Medicine Medical Officer The medical officer is responsible for the health and medical care of the officers and crew aboard ship. He is required to have a thor- ough knowledge of medicine such as would be required by a civilian doctor and more. He must be able to perform medical aid in all kinds of emergencies and any other personal aid needed. He is re- sponsible for the maintenance of cleanliness aboard ship and is free to check anything in the way of food, clothing, or the ship ' s personnel that he deems necessary. He may be called upon to give assistance to a man with a broken bone, a bad laceration, or some disease and must be ready and able to meet the situation. He is assisted by the hospital corpsmen who are required to perform the minor surgeries, treat minor ailments and afflictions,, maintain cleanliness in the sick bay and throughout the ship, treat wounds sustained during the ship ' s activities, and aid the doctor in any way that they can. T jf ; LT, (jg) BERNARD S. BABB USNR Waldo, Florida 1 Va years service A Division Officer The duty of the men assigned to the A Division officer is the care and maintenance of the ship ' s auxiliary machinery. They take care of the ship ' s generators, the steam-heating and refrig- eration equipment, the pumps, the evaporators, the teiemotors, the boat engines, and the ice machine. Their work involves long hours of extra work during breakdowns and possible breakdowns and they are often called upon to do extra work when a damaged small craft comes into the well deck. In doing their job well they win the admiration of the crew and it is well deserved. L. ■ n j 1st Row: Dayley, James, Davidson, Al- cox, Tomanio, Kostal, Sanze, Pitman. 2nd Row: Kirkpatrick, Weinz, Hen- drtx, fleavilian, hluffer. Van Nyhiiis. The Si lty On s CHIEF MACHINIST BILLY J. HARSHMAN USN Pueblo, Colorado 16 years service B and M Division Officer The primary duty of the men assigned to the ship ' s machinist is main propulsion. This doesn ' t even skim the surface of the work that they are required to do because it involves a great deal of vigilance, pa- tience, knowledge, and just plain hard work to keep a ship moving at Navy standards. They may be called upon to change speed of the ship at any time and must be able to do so or else a catastrophe could occur. They work with such vital machinery as the two main engines that propel the ship and the boilers that provide the steam for these engines. The response of these men and this machinery to the orders that come from the bridge are perhaps the most important function of a Naval vessel. 1st Row: Gilbert, Rohlman, Lingen fetter, Davis. 2nd Row: Thomas, Cuevas, Clark, i.O. 1st Row: Harvey, Watkins, Eckman. 2nd Row: Isecinbice, Thompson, Sweeney. 1st Row: Kline, Morlc, Gladden, Dycus. 2nd Row: Westerfield, Meager, Klee. Elect. WILLIAM M. LENNON USN La Mesa, California 14 ' 2 years service E Division Officer The men assigned under the ship ' s electrician are required to keep the ship furnished with the power necessary to operate. They stand watches in the generator room and are alert to meet any emergency such as a power failure with the auxiliary generator. Under their care is the ship ' s lighting, inter-communications, electrical motors, radar and radio, ventilation system, and movies. They must keep a constant vigil for anything, in the way of electricity, that will harm the maximum operating capacity of the ship as well as hinder the safety of the ship and its personnel. They constantly repair the worn electrical lines around the ship and keep the spaces assigned to them clean and free from any harming activity. The movie op- erator is a popular man when the ship is at sea and in doing his job well wins the admiration of . the ship ' s personnel. Electricity is a very important part of the operation of the ship and without the activities of the electrician, the electrician mates, inter-communi- cation electricians, and the electronics technicians it would be greatly hindered. 1st Row: Hayes, Haney, Roser, Hor- bac, Wilson, 2nd Row: Trapier, Gilbert, Lancester, Chitwood. I t €€ M DIVISION 1st Row: Klooz, Sisson, Eliassne, Rit tica, Santapola. 2nd Row: Echols, Brosell, Williams, Lener, Andrews. 1st Row: Duron, Ashmore, Charles. 2nd Row: Harrel, Griffen, Cooper, Bateman. Carpenter JOHN R. NYE JR. USN Long Beach, California 1 1 years service R Division Officer The damage controlmen, pipefitters, and metalsmiths assigned to the ship ' s carpenter make all the repairs and adjustments, in the way of metal and wood, that are required for the safety and best operation of the ship. Their duties require a thorough knowledge of damage control, welding, general woodwork, sheet and bar metal work. They may be called upon to do a fast re- pair job to a hole in the side of the ship, fight a fire, or make a new shelf for one of the storerooms. These are the men who stand by the ballasting stations when the ship is dropping her stern to embark or disembark the small craft in the well deck. Ist Row: Torres, Minton, Dycus, Horiiday. 2nd Row: Kablin, Sullivan, Greene, Wind, Fitzgerald. t -i. V 1st Row: Lee, Westerman, Skarnulis, Tosten, James. 2nd Row: Ellis, Satterfield, Fisbeck, Smith, O. J.  '   -1 mm o Q% W u O 5AN FRAHCISCQ SAM OtEGO Pearc HARBop )c vlA rAV.fivr4 Our Cruise To those personnel who hod mode the first cruise to WESTPAC on the Epping Forest, the 6th of September 1952 was just a little busier than usual. But to those who hod never been out of the States, and especially to the fellows directly out of boot camp, the events of the 6th were a new and unusual experience. Lost minute preparations for getting underway, getting final stores, and getting personnel aboard all contributed to the general excite- ment and organized confusion. This was the day. It meant leaving loved ones, homes, and everything most of us hod ever known for a place we had only read about. For those who think that a sailor ' s life is all excitement and adventure they might be surprised to learn that there is a lifetime of loneliness in that brief second when he looks bock at the harbor entrance as his ship soils out to sea. The trip to Son Francisco from Son Diego was uneventful. The first day was comparatively calm. Everyone was sure that they were not going to get seasick. But in the following days OS we neored Son Francisco and the ship started taking 30° rolls even some of the salts were forced to moke emergency trips to the head. Son Francisco and Oakland put on a glittering array of twinkling lights the night that we sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge. It was to be our closest picture of the two cities, for two days later, without a chance for even one liberty, we sailed for Subic Bay, Philippines, with the dredge, McMullen, nestled in our well deck. If anyone had dared suggest that it would take us a month to get to Subic Bay we nnight have been tempted to laugh. But it did take us nearly that long; it was just three days short of one month when we arrived in Subic Bay. The dredge, McMullen, gave us some anxious moments on the way over. After a few turbu- lent bouts with the Pacific half the crew were ready to bet the McMullen would drop right through the well deck. The other half were betting it would tear out a wingwall and topple over the side. Fortunately, neither happened. As we steamed further and further south and got closer to the Philippines the mercury kept soaring. More than one snipe was ready to change his rating — anything to get out of the hole . Subic Boy was a pleasant interlude after look- ing at nothing but the endless blue Pacific for so many days. The night we docked in Subic Boy was a night for celebrating. The liberty section of the Epping Forest lost no time in getting over on the beach for some cool, tropical brews. Some tried to prove that they could consume a month ' s supply of beer in one night, but the next day their aching stomachs and throbbing heads proved them wrong. The run from Subic Bay to Yokosuka, Japan was just a short run and we arrived in Yoko- suka one week after leaving Subic Boy. The biggest event there was the advancement in rating list which was waiting for us. Quite a few seaman and fireman went on the beach and come back to find that they were petty officers. In addition, over 30 men got their transfer orders upon arrival in Yokosuka. It is hard to describe the Japanese people or their customs to anyone who has never been to Japan. They are unique in their indus- triousness and their ability to moke things by skill and patience alone with little or no raw materials. Another very surprising thing to those of us who were seeing the Japanese for the first time was the fact that their com- plexion was not yellow and their eyes were not as almond shaped as we were led to suspect. In fact, after a few liberties on the beach some of us began to believe that not a few of the Japanese were more Americanized than some sailors. To most of us Yokosuka was Japan. It was there that we made our first acquaintance with the Japanese people and their way of life. It was there that we always came for R R . It was a blend of the traditional customs of the Japanese and the customs and ways of Americans as brought here by the American serviceman. Rickshaws and taxicabs jammed the streets; women in kimonos walked side by side with girls in skirts and sweaters; saki and Pabst Blue Ribbon were sold at the same bars; State- side songs and Japanese folk tunes were played on the same juke boxes; steam heat replaced the habatchi pot in some places; the people talked English with a Japanese brogue. Everywhere could be found evidence of the American influence of the Japanese way of life. We stayed in Yokosuka just long enough to enliven old memories for those of us who had been there before. For those who were see- ing Japan for the first time it was a brief but very promising taste of the Japanese people and their culture. From Yokosuka we went to Sasebo, Japan. The first few days all hands were busy trans- ferring stores and supplies aboard. It was here that we picked up MSB Division ONE and COMINRON THREE. In the next nine months we were to see them often. Finally after a week in Sasebo we headed for Wonsan, Korea, arriving the latter part of October. Korea at any time of the year is never very warm, and at this time it was start- ing to breed weather that would eventually turn into a severe and bitterly cold winter. Condition III watches were the order of the day in Korea and after 30 days of watch standing most of the crew did not care if they never saw Korea, a mid-watch, or an LSD again. In spite of watches, regular duties, sleeping and eating, time was passing pretty slowly. Volleyball tournaments, cribbage tourna- ments and acey-duecey tournaments oil helped to pass away extra time. Halloween and Thanksgiving passed before we got bock to Sasebo. In Sasebo we trans- ferred MSB Division ONE and COMINRON THREE. The personnel from MSB and COM- INRON THREE were a fine group of fellows. Their tour of duty in WESTPAC lasts any- where from 18 to 24 months. During that time most of their time is spent on one ship or another in Korea. They seldom, if ever, have a ship that they can call their own. During all kinds of weather they are called upon to sweep Korean waters. They live out of their sea bags and much of their time is spent in transit. In spite of these many and varied hardships they do on outstanding job. About the first part of December, when our thoughts were of the coming Christmas back in the States, we left for Inchon, Korea. In- chon was quite an experience. For us it meant G.Q. at least three times per day. After ten days in Inchon we got an unexpected lucky break. We loaded LCD ' s and steamed to Nagasaki for two liberties. Nagasaki must have known that we were coming because the people welcomed us with open arms. We had port and starboard liberty, one-half of the crew went on shore patrol. The next night the situation was reversed. When we finally steamed back to Inchon the crew was really beat — liberty one night followed by shore patrol the next night seemed to be too much even for the most hardy. In Inchon we unloaded the LCD ' s and em- barked troops for a big Marlex operation. In the next few days we practiced every exer- cise for which the LSD was ever intended. It was by participating in training operations such as this that we realized the value of the teamwork and training that is so necessary for the success of any large military operation. After the Marlex we headed for Camp Mc- Gill and Yokosuka — in a round about way. We went via Inchon picking up some LCD ' s to take back to Camp McGill. It was a weary crew and a weary ship that finally found its way to Yokosuka on Christ- mas Eve in the year of Our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-two. We had packed a lot of sea miles and experiences into the two short months since first arriving in Yokosuka. This time we were to get some very welcome R R , and the ship was also due for a little rest and overhaul. For the first time since arriving in the Far East, except for the two days in Nagasaki, we were to be tied up to a pier. After riding VP ' s to the beach for lib- iv erty it was a welcome treat to be able to walk off the gangway directly onto a dock. Christmas and New Year ' s away from the States was not exactly what any of us wanted, but in WESTPAC spending the holidays in Yokosuka was about as good as we could ex- pect. We bought china, Japanese records, suits and sport clothes, almost everything imaginable while we were in Yokosuka. When we left Yokosuka about the middle of January it was with much sadness in our hearts for the friends and good times we had left behind. And we looked forward in antici- pation to our next visit there. The next few weeks we spent in operations in and around Camp McGili, finally ending up in Nogoya, Japan. In Nagoya we found a thoroughly modern city, rivaling even some of the bigger cities in America. From Nogoya we went bock to our old standby port, Sasebo. Sasebo had none of the glamor of the bigger Japanese cities, it does not have the recreational facilities of Yokosuka, it did not have the big fancy cabarets and dance halls of other big Japanese ports, but it was invariably the last stop before Korea. To us that meant the lost chance for a little fun, a few cool beers, and the usually warm and friendly companionship of the Japanese peo- ple. In addition, Sasebo was usually our first stop after our tours of minesweeping in Korea. Yokosuka might hove held the hearts of the majority of the Epping Forest sailors, but Sasebo ran a close second. We stayed in Sasebo just about long enough to drop the hook and we were off on our way to Kobe. Kobe is one f the principal industrial cities of Japan. After seeing the tall smoke stacks outlined against the sky and all the commercial shipping facilities we were con- vinced of that. From Kobe we went to Wonsan, Korea, stop Iping in Sasebo just long enough to pick up MSB Division ONE and COMINRON THREE. A week of minesweeping and tender duties in Wonsan and we steamed to Pusan to pick up some Korean junks to take to Sasebo. After a few days in Sasebo we were again on our way to Wonsan where we were to stay for another week. It was during these times in Wonsan, February and March, that we really learned of the severity of the Korean winters. Snow, wind, and ice were our constant com- panions as we lay at anchor in Wonsan har- bor. During all this time the big guns of our fleet, the battleships, cruisers, and destroyers never let up in their constant shelling of the Communist installations and positions on he beach. Neither did the personnel of MSB Di- vision ONE let up in their never-ceasing vigil of keeping the Wonsan harbor free of mines and open for the bigger ships of the fleet. Finally in the latter part of March we steamed to Yokosuko via Sasbo, where we transferred MSB Division ONE and COMINRON THREE. We were to stay in Yokosuko for over two weeks. The highlightsof our stay in Yokosuko were the two ship ' s parties at the Broadway Hotel. The parties both nights were successes as con be attested to by anyone that was there — and who wasn ' t! Okinawa was next on our list of ports of coll. Here we participated in one of the biggest practice amphibious operations ever attempt- ed in WESTPAC. Along wih a host of other amphibious ships we participated in a large scale amphibious landing. During the entire four days that it took us to complete the exer- cise we were hampered by rainy, squally, weather. In spite of this the operation was a success. May was beginning to fade away as we again started bock to Sasebo to pick up MSB Divi- sion ONE, COMINRON THREE nd COMIN- RON SEVEN. From Sasebo we went directly to Wonsan. This was our longest tour of minesweeping in Korea, lasting almost two months with only one short break in Sasebo. During all this time the world was anxiously awaiting news of on armistice in Korea. We waited with them. The monotony of this tour in Korea was brok- en one morning about the middle of July when we got an emergency order to steam at flank speed to Yang-Do, Korea. A Canadian de- stroyer had run aground and we were ordered to steam up there and make emergency re- pairs to her hull. But because of heavy seas and inclement weather we were unable to ef- fect any repairs. So after two days of waiting for better weather we got orders to steam back to Sasebo via Wonsan. Sasebo was a very welcome sight that day in July when we come steaming in. It was the last time that we were going to be there this tour. From Sasebo we steamed to Yokosuka and began making preparations for the home- ward voyage to Son Diego. But fate and the Navy Department have a way of changing even the best laid plans, for on the day that we were scheduled to depart for the States we received orders to proceed to Sasebo and thence bock to Inchon, Korea. It was a real heartbreak to us who had been counting on starting for the States from Yo- kosuka. Sooner or later we had to start back to the States so it was during the first few days of August that we lifted anchor in Inchon and sailed for Guam. i One week later on Sunday morning we ar- rived in Guam. The same afternoon we loaded a barge and started for Pearl Harbor. ,«!, fl PUP im i L -! i gJMfcjPl 1 B YARD PERIOD AND REST TIME SHIP ' S PARTY AND PRESENTATION TO CAPTAIN HACK BUCKNER BAY WAS NOT ALL WORK AND NO PLAY SWIMMING SIGHT SEEING DINE DANCING ALL OF THIS AND TROPICAL HEAT W. A. TOBIN PRESENTING CAPTAIN HACK WITH A SCROLL OF GRATITUDE SIGNED BY THE OFFICERS AND CREW COMMANDER FALLON RELIEVING COMMANDER HACK OF THE COMMAND. COMMANDER HACK LEFT US AT BUCKNER BAY, OKINAWA . ' ■if •-.•liS:i ' ' ■ ; fcT k ' ! 5 ' Pearl Harbor presented a picturesque scene as we steamed in on a late Saturday after- noon two weeks after leaving Guam. Green foliage and palm trees, light tan sandy beaches, dark brown and purple hills, were outlined against the vivid blue sky to give a contrast of colors that was breathtaking. As we slid into our berth alongside the dock na- tive Hawaiian girls danced and swayed to the traditional songs of the Islands. Nature was not the only thing that was to give us a treat when we arrived in Hawaii. Uptown Honolulu was the States away from the States. Modern buildings, blazing neon signs, new cars all made us aware that this was part of what we knew as the United States. September 2nd, 1953 was just an ordinary Wednesday to most people, but for us it was one of the most important days in our entire cruise in WESTPAC. The day hod finally ar- rived when we were to get bock to San Diego and the States. Words and pictures couldn ' t capture the thoughts and emotions that filled our minds and hearts as we steamed ino San Diego. This was the end of the Epping Forest ' s second cruise in WESTPAC. And although most of us did not enjoy being away from the States for such a long time we shall always remem- ber this cruise. The people we met, the places we went, and the things we did will always hold a special place in our catalog of memories. GUAM PEARL HOME AT LAST SAFE AND SOUND... CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS 1st Row — J. A. Olson CSC, S. E. Heisler MMC, G. C. Stursa MMC, J. R. Martin SKC, C. W. Johnson BMC, C. B. Weeks BMC. 2nd Row — D. B. Meaders DCC, T. R. Steele GMC, M. Steen MEC, C. L. Albright MMC, J. T. Howard FPC. fw  I ■ m ■ a 7 l . y € ' , This group of smiling faces have been aboard the Eppy since Dec. 1, 1950 when she went into commission. Front row — Clark, Downs, Davidson, Klooz, Harrei, Santapolo, James, Rit- tica, Koenig. Second row — Clouse, Cobb, Durm, Lingenfelter, Heisler, Stursa, Albright, Martin, Jenkines, Harvey, Lee. Third row — Wester- field, Eichenburg, Cox, Eilers, Jester, Caldwell, Cooper, Lewis, Cofer. ' •  .  •fe ' ' V H ,-fflB i • i • • THE LAW S. E. (Sam) Heisler MMC and S. G. (Gus) Cot- tros BM2 do a great job of maintaining rules and regulations. The M.A.A. force is on the go before reveille and way after taps. It is sel- dom that they have any time to themselves, so to these two we say . . . Well Done. CRUISE BOOK STAFF EDITOR — D. M. JESTER LAYOUT — R. D. DOWNS ri PHOTOGRAPHER — J. E. HAYES LAYOUT — T. P. DUNCAN JOURNALIST — R. J. FRIDGEN CARTOONIST — C. R. GRAY We of the staff would like to ex- tend Q heartfelt word of thanks to all our shipmates who helped to make our cruise book possible. PHOTOGRAPHER — R. E. GLADDEN ALABAMA Billy W. Dunn Wade H. Howard Jr. Carl E. Poole David N. Drummond Jr. Royce E. Harrell Bobby E. Harvey ARIZONA Robert H, Kabelin Raymond Walden Carroll L Albright ARKANSAS Billy G. Draper Thurman M. Smith David C. Sylvester Ralph M. Watts Melvin L. Taylor CALIFORNIA Leonard M. Bowling Timothy R. Bruce William R. Buckley Herbert P. Burkhart Clenord R. Davidson David E. Davidson Kenneth H. Dayley Roy D. Downs Paul E. Ellis Lawrence E. Foster Donald Ganter Raymond Gladden Rex W. Goodman Alfred H. Greene Jr. Jack M. Hamilton James E. Hayes Ernest Hunt Roy S. Hust David M. Jester Lee T. Knox Jr. Darold L. Kostal Marvin F. Kostal Glen C. Labbe Chester J. Lancaster Jr. Richard S. Lucero Jeston Lyies Calvin Manley Don H. Morgan Jack A. Olson Antero V. Reyes Thomas F. Stevens George C. Stursa Harry H. Stutsman Jerry V. Terrill William K. Trapier Vince P. Vitalich Charles B. Weeks Jr. Jacob F. Wickline Jr. Jamie J. Saenz Richard Smith Andrew S. Cabral Linwood S. Mosey Laurence R. Sullivan COLORADO Theodore D. Delong Allen J. Hosselkus Jr. Virgil E. Hull CONNECTICUT Dennis D. Lynch John M. Skarnulis Michael D. Santapolo DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Gyden Camp Jr. FLORIDA Ralph F. Cooper Jr. Paul F. Dawson William R. Dearing Jr. Mallie Enfinger Jr. Martin W. Gerhard Samuel E. Heisler Jr. William J. Hendrix Freddie L. Powell Raymond H. Westerman GEORGIA Clyde A. Ashmore Chester L. Bowers Donald A- Cobb Carley Cornett James B. L. Deason Daniel C. Fielding David O. Holt Earnest M. Lee Carlton L. Martin James L. Power John W. Rains John H. Scarborough William C. Smith Billy F. Godfrey ILLINOIS Ronald W. Allison Ralph M. Ash Gaylord B. Eirhart William E. Gardnes Robert L Gardner Alfred A. Hancock Walter P. Schnieder Adelbert C. Watkins INDIANA Frank F. Buda Jerry W. Engelbright Clifford G. Glass Fred D. Haney (■ Bob E. Hill Joseph O. Nally Larry J. Watkins Richard J. Featheringill Howard E. Rinker Bobby R. Westerfield William J. Klooz IOWA Marvin D. Eiiers Kenneth P. Flynn Billy G. Garner Donald E. Heavlin Donald R. Horbach John T. Howard Ivan J. Icenbice Robert N. Lee Donald K. Lewis Leo W. Maxwell Norman G. Ready Ronald O. Van Langen Paul Van Nyhuis LOUISIANA Linkford D. Bynog Robert L. Crawford Jr. Phillip J. Gilbert Eugene J. Gill Edwin J. Gonsoulin Jr. Otis Green Franklin L. Gross Donald W. Hoolahan William R. Leblanc Norris J. Leonard John E. Mason Willie E. Parker David G. Sullivan Curvis J. Cuevas MISSISSIPPI Billy F. Thornton Kieth L. Lewis Archie M. Nash Jr. MISSOURI Francis G. Andrew Robert G. Charles Robert E. Frazier Earl D. Gentry Harvey C. Gilbert John E. Halbrook Jr. Forest D. Houk Arlie M. James Jr. Paul E. Majeske Truman E. Sample Davis O. Upchurch George E. Davidson KANSAS Leonard W. Caldwell Howard H. Crum James L. Durm James T. Flannelly Wayne M. Folsom Richard C. Miller Kenneth R. Waller KENTUCKY William J. Evans Jr. Gilmer J. Dycus Thyriss R. Munford Gene D. Smith William Woods Jr. MARYLAND Johnel Sullivan MICHIGAN Donald E. Johnson MASSACHUSETTS Frank E. Huffstetler Charles W. Johnson George B. Thomas MINNESOTA John R. Alcox Leo J. Brutger Robert C. Eliassen Robert J. Fridgen Harlan R. Holmvig Floyd J. Kraetsch Richard J. MacDonel Donald L. Rusch Marvin R. Shyer Peter C. Thompson Francis J. Pacholl Dennis R. Broberg MONTANA Walter N. Harvey Frank L. Nay Harold L. Peterson NEBRASKA Charles L. Bonne Kenneth D. Fisbeck Dale W. Milke Douglas G. Nuttlemann Robert G. Smith James E. Cunningham NEW HAMPSHIRE John F. Bateman NEW JERSEY Richard J. McKeever NEW YORK William J. Meagher Thomas D. Lener Ronald I. McEntee NORTH CAROLINA William H. Dycus John E. Griffin Robert A. Kyle Donald R. Maness Edd Nelson Jr. Dennis L. Owens Samuel Robinson Olin E. Vinson I r NORTH DAKOTA Norman D. Bakke Wayne B. Brosell Morris Steen OHIO Michael F. Cardaman James E. Clouse Jack W. Eichenberg Eugene D. Huffer William Kirkpatrick John R. Martin Wilbert B. Rohlman Theodore Winton Edward L. Wright OREGON Alton D, Chitwood Albert A. Clark James O. Clark Kenneth L. Ghormley Morris M. Mills George E. Neylund Howard W. Spady Orville D. Spady OKLAHOMA Paul D. Barto Julius R. Guy Donald E. James Carl E. McCarty Julian F. Noland Milton G. Pitts Donald L. Williams Billy W. Kelley PENNSYLVANIA Lewis Bradley Carmen A. Cea Thomas E. Fitzgerald Daniel R. Lingenfelter George Tomaino PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Jesus B. Refada SOUTH CAROLINA Saleem G. Cottros Terry P. Duncan Voight R. Frazier George H. Haltiwanger Jim Williamson Jr. SOUTH DAKOTA James M. Mork Floyd G. Thomas TENNESSEE Herbert H. demons Jr. Walters. Cox Jr. James T. Lawson George F. Pittman Arvel L. Whitaker Frank E. Garner Billy J. Conway Roger Marshall TEXAS Donald R. Burton Kenneth E. Cofer William V. Cunningham Jr. David T. Farris Bobby R. Holliday Donald R. Jenkines Daniel B. Meaders Earl L O ' Neal Richard A. Reddic Terence R. Steele James R. Vance Floyd C. Wind Willie J. Wilson Bailey R. Jones TERRITORIAL HAWAII Samson Napaepae UTAH Fred V. Echols Garth E. Parkinson Richard D. Wing James R. Romar Donald K. Johnson VIRGINIA Charles A. Akers Craig H. Detwiler Earl G. Nichols Leo D. Reynolds Lewis R. Sisson Roy L. Sisson Oscar J. Smith Robert C. Sweeney Edward L. Thurman Charles W. Thomas Jr. John E. Tosten WASHINGTON Sidney L. Bannister Fred C. Bradley Ralph R. Davis Albert L. Davis George A. Green Idar L- Johnson Arvor R. Klee Lavern L. Koenig Loren L. Olsen Rex E. Roser Richard L. Valentine Howard D. Waenz WISCONSIN George O. Ekman Bernard C. Miller Gerald Speckbrock WEST VIRGINIA James L. Dorsey Oley E. Kline Samuel H. Riffle William D. Satterfield WYOMING Jose C. Lujan Arby R. Wallace Produced by THE JACK DAVIDSON SHIP ' S CRUISE PUBLISHING CO. 932 India Street San Diego 1, California r ' ' ' ' '