Epping Forest (LSD 4) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 48 text:

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.

Page 47 text:

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.

Page 49 text:

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