Hale (DD 642) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 14 text:

At last we got to Yokosuka. We expected somesortof paradise from what we heard from the guys who had been there before. A big BT from Missouri. .they called him Mule ' ..was going to show us. He took us to a dance hall, where his old Babysan came running out yelling ' My ichi-ban ' Merican boy- fran ! She was called Yoko-some- thinq-or-other. You shoulda seen the crazy chow they had there in Japan. They called it Sukiyaki, a big name for bits of fish, eels, and octopus topped off with rice. We went native and used chop sticks, but it was dangerous with whites until you got the hang of it. Of course we all went souvenir hunting. We got takusan dishes, dolls, toys, and kimonos. A lot of it was pretty gaudy like the silk jackets with a roaring tiger embroided on the back. A few of the hardier souls tried a Japanese Bath. Those with tough hides managed, but the tender ones, well. ..The Japanese take baths in water with temperatures that could cook a lobster, and the result can be damn surprising. 1 1 1; ktMKlfl

Page 13 text:

Here we are almost to Japan just about ready to pull into Midway for fuel when we get held up by this Coast Guard cutter with her bow up on a reef. It musta been bad ' cause she asked us for shoring, hammers, saws, line plugs, pumps, and I don ' t know what all. We sent here everything but our Damage Control Officer, (essentials first) All in all it was — , rf U Somehow we got into the lagoon . The first thing we saw was a group of the island ' s inhabitants, two types. .as you can see by this car- toon. The one s with the feathers live here permanently.

Page 15 text:

Shutterbugs carried loads of camera gear on tours to Tokyo and Kamakura I wasn ' t going to make myself a working party and bought pictures instead. That guy up in the left hand corner about the size of Chief Boats isthe bronze Buddha The one below is Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. She ' s got more gold on her than a Fleet Admiral.