Hooper (DE 1026) - Naval Cruise Book

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fx W JAPAN Japan: land of cherry blossoms and geishag a land to which many sailors look forward to returning, and to which many others hope never to returng a land of beauty and a simplicity of life that defies descrip- tion. Of all the languages encountered in WestPac, Japanese is the only one remem- bered. To most sailors 'W.estPac means' Japan. H 'J Hooper sailors were first introduced to Japan by Yokosuka, a seaport town of little beauty about two hours southeast of Tokyo on the island of Honshu. Thieves' Alley, its prime attraction, lured at night, its garish neon lights offering an evening's entertainment at stateside prices. Yet many were able to escape to Hakone, Kamakura, and the bright lights of Tokyo and Yokohama to see another side of Japan. However our stay in Japan was cut short by a running WW battle between North Vietnamese PT boats and the destroyers Maddox and Turner Joy. Delayed by engineering casualties, Hooper set course for Okinawa to escort some amphib- ious ships to the South China Sea. Later in the cruise after leaving Hong Kong, Hooper headed for Sasebo, a ship building center on the west coast of Kyushu for a two week upkee period which reached a climax in a materiallp inspection. Long days of work were ended by the relaxing fingers and fists of Japanese masseuses and the pleasant warmth of hot sake. The noon hours were spent in the exchanges purchasing china, hi-fi equipment, cameras, Japanese dolls, and pearls in the biggest shopping spree of the cruise. Evenings were spent shopping in Sasebo stores. Our departure from Sasebo was mourned by all, as our next assignment was the Taiwan patrol.

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E 'A ,- Q4 f V. E if nfl ., , 'SV' ff? , 1 . 64 1 I I 1 lv-I sf Hirosaki Castle Dai Butsu, the Great Budha of Kamakura