Hopewell (DD 681) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 47 text:

In a few' days we left Sasebo for the last time. We had spent a wonderful ten days in this Japanese city and had many pleasant memories to take with us. Rest camp, shop- ping, the Club and cabarets would long be remembered. We didnt stay long however for we were soon ordered to the bombline patrol Machine gun batteries gun emplacements bridges railroad tracks and some small cities all felt the effects of our five inch guns When we once again returned to Task Force 77 we knew it would be for just a few days The big day arrived and with happy hearts we were detached for the last time from Task Force 77 and left Korea in the background We soon arrived with Task Force 77. It was old stuff to us now and as time was growing near for us to go back home we became impatient. We got a few days rest from the monotonous 77 duty when we es- corted the Big Mo while she bom- barded the Korean coast. Later, we went into Wonsan and watched her fire her 16 inch guns from the har bor entrar1ce Finally we watched the Missouri sail back to port and we headed back to Task Force 77 ' 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 ' 7 7 ,,,,,,.,. ,,,,,. ,.,,..,,, JJ., .,,, ,,,,,,r.,.,.,.-..g.. ef' .....:a:.,....-f.1..1:.:ea-- 2:11, --------M - 1-- M------- ' -Q----f--g-'- 4--'----- - L : : 'L A 'L :'A L'7 7'7 T'A iT uc'J '3'-w 'T'M 'm,'Ahh'A

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t i Y l i l Most of us got to go to rest camp at the Aso Kanko Hotel during our stay in Sasebo. Aso Kanko was far in the mountains of Kyushu on the brink of an old volcano, a part of which is still active. The hotel was the best. We could do nothing for ourselves. A little japanese maid was always there to light our cigarette, shine our shoes, pour our beer or give us a second portion of steak. They seemed very disappointed unless we ordered and ate everything on the menu and, needless to say, we needed little encouragement. Some of us went to look over the volcano while some slept in late in the soft beds with bright clean sheets. Others took pictures, hiked, shot pheasant, read, or just plain loafed. It was Wonderful, and most of us will remember Aso Kanko as one of the high spots of our cruise to the orient. '

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After a three day stop in Yokosuka for voyage repa1rs we started home. The flrst stop was Mrdway rsland for refueling. We stretched our sea legs and laughed at the antrcs of the gooney brrds, but didn't think too much of the small rsland itself. Our stay at Midway was only a matter of a few hours, and we were on our way once again-next stop Hawau.