Hopewell (DD 681) - Naval Cruise Book

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to blunder in on one of these fateful gatherings. The ship became divided into two camps, the one Wandering around in a state of bewilderment as to Why the garbage was being saved, and Why polliwogs were not to go on the focsule or on the port side of the fantail, the other chuckling fiendishly at the guandary of the first. Finally the fateful day arrived, and the long line of clean-shave neophytes was sum- moned before the Royal Court for jusice tried, sentenced, and dealt with severely. At the end of this hectic day, the l-ICPEWELL set course for Singapore manned with a full com- pany of Crusty Shellbacks, duly in- itiated into the Ancient Crder of the Deep. ' Exotic Singapore proved to be in- teresting, if somewhat expensive. The courtesy of the Royal British Navy was exceeded only by their capacity for beer, and the use of Nuffield Service- men's Club added to amiable relations with I-ler Majesty's boys in blue. Other names. which will remain in our mem- ories of Singapore are the Raffles Ho- tel, the Adelphi Hotel, and Cockpit. ln sharp contrast to the pleasures of 'liberty in Singapore was humid Subic ---'

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During our stay in picturesgue For- mosan waters, we assisted in sup- port of the Tachen lsland evacuation, and spent most of the rest of our tour in the area running errands up and down the coast, from Matsu to Que- moy. Then one fine day fno one no- ticed the rain that dayl our reliefs ap- peared, and we were heading for Yokosuka, and a few days respite from the rigors of Condition lll. Never a dull moment however, and just as we were getting settled down in Yokosuka again, we headed for Okinawa for ASW operations with the Princeton and a division of British and Canadian destroyers. About this time we learned that we had been granted a diplomatic pass to visit Singapore. We also learned, to the chagrin of all polliwags aboard, that on the way we were to cross the Equator. For several days prior to that most infamous day in HOPEWELL history, l4 March l955, strange things were happening. Several times a day word would be passed for All shellbacks lay up to the CPG quarters, and woe be unto the polliwog who happened

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Bay, our next port of call, where we stopped for an upkeep period. Sand- wiched between priority work requests and our annual Administrative lnspec- tion were excursions to Driftwood Beach, the fair city of Clongapo, and last but not least, the Club Bullpen. Before the sun and heat could fully take its toll, we were underway again, this time for Hong Kong, BCC. As we steamed into l-long Kong harbor that fine morning, we were met by the expected swarm of bum-boats, and in accordance with a custom of long standing, proceeded to turn the fire hoses on those who ventured too close. We were soon informed by the station ship however that sguirting the natives was no longer listed among the local outdoor sports, and that hereafter the police boats would take care of them. Since early in the cruise, the old-timers had been telling the boots about the wonderful bargains available, so when liberty went down, two sections swarmed ashore, to be descended upon by the local tailors, cabinet makers, cobblers, and other assorted tradesmen. Everyone left the ship with a roll of greenbacks and re- turned with a suitcase of clothes, or