Kenneth Whiting (AV 14) - Naval Cruise Book

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OUR LAST DAY

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Imperial Palace IMPERIAL MOAT — Enclosing the Impeiial Palace grounds in Tokyo. The inner walls of Ihe moat are low and in many cases landscaped. Before Ihe Meiii resloration (1868) ihey were sheer faces of forbidding rock rising perpendicularly to a height of almost 100 feel. LANDING AT KURIHAMA — Reenacted every year, Com- modore Perry, escorted by two bodyguards and preceded by two boys bearing the letter from President Fillmore to the Japanese Empercr. march to the meeting pla ce in Kurihama en 14 July 1855. 69

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THE LONG TRIP HOME For ten dragging days and ten endless nights we kept our bow into the rising sun. Finally we again entered Pearl Harbor and visited Honolulu for three days. This time though, it was a little different somehow . . . still lovely and real nice, mind you . . . but a bit different. Anxiety was electric. The men wanted to get home. Captain Stevens gave the word and we were off. Six more weary days were in store. But nothing mattered now. Next stop was San Diego! The night of October 31st few slept. And on the advent of the dawn the men were lining the life-lines, searching for the first glimpse of Point Loma. Finally, through the overcast it was sighted! We stand down the harbor at a snail ' s pace and then a thrilling spectacle emerges from around the bend. There they were . . . our people, a band, beautiful majorettes, scores of romp- ing children and above all, the brilliant colors of the gay dresses of our wives and sweethearts. . . We blink and grin kinda silly. And on this warm morning we all darn near froze to death. After a Well Done by COMAIRPAC, the gangways were lowered and wives, children, friends, and sweethearts scrambled aboard. . .