LST (491) - Naval Cruise Book

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,. .,.. ,......,..4.-A-wg. A s THE OL DOUBLE TROUBLE We were moored starboard side to another LST at Yokohama awaiting an LST to moor our port side, As the ship came alongside, we received a hard bump, pushing us against the concrete pier and damaging qm- port bow door. Because of this damage, we could not report ready for sea, thus we were sent to Yokosuka Naval Base for repairs. Much of the ship's work and maintenance was ac- complished during the month of December. The En- gineers, under Mr. Dugan's supervision, completely overhauled both of the main engines, the deck force, under Mr. Cannon, scraped and painted the main deck and planned on painting the sides of the ship. Every- body seemed to be busy and the ship's company was con- tent and happy. When men have something to do, they keep out of trouble. The old proverb- Idle hands are the instruments of the devil, is certainly a true state- ment, and it applies equally in military or civilian life. During the closing days of the life of the Ol' 49l as a commissioned ship in the US Navy, most of the or- iginal crew had been returned to the United States for release to inactive duty. Replacements were necessary to keep the ship going. During this period, events were crowded together and moved rapidly. We received many officers and men aboard-some as passengers and OUTCTS in ship's company. It was a difficult job for our office force to keep the records straight. Yeoman Bob GHCP, who had handled our ship's office in a very ef-

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' THE IMPERIAL EMPIRE the western coast of the island of Hokkaido, arriving on November 22. The Army unit we had aboard, an av lation engineering corps, was not needed at this base, so we were ordered to Yokohama. Our trip to Otaru was probably the furthest port north We had thus far visited. The people here were taller and huskier than the japanese residing in the Tokyo Bay area and seemed much more friendly. Their city had not been bombed and the port, though small, was in good condition The people looked like hard workers most of them being fishermen, hunters Qfor skin and fursj, and miners The American Army was in command of the port as the Naval Station had been moved to Yokohama As our stay was extended over the Week-end, many of the sol diers and sailors attended church services ashore at the Army chapel. It was quiet and peaceful in this little hard We arrived in Yokohama on November 29 and off loaded our Army equipment and passengers. We were sorry to see our passengers depart as We liked them all very much. They had been aboard for a month. Lt Qgj Dugan our Engineer and Recreation Officer and Lou Anastasi and his committee formed a basketball league and prepared the tank deck for the games. There were four teams in the league. The Ship's Control Di Vision walked off with top honors in the softball league and were anxious to do the same in the basketball league 51 town, but life for the average man looked crude and

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THE IMPERIAL EMPIRE hcient manner since our departure from New Orleans, had been transferred to the States, and Yeoman Francis Sweeney was transferred to the Battleship Arkansas. Bill Foley, Yeoman 2! c, was transferred to the ship's company from LST Group 107 Staff, and he too did a splendid job. It was to Bob Griep's credit that we had a ship's newspaper. He suggested it one afternoon to the Captain and Executive Officer and they instructed him to go ahead. The personnel changes were so rapid dur- ing this period that it is impossible to relate any events concerning them here. Of the original crew only the following were aboard: Lt. james Knox, Chief Ray lNasielewski, Chief F. Chancellor, Motor Machinist's Mate Ray Novak, Radioman Marion Adams, Motor Machinist's Mate Ray Winfree, Radioman Ted Manners, Motor Machinist's Mate Bob Lee, Boatswain Mate Thomas Mackey, Quar- termaster Bill Katnik, Gunners Mate Arthur Thomp- son, Gunner's Mate Grant Lee, Gunner's Mate Jow Suey, Fireman Andrew Kolodziej, Coxwain Norbert Dehler, and Motor Machinist's Mate Ted Lainasg and most of these men were soon to be on their way home. The Ca tain and Chief Wasielewski planned a fine din- P ner for the above mentioned men. All had served to- ether from the beginning of the formation of the crew E at Solomons, Maryland. 53