Lanier (APA 125) - Naval Cruise Book

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i if ' - , 4 - . ' f I T I s f Y ii ! ! I I ?a I l! 1 ,, 3 I Biinuau Ens. Buckmaster, Lt. McGregor, Lt. fig-'I Thornton Part of LANIER Beach Party, Nagasaki discuss limited value of exercise with E . C ff' APA 138 ff' 1 ' ns 0 m' 0 'Cer Mitsubishi plant feastgendj Marines waiting word ' Japanese woman, five feet in height, Nagasaki taxi struggles with huge blanket roll 54

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OCCUPATION OF NAGASAKI Contlnued pile of torn, twisted steel Along this road a constant stream of native Japanese pass all day long. The storybook characters never failed to entertain home-grown U.S. provin cials Among scenes observed by the group tough looking old man a little woman who weighed something under 100 pounds carry ing a blanket roll twice her size, a woman with a baby in a basket dangling on one end of a pole slung across her shoulders, and women with very frightened looks One Jap anese girl did venture a smile, but it was difficult to ascertain whether she was flirt ing or lust trying to be friendly Long files of people passed by, some look ing as if they were taking to the hills others as if they were lust coming back One ricksha was among the curlos, with a little boy pull ing the cart on which rode another little boy They looked as if nobody owned them They did not seem to mmd however It is impossible for an un travelled Amer :can to imagine the costumes visible on Naga saki streets Soldiers with complete uniforms Some men were naked to the waist, wearmg very baggy breeches Some women were at tired in what generously might be called slacks , but which were obviously a salvaged pair of men s trousers Some men wore box like uniform caps, white shirts, shorts, home made cloth leggings with buttons and canvas shoes containing a separate compartment for the big toe One man the group metwas typed as a student because of his horn rimmed glasses, a tie and a black briefcase Another was ascribed as a Shinto priest because of his black robe which nearly swept the ground, and his dignified strut Ens Tuttle watchmg Jap tram fbelow rlghtj Nagasaki bound , . Were: an OX pulling Q Co,-1 led by G Wizenedl were not uncommon, nor were their salutes. - . y 7 . . . . . ll UI ' ' ' l . O I O I O-

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OCCUPATION OF NAGASAKI-Continued The many horses which inhabited Naga- saki streets looked much better cared for and certainly more well-fed than the people leading them. It was difficult to see iust what kept the civilian population of the city alive. Many of the Japanese, particularly the women, carried gauze or white handerchiefs over their mouths. Later it was discovered this was an Oriental custom that demanded mouth-covering in the presence of any strangers. Carts which the Japanese used to carry their belongings were peculiar. They had two large wheels in back, about the size of an automobile wheel, with two smaller ones forward. These odd vehicles were pulled by horse, oxen, men or women. The bizarre as- sortment of belongings they carried-bashed- in pots and pans, sewing machines, wicker baskets, blankets, shovels-attested to their dire need. The homes of many were literally their carts. These were the people observed along the atomicbomb' highway-and these were the people whose arrogance had been replaced by fear and humility. Near the upper reaches of the atomic bomb site a very modern, earthquake-proof, bomb-proof hospital was left standing, but inside every living person was said to have been killed, probably by suffocation. Be- hind this hospital are two tall smoke stacks, adjacent to each other. One is literally bent about l5 degrees, two thirds of the way up, and leans to almost touch the one still up- right. Ruined factory area, Inner Harbor, Nagasaki i