Manchester (CL 83) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 23 text:

TYPHOON KEZIA 2000, 9 Sept: Prepare for heavy weather 0950, 10 Sept: Changed course to pass south of typhoon 1045, 1 2 Sept: Operations Officer reports contact with center of Kezia Ship commences series of typhoon position reports to Fleet Weather Center, Guam Mi -■» FROM: COMMANDER SEVENTH FLEET TO: MANCHESTER YOUR EXCELLENT TRACKING OF TYPHOON KEZIA WAS OF CONSIDERABLE ASSISTANCE X WELL DONE From: Commanding Officer . . . The typhoon mentioned in this dispatch constituted a serious threat to the scheduled plans of the amphibious assault against Inchon, Korea, and accurate knowledge of its loca- tion and track was essential for the success of this joint operation . . . The Commanding Officer wishes to add his endorsement to the commendation of Commander Seventh Fleet for the important contribution which you made to the success of this undertaking. S LEWIS S. PARKS From: Commander Naval Forces, Far East To: Commanding Officer, U.S.S. MANCHESTER . . . The excellent performance of the U.S.S. MANCHESTER in tracking Kezia during the critical period of its recurvature establishes a precedent which should not be forgotten . . . S C. T JOY

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Our voyage across the Pacific found all Departments exercis- ing to sharpen their men and equipment for wartime operations. u After leaving Hawaii, ship ' s AA batteries open up on practice sleeves. Lost at sea: 3 birthdays - On September 6th the Manchester crossed the 180th meridian and all clocks were advanced 24 hours regardless of the fact that Everett Tipton, Neil Roberts and John Wurzbach hod been born on September 7th.

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While at sea we learned that our proceed orders to Okinawa had been changed, and the Man- chester headed for Sasebo Ko on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Sasebo was the jumping-off point for ships participating in the invasion of Inchon, and we were to be one of those ships. Chaplain Albrecht delivers his last sermon at sea before being relieved by Chaplain Koskv. We entered Sasebo harbor at 0700 on September 14th and left abruptly 1 1 hours later to arrive in time for Inchon with Task Force 77.