Rochester (CA 124) - Naval Cruise Book

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OPERATION -- KOREA Most of u 6,8 cmche A 'cal-W n . a Reddy fp r QDYUH U8

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For some of us it was the first sniff of gun-powder, action against more than a mock enemy. For others it was a repeat performance, somewhat milder than World War II, perhaps, but just as nerve- wracking and strenuous But all of us will remember the eight month period in USS ROCHESTER while she plowed up and down, in and out and finally clear of Korean waters. Guns over Wolmi-do Merrily we roared along ROCHESTER had the somewhat doubtful distinction of participating in everynaval phase of the Korean campaign. She didn't miss an hour of it while she was part of the UN fleet. The big cruiser tasted the sweet fruits of victory and success through the Inchon landings in September 1,950 and mouthed the bitter pills of retreat through Wonsan, Hungnam and again Inchon during the dark days of 'December and January 50-51. . We wasted little time swinging into action after President Truman ordered units of the Seventh Fleet to defend Formosa. By July third, six days after hostilities broke out across the 38th parallel, we had rendezvoused with British carrier TRI- UMPH and our own VALLEY FORGE to form TF 77 and conduct air strikes against the North Korean forces swarming over Seoul. 17

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. . Helicopter talces breather during TF 77 operations - Occasional dip at Okinawa . OPERATION KOREA Busy windmill pilot Young Our helicopter pilot, LTJG Young, got his first taste of what was to be standard procedure before too long on that day. He picked up his first survivors, from the VALLEY's splashed Windmill. Most of us were clutched, taut, ready for anything in the early hours of this Korean fracas. Talk in the messhalls pretty much agreed that it wouldn't take long to settle this mess. Some conservatives worried about getting back to the states by November 22, but no one seriously considered that we would be delayed.