Rochester (CA 124) - Naval Cruise Book

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OPERATION KOREA Leading ftHe wflee'c into- lnchon 1 Turrei

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OPERATION KOREA We were leading the comeback Watch out for mines We steamed through the Yellow Sea for six days launching daily strikes against North Korea. By now we had relaxed from our early tension. The sight of jets zooming low overhead no longer fazed us. Conversational topic: the plane which had spilled into the water from one of the carriers. Remember the afternoon we passed the admiral and his staff to MOORE by breeches buoy? The PHILIPPINE SEA joined us in Buckner Bay on our return to make TF 77 more formidable. The sun was still hot. The crew slept on deck at night. Weather was unpredictable but not carrier operations. They went on and on. We replenished at sea or made one day dashes into Sasebo. On 25 August, at 1110 Admiral F. P. Sherman broke his flag on board ROCHESTER. We dicln't know it then, but his visit marked the beginning of heavy planning for The Coming Operation . And we all felt it. The messhalls disappeared one by one. They were taken over for oflice space. Seventh fleet was expanding.. The crew's lounge became the War room. You couldn't even pass it,-when the braintrusts were in session. The Warrant OiIicer's mess disappeared and into this space tumbledeZ1 bunks and 18 ensigns. The remainf ing ensigns were shelved in a corner of the Wardroom. The first lieutenant made a daily check of empty bunks. There was talk of making office space out of one of the gun turrets. The superstructure resounded with the clang of riveting and hammering. R Division had requests for remodeling until one wondered if the Pentagon was moving intoathe ROCHESTER. Andi on 22 August it just about did. The blue flag trafiicincluded Admiral Radford, Vice Admiral joy, Rear Admiral Hartman, Rear, Admiral Ewen, Rear Admiral Andrewes and many other ranking navy otlicers. We didn't, know it then but Inchon operation was being born. To plan it, we headed independently for Tokyo Where we spent 11 wonderful days of liberty while the top planners slaved away to prepare for the big push.

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Our main batteries trained out land Memories of Tokyo - The delicate job of maneuvering into the harbor next to the MCKINLEY which had to be accom- plished at high tide. The bumpy but wel- come bus rides toward the Ginza - the Emperors palace with its surrounding moat - the crowded shopping district with its many wonderful colorful silks - the many clubs and cabarets - women - We dood it! after we dropped the hook they began pounding the pile of rock called Wolmi Do and soon made it a smoking mess. It was the ROCHESTER's first offensive action against the enemy. We didn't know it then but our eight inch guns were to see plenty of cold weather and hot action in the days to come. OPERATION KO The five-inch mounts chimed in Nobody could figure out why we had to buck a typhoon to get to Sasebo upon leaving Tokyo but it all added up. There was a schedule to be met. We were lead- ing the comeback. For many it was the hrst typhoon, really heavy weather. The ship lurched and bucked under 35 knot winds and high seas which caved in the two forecastle gun tubs. We made it on time though, and after joining the TOLEDO and six cans, we headed for Inchon and Wolmi Do. There seemed to be a marked change in attitude and appearance of the ROCHESTER's complement as we steamed through outlying islands into the port itself. Toward our stern and to our port, the TOLEDO and a division of cans were cleaning up floating mines. Our own 4OMM's got busy and plowed up the water around us to make sure of our water-tight integrity. The rolling tide