Toledo (CA 133) - Naval Cruise Book

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w. V ,K Upon arrival in Yokosuka, we moored a1'ForresfaI Causeway. An off-repeated scene- Tak san yen, Jo San. Ualwlmlwt... A wet grey mist hung over the narrow chan- nel into Yokosuka on the morning of 8 No- vember as the TOLEDO, at a cautious one- third speed, slid toward the inner harbor. The band on board the light cruiser USS IWANCHESTER, the ship we were to re- lieve, struck up first c'Somebody Else Is Tak- ing My Placef, then 'gCalifornia Here l Comei' as we came alongside her at For- restal Causeway. Across the way, the HEL- ENA was mooring to Piedmont Pier. There followed a hectic day of turning over rec- ords, data, and information-then out of Fleet Activities and eastward to the states went MANCHESTER and SAINT PAUL. We had the watch. As the flagship of the division commander, Rear Admiral Hart- man, we were to stay in Japanese waters for some three months, making the naval base of Yokosuka our base of operations, while HELENA went south with Commander Seventh Fleet, Vice Admiral R. S. Berkey, for a similar tour in the Philippine area. First liberties at the yard and in the city showed us a great deal about our new 'chomef' Here were clubs for all-officers, CPO'S, petty officers, enlisted men, the RTO to Yokohama and Tokyo, 'cBlack Market Alleyf, and in the yard was a movie, a skat- ing rink, bowling alleys, a ship,s store, and various war relics. The caves, formerly un- derground headquarters for the Tokyo Air Defense Command, were open. There was much to see at Yokosuka. A midget submarine-remnant of the once mighty Japanese Imperial Fleet.

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The night hcforc wc were due in Yokosuka the weather changed from lliilllly warmth to damp cold. hut had little dampening eifect on the liberty-starved crcw of the TOLEDO. Our departure fro111 Pearl had come just when things were to start rolling and the thought of a little relaxation and a cool draught of licer invaded everyone. As the veterans of the last cruise pointed out land 1narks during our approach, the first thing learned was that the u ill Yokosuka was not pronounced. As the ship pulled into Forrestal Cause- way alongside the MANCHESTER conver- sation across the life lines went on at a great rate. The location of various clubs was a primary question, but was followed very closely by the request, WThat's the dope on this place? From this many different an- swers came forth. It was learned that the restrictions placed on the Occupation Forces were slowly being relaxed. You couldn't ride the trains free any more, but phone calls were still on reparations and the Noritake and Cloisonne products were good buys. These things were learned of course only after the ufavorite spotsw and a couple of good addresses were given. The Navy Fleet Activities boasted of four fine clubs: HEM,', uPO,', CPU and Officers and it was at these that many happy hours were passed during the next three months. There were the usual hars and snack bars with weekly entertainment of dances or stage shows. One club also had several very well-attended stag parties. Before long everyone wandered out in town to look around. The sights which greeted the eye were certainly different from what we knew whack home. The first was the number of people, every place you looked people and more people, and the kimono they wore, the wooden shoes which made the people shuffle instead of walk. To these were added the papoose effect of the Over this spot .pass the best damn sailors ln the world. Home ashore -- the Snack Bar at the EM Club The EM Club Gym was always a busy place Block Market Alley - typical ol Japanese struts