Toledo (CA 133) - Naval Cruise Book

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Nagasaki's atomic bomb landed here. The maiority of pearl farm workers are women. One of Mr. Mikimofo's world famous pearl farms. Nagasaki, the first port of the southern Japan cruise, was very different in another Way from anyplace we had been or would be. There was only a small military govern- ment team here, no large Army or Air Force units, and we all learned that Occupation Clubs werenit necessary for a good liberty. A couple of dances were organized and were a lot of fun. There was also a sulciyaki party for some. The site of the first atom bomb was visited and the lack of any large buildings for quite a distance was the best indication. The other spot of interest was the home of Madame Butterfly and a visit seemed appropriate al- though the TOLEDO didn't have a Lt. Pinkerton. The next port was Sasebo, the other Navy base in ,lap an. It was a small base of only a hundred people, so again it was scout to town for liberty. The point tobe remembered about Fukuoka was the long and confusing boat ride in the fog and rain to the landing, that is, unless you happened to be in the 5th division and came back at 2030 before it started to rain. At Kure We were the guests of the British Common- wealth Occupation Forces, the Australians in particular. - 7 The famed Torii, Mia Jima. f'v.1e.Qeg.wss, A - 5.1 S: x ' -'lt - i

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lf's all in the day's work-fueling al' sea. A pair of shoes gels a thorough check. Oops' Such hosts we were not again to see until Hong Kong. Nlany drinking bouts were in order and in none reported to date did any of us come out better than a very poor second. From Kure trips were taken to Hiroshima where the full power of an atomic blast was seen, to Mia Jima, one of the most famous japanese religious shrines, and to Eta Jima, the former Naval Academy. During the stay in Japanese waters the shipboard routine went on its normal way. Morning scrub down was held, bright work polished, surfaces chipped, wire brushed, chromated and painted. Equipment had casualties and was repaired and the never- to-be-forgotten weekly training schedule came into being. Every conceivable sort of drill from how to wash cups for the mess cooks to close order drill for the landing force was done over and again. The bugler, who has always been an unpopular man in any service, sank to an even lower level with his four drill calls each day. Shipboard athletics provided an interest and almost all divisions organized a team for play when the hard-pressed Fleet Activi- ties gym in Yokosuka was available. Utiliz- ing noon hours and liberty time, a double elimination tournament was run off with the 4th division winning the Hrst round and the H1777 the second. In the championship game the fire controlmen came out on top.