Toledo (CA 133) - Naval Cruise Book

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The holiday spirit invades the wardroom. The ship turned to with a will to avoid being too lonesome when Christmas time rolled around. Decorations sprang up all over the ship, from the wardroom to the mess halls and living compartments. It wasn't quite a white Christmas, but the crisp, cold air lent a real holiday atmosphere to the season. There was carol-singing on the fantail on Christmas Eve, and Lt. R. W. Kurz, play- ing Santa Claus for the third straight year aboard TOLEDO, handed out presents to over 200 men. The traditional turkey dinner was served on the 25th. Parties at all the local clubs rounded out the festivities. Church services were held Christmas Eve, and again on Christmas morning. Many men were able to squeeze their calls to the US. into the tight schedule at the exchanges in Yokohama and Tokyo, and most of the con- nections were good. Traveling to these cities was by no means limited to those making phone calls--every Army and Air Force ac- tivity had parties of some kind, and local clubs throughout the area made the season a continuous round of fun. Wfe wanted to be home, but this being impossible, we had a grand time where we were. TOLEDO men were hosts to fifty Japa- nese orphan children on Christmas Day. The tikes, from Yokosuka orphanges, were

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S M 0 . Q ss fx- A .r X Q X? v 3 X -ei. sf ,. W .N,. W lie it . as Q, 3, 7 Qi Q at Q, ,V N. Q 6. we Q i3E1,::l 5zfm 353119 Christmas display al Fleef Aclivilies, Yokosuka. Canals af Osaka, the Venice of 'lhe Orient. The holiday .season foand the Tokyo area decked out in traditional American fashion, from the PX's with their decorations and gift displays to the Christmas parade in Tokyo with a genuine Santa Claus. The overseas telephone exchange was jammed with stateside calls, while aboard TOLEDO, the traditional turkey dinner with all the ufixin's,' was prepared. Guests of the ship were fifty Japanese orphans from a home in Yokosuka-dinner and a cartoon movie, and did they love itf New Yeargs was fol- lowed closely by relief of Captain Arison by Captain Stout, whose first trip with his new command was to Osaka and Kobe in Janu- ary. After fine liberties there and at nearby Kyoto, ancient capital of Japan, the ship re- turned to Yokosuka in time for the visit of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. We were nearing the halfway point already-next stop Guam and the Philippines. In EBVIY Jan'-IBFY. CGPT- Al'i50l'1 WHS relieved The Joinl Chiefs of Staff: Gen. Omar Bradley, Gen. J. Lawton Collins bY C-BPT. Sfouf. and Adm. Forrest Sherman visit The TOLEDO.

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treated to dinner and a movie, each child guided by two bluejackets. The language barrier was forgotten in the genuine fun of this event. One of the biggest events of the holiday season, as fas as Tokyo was concerned, was the colorful and well-executed Christmas Parade, which many TOLEDO oflicers and men were able to witness. Floats from many service activities and units, lavishly dec- orated in the manner of the 'Tournament of Roses or ulfiose Festivalf' portrayed the Christmas story and many family aspects of the gay season. Featured in the parade were several Santas, all apparently duly author- ized representatives of Saint Nick himself, many Japanese girls, and a few Army wives, present to assist Santa in his air operations from an Air Force fighter plane. The Tokyo children, and grownups, too, loved the dis- play, and we observed on every hand the way that our own customs of Christmas were being copied and enjoyed by the Japanese. Aboard the TOLEDO, Captain Arison, in a very impressive ceremony on the main deck, presented scholarships for a yearis study to Japanese school children of the Yokosuka area considered deserving of them. The money for these scholarships had been contributed by men of the ship during the preceding weeks. Needless to say, the gratitude of those receiving the awards was very evident. All hands felt that a positive step toward greater understanding and friendship with the Japanese people had been made by the ship. New Year's saw the end of the spiral of celebrations that marked the holidays. uOpen Housesv at the Officers, CPO and PO, and EM Clubs were big successes. The new year of 1950 having been ofiicially welcomed aboard, all hands looked forward to the third cruise from Yokosuka, this one to Osaka, Kobe and a chance to visit famed Kyoto. After barely enough cruising time to sound General Quarters, followed by Air