Trathen (DD 530) - Naval Cruise Book

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Wmq fl-l+ElZ Many times in the days of early January, 1 1953, the duty boatswain's mate passed the word for an all hands work- ing party aboard the USS TRATI-IEN. Like the other destroyers of Squadron 28, the TRATHEN was making the count- less last minute preparations for the start of what was to be a memorable Round-the-World'Pcruise. Out of the con- fusion of the last few days finally came order and on ,January 12th, the ship backed out of her berth atthe Convoy Escort Piers in Norfolk and headed south toward Panama on the first leg of the journey to the Far East. 'l'he crew was soon called upon to get its sea legs since the Atlantic was acting up as the TRATHEN. made her way to Panama. However, men and ship took the rough seas in stride and soon the jungle-clad hills of the Panama Canal entrance loomed up in the distance. During the transit of the Canal crew members vied for ringside seats from which to get a birds-eye view of the contrastbetween fascinating jungle landscape and intricate man-made locks that characterize the Panama Canal. That night, with the Canal behind us, the TRATHEN was berthed in the Rodman Naval Base. The liberty section took the opportunity to enjoy Panama City night life while men with the duty were 1 busy fueling the ship and readying for the next phase of the voyage . , n After almost 3, OOO miles steaming, the TRATHEN reached a port familiar to her and many of her crew members -- San Diego. It was in Dago in August, 1951, that the TRATHEN was recommissioned after the outbreak of the Korean crisis. Now she was once again in the city enroute to play her part in that war. Two nights there afforded the opportunity for a final Stateside liberty , but soon the TRATHEN pointed her bow west and started the Pacific crossing. The Pacific must have known it was being invaded by men of the Atlantic Fleet. Almost immediately after de- parting San' Diego, the TRATHEN encountered heavy seas reminiscent of the Atalntic and with every wave that swept across the fantail or sprayed the chow line the question was asked, Is this the so-called glassy Pacific or are we back in the Atlantic? - But the navigator was cleared of this suspicion when the view of Diamond Head and the sandy beaches of' Hawaii made it certain that we had reached our next port of call--Pearl Harbor. Here sailors on libertyvisited famous Wa- kiki Beach, the city of Honolulu, or roamed the giant Naval Base. In the moderate climate of this mid-Pacific is- land paradise we enjoyed a temporary respite from the cold weather and angry seas that we had just left behind. But it could only be temporary since the Trathen had to push on to Midway Island, the final fuel and provisioning stop on the long joLu'ney to the Far East. A gooney bird and geedunk. liberty was all that time allowed there. Again the much travelled Trembling T was underway bound for Japan and the main job of our cruise -- to join the United Nations naval effort against the Communist enemy in Korea.

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