(Hagar Whetstone continued from Page 10)
Left Kwajalein and headed for Guam, think the captain had a relative there he wanted to visit.. ... naw just made that up.
Then we went to Midway, talk about a flat piece of land. Dropped off a crewman who had gotten sick. They airlifted him to the states..
Lets see messed around in the states for the rest of 53. Went to San Francisco for overhaul in drydock. We were right on the embarcadero after getting out of drydock in Oakland. Spent about a month tied up a wharf there. Right at the end of Market and California streets. San Francisco is where I developed a taste for fine food... and booze.. friend of mine (Bill Fitzgerald) and I used to go to a restaurant called the Back Yard.. wonderful food.. steaks to die for and downstairs we would, after eating, drink Green Chartreuse.. very potent drink.. on the rocks..
In '54 spring I think we returned to Japan... Folks had traveled with John to visit relatives so they see us off... biggest mistake I made was to give John my camera, thinking that I had taken all the pics I could... You know that is like the turkey who quit his job at the US Patent office because he thought that all the inventions that could be invented had been and so he thought the office would close…
Went to Inchon Korea once shortly after arriving in Japan. Stayed there for a spell and then were ordered to head to Indo China. In the fall of '54 Dien Bien Phu fell to the Viet Cong. The country was divided in half, with those up north having the option to go south. So we sailed from Haiphong to Saigon, back and forth hauling stuff. When in Haiphong we were anchored at sea. The radar weenies were assigned guard mail runs which meant flying up the Red River in the ships Bell helicopter stopping on the LST's in the river pick up mail and then returning to the 'Stone. See what I mean about not having my camera? Went almost to Hanoi before returning back down river.
This is where we reinforced the “Ugly American” title. When returning from a mail run the ‘copter pilot would get down low and head for a fishing boat and pull up just short of the boat. Thought it great fun watching the crew of the boats jumping into the water. At the time we had a term for the boats. PLOGB’s the definition of which is not politically correct. Am certain that having done this, we caused a lot of Vietnamese in the north to join the Viet Cong
Left Indo China in late October and headed for Hong Kong. Prior to going to Hong Kong we had representatives from some of the tailors shops in Hong Kong taking measurements so that when we arrived in HK the clothes that we had ordered would be ready except for a final fitting.. Dennis if you recall (became captain in the navy) I gave you my uniform when I stopped at your folks place and you pulled out an SP armband from the blouse. Think I told you how that happened. I was led astray, well not really I was a willing accomplice, by my fellow SP'er (Shakey Graham). Shakey was born in China and spoke fluent Chinese think with a Mandarin accent. . His parents had been missionaries. Made a great hit in the bars we visited and had more free booze and luckily for us the Lt. on duty at the pier chose to ignore our inebriated state when we returned to the wharf at the end of our shift.
Left HK and headed for the Philippines. Subic Bay at first then went around the bend to Manila.. We were given a wharf to moor to.. cool.. but the reason for the VIP treatment was because our CO.. happened to be Ed Spruance.. his father at the time was ambassador to the Philippines.. and you might remember Admiral Raymond Spruance from WWII fame.. Had a guided missile ship named after him.. and class..
Left the 'Stone in late November.. for separation.. went to Cavite naval base.. hoped to catch a flight home for separation.. but no such luck.. think marine captain.. took my seat . (Just tweeking my cousins son who is a marine captain)
Again took a slow boat back to the states.. some USNS General something or other..
Separated on the 6th of January.. got a ride to the outskirts of SF and hitch hiked to Minnesota..
Well that is it for this hoary saga.. some is fiction and some is fact.. hopefully it is 99% fact.. where I fudged is when my memory failed me...
Take Care Ya hear
Bob
I didn't go back to remove typos.. anyway it is time to get the mail.. and then build a martini... shaken not stirred..
