Posted by
Curtal Friar on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:00:35 PM
The following is from a letter written by a servicemember to his wife back in the fifties. Thanks to willibeaux, a fellow TH poster, for sharing this story. I hope you enjoy it as I did.
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We left Parks about 8:00 AM PST (Feb. 6 1954) and arrived at Fort Mason, San Francisco about 11:00 AM PST. We boarded USNS General ET Collins and sailed at 2:00 PM PST. The ship cruised around the harbor for about 1/2 hour in order to give us one last look at Frisco. (as we sailed past Alcatraz, some wise a** called out “ if you don’t want to go to Korea, jump overboard and start swimming.”) We then sailed under the famed Golden Gate Bridge and set sail for Yokohama. The water was calm at first, but then the ship started a gradual pitch. I didn’t feel like eating much supper, so I went below and went to bed early. Sunday morning I got up early and was feeling s little giddy. I went up on deck, got some air and felt a little better. About 11:00 AM I went down into the compartment (compartment had 165 men in it) which was pretty crowded and had my first taste of sea sickness. I retired into the sack. Along about dinner time, the compartment sergeant tapped me and assigned me to the PX detail. I was fortunate enough mot to get KP the whole voyage.
Well hon on the way up to the PX, I had another spell of seasickness and had to "head for the rail". Well after that I ate some chow and felt a little better. Monday morning I woke up, ate a little chow and "headed for the rail". I went to bed early because the wind got strong and the ship started to roll and pitch both. Tuesday morning, I woke up, went on the PX detail and felt all right. After hauling up the boxes for the PX, the sailor I was working for asked me if I could type and I told him yes. We got a typewriter and and I had to type up a stock card for every item sold in the PX. We were sitting on the stern end of the ship and that end was really bouncing around. I got sick and had to head for the latrine. I ate some crackers afterwards and felt a little better. I got halfway through the stock cards before evening and finally called it a day.
Wed. morning I got up ate chow and "headed for the rail". Then I went back to the sailor’s quarters (I was working in his quarters) and finished typing. Well sweetie the weather got real rough and the "old tub" really got to bouncing up and down and back and forth. Between the both of them I headed for the latrine. Afterwards I ate a little and felt better. I finished the typing and went out on deck. Well baby the water got so rough because we hit the edge of a gale, and I mean to tell you that there tub was a really rocking and rolling.
I had to go below because I was really tired. I woke up Thursday morning and felt all right. I ate breakfast and didn’t get sick for a change. The weather was calmer and nothing exciting happened so far. Come Friday morning, the ocean got fairly calm and the ship was really riding smooth. I got my appetite back and really started to enjoy eating again. I didn’t get sea sick for the rest of the voyage, having finally acquired my "sea legs" and "sea stomach".
Saturday morning (13th) we hit another rough wind and the ship was really rolling. When we went to chow, the trays were sliding in the mess hall and it was funny to see your chow sliding back and forth in front of you. I the chow hall we stood up and ate for all meals because of the small size of the troop mess hall. It was funny when you started to eat the other guy’s chow. (also humorous when the guy next to you upchucked in his tray). Funny no?
Well honey, on Sunday 14th the day was pretty nice and the ship was riding smooth. I was enjoying life until I caught a cold. It made me feel miserable. Today the 14th we crossed the (International Date Line (180th Meridian) and skipped a whole day. Monday the 15th to be exact. We jumped from Sunday to Tuesday. On Tuesday I got up and went to sick call and got some medicine for my cold. I was feeling pretty punk and the weather got rough and it started to rain. The trays were again sliding in the mess hall. Wednesday (17th) the day proved to be nice and the weather and sea were calm.
I felt pretty bad though because of my cold was giving me some trouble. Thursday (18th) was same as Wednesday only my cold started to get better. It seemed as though the weather was going to remain nice, but Friday it got pretty rough. The wind was howling and the "tub" was a rocking and a pitching. I was used to it and it didn’t bother me any. My cold was getting better and I was feeling good.
Honey on the whole voyage, I kept thinking of you and our baby and the wonderful times we were going to have when I got home. It made me feel good to think about it. On Saturday (20th) the weather was nice and we practiced debarkation from the ship. Meanwhile, my cold was getting better, and we were close to Yokohama and everything was rosy considering the circumstances.
Sunday (21th) Ed and I went to church because it was the last Sunday on board ship. It was a cloudy day but the weather wasn’t too bad. Later on during the day, as we got closer to Japan, the sea got choppy and the wind blew hard. It got kind of cold too. Right now I’m listening to Eddie Fisher and he is singing The Lord’s Prayer over the Armed Forces Radio Network. It sure is pretty honey.
On the 22nd, Monday, we arrived in Yokohama at 3:30 PM Japan time and anchored overnite in the harbor. I wrote to you from Fuchu what I did on the 24th and 25th so I’ll just skip on up to the 25th, the day we left Fuchu Replacement Depot. I know you won’t mind too much Darling. I have so much more to tell you about.