Korean War Memoir by Louis Bakula

Louis BAKULA PAGE 1 A3763 SEPT.9 1950 I departed Boston Mass. with Naval Reservists from the lst Naval District. My orders were to be assigned to USS ROCHESTER CA124 in Korean waters. SEPT 13, 1950 Arrived in San Fransisco Cal. then went to Air Force Base in Fairfield Calif. No flights were available here so went to Treasure Island Naval Base for further orders. SEPT. 17, 1950 I went on liberty in San Fransisco and saw all the sights cable car Top of the Mark Chinatown etc. SEPT. 21, 1950 Received orders to go to Alameda Naval Base dor flight. Before leaving Alameda we had to go thraugh a physical. You go into a line where "SHOTS" are given Two Shanker Mechanics on each side of you and simultaneously JAB both arms boy what grins on those guys Shanker Mechanic is slang navy term for Pharmacists mates. I joined up with a Texan who also was assigned to the Rochester, also at that time there was a Photo Facsimile machine that aslo was to go on the Rochester. This MACHINE had prioriy and we were told to stay with it for the trip. We boarded a Navy Flying Boat called the "CAROLINA MAES" and off we went at night what a beautiful sight going OVER the Golden Gate Bridge. SEFT. 23, 1950 We landed in Honolulu Hawaii Naval Base. stayed overnight and next day boarded a "MATS" plane (Military Army Transport Service. It was a 4 engine job with "Bucket Seats" (Canvas cots along sides of the plane. The trip was pleasant as there were a few Navy nurses on board. The MACHINE was srill with us. We hopped and bounced over a few islands. We landed in GUAM Navy Base and spent the night there. in a Quonset hut. It was very warm so we left the door open, then in the middle of the night something quite heavy bounced across my chest it was a local Iguana the size of a large dog. Next flight took us to Okinawa and then we landed at ITAZUKI Air Force Base In Japan. There were many Air Force pilots that flew out of here for raids in Korea. I believe that Ted Williams flew his missions out of here. SEPT. 24, 1950 I forgot to mention that when we landed in Japan when the doors of the plane opened the door you could smell "THE BREATH OF THE ORIENT". It was a 100 mile trip from Itazuki to Sasebo in South Japan. On the back of the truck was the "Machine" and the two of us bouncing around on dusty rural roads in the middle of the night and driven by a civilian driver. SEPT. 25, 1950 In Sasebo Japan a military base we went aboard an LST (Landing Ship Tank) We were loaded with powder bags for the USS MISSOURI's 16 inch guna plus our 'Machine' and cargo nets full of cheer (Four Roses, Jack Daniels, Canadian Club etc". The Missouri was in Inchon waters aiding the invasion on the area. While enroute to the Missouri we ran into countless Jellyfish that looked like Mines The lookouts were sometimed confused at what they saw. Now and then a few Navy Fighter pilots would swoop down on the LST checking us out This was in the Yellow sea. SEPT. 26, 1950 Arrived in Inchon bay and discharged the ammo and "cheer"on the "BIG MO " Then I saw my ship the USS ROCHESTER going by us. We transferred to the USS EL DORADO AGCLL a Communication ship The Machine was still with us. Inchon Bay was filled with numerous Naval ships The Missouri with all her 16 inch guns trained on the land. We stayed on the ElDorado for a few days. OCT. 2, 1950 The Rochester finally came back and we boarded her including the "Machine" This was to be my home for the next 3 months. Our ship was ordered to sail north to the Wonsan North Korea area. The ship stayed in this area for a few days. OCT. 8, 1950 \ We sailed up and down the North Korean waters always with a Navy Destroyer minesweeping for us. We went as far as the Russian city of Vladivostok. The city of Wonsan North Korea was getting ready for an invasion and in the harbor were USN Minesweepers clearing the harbor. There were over 2000 mines cleared here. The Rochester's helicopter was also spotting mines. The USS PIRATE AND THE USS PLEDGE were damaged during this operation. Our ship destroyed many mines with her guns. The USS BRUSH DD745 was also damaged.