kwselke
Member
Back to Homer Bast Commanding Officer USS Yolo docked in Yokohama.
October 13, 1945
Saturday was a glorious day for personnel inspection at 1000. The men, dressed in blues, looked good and living compartments excellent. At quarters the Exec told the men they must report back from liberty on time and no excuses would be accepted. Holiday routine was the order of the day.
This day a working party was sent at 1300 and the Japanese rifles were ready. Each person in ship's company was given a rifle. The long awaited souvenir finally was secured. I believe the issue is dead. Yolo is fortunate. Outside of a few ships such generosity is unknown. We have done many favors for people around here and hence the reward.
I took the bike for a long ride around Yokohama and afterward, with Forrester, watched a division of transports dock and unload troops from Manila. This night a new moon hangs suspended over Yokohama. Wisps of clouds move across the sky playing hide and seek with the stars. Following the show each of the crew was treated to a couple of beers.
October 17, 1945
The morning was filled with work and correspondence. I finally got out from under it all, had lunch, jumped in the jeep and rode over to our trading friend. Prices have gone up again; he said trading prices fluctuate daily. While here we talked about his son, the kamikaze pilot. The government asked the parents' permission for the boy to join. The family could not refuse nor could the boy. After a short period of training and the last supper, they went into battle flying the old aircraft we saw at Okinawa. If for some reason the pilot failed to attack, or returned, he was killed.
This day was warm and sunny; the night is great, as well. The moon rides high over the city and the waterfront is quiet and still. The water reflects the moon and stars as they shine from on high. The sound from the projector went out following the first show. It could not be fixed and the second show was called off. Forrester returned to the Springfield. I shall certainly miss his company.
October 19, 1945
Following a good night's sleep I had breakfast and then spent most of the morning observing the activities aboard ship. In the afternoon Mr. Davis and I took a drive over the back roads of Yokohama. Entire areas of the city have been cleared for the erection of facilities for the army of occupation. After a relaxing ride we returned to Yolo in time for a dinner of rice and beef stew.
On this day one of the Navy's new APBs anchored in the outer harbor. We were aware of her arrival because the radio watch picked up several messages addressed to her. She has booms, hatches, twice as much reefer space, excellent facilities for transients and a wardroom that seats 36 to Yolo's 17 at most. Her hull and propulsion are like Yolo's, but from there on she is a new vessel with a long deck house. What a great job the builders have done!
October 29, 1945
I spent some time in the morning looking through binoculars at a Japanese destroyer that slipped through the breakwater during the night to anchor several hundred yards from Yolo. More of the smaller enemy vessels, bringing soldiers from the by passed islands, return to the bay area. They then return to some other island for more men.
Mr. Cardin has been working on a first draft of the history. I shall revise it and prepare the final draft. The two fitness reports on the supply officers were completed.
October 30, 1945
Bright and early after a light breakfast I donned my calling uniform, and armed with all the necessary personnel records, left the ship and reported to the office of the Chief of Staff of TF 33, as he had previously requested. As he was not aboard, I talked to the operations officer who asked many questions about the personnel, especially their qualifications for advancement. He saw no reason why a dispatch could not be sent indicating I had the necessary points for discharge and had a relief on board. Over the months we anticipated this and trained the officers for their next assignment on board. He felt Mr. Kinley should be CO, Mr. Bracken Exec, and the others should retain their positions. As Mr. Cardin and Doc. Barber have the necessary points, I asked that they be sent home. We talked at length about the enlisted personnel, and it is my understanding a full complement of qualified men will be kept on board. He contended it was up to those in authority to anticipate shortages and train personnel to replace men bound for home. He gave me permission to transfer 11 men to the States at the earliest opportunity.
Returning to the ship I was met by the CO of the Yokohama Naval Base who wanted to inspect the Quonset huts, a concern of the shore patrol living in one at the time. He commented, too, that we had been doing an excellent job with all of our duties and responsibilities.
Lunch over, the men selected for discharges were waiting at the gangway to say farewell. Good-byes were said and they and their gear boarded one of the boats and shoved off for the destroyer anchorage where they will settle in for the passage home. While all on board were sorry to see them leave - life goes on. I spent the remainder of the day working on the ship's history.
October 31, 1945
Unable to acquire two movies for a double feature, the one movie show was over early. The men went below to play games, write letters, read and do a little gambling. Latest news from the empire is of a tide of protests resulting in rallies, demands and demonstrations. More American troops are called on for police duty. The Japanese cannot control their people.
October 13, 1945
Saturday was a glorious day for personnel inspection at 1000. The men, dressed in blues, looked good and living compartments excellent. At quarters the Exec told the men they must report back from liberty on time and no excuses would be accepted. Holiday routine was the order of the day.
This day a working party was sent at 1300 and the Japanese rifles were ready. Each person in ship's company was given a rifle. The long awaited souvenir finally was secured. I believe the issue is dead. Yolo is fortunate. Outside of a few ships such generosity is unknown. We have done many favors for people around here and hence the reward.
I took the bike for a long ride around Yokohama and afterward, with Forrester, watched a division of transports dock and unload troops from Manila. This night a new moon hangs suspended over Yokohama. Wisps of clouds move across the sky playing hide and seek with the stars. Following the show each of the crew was treated to a couple of beers.
October 17, 1945
The morning was filled with work and correspondence. I finally got out from under it all, had lunch, jumped in the jeep and rode over to our trading friend. Prices have gone up again; he said trading prices fluctuate daily. While here we talked about his son, the kamikaze pilot. The government asked the parents' permission for the boy to join. The family could not refuse nor could the boy. After a short period of training and the last supper, they went into battle flying the old aircraft we saw at Okinawa. If for some reason the pilot failed to attack, or returned, he was killed.
This day was warm and sunny; the night is great, as well. The moon rides high over the city and the waterfront is quiet and still. The water reflects the moon and stars as they shine from on high. The sound from the projector went out following the first show. It could not be fixed and the second show was called off. Forrester returned to the Springfield. I shall certainly miss his company.
October 19, 1945
Following a good night's sleep I had breakfast and then spent most of the morning observing the activities aboard ship. In the afternoon Mr. Davis and I took a drive over the back roads of Yokohama. Entire areas of the city have been cleared for the erection of facilities for the army of occupation. After a relaxing ride we returned to Yolo in time for a dinner of rice and beef stew.
On this day one of the Navy's new APBs anchored in the outer harbor. We were aware of her arrival because the radio watch picked up several messages addressed to her. She has booms, hatches, twice as much reefer space, excellent facilities for transients and a wardroom that seats 36 to Yolo's 17 at most. Her hull and propulsion are like Yolo's, but from there on she is a new vessel with a long deck house. What a great job the builders have done!
October 29, 1945
I spent some time in the morning looking through binoculars at a Japanese destroyer that slipped through the breakwater during the night to anchor several hundred yards from Yolo. More of the smaller enemy vessels, bringing soldiers from the by passed islands, return to the bay area. They then return to some other island for more men.
Mr. Cardin has been working on a first draft of the history. I shall revise it and prepare the final draft. The two fitness reports on the supply officers were completed.
October 30, 1945
Bright and early after a light breakfast I donned my calling uniform, and armed with all the necessary personnel records, left the ship and reported to the office of the Chief of Staff of TF 33, as he had previously requested. As he was not aboard, I talked to the operations officer who asked many questions about the personnel, especially their qualifications for advancement. He saw no reason why a dispatch could not be sent indicating I had the necessary points for discharge and had a relief on board. Over the months we anticipated this and trained the officers for their next assignment on board. He felt Mr. Kinley should be CO, Mr. Bracken Exec, and the others should retain their positions. As Mr. Cardin and Doc. Barber have the necessary points, I asked that they be sent home. We talked at length about the enlisted personnel, and it is my understanding a full complement of qualified men will be kept on board. He contended it was up to those in authority to anticipate shortages and train personnel to replace men bound for home. He gave me permission to transfer 11 men to the States at the earliest opportunity.
Returning to the ship I was met by the CO of the Yokohama Naval Base who wanted to inspect the Quonset huts, a concern of the shore patrol living in one at the time. He commented, too, that we had been doing an excellent job with all of our duties and responsibilities.
Lunch over, the men selected for discharges were waiting at the gangway to say farewell. Good-byes were said and they and their gear boarded one of the boats and shoved off for the destroyer anchorage where they will settle in for the passage home. While all on board were sorry to see them leave - life goes on. I spent the remainder of the day working on the ship's history.
October 31, 1945
Unable to acquire two movies for a double feature, the one movie show was over early. The men went below to play games, write letters, read and do a little gambling. Latest news from the empire is of a tide of protests resulting in rallies, demands and demonstrations. More American troops are called on for police duty. The Japanese cannot control their people.
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