Like other World War II veterans I gave no thought to my experiences, even though I agreed to give an oral history a few years ago. It was only after starting this blog and being in correspondence with descendants of former shipmates that I have become interested in the history of the ship and the crew. I have either lost or misplaced a history prepared at the time the ship was being decommissioned and must resort to the internet for information. Less and less can be found and it has gotten to the point that my blog is one of the sites you reach when you try to find a more complete history.
A few days ago our of the blue I remembered that our first contact with Japan was at Wakayama, and that led to other memories. We had arrived in San Francisco August 3 to load on the Blackhawk division and take part in the invasion of Japan. The atom bomb was dropped and Japan surrendered. Our plans changed from an invasion to an occupation. We left August 23 for the Philippines where we left the Blackhawk division and took on board the troops that had occupied the Philippines. We proceeded to Wakayama with other transports, and there we waited for orders. We gave out of food and shared the K or C rations with the troops. We bought rice, which was old and just a shell, and sweet potatoes which had been frost bit and were not fit to eat. Eventually, we got orders to proceed to Nagoya where we were to leave the troops. Our convoy came up on a ship that had food and somehow took possession. While we were at Wakayama or Nagoya, I don't remember which, a hurricane struck. We went out to sea and rode it out. Some destroyers were sunk, if I remember rightly. One thing I can still picture; we had taken on a Japanese pilot to lead us through the minefields at Nagoya and we watched hungrily as the captain and the pilot enjoyed bacon and eggs.
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