This not about me really, I just want to write about a different world in 1952. We didn't even have remotes for our Televisions.
This past October after finishing a USMC helicopter reunion in Las Vegas my wife and I flew to San Diego to board a cruise ship heading down Mexico way for a week. I might add the port of San Diego holds a number of memories for me departing on ships. I looked to where USS Midway is docked and my old mind jumped back to June, 1952, for that day it was not the Midway, but the USNS General Megis. She had been recently been removed from mouth balls. If anyone wants me to continue with this old Marines sea story let me know.
I suppose troop wise there must have been around 3000 or so. I know we had a Navy Draft aboard, because we offloaded them at Yokosuka, Japan.
We formed up at the Santa Fe Station. We were dressed in our Khaki uniforms already wrinkled from our train ride from El Toro. Besides our field Transport Packs we had our weapons. The Camp Pendelton Draft had gone aboard the day before. Once the troops seen us marching down Broadway an unbelievable howl went up from the troops on deck, which I bet could be heard all the way to Mexico.
Once aboard, I just followed the guy in front of me. Finally ended up in a rather dark cargo hold. I thought to myself this looks like something out of a WW 11 war movie. Let me tell you something about my bunk. It was a metal frame with a piece of canvas and two chains. I don't remember how many there were in my stack of bunks, maybe 12 or so. I was lucky as I had the third bunk from the deck. It seemed like there was a chow line going by my bunk most of the time. The guys use to like to set on my bunk. The next time I'll tell you about being underway and a fair size storm off Midway Island.
I suppose troop wise there must have been around 3000 or so. I know we had a Navy Draft aboard, because we offloaded them at Yokosuka, Japan.
We formed up at the Santa Fe Station. We were dressed in our Khaki uniforms already wrinkled from our train ride from El Toro. Besides our field Transport Packs we had our weapons. The Camp Pendelton Draft had gone aboard the day before. Once the troops seen us marching down Broadway an unbelievable howl went up from the troops on deck, which I bet could be heard all the way to Mexico.
Once aboard, I just followed the guy in front of me. Finally ended up in a rather dark cargo hold. I thought to myself this looks like something out of a WW 11 war movie. Let me tell you something about my bunk. It was a metal frame with a piece of canvas and two chains. I don't remember how many there were in my stack of bunks, maybe 12 or so. I was lucky as I had the third bunk from the deck. It seemed like there was a chow line going by my bunk most of the time. The guys use to like to set on my bunk. The next time I'll tell you about being underway and a fair size storm off Midway Island.
S/F Tipath
I want to thank you for did not recieve a lot thank yous for the people of this country. I was fouryears old in 1952 my cousin was older and he fought in your war. I would stay at my Aunts house at times and a wake to his cries, "if only the dam bugles would stop". I didn't know what he was talking about and never ask because I knew better. I know today-- sixteen years later in 1968, I didn't hear bugles but I heard the unforgetable -- I hear --- And I hear---
TipPath Continue your story. I recall USNS ships carrying large numbers of troops in WWII and Korea, but have not heard of them in a long time. That thing you slept on was affectionally known as a rack. The same rack that was general equipment for all naval vessels.
I left SDiego Bay several times on many vessels or aircraft for 3 combat tours in Korea. Although Korea was well after WWII there had not been that many improvements with weapons or personal living conditions. We still had C-rations and WWII weapons. Intelligence was minimal, with many Korean ocean charts nearly ancient or non-existant.
It was the Marines and Army's time in Korea. Few recall the nearly ancient equipment and field tactics to win a war that was not remotely expected.
Sorry for the delay we have just returned from a cruise to the Southern Caribbean, no it wasn't on the USNS Meigs. Thank you for your replies, I'll get myself together and continue on tomorrow.
So here we go on a two week all expenses paid cruise to the Far East. Once in the forward cargo hold I moved right into my pipe berth. Someway I got my Field Transport Pack and M1 affixed to end of my bunk. I looked at the bunk chain next to my head and thought, "that would be a good place to attach my helmet." that would prove to be later a mistake.
Not to clear at this stage of our cruise what time we got underway. For a 20 year old sergeant who cares. I got into my pipe berth and started reading the stenciling on the pipes for a lack, I guess of anything better to do. I noticed pipes in the overhead that were stenciled with, "Hot Salt Water and Cold Salt Water." The thought slowly sank into why we had been given a bar of salt water soap when we had got our 782 gear for the cruise. I can recall thinking what is this for, and throw my bar of soap into the GI can. More from the gray Cruise Ship USNS Megis next time.
