The "pitch and roll patrol" was boring and a continual source of trouble for the OOD's and Combat. When the seas settled down we were met by hordes of fishing junks, without lights, that were a plague to navigation but an impressive sight to see. These, plus an occasional freighter made up the only traffic in the straits.

After a second stop in Kaohsiung we proceeded toward the highlight of our southern cruise, Hong Kong. Everyone was pretty anxious as we set the "Repel Boarder" bill entering the channel, and it proved a good idea for we were met by merchants of all descriptions, riding everything from motor launches to rafts. The OOD had it rough as he selected those that would be permitted to come aboard to see the Executive officer. The fire hoses saw use many times as the clamor threatened to get out of hand and they kept the more industrious from forcing their way aboard.

The final result was that about 120 merchants and their assistants were allowed to do business on board, and for three days the DeHaven looked like a Chinese market place. The bargains were plentiful so practically everyone loaded up on clothing, furniture or luggage. Salesmen also offered jewelry, linen, leather goods, silks, and just about any other thing anyone could want, so it wasn't necessary to go ashore to go broke.

The stories of liberty were mixed. The city of Victoria was truly a mixture of east and west, wealth and poverty. Again there were those that took sightseeing trips visiting the Tiger Balm Palace, the fishing village of Aberdeen, and the Lido Club on Repulse Bay. It was the fastest three days on record but it made little difference as few of us had any money left anyway.

We left the colony with the Kearsarge, joined the Swenson, and started north. The seas on our Straits Patrol were rough but didn't compare with those we met as we tried to match the carrier's 25 knot speed. Few of us slept as we bucked head-on into the monstrous seas and tremendous winds. Finally nature won out when the waves carried away part of the windshield on the bridge and flooded combat. We had to slow down, consequently the carrier left us and we proceeded at a reduced speed to Sasebo.

This was the first time in Sasebo for all the new men but it didn't take them long to find their way around. It was the typical port city, well organized to take full advantage of the entertainment shortage resulting from the high number of UN servicemen located there. During our five day stay LCDR JOHN H. GANO relieved LCDR ALLAN S. KOCH as Executive Officer.

Our next duties took us back to Task Force 77 and several days with the carriers before we proceeded to Wonsan. We joined the Unit consisting of the destroyer escort, Ulvert M. Moore, an LST, several American and South Korean minesweepers and a Fleet Tug. Our duties were patrolling and interdiction fire plus providing gun fire support for minesweeping and answering call fire missions on targets of opportunity.

The gunners had their chance this time for seldom did an hour pass that we didn't have some target. At night we worked over convoys and during the day shot up troop concentrations and other opportune targets.

Several times we took a few shots at batteries that were dropping an occasional round on the friendly islands in the harbor. Combat also had their chance for we never were more than a few miles from land and they had a big part in keeping us out of the minefields.

We were just complimenting ourselves on the relatively quiet time we were having under the mouths of so many Commie guns when we ran smack into the middle of the Chinese New Year celebration. It opened with a furious barrage on Yodo and Jwangtodo late in the afternoon and we immediately answered the "Incoming Mail" call, taking the batteries under fire. It took almost an hour before all the guns had been silenced and during that period we received several rounds nearby. For their evening's work both the DeHaven and Moore were designated combat units.

Our job didn't end when the shooting stopped, however; for that night the wardroom was used for surgery on four ROK marines who received wounds in the day's shelling. All were successfully treated by a ROK marine doctor and the doctor from the Moore before we returned them to the island. For our services we received a letter from the island commander expressing his compliments and thanks.

The next day we were all set and started a silencing treatment well into the afternoon that kept the Commies from even getting to their guns. The results was a peaceful night but we were startled the next morning when we heard the Navy had listed us among the ships that would bombard Wonsan the following Monday.

Our relief, the Chauncey from Newport, R. I., showed up on time and we thankfully shoved off for Sasebo. This time we had our Administrative Inspection. Considering how long we had been in WESPAC we looked very well, but as usual they found a few things wrong so we only got a good.

We rejoined Task Force 77 again on February 26th for our last For Eastern Tour. The screening was routine by now so we settled down for a dull three weeks. 'A week later we lucked out and escorted the cruiser, Rochester, on a gun strike along the East Coast. She plastered the supply routes while we picked at a couple of billet areas.

Next we had a chance to perform the some duties for the "Mighty Mo" on a strike into Wonsan. While she used her 16 inch we popped away at the already familiar area. The duty lasted about three days, then we returned to the Task Force. It is guessed that the gunners were sad our tour would soon be ended, for on the last few AA shoots they tried to do all the shooting. Actually we felt pretty proud when the OTC had to delay the exercise while the target tow plane streamed new banners to replace the ones we were shooting down.

The end was unspectacular on the usual dull day, and after we had been officially relieved we headed for Sasebo for our lost stop before heading home. It was a quick one and soon we were proceeding out the channel. All the ammo had been stowed below, the torpedoes and depth charges disarmed, and we were steaming lighted. The regular steaming watch was set and we really had a chance to digest all that had happened in the six months that had just passed.

Soon the cool weather and cloudy skies changed to warm sunny days. The Captain called away a sun bathing period each day and slowly we lost the chalk whiteness and suntans took its place. We missed Midway, celebrated two Palm Sundays, spent a terrific two days in Pearl, made a speed run, and finally on the morning of 9 April made the ammunition anchorage at Seal Beach. Several hours later the throngs poured across the gangway, found who they sought and we knew we were finally home.

Many of us have since gone our individual ways, to other ships, shore duty, or home to civilian life, but we'll all remember the DeHaven. We'll remember how we started with a green crew and made old salts of them, There is joy of knowing that we did our job in holding the Communist Aggression, and we did it well, Few of us are anxious to make another trip, but if necessary we will, always remembering the "Raven D", and its proud record.