Trafford Publishing: U.S.S. Hoquiam PF-5: Road To Hungnam

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U.S.S. Hoquiam PF-5: Road To Hungnam

by Mark Douglas

347 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #01-0478; ISBN 1-55369-076-1; US$29.50, C$34.00, EUR24.00, £17.00

Road to Hungnam continues the story started in resurrected. The Hoquiam visits Iwon, Songjin, Hungnam, Wonsen and Ohougjin, ending at Hungnam for the evacuation.

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About the Book

This is the second book of four in the USS HOQUIAM PF-5 series: RESURRECTION, ROAD TO HUNGNAM, HOCKY MARU, and KNOCK OFF SHIP'S WORK. It is the continuing story of the USS HOQUIAM PF-5 as seen through the eyes of a young sailor, Lee Harrison Stewart. ROAD TO HUNGNAM continues the story started in RESURRECTED.
As the story opens, the Hoquiam is in the midst of shakedown and training. Abruptly, she is ordered to Wonsan, North Korea, to participate in the Fifth Marines Amphibious Landing. The Commanding Officer is told his ship will carry out any additional tasks for two weeks as may be ordered by Commander, Task Force 90. Anchored in Wonsan Harbor, the Captain, Lieutenant Commander Maxwell J. Brown, receives new orders to report to Commander, Task Force 96, for an indeterminate length of time.
The crew is not prepared for the very cold weather that drops out of Siberia within days, as the Hoquiam acts as Harbor Entrance Control Vessel for troop and supply landings at Iwon, Songjin, Hungnam, and Chongjin, North Korea. Shortly after completing those missions, she returns to Hungnam and acts as Harbor Entrance Control Vessel once again.
Meanwhile, Lee Stewart receives a letter from Betty Echols, a former girl friend, who believes he is still at Naval Station Tongue Point. She writes a sad tale of woe. At her high school graduation party, her date, Ralph Rogers, got her drunk, had his way, and now she was pregnant. Ralph immediately joined the Air Force and left town. She begs Lee to marry her and father this child.
A letter from the D.A. in Astoria, Oregon, arrives a short time later, charging Lee Stewart with felony copulation with a minor, Betty Echols, whom he had dated, impregnating her, and serving her intoxicants. Lt. Marston steals both letters and places them in Stewart Personnel Jacket for safekeeping until they return to Yokosuka.
The Hoquiam moors in front of ComFltActs Hungnam as their communications guard while they prepare to evacuate Hungnam. The ship takes on marines and children, and moves out to act as swept mine channel point at the Sea Buoy, Buoy #1. As such, the Hoquiam is literally the last vessel to depart the Hungnam area, right behind the Underwater Demolition Team support ship.
The Hoquiam anchors in Pusan long enough to disembark the marines and Korean children, then sails home to Yokosuka, arriving December 31st, seventy-three days after she was ordered to Wonsan for two weeks. Lee learns his Japanese girl friend, Kiki Hatsumoto, had to leave Yokosuka.

About the Author

Born in Pasadena, California. This Navy brat traveled around the US following his father. He joined the Navy in 1949 and went to Boot Camp at US Naval Training Center San Diego. Then, he served in the USS Chilton APA-38, Naval Station Tongue Point, USS Hoquiam PF-5, USS Perkins DDR-877, Naval Station Midway Island, USS Rockbridge APA-228, USS Navarro APA-215, USS Northamton CLC-1, Naval Communication Stations San Francisco and Guam, Defense Communications Agency Pacific, Naval Radio Station (T) Annapolis, and USS Northampton CC-1. Senior Chief Radioman Douglas retired from the Navy in 1968. In civilian life, he worked in several small computer companies where he wrote, taught, and troubleshot his way through a variety of data communications equipment for fifteen years. He operated a video production company for five years and was very active in community affairs in Santa Clara County and Cambrian area, San Jose, California. Mark and his wife Nora-Gaye now own and manage Orange Blossom RV Resort LLC, in Apopka, Florida.

Sample Excerpt

... Lt. Marston and Commander Lee, ROKN, joined the assembled boarding party on the Quarterdeck. Lt. Marston explained their mission.
"These may be civilians heading to South Korea, fleeing for their lives with all their possessions. They may be Chinese or North Korean troops disguised as refugees. Another thing, the enemy might be holding innocent civilians as hostage."
The boarding party listened intently as Lt. Marston spoke. This would be the first time, but not the last time, they boarded sampans or ocean-going junks and searched for war material and contraband.
"Commander Lee will question them. You will begin searching only on Commander Lee's order. Rules of engagement. Load now. Keep your weapons safe. Don't fire unless they begin hostile actions.
It would be hostile if they attempted to take you on, take your weapon, or fire upon you. With the Hoquiam sitting just a few yards away covering you, it is unlikely they will make unfriendly movements.
If you see maps or papers, bring them to Commander Lee so he can interpret them."
Lt. Marson looked at them carefully, nodded to Commander Lee, and spoke to Lt.(jg) Forsythe.
"Mr. Forsythe, Commander Lee is here as an advisior only. You are in command. Take charge."
The three officers exchanged salutes and Lt. Marston disappeared into the ship.
Lt. (jg) Forsythe frowned, wondering if there was anything he should say as a pep talk. After considering how scared he was, he didn't think the others would appreciate his words of wisdom. He cleared his throat. "You heard the man. Load your weapons now. Do not chamber a round yet."
There were slithering noises and clicks as clips were removed from bandoleers and inserted into machine guns and carbines. The two officers removed a clip from their belted pouches and inserted them into the butts of their .45 pistols, thumb safed them, and returned the pistols to their holsters and buttoned the flaps.
"Everyone ready?"
He glanced at each man for a nod of agreement. Then he went down the line, trailed by the ROK Commander, personally checking each weapon for safe.
"Let's go board the whaleboat."...

Commander Lee questioned the owner of the sampan, who seemed eager to cooperate with the Commander, for a few moments, as the whaleboat rode up and down alongside the larger sampan. Everyone had their fingers in the trigger guard and thumbs on safeties. Then Commander Lee turned to Lt.(jg) Forsythe:
"You and your men can go aboard now. They say they left their fishing village up north, heading to South Korea for safety. But look carefully."
Lt.(jg) Forsythe nodded and looked to his men. Then he clambered onto the sampan with the help of its owner. He motioned for the rest of the party to board one by one. The Gunner's Mate, followed by James, went up one side of the bumboat, as Parks and the Boastwain's Mate went up the other. At every opening, a gun barrel went in first, followed by a worried eye.
"This boat stinks, you know that, Mr. Forsythe?" muttered the Boastswain's Mate.
The sampan had a covered hold. James and the Boastwain's Mate pulled the canvas from it, as Parks and the gunner's Mate covered them. Lt.(jg) Forsythe held a Fragmentation Grenade in one hand and his .45 in the other hand.
The Gunner's mate, looking around, saw what Lt.(jg) Forsythe was doing and grinned, but didn't say anything. Suddenly, a heavy stench reached them as the covered hatch was fully opened. They looked down into a mass of faces looking up at them, just jammed into that little space. Parks looked up and beckoned the Commander. He and Lt.(jg) Forsythe immediately came to the hatch, gasping at the stench.
"Commander, I ain't about to drop in there. First, there isn't enough room for another body, and second, I'd never get the smell out of my clothes," complained Parks.
The Commander bristled a bit, then settled back. The odor was powerful. He spoke fiercely with the boat's owner, obviously questioning him about the people packed in so tightly. He looked to Lt.(jg) Forsythe.
"He's making a small fortune in North Korean money, running families to a village below Wonsan. I did not tell him his money is no good in South Korea. He is too dumb to understand. Anyway, they are all villagers who hope to make landfall tomorrow."
Lt.(jg) Forsythe studied the Commander's face thoughtfully and smiled.
"Okay men, let's reboard the whaleboat by the numbers. We still don't know if they are friendly, or might fire on us after we leave. Let's go." ...

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