Saturday, July 27, 2013

Sailing On the USS Helena, 1955

Gene was a young sailor serving on the USS Helena (CA-75) during the Korean War. Here are photos he took in February and March 1955 at ports of call in Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Hong Kong street, February 1955

Hong Kong at night, February 1955

Hong Kong at night, February 1955
Hong Kong -- Going up Peak Tram, February 1955
Hong Kong -- Alexander Building in background, February 1955
Kowloon, February 1955
Manila, Philippines, March 1955
Olongapo, Philippines, March 1955
Olongapo, Philippines, houses -- March 1955
Olongapo, Philippines, cabaret -- March 1955
Olongapo, Philippines, cabaret -- March 1955
Olongapo, Philippines, cabaret -- March 1955

2 comments:

  1. Those are just cool! I always wondered about those days of his life, I know he never really liked talking about them.

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  2. The only person I know of who heard any war stories from Gene was Gary, our Canadian friend who was a neighbor when we all lived on the lake in Mexico. Gary emailed me:

    "Gene had US Navy sponsored travel some of which proved a little dangerous beginning in the Aleutians just around the start of the Korean War. He spoke of the earlier experiences in Alaska and had many stories to which Gene turned his wonderful sense of humor. Having completed his first enlistment he re-upped to the navy who at some point assigned him to on-shore forces in Korea. This time the stories were not so humorous (with some exceptions dear only to men’s hearts of course) but displayed Gene’s (as well as the many fighting men and women over there) loyalty and personal convictions as an American. Once the fighting was done all Gene wanted was to get back home and go to work in his chosen profession, which he did and did well."

    Isn't that wonderful? You can see why Gene and Gary became friends. Two highly intelligent and articulate men.

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