At this point I think it is important to explain the significance of the invasion of Inchon.Our forces had been pushed out of Seoul, southward by the North Korean army, they were virtually trapped in what had come to be known as the Pusan perimeter on the southeast tip of South Korea.General McArthur planned the invasion of Inchon to land our forces behind the North Korean troops and trap them between our landing troops and the forces at Pusan and at the same time to cut their supply lines from the north.
I never knew until I started researching for this web site the total scope of this operation.In addition to all the naval ships named so far,there was a large number of support ships outside the harbour forming a blockade to prevent any interference from the enemy.
French Navy ParticipationThe operation was a tremendous success and we re-took the South Korean capital of Seoul.
Our ship remained in the deeper part of the Inchon harbor for 15 days after the landing.
On 9/30/1950 we received word that one of the destroyers in our squadron, the USS Mansfield, had struck a mine while on patrol duty off the Korean coast. 5 members of her crew were listed as missing and 48 were wounded.After leading our "sitting ducks" into Inchon and coming out without a single casualty and then hitting a mine brought home to all of us that this was real and we were not indestructable.This is a picture of her in drydock at Sasebo,Japan. You could drive a city bus through the hole in her keel. I learned today (3/22/2001 )from a QM2 that was aboard the Mansfield at the time of this incident that the official casualty report listed, no dead,no missing and 28 wounded
We departed Inchon and returned to Yokosuka ,Japan for provisions and then we were ordered to patrol the straits between China and Formosa ( now Taiwan),as at this time Red China was threatning to invade Formosa. 
These were some harrowing days and nights, we had several submarine contacts that put us at battle stations for hours at a time, fortunately they were false echoes.
During this patrol duty,we would steam at one heading for a period of time then make approximately a 45 degree shift in course for another period of time then do a 180 degree turn and repeat the the course back. At each 180 degree turn because the seas were so high,the officer of the deck would have to time the turn to ride the crest of the waves while making the turn. One night whien I was on watch in the pilot house on the bridge, the O.D.let the Junior O.D. make the turn and he mis-judged the crest and we were caught in the trough of the seas and took a 38 degree roll.I thought we were going to capsize.we took water down the smokestacks.The cooks in the galley were preparing pies for the next days meals and had them all laid out ready to go into the ovens and they all went onto the deck.
While in port in Kelung,I was assigned to shore patrol duty.I was paired up with a Chinese army Lieutenant and we patroled a 4 block area.In Japan when I drew shore patrol, I wore a white cartridge belt and leggings and carried a billy club. In Formosa I carried a Colt 45 sidearm and billy club.We had to go into every bar and at each bar the proprietor insisted that we have a cup of green tea.By the time I got off duty I was so sick of tea I swore I would never touch another drop.
After this tour we were sent to Hong Kong For a little rest and relaxation.Hong Kong in 1950 was something to see for a 20 year old sailor. As we steamed into the harbor, hundreds of Chinese junks converged on our ship wanting to peddle their wares. It was such a dangerous situation that we broke out the high-pressure fire hose's to force them to keep a safe distance.
Our officers selected some of the safest looking junks to act as liberty boats to take us ashore. As I was getting into one of them, a Chinese crew hand asked I if I wanted anyone killed, the going rate was $5.00 American dollars.
My friends and I stayed overnight at the World Hotel for about $ 8.00.The C.O. allowed certain Chinese merchants to come aboard to sell their wares .I bought a tailor made wool suit for $30.00 and a custom made pair of sheepskin lined calf high leather boots for $8.00.It was an experience that I will always remember.
