Westward to the Orient – USS Rochester CA-124, 1954

Outline of video
Opening title
Quartermasters in action: sextant, semaphore and signal light
Holiday routine: Crew relaxes on deck during a Sunday afternoon in transit to Hawaii
Several pans of leeward Oahu (including Diamond Head) as the Rochester approaches Pearl Harbor.
Entering the channel, the ship passes Hospital Point with Ford Island ahead, and then a carrier moored at Ford Island is passed upon entering the inner harbor.
Sailors pick pineapples during drive around Oahu
Sailors on a rocky shore of windward Oahu managed to get thoroughly soaked, but get even wetter with a dip in a tide pool
The drive continued, with a stop at a windward beach (Kahana Bay)
Windward Oahu is viewed from the Pali lookout, with the sailors getting a bit too close to the precipice.
Driving through Waikiki
Rochester enters Manila Bay and approaches dock
Competition among taxis that refused to accept the notion that sailors preferred to walk
Visit to ruins of old Spanish fort
Downtown Manila
When Rochester crossed the equator south of Singapore, the ship’s pollywogs were initiated into the Sacred Order of the Deep. As more pollywogs become shellbacks, they joined in to initiate those following them
Singapore: Views of the city and sailors handling snakes
The approach to Thailand encountered shallow water, so a small Thai naval vessel transported the liberty party up the river to Bangkok
Sailors visiting Bangkok temples. City streets adjacent to the temple grounds were slums. Sailors climb wall to get bananas
Up Saigon River to the city. Rochester nudged her bow into the the river bank above the city in order to turn around. Short, overexposed scene of downtown Saigon
Rochester entered the fringe of a typhoon during transit toward Japan
As Rochester entered the harbor of Yokosuka, a message is received by signal light from a ship near shore. Rochester approaches a pier next to a carrier, shared by another cruiser and is greeted by dancers
Scenes of downtown Yokosuka with cherry blossoms in bloom
Riding a bike during a visit to the Great Buddha of Kamakura
Tokyo and Palace grounds
Operation Flag Hoist, a joint US/British operation, was an amphibious landing on Iwo Jima. The dominant feature ashore is Mount Suribachi.
Ships come alongside, first a destroyer (USS Stormes DD-780) to receive mail, then the oiler to refuel. Rochester’s helicopter approached to land on deck during the second operation
The harbor at Sasebo, Japan
From Sasebo, some of the crew traveled by train to the ancient city of Kyoto, where they visited old temples and shrines. Two were challenged to strike a sacred gong in a locked tower, which they did after scaling the wall. The Japanese were remarkably tolerant of such obnoxious behavior
Hong Kong harbor. View of the city and surroundings from Victoria Peak
An afternoon at Hong Kong’s Tiger Balm Gardens
Homeward bound in company with the USS Los Angeles, which comes alongside off Oahu. The two vessels continue into Pearl Harbor
Hula dancers perform for the crews of the two cruisers, with the Los Angeles moored outboard of the Rochester
Brief shot of a blow hole on Oahu
Continuing homeward, Rochester enters Long Beach harbor and approaches a dock where friends and families wait to welcome the crew home
Closing title