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editMy dad, Joseph (Joe) Donald Zollinhofer (Zolly) is 95 (dob Mar 28,1915) and was a Chief Machinist Mate as part of VT-40 (Torpedo Squadron), one component of AG-40(Air Group). I'm with dad now reviewing some of his photos and written stories. One interesting question that has arisen: Dad has some photos and memorabilia from when he was part of the occupation force on the Japanese main island. He says he remembers his ship being in Tokyo Bay, and he has some photos he took in Nagasaki when on shore leave. He is telling me right this minute that he remembers taking a brown bag lunch from the ship and eating it at the foot of the emperor's castle and watching the fish in the moat. So, I'm wondering if the notes from the ship from 1945 are not complete. Dad can't remember the sequence of Tokyo and Nagasaki -which came first, but I'm pretty sure he was in both places. This is because he can remember details about interactions with the people and some descriptions of some physical structures - which would not likely be Nagasaki, since his couple of photos show everything flattened there. In either case, the presence of the USS Suwannee in Japan's ports is not noted in this article. Can anyone provide some additional confirmation of the ship's ports of call after the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945? Dad and Mom both confirm that dad was back in the US by Christmas of 1945 and he never returned to Asia.
My Uncle, John L. Higdon, Jr. (dob 1925 - )served on the Suwannee and told me of going to Nagasaki also. They were the first to enter the city after it was bombed. He drove a jeep and was told to were long sleeves and button the top button on his shirt, as a precaution. However he never mentioned going to Tokyo.
Photo Caption
editDeleted "Inspection at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard" from photo caption. The caption on the photo itself is dated 25 Oct 44, the day of the kamikaze hit. The photo belongs to PSNY, but the ship is not at PSNY.RZid 05:39, 24 April 2012 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by RZid (talk • contribs)