October 7, 1945

7- _____ Sunday - mass this morning on focastle at 1300 recreation party went over to sub bace. I was on it, came back at 1600.
_____ This afternoon at 1700 a Jap destroyer pulled in with a load of soldiers which we think came from China or some island. Movies on main deck aft _ 15 bags of mail came on this afternoon.
________

Photo shows Danny Kaye entertaining the troops at Sasebo. Unfortunately, he didn't show up until November and Joe was gone by then.

October 6, 1945

6- _____ This morning we had inspection in undress Blues _ also lower deck & living compartment inspection _ after inspection a recreation party left the ship to go to Sub bace for recreation came back at 1600. Movies on main deck aft.
_____________

Sub bace = Sasebo was the main Japanese submarine base. Photo shows beached Japanese submarine there, October 1945.

October 5, 1945

5- _____ today was payday _ after pay day they changed our American money for Japanese money so were sure to get liberty soon. At least I hope we do. Ship took on stores today from only AK here. Also here is one tanker & a few LST also a few other small landing craft.
_____ Lower deck inspection this afternoon at 1300
___________

AK = general cargo ship. Photo is of the AK-200, USS Pembina.

October 4, 1945

4th _____ left Sacabo Harbor at 800 for Nagasaki Bay _ got there at 11.00 & tied up to buoys for & aft. USS Wichata is also here. Came down here for the big trial of a sailor from the Wichata who killed a man & raped a girl. Dont expect to stay here long _ Our captain is on the Court martial board here. thats why were here. No sight seeing time here.
215 days out of states

_________________

Photo: USS Wichita from above. She was a heavy cruiser.

October 3, 1945

Oct3- _____ Still not much doing today _ liberty party left ship this after noon. Heard were leaving tomorrow morning.
__________

Photo shows a pile of Japanese planes at Sasebo, waiting to be destroyed.

October 2, 1945

Oct2 _____ still not much doing except it rained most of the day. There was no sight seeing tore because of rain.
________

Photo shows a Japanese signalman on the carrier Junyo in Sasebo harbor, October 1945.

October 1, 1945

Oct.
1st _____ there wasnt much to do today _ another group went on liberty in Sacabo City but theres still nothing to do except go sight seeing. We change quarters _ I have [...] of (2nd deck)
__________

Ed. Note: The word at [...] looks like "charge" -- as in, Joe had charge of the 2nd deck. Or he might have just been saying he was changing his quarters to the 2nd deck.

Pictured is a plan of the Cleveland class cruisers, with what I think is the second deck highlighted.