USS Diodon (SS-349) WestPac 1967
By: James R. Santos 
on Diodon - TMSN(SG) to TM3(SS)

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Return to Hong Kong, Gaddis

Here I am, Topside, in Hong Kong

Click on Thumbnail for larger Photo

We are about to depart Hong Kong in this photo.  My maneuvering watch station was the After Capstan Operator.  So, here I am.  However, I had to be on station before the diesel engines started and through departure into the stream.  That meant that when the diesel engines started and were beginning to warm up, I was enveloped with clouds of black diesel exhaust.    Ah, Diesel Boats Forever!

SKSN(SS) Gibbons has used my camera to snap my picture.  We had spent 3 days in Hong Kong.  The communists had been tossing bombs into the streets before we arrived, and after we left.  However, while we were there, not a bomb exploded.

Note the following in this photo:

• I have my SN stripes with a Torpedo over them, indicating that I am a Torpedomans Mate Striker, having gone to Torpedomans Mate  "A" School.  I am wearing the Dolphins indicating that I have Qualified in Submarines.  I am wearing a sound powered telephone.  I also had, though not in sight, a control for running the After Capstan
  

• You can see the mud tank, from where I took the photo of the burning papers in Okinawa
  

• The flag waving behind me is on a flag post attached to the Stern Light.
  

• You can see the After Torpedo Room Hatch coaming, a flat, smooth ring around the hatch for receiving a rescue bell in case we were sunk in shallow enough water for rescue.  Both the After Torpedo Room and Forward Torpedo Room hatches had these rings.
  

• Behind the Diodon is a British Royal Navy ship, rigged with lighting to detect saboteurs in the water at night.

This brings us to the end of the WestPac slides that I have.  Next, are recollections of the Crew and their names.