KOREA 50th ANNIVERSARY
U.S.S. JUNEAU (CLAA-119)
KOREAN ACTIVITIES
In May 1950, the JUNEAU proceeded to WestPac where she remained for a year. While with WestPac the JUNEAU was the first U. S. naval vessel to fire a shot in the Korean incident. In July 1950 she established the Formosa Straits Patrol. From December 1950 to May 1951, after returning to the United States, the JUNEAU was part of Task Force 77, operating in Korean waters. The JUNEAU underwent overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 1 November 1951 to 25 February 1952. Her 40mm and 20mm armament were replaced with (14) 2- gun mounts of 3".50 rapid fire anti-aircraft guns. On 27 March 1952 the JUNEAU departed Long Beach, CA for her second Korean deployment with the 7th fleet, arriving Yokosuka 19 April 1952. She relieved the U. S. S. IOWA (BB-61) on the bombline, providing gunfire support for the I Republic of Korea Corps as a unit of TASK FORCE 77. For the remainder of her deployment she had strikes on various N. Korean and Chinese units. Firing on bunkers, supply areas, roads, railroads, mortar positions and troop concentrations, as well as providing anti-aircraft defense, plane guard, and air control duties for Task Force 77 carriers. JUNEAU departed Yokosuka 20 October 1952 and arrived Long Beach, CA 5 November 1952. On 23 March 1953 JUNEAU departed Long Beach to rejoin the Atlantic Fleet.
Abstracted from History Reproduced for USS Juneau by LARRY W. JEWELL
On 22 April she became flagship for Rear Admiral J. M. Higgins, Commander CruDiv 5, and reported for duty in Yokosuka, Japan, 1 June where she began surveillance patrols in the Tsushima Straits. When the Korean War broke out on 25 June, Juneau was one of the few ships immediately available to Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy, Commander of Naval Forces, Far East. She patrolled south of the 38th parallel to prevent enemy landings, conducted the first shore bombardments 29 June at Bokuko Ko, destroyed enemy shore installations, engaged in the first naval action 2 July when she sank three enemy torpedo boats near Chumonchin Chan, and supported raiding parties along the coast. On 18 July Juneau's force, which included British units, laid down a deadly barrage on enemy troop concentrations near Yongdok which slowed down the North Korean advance southward.
The ship departed Sasebo Harbor 28 July and made a sweep through Formosa Straits before reporting for duty with the 7th Fleet at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 2 August. She became flagship of the Formosa Patrol Force 4 August, remaining until 29 October when she joined the Fast Carrier Task Force operating off the east coast of Korea. The ship conducted daily plane guard for the attack carriers, and returned to Long Beach, Calif., 1 May 1951 for overhaul and a period of operations off the Pacific coast and in Hawaii. She returned to Yokosuka 19 April 1952 and conducted strikes along the Korean coast in coordination with carrier planes until returning to Long Beach 5 November.
Juneau received five battle stars
for
Korean War service.
BATTLE
STREAMERS EARNED
U.S.S. JUNEAU (CLAA-119)
MARINE DETACHMENT
KOREAN ACTIVITIES
from
Diary OF
Captain C. F. Hamlin
U. S. Marine Corps
Arrived at Sasebo, Japan on 27 Jun 50 and sailed there from same date.
Anchored at Koje To, Korea on 28 Jun 50 and sailed there from on same date.
Anchored at Haamuchu, Korea on 28 Jun 50 and sailed there from on same date.
29 Jun 50 Bombarded the Southern Korean Shores and Military Installations. Two (2) unidentified vessels sunk, Rendezvoused with Southern Korean Naval Vessels end escorted them to safer location. 29 Jun 50 Bombarded Korean Shore Installations and Military Installations between 37th and 38th Parallel. Destroyed Northern Korean Artillery.
30 Jun 50 Patrolled Korean Shores.
l Jul 50 Patrolled Korean Shores.
2 Jul 50 Bombarded Korean Shore Installations and Sank 5 enemy ships.
3 Jul 50 Bombarded Northern Korean Naval Base destroyed 4 large ship and 3 small ships.
4 Jul 50 Bombarded Northern Korean Railroads and bridges between 37th and 38th Parallel.
5 Jul 50 Bombarded Korean Shores between 37th and 38th Parallel.
5 Jul 50 Sailed USS JUNEAU CLAA 119 Embarked for Southern Korean Coast to Sasebo, Japan.
8 Jul 50 Sailed USS JUNEAU CL 119 Embarked for Sasebo, Japan to Pusan, Korea.
9 Jul 50 anchored at Pusan, Korea.
10 Jul 50 Bombarded Northern Korean Shores; Escorted LST with troops and reinforcements.
11 JUI 50 Bomdarded Sorcho and Yangyang, Korea.
12 Jul 50 Escorted Demolition Team ashore; mission accomplished and returned to ship.
13 Jul 50 Bombarded Coastal Highway north of NangYang Ni, Korea; Bombarded the city of Ulchin, Korea; Bombarded Oil Storage Tanks Teijo Ko, Korea; Bombarded Railroad Yards at Song Jong Ni, Korea; Bombarded Naval Base, Mukhojin Ni, Korea.
15 Jul 50 Bombarded North Korean Observation Post and Coastal Artillery Installations.
16 Jul 50 Bombarded Bridges; high-ways and railroads; Sailed USS JUNEAU CL 119 Embarked from North Korean Shores to Pusan, Korea.
17 Jul 50 Sailed USS JUNEAU CL 119 Embarked for Pusan, Korea to North Korean Shores.
18 Jul 50 Rendezvoused with Attack Force; Patrolled Red Beach during operation.
19 Jul 50 shelled enemy forces, and bombarded Korean Coast.
20 Jul 50 Harassed enemy area in support of ground forces.
2l Jul 50 Bombarded the city of Yongdok, Korea.
22 Jul 30 Harassed enemy area in support of ground forces.
23 Jul 50 Released from Attack Force, Sailed USS JUNEAU CL 119. Embarked from North Korean Shores to Sasebo, Japan arrived 24 Jul 50.
28 Jul 50 Sailed USS JUNEAU CLAA 119 Embark from Sasebo, Japan to Formosa Straits
30, Jul 50 Rendezvoused with units of Seventh Fleet,
2 Aug 50 Released from Patrol; Sailed JUNEAU CLAA 119 Embarked from Formosa Straits to Buckner Bay, Okinawa,
4 Aug 50 Sailed USS JUNEAU CL 119 Embarked from Buckner Bay, Okinawa to Keelung, Formosa.
Arrived at Keelung, Formosa on 6Aug50 and sailed there from on 11 Aug 50.
Arrived at Formosa Straits on same date and sailed there from 13 Aug 50.
Arrived at Keelung, Formosa on same date and sailed there from on 5 Sep 50.
Arrived at Formosa Straits on same date and sailed there from 9 Sep 50 arrived Keelung, Formosa same date.
Sailed there from on 18 Sep 50 and arrived at Formosa Straits on same date.
Sailed there from on 21 Sep 50 and arrived at Keelung, Formosa on same date.
Disembarked from USS JUNEAU CLAA 119 on 4 0ct 50.
Maintained by Paul J Smith CSM USA Retired
If you have NEW addresses or comments,
email me at pjsmith119@ussjuneau.net