The USS PUGET SOUND in Hong Kong and THE CHINA MIRAGE

This is not the first time I've reposted this photo, but this is the first time I've been able to do it with the following information. This photo is the jacket art for best-selling author James Bradley's new book The China Mirage. Today my father had the honor of meeting Mr. Bradley at a speaking engagement and having his copy of the book signed. It's one of those days I'll always remember my dad's smile. As we left the event I said to my dad, "That was very cool!" My dad responded with, "Yes, that was very very cool." I don't think I've ever heard my dad use "cool" before. I was so thrilled to have given him this moment. Everyone was so nice to him. I'll be smiling about this for a long time.

The talk Mr. Bradley gave about the book was fascinating. He connected so many of the dots that never made sense about the history we have been taught about the US and China. I think dad and I will be fighting over who gets to read the book first.
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This is a reposting of an image and information originally posted November 22, 2010. You can click on the link to go back and read some of the comments from people who remember the carrier.

My reason for reposting this is because of information that has been provided to me about what finally became of the USS Puget Sound. You can read it at the end of this post as an update. Thank you Gavin Cheng for contacting me!
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Here's something a little different. This is from my father's collection of photos taken when he was in Hong Kong following the end of World War II.

Click on image to see it larger.

This is the USS Puget Sound(CVE 113) at anchor in Hong Kong harbor, December 1945.

USS Puget Sound (CVE-113)

Builder: Todd Pacific Shipyards
Laid down: 12 May 1944
Launched: 20 September 1944
Commissioned: 18 June 1945
Decommissioned: 18 October 1946
Reclassified: Helicopter Carrier, CVHE-113 on 12 June 1955, Cargo Ship and Aircraft Ferry, AKV-13
Struck: 1 June 1960
Fate: Sold 10 January 1962, and scrapped in Hong Kong 1962

General Characteristics
Class and type: Commencement Bay-class escort carrier
Displacement: 10,900 long tons (11,100 t), 24,100 long tons (24,500 t) full load
Length: 557 ft (170 m)
Beam: 75 ft (23 m)
Draft: 32 ft (9.8 m)
Propulsion: 2-shaft Allis-Chambers geared turbines, 16,000 shp
Speed: 19 knots (22 mph; 35 km/h)
Complement: 1,066
Armament: 2 × 5 in (130 mm) guns (2×1), 36 × 40 mm AA guns
Aircraft carried: 34

Service Record
Part of: US Pacific Fleet (1945-1946), Pacific Reserve Fleet (1946-1960)
Operations: Operation Magic Carpet

USS Puget Sound (CVE–113) was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier of the United States Navy.

She was laid down on 12 May 1944 at Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Tacoma, Washington; launched on 20 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Bert A. Teats of Sheridan, Oreg.; and commissioned on 18 June 1945 at Tacoma, Captain Charles F. Coe in command.

Service History
After trials and fitting out in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Puget Sound steamed south on 6 July 1945 for shakedown out of San Diego, Calif., where she embarked Marine Air Group 6. She departed San Diego on 8 September for brief training in the Hawaiian Islands before proceeding to support the occupation of Japan.

Puget Sound entered Tokyo Bay on 14 October 1945. Her aircraft joined in the show of strength and conducted antimine patrols in support of the landings of the 10th Army at Matsuyama and Nagoya. Thence tactical training took her to the Philippines, Hong Kong, and the Marianas. Loading surplus aircraft in Apra Harbor, Guam, she put to sea on 6 January 1946 en route to Pearl Harbor, where she offloaded the surplus aircraft. At San Diego on 23 January, Marine Air Group 6 was detached and Puget Sound prepared to serve as a "Magic Carpet" home for Pacific war veterans.

From February-May 1946, Puget Sound made two "Magic Carpet" runs between San Diego and Pearl Harbor and one between Alameda, California and Okinawa, transporting 1,200 troops and surplus aircraft.

She steamed north on 24 May 1946 to prepare for inactivation, entering Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 1 June. Decommissioning there on 18 October, she entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Tacoma. Her hull classification and number were changed to CVHE–113, effective 12 June 1955, and then to AKV–13, cargo ship and aircraft ferry. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1960, she was sold for scrap on 10 January 1962 to Nicholai Joffee Corp. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

Click on image to see it larger.
Formation photo of change of command on 11 February 1946 for the CVE 113 USS Puget Sound. Photo provided by John Kruppstadt in memory of his father, Robert L. Kruppstadt, Signalman 3rd Class on this ship.

As to the boat in the foreground, that is a Chinese Junk:

A junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) and were used as sea-going vessels as early as the 2nd century AD. They evolved in the later dynasties, and were used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages. They were found, and in lesser numbers are still found, throughout South-East Asia and India, but primarily in China, perhaps most famously in Hong Kong. Found more broadly today is a growing number of modern recreational junk-rigged sailboats. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

To read more about the history of the Chinese Junk click here.

UPDATE:  from Gavin Cheng

I found out about this ship interviewing my Uncle, who took delivery of the USS Puget Sound and USS Cyprus in San Diego in the 60's in order to take them back (strangely enough) to Hong Kong, where our family business included salvage and processing. Absolutely every part of the ship was made use of, the steel was used to form rebars which were used in the rebuilding and expansion of Hong Kong.

My Uncle, and engineering major at UC Berkley, was tasked with figuring out how to convert the aircraft launchers into an aluminum extrusion presses after his father noticed the similarities in design.

The family company, Chiap Hua, was involved in all manner of industry pre and post war. As a company philosophy they limited all military supply production to defensive and community based product such as helmets, water canteens etc.

Despite this, the founding brothers received word that the Japanese command planned to incarcerate them due to their having "aided the British", resulting in a flight by foot from Hong Kong all the way back to Chiu Chau in China where they stayed until the end of the war.

As the war was wrapping up, they returned to Hong Kong, re-instated the factories, and joined efforts to rebuild the city. At that time the Hong Kong harbour was unusable for commerce due to the massive number of bombed and sunken ships. Seeing an opportunity, my grandfather and grand uncles were able to secure a contract with the government to clear the harbour. They were paid by the ship, and the government provided free storage for the wrecks.

Under maritime law, the salvage belonged to them. As the company completed the harbour clearing, Hong Kong was able to be opened as a shipping port again, but there was a steel shortage. Steel was previously supplied by Japan, which was in desolation. Chiap Hua began converting the steel in the ships to rebars, crucial to the rebuilding of Hong Kong. My Uncle recalls trucks lined up with fists of cash buying the rebars as soon as they rolled out of the factory.

The interesting cycle is that after being driven out by the Japanese occupation, they were able to not only clear the harbour for commerce, but used the materials from the ships to rebuild the city.

The image of the USS Puget Sound was taken at almost the same time this was taking place, so it is interesting that in the fullness of time it found its way back to Hong Kong.

CATEGORIES: Picnics

While so much of this country is in subzero temperatures, we have picnic weather. And actually, I'm sad to even say that. So far winter has mostly missed us and that's not a good thing. A few rain storms have made me feel a little bit better about my well, but I know that the drought has been here for years and will probably remain for many more.

But hey, it's nice outside each day. Picnic weather!



Picnics is actually a category in one of my books, Tattered and Lost: Cakes, Picnics, and Watermelon. The idea behind the category is the sharing of food on special and not so special occasions. This photo, recently purchased for 25 cents, is not in the book.
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Available at Amazon 
Tattered and Lost: The Quiet Art of Reading

CATEGORIES: Cutting the cake

Cutting cakes has been a category I've been fond of for years. The usual shot is of a young bride and groom cutting their wedding cake. I rarely buy those because they all start to look like the "pose for grandma" shots. But anniversary cakes, which is what I imagine this to be, hold my interest because of the age of the couples. And even if this is actually a wedding shot, the story is far more interesting than young love.


Click on image to see it larger.

Cake cutting is actually a category in one of my books, Tattered and Lost: Cakes, Picnics, and Watermelon. The idea behind the category is the sharing of food on special and not so special occasions. This photo, recently purchased for 25 cents, is not in the book.
_________________

Available at Amazon 
Tattered and Lost: The Quiet Art of Reading

CATEGORIES: The over the shoulder shot in the kitchen

The next few days will be category shots, categories I have decided to collect no matter how bad the shots.

Today we have the woman in a kitchen looking over her shoulder at the photographer category which I purchased for 25 cents. Not an easy category to find, but the shots are out there. I tell you there's a gold mine waiting to be found!


Click on image to see it larger.

Lest you think I am not serious about this being a category, take a look at this older post.
_________________

Available at Amazon 
Tattered and Lost: The Quiet Art of Reading

The SADDEST LION

This is actually a shot I took over 30 years ago. I didn't have any memory of this slide, it was a complete surprise inside a box processed by Fotomat. I can't be positive, but I believe this was probably taken at the Los Angeles Zoo. Hopefully it doesn't look like this anymore, but when I was growing up this was a pretty standard enclosure for animals. As a child I never even noticed the cruel surroundings. But somewhere along the line zoos began to bother me and I stopped going.


Click on image to see it larger.

My heart breaks when I look at this animal and I have to wonder did it ever know freedom beyond its cement walls.
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Click here to visit the Tattered and Lost page at Amazon 

to find the perfect gifts for those hard to buy for friends.

Volume 6 will be for sale soon!

The OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT IN THE KITCHEN category

I'll admit I'm obsessed with collecting snapshots. I love them. I love that they make me laugh. And I love when I discover a "category" within which to group some shots.

I like to think of categories as an obsession of their own. I've read about people who only collect photos of dogs or maybe shots which show the photographers thumb intruding into the frame. It's because of this that I create categories. I like to think of some poor soul out there only looking for photos of "women in kitchens looking over their shoulders." Their collection will be small, but I'm guessing they'll show it with pride, though no family member will understand and when they pull out the album to show it to friends eyes will roll.

So in the future, when you see a photo like the ones below consider yourself lucky that you found a shot for this obscure category. Don't hold your breath on their being an academic tome released anytime soon.


Click on image to see it larger.

This shot was originally published on November 13th.


Click on image to see it larger.

This shot was originally published on July 30th. As you can see I'm building an impressive collection of this category. I might die before I get ten of them, but it won't be for not trying. I vow I will never subject visitors to a sit down viewing of them in an album.


Click on image to see it larger.

I do have to say I think there might be a sub-category going on here, but only for people in the US who are, let's say...older. I'm thinking I might have stumbled upon a photo of a Charlie Weaver in drag impersonator in the first shot. Maybe it's just me remembering Charlie in the lower left corner of Hollywood Squares, which was a daily fix of absurdity whenever I was home sick from school.

This is my submission for Sepia Saturday. While others present logical posts about family history, I give you strangers cooking. Makes sense to me.

SURPRISE...it's a category

When you have one photo of a woman standing in a kitchen looking over her shoulder it's a snapshot. When you've got two...IT'S A CATEGORY!




Click on images to see them larger.

This second shot was originally posted on July 30, 2013. Who knew it would be the beginning of a category?

SEAPLANES take flight

In honor of Sepia Saturdays 200th post anniversary I am reposting this from April 14, 2012. From what I've been able to figure out I first posted on Sepia Saturday in 2010. I have not been a consistent regular, and when I'm away from it I do miss it. 

So thank you to Alan Burnett and Kat Mortensen for creating this meeting place. May it go on and evolve for years to come as a place where folks from around the world gather for show and tell.

As to a bio of myself...let's just say I'm a book designer who lives in Northern California with a love of old photos. I, along with the images I collect, am tattered and lost.

All of the images below were taken by my father who maintains all copyrights.
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A plethora of flight images for this week's Sepia Saturday.

In the late 1940s and during the Korean War my father flew seaplanes as a Naval aviator.

These first shots in black and white were taken in San Diego of a PBM utilizing JATO packs for take off. You can see the JATO rockets on the side of the plane. There were two on each side and a pilot could activate one on each side or all four at once. JATO stands for jet-fuel assisted take off. Click here to read about JATO.

The Martin PBM Mariner was a patrol bomber flying boat of World War II and the early Cold War period. It was designed to complement the Consolidated PBY Catalina in service. A total of 1,366 were built, with the first example flying on 18 February 1939 and the type entering service in September 1940. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

Click on any image to see it larger.














You can see the JATO packs in this shot.



To see a shot of a PBM in for service click here.

The second group of shots are of P5M’s in Iwokuni, Japan. I have no idea who any of the people are.

Click on any image to see it larger.

The Martin P5M Marlin (P-5 Marlin after 1962), built by the Glenn L. Martin Company of Middle River, Maryland, was a twin-engined piston-powered flying boat entering service in 1951 and serving into late 1960s in service with the United States Navy for naval patrol. It also served in the U.S. Coast Guard and with the French Navy. 285 were produced overall. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

Click on any image to see it larger.

P5M approaching tender.


P5M refueling.


Stern of tender.

During the Second World War, both the American and the Japanese Navies built a number of seaplane tenders to supplement their aircraft carrier fleets. However, these ships often had their catapults removed, and were used as support vessels that operated seaplanes from harbours rather than in a seaway. These aircraft were generally for long range reconnaissance patrols. The tenders allowed the aircraft to be rapidly deployed to new bases because their runways did not have to be constructed, and support facilities were mobile much like supply ships for submarines or destroyers.

The German navy in World War II did not operate any seaplane tenders. However, the German air force, Luftwaffe, had 19 seaplane tenders of both large and small sizes in operation. These ships were mostly converted from existing civilian seaplane tenders, and were capable of carrying 1-3 seaplanes. The French and Italian navies also had seaplane tenders in service.

Seaplane tenders became obsolete at the end of the Second World War. A few remained in service after the war but by the late-1950s most had been scrapped or converted to other uses such as helicopter repair ships. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

To see another post about a P5M click here.

Over the years I’ve heard my father tell a lot of seaplane stories; one event during the Korean War in which only two planes took part is even mentioned in a book. The only one of his planes I was ever on was a P5M. I was a little girl and it was a huge plane. A vivid memory I'll have forever.

To see more about planes visit my other site, Tattered and Lost Ephemera, where I have been featuring vintage trading cards from the late 1950s entitled "Defenders of America".

SIAMESE CAT predicts no more days of summer

For some reason a groundhog is used to predict spring. Seriously, I'm not going to look up the history of it. It is what it is and it doesn't factor into my life. However...what about summer? Wouldn't we all like to know how much summer is left before fall arrives?

I give you the Siamese Cat in a Bucket. Your guess is as good as mine as to what it's predicting. I just know it's warm here and the wind is blowing like there's a blackhole nearby sucking everything into it.

Best FRIENDS

Click on image to see it larger.

NORMAN and CHANGO in November 1949

Which one is Norman? Are you sure?


Click on image to see it larger.

PATIENCE

I recently bought a series of vintage snapshots of nurses from long ago. Nurses dressed in uniforms that can only make today's nurses shake their heads in horror.

Click on any image to see it larger.







This is my submission to this week's Sepia Saturday theme of a sick child in bed. I give you the nurses who are there to make everything better.

FOOTBALL in the Military

No information as to where or when this vintage snapshot was taken. I call it the George H. W. Bush shot because that's who he reminds me of.



I'm lovin' the Quonset huts!

SQUARE SALLY with an Alley

If Sponge Bob Square Pants can be the host of a kids tv show why not an apartment building? What about Square Sally with an Alley?


Click on image to see it larger.

This fetching young lady with the antennae boldly sticking up from the top of her head just screams out for a theme song. Make sure it's suitable for 1955.

FISHERMEN'S GROTTO at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco

I'm guessing this vintage snapshot of Fishermen's Grotto was taken in the late 1940s to mid-50s. Someone who knows the models of the old cars might be able to narrow it down.


Click on image to see it larger.

This restaurant is still in the same location.

Fishermen's Grotto opened in 1935 as the first sit down restaurant on San Francisco's world famous Fisherman's Wharf. Founded by Mike Geraldi, an immigrant fisherman from Sicily, as an avenue to deliver his fresh catch to the local population. The restaurant features Inside and Outside Dining. While indulging on your favorite seafood dish, enjoy the breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Russian Hill and the Fishing Fleet and Harbor. Four generations of the Geraldi family have been serving only the freshest Italian-style seafood since. (SOURCE: Fishermen's Grotto)

Click on image to see it larger.

You can read the history of the place here. I haven't been there since probably the early 1970s. There was another restaurant I preferred which no longer exists. I tend to avoid Fishermen's Wharf because of the abundance of tourists.

(SOURCE: Exploring the World One Day at a Time)

The epitome of a SNAPSHOT

Click on image to see it larger.

OVER the fence

It's that time of year when you have too many squash, too many tomatoes, too many things growing in the garden for one family to enjoy. So instead of sharing gossip over the fence share vegis...or whatever this woman is tasting. My neighbor is a winery so...I'm just sayin'.


Click on image to see it larger, though I don't know why you would.

STILL ILLEGAL in most states

Click on image to see it larger.

Looking for A CURE

We've all seen it in old movies and comics where someone with a toothache ties a kerchief onto their head wrapping their jaw. Not something you see these days. Has medicine progressed or have our egos stopped us from walking around like this? I'm going with improvements to dentistry.  


Click on image to see it larger.

I haven't found anything definitive online explaining this procedure, but I'm guessing that it was done to perhaps hold ice in place over the painful tooth. Or maybe there was some sort of herbal home remedy that could help with the pain in the interim before getting to a dentist.

All of this does little to explain these two young ladies. Friends with toothaches at the same time? Is the guy a dentist they're flirting with? Is this an old vaudeville comedy routine? Sadly the back of the photo provides little more than mysterious text. The words most likely to solve this mystery are obliterated by the old album paper stock still stuck to the photo. A mystery wrapped in a kerchief.


Click on image to see it larger.

But lest you think I am straying too far from this weeks Sepia Saturday challenge about Louis Pasteur I give you the patron saint of dentistry, Pierre Fauchard. Another fascinating Frenchman to the rescue!

It is said that the 17th century French physician Pierre Fauchard started dentistry science as it is known today, and he has been named "the father of modern dentistry". Among many of his developments were the extensive use of dental prosthesis, the introduction of dental fillings as a treatment for dental caries and the statement that sugar derivative acids such as tartaric acid are responsible for dental decay. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

You just never know where Sepia Saturday and an old piece of paper might lead you.

The USS PUGET SOUND in Hong Kong and THE CHINA MIRAGE

This is not the first time I've reposted this image or the information with it, but this is the first time I've been able to say something that makes me smile this much. This photo has been used on the book jacket of best-selling author James Bradley's new book The China Mirage. Today my father had the honor of meeting Mr. Bradley and getting his book signed at a fascinating speaking engagement. I think my dad and I are going to be fighting over who gets to read the book first.

Mr. Bradley clearly connected the dots of so many things I found confusing in history about the US and China when I was growing up. The misperception we have been taught about China and where it came from made me think of the same craziness that is going on today. We're just as gullible today listening to politicians and much of the media. In some respects it feels a little hopeless, but where there's logic I think freedom follows.

Anyway, this was one of those days that I'll always remember my dad's smile. And when we left the event I said to my dad, "That was so very cool!" My dad responded with, "Yes, that was very very cool." I don't think I've ever heard my dad say "cool" before.
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This is a reposting of an image and information originally posted November 22, 2010. You can click on the link to go back and read some of the comments from people who remember the carrier.

My reason for reposting this is because of information that has been provided to me about what finally became of the USS Puget Sound. You can read it at the end of this post as an update. Thank you Gavin Cheng for contacting me!
________________

Here's something a little different. This is from my father's collection of photos taken when he was in Hong Kong following the end of World War II.

Click on image to see it larger.

This is the USS Puget Sound(CVE 113) at anchor in Hong Kong harbor, December 1945.

USS Puget Sound (CVE-113)

Builder: Todd Pacific Shipyards
Laid down: 12 May 1944
Launched: 20 September 1944
Commissioned: 18 June 1945
Decommissioned: 18 October 1946
Reclassified: Helicopter Carrier, CVHE-113 on 12 June 1955, Cargo Ship and Aircraft Ferry, AKV-13
Struck: 1 June 1960
Fate: Sold 10 January 1962, and scrapped in Hong Kong 1962

General Characteristics
Class and type: Commencement Bay-class escort carrier
Displacement: 10,900 long tons (11,100 t), 24,100 long tons (24,500 t) full load
Length: 557 ft (170 m)
Beam: 75 ft (23 m)
Draft: 32 ft (9.8 m)
Propulsion: 2-shaft Allis-Chambers geared turbines, 16,000 shp
Speed: 19 knots (22 mph; 35 km/h)
Complement: 1,066
Armament: 2 × 5 in (130 mm) guns (2×1), 36 × 40 mm AA guns
Aircraft carried: 34

Service Record
Part of: US Pacific Fleet (1945-1946), Pacific Reserve Fleet (1946-1960)
Operations: Operation Magic Carpet

USS Puget Sound (CVE–113) was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier of the United States Navy.

She was laid down on 12 May 1944 at Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Tacoma, Washington; launched on 20 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Bert A. Teats of Sheridan, Oreg.; and commissioned on 18 June 1945 at Tacoma, Captain Charles F. Coe in command.

Service History
After trials and fitting out in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Puget Sound steamed south on 6 July 1945 for shakedown out of San Diego, Calif., where she embarked Marine Air Group 6. She departed San Diego on 8 September for brief training in the Hawaiian Islands before proceeding to support the occupation of Japan.

Puget Sound entered Tokyo Bay on 14 October 1945. Her aircraft joined in the show of strength and conducted antimine patrols in support of the landings of the 10th Army at Matsuyama and Nagoya. Thence tactical training took her to the Philippines, Hong Kong, and the Marianas. Loading surplus aircraft in Apra Harbor, Guam, she put to sea on 6 January 1946 en route to Pearl Harbor, where she offloaded the surplus aircraft. At San Diego on 23 January, Marine Air Group 6 was detached and Puget Sound prepared to serve as a "Magic Carpet" home for Pacific war veterans.

From February-May 1946, Puget Sound made two "Magic Carpet" runs between San Diego and Pearl Harbor and one between Alameda, California and Okinawa, transporting 1,200 troops and surplus aircraft.

She steamed north on 24 May 1946 to prepare for inactivation, entering Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 1 June. Decommissioning there on 18 October, she entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Tacoma. Her hull classification and number were changed to CVHE–113, effective 12 June 1955, and then to AKV–13, cargo ship and aircraft ferry. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1960, she was sold for scrap on 10 January 1962 to Nicholai Joffee Corp. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

As to the boat in the foreground, that is a Chinese Junk:

A junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) and were used as sea-going vessels as early as the 2nd century AD. They evolved in the later dynasties, and were used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages. They were found, and in lesser numbers are still found, throughout South-East Asia and India, but primarily in China, perhaps most famously in Hong Kong. Found more broadly today is a growing number of modern recreational junk-rigged sailboats. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

To read more about the history of the Chinese Junk click here.

UPDATE:  from Gavin Cheng

I found out about this ship interviewing my Uncle, who took delivery of the USS Puget Sound and USS Cyprus in San Diego in the 60's in order to take them back (strangely enough) to Hong Kong, where our family business included salvage and processing. Absolutely every part of the ship was made use of, the steel was used to form rebars which were used in the rebuilding and expansion of Hong Kong.

My Uncle, and engineering major at UC Berkley, was tasked with figuring out how to convert the aircraft launchers into an aluminum extrusion presses after his father noticed the similarities in design.

The family company, Chiap Hua, was involved in all manner of industry pre and post war. As a company philosophy they limited all military supply production to defensive and community based product such as helmets, water canteens etc.

Despite this, the founding brothers received word that the Japanese command planned to incarcerate them due to their having "aided the British", resulting in a flight by foot from Hong Kong all the way back to Chiu Chau in China where they stayed until the end of the war.

As the war was wrapping up, they returned to Hong Kong, re-instated the factories, and joined efforts to rebuild the city. At that time the Hong Kong harbour was unusable for commerce due to the massive number of bombed and sunken ships. Seeing an opportunity, my grandfather and grand uncles were able to secure a contract with the government to clear the harbour. They were paid by the ship, and the government provided free storage for the wrecks.

Under maritime law, the salvage belonged to them. As the company completed the harbour clearing, Hong Kong was able to be opened as a shipping port again, but there was a steel shortage. Steel was previously supplied by Japan, which was in desolation. Chiap Hua began converting the steel in the ships to rebars, crucial to the rebuilding of Hong Kong. My Uncle recalls trucks lined up with fists of cash buying the rebars as soon as they rolled out of the factory.

The interesting cycle is that after being driven out by the Japanese occupation, they were able to not only clear the harbour for commerce, but used the materials from the ships to rebuild the city.

The image of the USS Puget Sound was taken at almost the same time this was taking place, so it is interesting that in the fullness of time it found its way back to Hong Kong.