| Thanks to Paul Boriskie, RM2, who served aboard the Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) from Jan 1953 to June 1956, the following ports of call were recorded for interest of any who may have served on the Navy's secret little cruise ship during that period of time. This was my first duty station as a supply officer (disbursing) following commissioning in June 1954, and documents the first full year of traveling the world in the US Navy. The reference notes are to posted stories included in this site, or to memorable anecdotes from that period. |
| Days | Port | Arrive | Depart | Reference Pictures with Links | |
| 164 | Alameda NAS | 14 Jun | The Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) | ||
| 3 | Pearl Harbor, Hawaii | 20 Jun | 22 Jun | The Mother of All Journeys | |
| 9 | Subic Bay, PI | 7 Jul | 16 Jul | Family transportation in PI | |
| 17 | Pescadores Is. | 18 Jul | 4 Aug | Nationalist Navy | |
| 65 | Hong Kong, BCC | 6 Aug | 25 Oct | Station Ship Hong Kong | |
| 4 | Nha Trang, Indo-China | 26 Oct | 30 Oct |
AVP to
the Rescue Spuds and Slit Skirts |
|
| 2 | Hong Kong, BCC | 1 Nov | 2 Nov | The Paper Tiger, Mary Soo | |
| 1 | Okinawa | 4 Nov | 4 Nov | Refueling en-route | |
| 2 | Pearl Harbor, Hawaii | 17 Nov | 18 Nov | Shadow of Gardiners Bay | |
| Alameda NAS | 23 Nov | Preparing for Christmas 1955 |
 |
Text in light
blue are links to related stories As my first permanent duty station following commissioning, The Gardiners Bay provides a distinctive culture in the wardroom and a fascinating mission for the Navy's secret little cruise ship. |
 |
Our first stop in Pearl Harbor allowed for two days of liberty on Oahu. |
 |
Eight days in Subic Bay allowed for day trips to Olongopo, Manila, and Clark Air Base, noted for its outstanding post exchange. |
 |
The two-China policy gave rise to the Nationalist Navy pictured here. These gunboats were featured making attacks on the mainland of the other China on the nightly news for many months. The Pescadores Islands off the coast of Formosa (now Taiwan) were the home base for such attacks, tide willing. |
 |
Hong Kong, British Crown Colony, is seen here in 1955 behind the classic junk in the foreground as the Gardiners Bay enters Victoria Harbor. For over two months it was our duty to provide boarding parties and organize shore patrol for all US Navy ships visiting Hong Kong for R and R. It was tough duty, but somebody had to do it. |
 |
This was our anchorage in Victoria Harbor in the fall of 1955. In the foreground is downtown Hong Kong, as it appeared then. Stories cover our onerous duties as Station Ship Hong Kong, while the Paper Tiger was my personal contribution to the CO's relieving ceremony aboard ship. |
 |
One rescue mission sent us from Hong Kong to Nha Trang, Indo China in AVP to the Rescue, with some special information from the bridge through Commander AE Mix. Our potato famine aboard ship provided me the only shore leave granted, a visit to Nha Trang's mayor for currency, and a native market as described in Spuds and Slit Skirts. |
 |
Hong Kong's world famous
Mary Soo
(second from left) and her sampan of hard working girls prepare to celebrate our departure from Victoria Harbor. Mary Soo and her girls provided an incomparable service to our little ship, and accepted pay for service in the most ingenious manner!!! |
 |
Two days liberty in Pearl Harbor are our last port of call prior to returning to Alameda and the bay area in 1955. The shadow of the Gardiners Bay may be seen clearly on the starboard beam of the USS Curtis (AV-4) |
 |
The last five days from Oahu to Alameda provide a rough ride as shown with the bow taking on green water. |