LIBERTY CALL, HELSINKI

FINLAND’S GEM OF THE SEA

31 JULY- 2 AUGUST 1955

It was a bright sunny morning with the crispness of approaching fall in the air, as the USS Daly and USS Smalley headed toward Helsinki Finland. The temperature increased, as the sun rose in the beautiful clear blue sky on 31 July 1955.

I heard them pass the word, "Now hear this ! Now hear this ! Set the Special Sea Detail, Port Side –To, in preparations for entering port." Fox division Personnel ( Torpedomen, Fire Controlmen and Sonarmen ) manned the after no. 4 Spring line, that secures the stern of the ship, as part of our duties for Entering and leaving port. Since the Daly was the "Flagship" of DESDIV 302, we were the lead ship into port today. Both ships tied up at Helsinki’s South Port Harbour Ship’s Pier. There were Finnish sailors on the pier waiting to assist in Handling the lines on the pier and securing the two American destroyers.

The Commodore, Captain and XO were the first to go ashore to meet with City Leaders, American Ambassador etc. We also had some dignitary’s visit the ship. It was not long, before the news got out, that two American destroyers were in Helsinki. By mid morning, people started showing up at the South Harbour Pier to see the first two American "Man-Of-Wars," to visit Helsinki, since the end of World War II and the beginning of the " COLD WAR ."

The duty section crews of the two Tin Cans were all very busy cleaning and scrubbing both ships squeaky clean. All our ( TM ) top side gear, Torpedo Tube Mount, etc. Were pretty well squared away and did not require much effort to make them " Ship Shape."

We had three section "Cinderella liberty" ( we had to be back aboard ship by 2400, midnight ) while in Helsinki. I thought Helsinki was going to be just Another port of call in a foreign country, I had only read about in Geography books in school. I had no idea, how the "Wheels Of Fate" were turning, and what was in store for this young, unsuspecting " Tin Can Sailor."

We would be in Helsinki for only three days, and I had liberty on the first and second days in port, and duty on the third and last day. It was a bright, beautiful sunny morning when we arrived and all hands on board were anxious to go ashore. Liberty was called at 1100 and I was ready by 1130. All the " Liberty Hounds " were long gone, by the time I meandered up to the Quarter Deck. I Saluted the OD (Officer of the Deck) showed him my Liberty Card and asked "Permission to Go Ashore, Sir." He returned my salute and replied "Permission Granted."

I stopped before stepping onto the Brow (gangway), turned to face the National ensign (American flag) flying from the flagstaff on the fantail (stern of the ship), rendered a smart salute and proceeded to walk down the gangway on my first day of liberty ashore in Finland’s beautiful " Gem of the Sea." I had no special plans of what I was going to do, I was just going to play it by ear and take things as they came.

I had my trusty Argus C-4 35 mm camera with me, to capture anything of interest that appealed to me. I just walked around and took in the sights of a clean and beautiful city by the sea. By evening, I ended up at Linnanmäki, an amusement park on the eastern part of the city, about three miles from the ship. I stayed at the park most of the early evening. I headed back toward the South Port Harbour, as late evening shadows fell, because I did not know of any night life. I got Back in time to catch " Movie Call " on the ship. Which goes around 2000.

I was very hungry, after walking all day taking in the sights. I left the ship before the mid day meal. I had only a few dollars in Finnish currency, not enough to eat at a restaurant. There was no food to be had on the Daly, not until breakfast the next day.

In my traveling around Helsinki, I found it to be a very clean city. I was impressed with the number of people on bicycles and the light motor vehicle traffic. The people I encountered appeared to be friendly. That is the impression I left with, because almost every one I greeted with a nod and smile, returned my gesture of friendship. There were some people that appeared very reserved, and they just looked at me, but their demeanor did not appear to indicate they harbored any hostile feelings toward American sailors.

All except for one young woman. I was just walking along all by myself, not too far from South Port, where the Daly and Smalley were tied up, when I saw a young women walking toward me on the sidewalk. As we approached, I looked directly at her, made eye contact, smiled and nodded my head in a silent greeting.

I was taken by surprise when she returned my smile of friendship with a sneer and a nasty look. She was the only person I encountered, who’s demeanor displayed an obvious dislike of sailors. I don’t know if it was because I was an American, or because I was a sailor, or both. Perhaps she had a bad experience with one, since not all sailors adhere to the values and moral conduct I was instilled with by my dear mother and father.

The second day in port, 1 August 1955 turned out to be overcast, but warm. I was out of my bunk before reveille, I was so hungry. My stomach thought my throat had been cut, since it had not had any food in a long time. I navigated my way up to the "After Crew’s Head" ( bathroom ) shaved, had another fight with Gillette (cut myself) with a new razor blade. I wasted no time, I made a "Bee-line" for the "Crew’s Mess Deck" (dining compartment) located one deck below the main deck, forward under the Officers Wardroom (meeting / dining room) and bridge superstructure. I had a big breakfast this time, I had enough food to keep me going all day.

Liberty was called at 1100, I explored the town some more and took some pictures. As evening shadows began to fall, I was through sight seeing. Since I did not know where there was any night life, I was making my way back to the ship through the clean, quiet streets of downtown Helsinki. I approached a street intersection, I always look both ways before I cross any street. There was not much vehicle traffic to speak of.

As I looked to my left, in the distance I saw two " White- Hats " (sailors) standing outside a building, about two city blocks away. Since it was not too far out of my way, I decided to see what they were up to. I changed course and began to walk in their direction. I looked away for a few moments to check for cars before crossing the street and when I looked back , they were no where in sight The sailors I had seen standing outside, disappeared from sight and I did not see which way they went.

I arrived at the area where I thought they had been standing, I did not know their exact location. I stopped and looked around, I did not see any signs of life. All was quiet as I stood there, outside the vintage building, looking and wondering where the sailors had gone. After a few minutes of silence, I began to walk away, and continue navigating my way back to the South Port Harbour.

Then, I heard the faint sound of music coming from behind me, it sounded like a band playing. I stopped in my tracks, I turned around and listened for a minute. It appeared to be coming from somewhere around the area where I had been standing before, it sounded like dance music. A dance appeared to be in progress some where inside. I started walking back looking for the source . Apparently, someone had opened the door to the Ballroom to let some fresh air in . The Band returned from a rest break and began playing again. The sound of music came floating out the open doorway. Had the band began to play 5 seconds later, I would have been beyond hearing distance .

A view of the front half of the USS Daly, tied up at the South Port Ship’s Pier in Helsinki Finland. Late morning, as I head out on my first liberty ashore, 31 July 1955.

A view of the rest of the ship, as I looked back, on my first day of liberty ashore in The Land Of The Midnight Sun. 31 July 1955. The Smalley’s mast can be seen to the right of the photo, astern ( behind ) the Daly.

"Liberty Call" in Helsinki, the first day ashore for me. It was a bright beautiful sunny day in "The Land Of The Midnight Sun." Another opportunity to see and learn more about different people, their life style and culture. Helsinki, would turned out to be a Life Changing Port of Call for this Tin Can Sailor. Helsinki’s House of Parliament ( building in upper center), from a Post Card. 31 July 1955.

A closer view of Helsinki’s House of Parliament, this time from my trusty Argus C-4 camera lens. 31 July 1954. Notice the beautiful Cobble Stone Street; it's still like this today (2011)

Downtown, Helsinki’s Pitkäsilta (the long bridge) from a Post Card 31 July 1955

By the evening of my first day of liberty in beautiful Helsinki, 31 July 1955. I some how managed to find (since I did not know where anything was) Linnanmäki, an Amusement Park in the eastern part of the city. Where I spent most of the late afternoon. I headed back to the ship as evening shadows began to fall.
(This photo is from when we revisited Helsinki in 2003)

Sight Seeing in beautiful

Helsinki, 31 July 1955. about a 10 minute walk from the Daly, as evening shadows began to fall.

On liberty in Helsinki 31 July 1955 close to the South Port Harbour Pier, on my way back to the ship.

Finns that came down to see the two American Destroyers. The South Port Ship’s Pier, Helsinki, Finland. 1 August 1955.

Helsinki’s South Port Ship’s Pier, 1 August 1955. First eager visitors of the day scamper up the Daly’s Gangway (Brow). I took this photos from my vantage point on top of the Torpedo Tube Mount

Although I liked to dance, I did not consider myself a very good dancer. I had been to only one real dance in my life, the "ROTC Ball," only two months prior to my graduating from high school and leaving for Navy Boot Camp. I had not been to a single dance since that time.

Since the evening was still young and I did not have to be back aboard the Daly until 2400, I decided to drop in and see what the story was. Not because I wanted to dance so much, but because I like listening to good dance music and I had nothing better to do back at the ship, except possibly catch the end of "Movie Call" (shipboard movies for the crew). "Movie call" is announced almost every night at 2000 (8 o’clock ) in port, as well at out at sea.

Perhaps, I could just sit and listen to the band and see if any of my shipmates were there. I entered the dimly lit Ballroom, and to my surprise, it turned out that I had somehow stumbled into the place where the dance was being held to welcome the crews of the two American Naval Ships.

I vaguely recalled something being mentioned about a dance, at the morning "Quarters for Muster," but I was not paying much attention, since I was not really interested in going to a dance. I did not have any knowledge as to where the dance was being held, not even a clue. Looking back, " The Wheels of Fate" were guiding my wondering footsteps on a collision course with the "Destiny" that awaited me in Helsinki and in that vintage building. Little did I know what fate had in store for me at that dance, it would change my life forever.

If I had been 30 seconds later at the intersection, the sailors would not have been out side the building, I would not have seen them. I would not have found the dance and met the Finnish beauty who completely changed my outlook on life and the meaning of true love.

The ballroom appeared dark as I entered it, and it took a few moments for my eyes to get accustomed to the dimly lit room. At first, I just stood against a nearby wall and looked around, to get a picture of what was happening and who was there. I saw that the room was full of sailors from the two American Destroyers, Finnish sailors and lovely Finnish young women, acting as hostesses.

At first, I was only going to just look and listen to the band playing, but than the music got me in a dancing mood and I thought I would give it a whirl. Perhaps, try some of the slow dance numbers, not because I felt romantic, but simply because it was the only kind of dancing that I felt I could do. I could do a pretty good two step. I was not like the rest of the fellows that go out and dance every kind of dance, even if they don’t know how to perform the dance properly and have to fake it.

I was very self-conscious about that fact and never attempted to be some thing other than myself, and I knew my knowledge of dancing was very limited, as I had been to only one real dance in my entire life, the "Military Ball "at Austin high school.

I waited until they played a dance number I thought I could handle, and asked one of the hostesses to dance with me. I spoke to her as we danced, but she didn’t say anything back. I danced with a few more hostesses but either none of them spoke English, or else none of them were interested in making the conversation two-sided (charming young man that I was, I’m sure it was the former, not the latter!).

Tyyne, out side Helsingin Sanomat, where she worked in the Advertising Department. Like me, little did she know, what fate had in store for her. On 1 August 1955.

Tyyne, and coworker, on a morning break by a side entrance to the Helsingin Sanomat, where she worked. April 1955 .

On my 2nd day ashore in beautiful Helsinki. A view of downtown Helsinki that greeted me on a major thorough-fare. 1 August 1955

The Railway Station in Helsinki. I had no idea what an important place that would become later that evening. 1 August 1955

A view of downtown Helsinki, as I meandered about enjoying the sights of a very clean city by the sea. 1 August 1955.

Helsinki’s Post Office, would become the "Vital Link," between me and the beautiful Finnish girl I was destined to meet later that day. The Train Station can be seen in the background. 1 August 1955

Standing on Mannerheimint, one of Helsinki’s most important streets, many major stores are located along this street. looking back toward the Post office and the heart of downtown Helsinki. 1 August 1955

Looking back toward the Post Office, as I wondered around downtown Helsinki. 1 August 1955.

Feeling not very encouraged, I soon left the dance floor and walked around until I found a good vantage point from where I could view almost the entire ballroom. To my right, was an area under a balcony with a row of chairs, although my eyes had become accustomed to the dimly lit dance floor, it was still too dark to see everything very clearly from a distance.

I noticed two young ladies who were sitting together, my attention was caught by the taller of the two girls. I did nothing for a while, I just stood and watched her from afar. She was wearing a dark colored, simple yet elegant sleeveless dress and to me, even in the dimly lit room she was a vision of beauty, such as my eyes had never seen. Up until now I had no problem asking any of the other girls to dance, because none of them held any special interest to me, other than just dance partners. But for some strange reason, the mere thought of asking my newly discovered Finnish beauty to dance, made me nervous and my heart beat faster.

It took me some time to muster up enough courage to walk over to where she was sitting and ask her to dance. I took a deep breath, straightened my uniform jumper and nervously walked over to her, in my best posture possible.

As I approached nearer, she looked up, and our eyes met, I extended my hand in a gesture to join me to dance. She smiled up at me as she extended her arm and took my hand. Her hand was soft and warm in mine as I led her out into the crowded dance floor.

I turned around and put my right arm around her slim waste, and when she placed her left arm on my right shoulder, my life was changed forever. My lips could move and talk, my feet could stand and walk, yet my heart stood still. Although not a single word was spoken, the closeness of her dancing next to me filled my heart with emotions I had never experienced before in my sheltered young life.

She was taller than I thought, light and graceful on her feet, and she had a wonderful aura about her. I breathed in all of her delicate fragrance. There was a regal air about the way she carried herself, elegant but not snobbish, that made me think of her as a Finnish Princess. She had almost no makeup at all that I could see, except for a little lipstick, and even though being this close to her was a wonderful overwhelming feeling, I was also very comfortable in her presences. There was just something about her that captured my heart and mind so completely.

For some dumb reason I did not try to talk to her. I guess I assumed that she, like all of my other dance partners before, could not speak English. After our dance music ended, I escorted her back to her chair, and I returned to my observation post, a large support column ( pardon the pun ) about 15 feet away. The band played several fast dance numbers, but I was not in a fast dance music mood ( for the reasons already stated ), and I did not dance. Try as I may, I could not keep from looking in her direction, or get her out of my mind. I waited anxiously for the band to play a slow romantic dance number, so that I could ask her to dance again.

I saw another sailor heading in her direction and suddenly, I was brave, I jumped into action and quickly covered the distance between us in only a few fleeting moments. She appeared to be waiting for me (at least, I wanted to believe she was waiting for me ! ). My heart was pounding wildly in my chest, and I was sure people could see my poor heart beating beneath my uniform jumper. Feeling momentarily encouraged and without thinking about whether she could speak English or not, I just started talking to her as we danced. Imagine my pleasant surprise, when she talked back to me, and in beautiful English too.

I loved the way she spoke, and how beautifully she pronounced her words. I’m sure she told me her name, "Tiina," but ironically, I was so captivated by her voice and everything about her, that I could not remember it. This time when the music stopped, I walked her back to her seat beside the other lovely young lady, that Tiina introduced to me as her sister Fifi. I sat beside Tiina, to her left, and we had a wonderful conversation, the three of us. The conversation must have been amusing to her and her sister, because they were laughing a great deal of the time (at my humorous remarks, I’m sure!)

A Finnish sailor ( he appeared to be an older, more experienced, man, about the equivalent of our Chief Petty Officer ) came over to where we were sitting and he started talking to us. Although I could not understand a single word he spoke, I understood that we were friends, Finland and America. Tiina, also informed me that her small country was the only country to have repaid the debt of the war loan Finland had received from the United States during WW II.

After a while, the Finnish sailor wondered away, and Tiina, her sister Fifi and yours truly looked for and found a vacant table. We sat down and ordered some non- alcoholic refreshments. A shipmate of mine, Bill Moser (A sonarmen on the Daly) wondered up to our table and joined us as we sat, and the conversation continued among the four of us.

My mind, however was preoccupied with my Finnish dancer, Tiina. I could not keep my eyes away from her for more than a few seconds at a time. I must have appeared like a love sick sailor to them, but they being real ladies, did not indicate they though anything along those lines. It was such a pleasure to be in their company that I lost all track of time. I was pleased, when I learned that she had also been looking for me after our first dance together. Although the ballroom was dimly lit, she told me she could tell where I was whenever I would smile and laugh because she could see my white teeth shinning in the dark.

I had to laugh, because the fellows onboard the Daly would tease me, because I had acquired a dark tan and my teeth were really white, and at night when we would be watching a movie in the Crews Mess Deck , they would always say, "Smile, Granados, so we can see where you are."

The reason they wanted to keep tabs (know my whereabouts) on me, is because on several occasions, while watching a movie down in the Crews Mess Deck, I was known to wait until there was a tense moment in the movie when everyone’s attention was completely focused on what appeared on the movie screen (white sheet). At the most tense moment, I would sneak back to the tray rack located at the back of the mess deck, pick up a stack of stainless steel food trays, raise them up high, and drop them onto the steel deck and exit quickly and hide. Because some, if not all of the crew watching would like to get their hands on me for scaring the hell out of them. That is the reason they always wanted to know where I was, so that they could keep an eye on me.

I also learned later, that she did not think I though much of her, because I had such a hard time remembering her name for more than a few minutes. I kept asking her, "What is your name again?" all during our conversation. Little did she know I was so captivated by her, that I could not remember her name for more than a few minutes, and so I kept asking her what it was.

As the evening drew to a close, I asked Tiina and Fifi if I could escort them home. They both laughed and informed me that it would be a very long walk, as they lived in Malmi, a small suburb about 12 kilometers east of Helsinki, and that they planned to take the night commuter train back to Malmi. However, they did say that I could walk them to the train station, which was only a few blocks distance from where we were. My buddy Bill also came along for the walk. After we had walked a short distance it began to rain, at least they told me it began to rain. I did not feel the rain drops, only the sweet loveliness of Tiina walking by my side. Before I knew it, we were outside the train station. There was a Taxi Cab parked near the entrance to the station, and Tiina and Fifi decided to take a taxi home, instead of waiting for the late night train.

Fifi said "Good – Bye" and entered the cab. Tiina had been sharing her umbrella with her sister Vieno, as we all walked together. She closed her umbrella said "Good –Bye," turned and started to enter the taxi. She paused for a moment, then she stepped back out, turned around and handed me her Umbrella, saying to me, "Take my umbrella, so you don’t get wet when you walk back to your ship."

I was completely taken by surprise by her considerate, thoughtful gesture, and responded in the only way I could think of. I just stood there like a dummy! First, I didn’t know if it was gallant to accept, and second, I had never seen a sailor with an umbrella in my life and wondered if I was breaking a tradition!

Tiina, repeated the offer, urging me to take the umbrella, I finally regained my senses and accepted her umbrella. She gave me a sweet smile, said "Good-bye ", turned and entered the cab. She closed the door and lowered the window, she waved good-bye out the open window as the cab pulled away and disappeared into the rain- drenched night. I just stood there in the rain with the unopened umbrella in my right hand, and watched the black taxi cab speed away, turn around the corner disappearing from view. I turned around and looked at Bill, we both smiled and we started walking back to the ship.

For some strange reason, the small gesture of giving me her umbrella had a very profound impact upon me. As I did not consider myself to be a very emotional person, at least not until she handed me her umbrella. As Bill and I navigated our way back to the Daly, my mood was much like that of actor Gene Kelly’s in the movie "Singin’ in the Rain." What a thoughtful and considerate person she was, I kept thinking over and over as Bill and I made our way back to our ship. She had only met me for such a short time (about 3 hours) and she knew very little about me. She did not know if she would ever see me or her umbrella again. Besides, I was a foreigner, an American sailor to boot, and single sailors, in general don’t have a very good reputation of being faithful to their girls, you may have heard the old saying, " A sailor has a girl in every port."

.

I was not like other sailors, I did not have even one girl, and I was not on the prowl for one either. I was perfectly content just as I was, unattached, and free to roam as I please. That is why I not interested / paying attention ( at Quarters For Muster) concerning information on the dance. This is why it was very difficult for me to comprehend, how this lovely creature had completely changed my out look on life. I had been within her sphere of influence for such a short time. She managed to accomplished that feat, by just by being her natural, sweet self in my presence and her unselfish and very thoughtful gesture.

I could not believe, that here I was, with a completely new outlook on life. It entered my mind out of no where, I though, I would like to find a girl like Tiina to marry, if and when the time came. I thought to myself , how could I be contemplating such a serious act, as matrimony. I was already thinking, how she had all the qualities I would be looking for, in a girl I would be willing to settle down with and gladly give up my bachelor wondering ways.

As Bill and I navigated our way back to South Port in a drenching downpour, to the pier where the Daly and Smalley were tied up, I kept thinking to myself, how much I would like to marry a girl like her. A thought, that until that fateful night, was completely foreign to me. As I had never seriously entertained the thought or possibility of marriage. I was not even going out to meet girls .

I was content and happy with my life style as it was . It was not that I did not like girls , I enjoyed female company ( meeting / talking with them, etc.), but I was not looking for a female companion / romance . It may sound strange, but the simple fact was that I just had not given the subject of Dating , trying to meet girls / women much thought.

It was very strange, because until the moment I met Tiina and she gave me her umbrella, marriage had been the farthest thing from my mind. I was astounded at the thought, that my life could be changed so completely, all because of a simple thoughtful, considerate gesture from a Finnish beauty who had made such a grand entry into my young life.

I did not get much sleep that night, I kept thinking of my newly found Finnish beauty, Tiina. Before we parted company, Tiina told me that she had to work the next day, but that she would try to come down to my ship. I had duty the following day, 2 August 1955. The third and final full day in Helsinki. I could not leave the ship except for the briefest of moments, unless it was for official business.

The last day in Helsinki, turned out to be a bright sunny day. As I was going to breakfast up along the port (left) side of the ship around 0630, I could see several older women sweeping the pier area next to the ship, with what appeared to be home made brooms , a couple of them were smoking cigars. The first time I ever witnessed wonen smoking scigars. I heard some one say, the cigar smoke help keep the mosquitoes away. By mid morning, the pier was buzzing with activity. Most of the people had come down to see the two American destroyers. I kept looking out on the pier, scanning the sea of people’ for my Finnish beauty.

Around noon, I heard my named called over the ships 1-MC speaker system "TMSN Granados, lay up (report) to the Quarter Deck." I wondered what they wanted me for, I was up on the 01 Deck (the first deck above the main deck) working on the torpedo tube mount. Actually, I was up there because I had a good view of almost the entire pier and I was taking pictures with my old Argus and looking for any signs of my Finnish beauty, from my vantage point.

I scrambled down the ladder down to the Quarter Deck area on the main deck, which was located almost directly under the torpedo tube mount and reported to the Petty Officer of the Watch. He handed me a small envelope with the words "Javy [sic] Granados" written on it, and pointed to a young boy standing at the bottom of the gangway leading up to the ship. Inside the envelope was a note from Tiina with sad news for me.

TIINA (TYYNE) MIRJAMI KASSLIN
2 AUGUST 1955
HELSINKI, FINLAND
2 AUG 1955

Dear Javy,

I am sorry but I cannot come today to see the ship as I promised. I am sending this boy from our office so that you can give my umbrella to him, I hope he will find you as I am not quite sure of your name.

In case I don’t see you any more, I wish you good luck, and thank you for the nice time I had last night.

Yours Tiina

My best regards to Bill, don’t forget to write.

Tiina, worked in the Advertising Department of HELSINGIN SANOMAT, the largest Newspaper Company in FINLAND. The boy that brought me her note, was a Copy Boy in her department. I ran down to my bunk, in the after most living compartment on the stern of the Daly, to get Tiina’s umbrella, which I had tucked under the mattress on my bunk. I also took time to write a farewell response to Tiina:

JAVIE ( JAVIER ) FRANCISCO GRANADOS
2 AUGUST 1955
USS Daly DD 519
H ELSINKI, FINLAND 2 AUG 1955

Dear Tiina

I am very sorry that you could not come to my ship, but perhaps you could come to my ship after work, because I would like to see you again before we leave. I could get off the ship to talk to you and perhaps I can manage to bring you on board and show you around.

That is if you want to. I enjoyed myself a great deal and I could not ask for better company than yours. I only wish I could see you once again. I am sending your umbrella.

Thank you very much, you were very sweet to let me use it last night. I hope you got home safely.

Love from a Sailor

Named Javie

P.S. I will write

Helsinki’s South Port Harbour, as viewed from the bow of the Daly on our last day in Helsinki. 2 August 1955

A view of Helsinki and the South Port Ship’s Pier, early morning around 0630, 2 August 1955. Our last last day in Helsinki.

The Daly’ and Smalley’s last day in Helsinki, 2 August 1955. A view from the Daly’s after 3"/50 Gun Tub, looking aft to where the USS Smalley is moored. The liberty hounds can be seen below on the fantail waiting for liberty to commence. People are on the pier waiting to visit the two ships. It was my Duty Day, and I was pressed into service as a Guide on tours of the ship. It was duty I did not mind and actually enjoyed. I kept searching the crowd of Finns on the ship’s pier for my newly found Finnish Beauty.

A view from the Torpedo Tube Mount, in the early morning of our last day in Helsinki, 2 August 1955. Looking past the ships’ pier, the church spire of the church that appears in photo on page 185 can be seen behind the building on right.

Our last full day in port, a view of Helsinki’s South Port Harbour from the fantail deck of the Daly, 2 August 1955

A view from the forecastle (forward part, bow area) of the Daly, on our last day in port, Helsinki’s South Port Harbour, 2 August 1955

Three young Finns get a good look at the Daly, as they sail close by off our starboard side. South Port, Harbour Helsinki 2 August 1955.

It was our last night in Helsinki and I was on duty, standing the 2000 – 2400 Quarter Deck Watch, as Messenger of the Watch. 2 August 1955. As a new night approached and began to spread it’s cloak of darkness over "The Land Of The Midnight Sun,: a bright full moon appeared across the bay. I wanted to try and capture the beauty I saw. The path the moon beams made, as they danced across the calm waters in the bay. It was a hand held exposure from the main deck of the Daly.

Our time in Finland’s Gem of the Sea is over, 3 August 1955. The early morning sun shines on the Daly, as the ship gets ready to get underway. The short time in Helsinki will have an everlasting impact on this young Tin Can Sailor’s heart and mind. My out look on life was changed forever.

It was not meant for us to meet again, I kept looking back on the pier, scanning the many faces in hope that my newly found Finnish Beauty might have come down to see us depart. But I saw only strange faces in the crowd, as the Daly pulled away and turned to head out of the harbor of Helsinki. The two American Tin Cans, turn west into the Gulf of Finland on a course heading to our next and final port of call in THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN, TURKU, once the Capital City of Finland.

We were blessed with beautiful weather, as we headed East along the Southern Coast of Finland. The word is passed over the ships 1MC speaker system through out the ship to alert the crew "Now Hear This, Now Hear This, Set the Special Sea Detail for entering port, starboard side to." A view as the Daly turns to starboard to head toward the harbour entrance in Turku 4 August 1955.

I managed to catch the image of a Finnish sailor, as he cast some flowers to welcome us, as they navigated their small sail boat off our starboard side. As the Daly approaches the harbour entrance to Turku. The USS Daly AND USS Smalley,were the first American Naval ships to visit Turku, during the time period of the COLD WAR. 4 August 1955.

The Special Sea Detail is set and we are standing in formation for entering port, starboard side to, when I captured this image. As we approach the entrance to the harbour in Turku, Finland, 4 August 1955.

Another view from my duty station by number 4 spring line on the fantail, as we slowly approaches our assigned mooring at the Ship’s Pier in Turku, 4 August 1955

A view from my vantage point on top of my Torpedo Tube Mount. Finns that came down to see our ships and welcome us to their city. Turku, 4 August 1955.

The Ship’s Pier in Turku a view of the pier from the after O-1 Deck, looking astern our starboard (right) side, 4 August 1955

Turku’s Ships Pier 4 August 1955. A view looking forward toward the ships bow. The local Finns waited patiently for the chance to visit the two American destroyers

A view looking back at our mooring in Turku. The Daly is always the first to tie up. The Smalley, is tied abreast (next) to the Daly, port side to. As I head out to take in the sights of this beautiful vintage city by the sea. 4 August 1955.

Liberty in Turku, strolling along the small boat marina near the city center. 4 August 1955

A view from a view point the driver stopped at on our Bus Tour of Turku. 4 August 1955