ROCHESTER returned to the war in Korea within a week of leaving the Philippines. Because of Korea’s mountainous interior, most major lines of communication were along the coast and therefore within range of ROCHESTER’s guns.

The most serious threats ROCHESTER experienced during operations along the Korean Coast were the thousands of mines set in place by the enemy, particularly in the narrow approach to Wonsan. Minesweepers, like OSPREY (shown above), were the main defense against this threat.  These little ships routinely placed themselves in harms way to make passage safe for others. OSPREY was hit three times by fire from enemy shore batteries during her actions in Korea (and five U. S. Navy minesweepers were lost when mines they were attempting to neutralize exploded). She and others like her had hulls of wood, which enabled them to approach mines designed to explode when close to metal, but also made them more vulnerable. Whenever ROCHESTER steamed in these waters, lookouts stationed on the forecastle were alert for mines that may have been missed by the minesweepers.

Shore batteries did not fire on ROCHESTER—not even once! Other cruisers—BREMERTON, HELENA, LOS ANGELES, MANCHESTER and SAINT PAUL--as well as the battleships NEW JERSEY and WISCONSIN and 47 destroyers (DD, DDR & DDE), not only were fired on , but also were hit! (HELENA, LOS ANGELES and the destroyer SAMUEL N. MOORE were each hit on two separate occasions - the destroyer MADDOX on three).  Perhaps North Korea’s Coastal Defense Command had become aware of the widely recognized accuracy of ROCHESTER’s main battery (see “9 Days On the Firing Line”) and elected to keep their guns concealed when ROCHESTER approached.

With operations continuing for weeks on end, ROCHESTER needed regular replenishment of fuel, ammunition and other supplies—including food and MAIL. The oiler delivering fuel, above left, is British, demonstrating that the war was a United Nations effort. And the “hi-line” operation, upper right, shows that among objects transferred between ships were personnel.

At the rate ROCHESTER was sending projectiles shoreward, there was frequent need for replenishing her store of ammunition. On the right, one of the crew inscribes a message to be delivered to the enemy by the main battery.

While spotting targets for ROCHESTER’s guns, the helicopter’s crew sometimes took advantage of the opportunity to drop propaganda leaflets on enemy positions.

For service in Korea during the winter of 1952-53, ROCHESTER and her crew were awarded one Engagement Star (“Third Korean Winter”) to be placed on their Korean Service Medals. (They earned a total of six Engagement Stars during three tours of war duty between 1950 and 1953.)

ROCHESTER alternated periods of 3-4 weeks in the war zone with about a week in Japan. As their tour in WESTPAC entered its final stage, the crew spent more of their time ashore acquiring gifts for the folks and others back home.
 

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