After a month in Shanghai in the spring of 1937, the Augusta sailed to Tsingtao for a visit. It was here that my father met my mother. She was on vacation from her job with the Russian railroad concession in Harbin, Manchuria, where her father had worked as a lawyer since leaving the Ukraine. In July of 1937, the Augusta made a port call to Vladivostok, the first US Navy ship to do so since 1923. This is the entrance to the Vladivostok Naval Base.
Vladivostok Naval Base Gate
Soviet and American sailors exchanged visits to each others' ships. The hat bands of these Soviet swabs say "Pacific Ocean Fleet."
Soviet and American Sailors
During the two weeks in Vladivostok, the sailors engaged in sporting events like basketball, volleyball,and fishing. Here they are trying to catch beer bottles with rings on the end of their lines. After the stay in Vladivostok, the Augusta went back to Tsingtao for two weeks.
Fishing for Beer