George Balle

George Balle
customs dock generals house japanese ministers selected
The Lansdowne was selected to ferry the Japanese ministers and generals from the Customs House Dock in Yokohama to the Missouri.
brass delegation distance faces forced japanese launch missouri next nice ordered passengers pulled rub small special stop
Each of the other destroyers pulled up next to the Missouri for its special passengers to go aboard, but not the Lansdowne. We were ordered to stop a nice distance away, and the Japanese delegation was forced to take a small launch to the Missouri. The brass wanted to rub their faces in it.
easy help ladder negotiate offered rope
He had to negotiate the rope ladder down to the launch. It was not an easy task, but no one offered to help him. Eventually, he managed.
grim smile
They were a grim bunch, all deadpan. They had nothing to smile about.
exactly knew sure
We all knew something was up, but we weren't sure exactly what.