This photograph, from a personal photo album documenting post-WWII Japan, shows servicemen gathered on the well deck of a military transport vessel during an ocean crossing. Ships of this type—often converted Liberty or Victory-class cargo vessels—ferried American troops and personnel to and from occupied Japan throughout the late 1940s and into the 1950s. The rigged sun awning and informal gathering of men reflect the everyday rhythms of shipboard life during these long Pacific voyages. Project: 218331