Bataan (LHD 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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HISTORY JSS BATAAN memorializes the valiant resistance of American and Filipino troops on the Bataan Peninsula in the dawning days of World War II. Fighting on the Philippine islands of Luzon and Corregidor began just 10 short hours after the raid on Pearl Harbor. After weeks of Japanese air raids and beach landings on the north of Luzon, General Douglas Mac Arthur ordered withdrawal from the fortified north to the narrow jungle peninsula December 23, 1941. There, combined Army, Navy, Marine Corps and American-trained Filipino forces opposed teaming Japa- nese aggressors. Despite rampant disease, malnutrition, insuffucient supplies and ammunition, the Battling Bastards of Bataan defended the peninsula until April 16, 1942. Corregidor fell shortly after on May 6, 1942. During combat, some units absorbed as high as 80 percent casualties. Tens of thousands of American service members died either in battle or during the unconscionable Bataan Death March. The 65 mile Death March alone claimed the lives of more than 21 ,000 allies in less than a week and is marked as one of the greatest travesties of World War II. Those who survived [ the march faced starvation and disease aboard hell ships dur- ing transportation, and later in prison camps until Japan ' s formal ' surrender in 1945. Two of every three Americans who defended Bataan and • . - ' W. Corregidor never returned home. Bataan was the last American stronghold in the Pacific the- ater to fall until MacArthur fulfilled his famed prophecy, I shall return, by re-conquering the Philippine Islands two-and-one-half years later. The battle of Bataan was one of the greatest examples of allied courage, endurance and sacrifice in the history of military conflict. LHD-5 is preceded in name by USS Bataan (CVL-29), a light carrier which earned 12 battle stars in service during late World War II, and in the Korean Conflict. CVL-29 was commis- sioned November 17, 1943, in Philidelphia, the first ship named in commemoration of a World War II battle. USS Bataan set to sea charged by Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox with ...a rendezvous with destiny that shall not be denied. During the waning days of World War II, CVL-29 served in the Pacific arena as part of the famed Task Force 58. Some of its major excursions included the Batde of the Philippine Sea in June 1944, and numerous attacks against the Japanese main islands. CVL-29 was decom- T missioned in February, 1 947, and placed in reserve. USS ' • Bataan recieved five battle stars for service in the World ' War II Pacific Campaign. j CVL-29 was re-commisioned May 13,1 950, when conflict in the east again appeard inevitable. USS Bataan ' s pilots flew missions throughout the Korean Conflict, mostly in support of ground forces.

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USS BATAAN (CVL 29) ike all great United States vessels, BATAAN has — ia unique and illustrious history. BATAAN ' s keel was laid August 3 1 , 1 942 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, New Jersey. 9 The plans were originally intended to be the light cruiser USS BUFFALO, but as the war in the Pacific progressed, the blueprints were altered to meet the requirements for additional carriers in the arena. BATAAN homeported in Pearl Harbor on March 22, 1944. On 4 April of that year, she weighed anchor for the Pacific War zone joining Task Force 58, and later Task Force 38. CVL-29 earned 5 battle stars on her Asiatic-Pacific Service Ribbon for her wartime deployment. After Japan ' s official surrender on September 2, 1 945, BATAAN briefly returned to the United States then served as a transport for U.S. troops homebound from European theaters. On February 1 1 , 1947, CVL-29 was decommissioned into the Philadelphia Group, Atlantic Fleet Reserve. CVL-29 was recommissioned may 1 3, 1950, under command of Captain Edgar T. Heale as tensions again mounted in the Asian Pacific. BATAAN arrived in the Korean Operations Area December 15, 1950. In Korean waters, BATAAN ' s aircraft were constantly engaging, participating in the North Korea Offensive and First United Nations Counter Offensive. CVL-29 operated in the Korean conflict zone until May 10, 1 953, returning twice briefly to the U.S. west coast for overhaul and ■ x ' riSP k i .tii. w 3 K |M| 3 M S s l HpH e - -iig W ,-» c- exercises Upon final return from Korean service, CVL-29 remained in San Diego until she was inactivated on August 26, 1953 On April 26, 1954, following a brief visit to Japan via Pearl Harbor, CVL-29 was decommissioned in San Francisco and later reclassified AVT-3, in June 1959, USS BATAAN (CVL-29) was evenmally reduced to scrap that year. HMAS BATAAN ,uring WWn, the Australian heavy cruiser, HMAS CANBERRA was sunk ' along with American warships by a superior Japanese task force. The United States Government, from this engage- ment with the enemy, had their newest cruiser named USS CANBERRA, which was christened by the wife of the Australian Minister to the United States. ,t- -,. , -i i , Upon this action by the US Government, the Australian Government named their newest Tribal Class Destroyer BATAAN in honor of the gallant stand made by the Americans on Bataan Peninsula. The Australian BATAAN was christened by Mrs. Jean MacArthur, wife of General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Southwest Upon commissioning, HMAS BATAAN joined the American Seventh Fleet in the Philippines and Okinawa and attended the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay, then sailed around Japan picking up POW ' s, including many Ameri- cans. During the Korean War, the Australian BATAAN was once again attached to the American Seventh Fleet. It was during this conflict that the aircraft carrier USS BATAAN (CVL-29) and the HMAS BATAAN built a unique kinship, with the Australian ship providing protection to her American sister through many exchanges of enemy gunfire. The bond that developed between the crews aboard these two ships went well beyond their namesake ties, and became evident to the other ships in the Battle Group.