USS Columbia - Naval Cruise Book

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FINE SPIRIT AND QUICK COMEBACK. At 0907 intense close-in bombardment of the landing beach areas commenced. At this time the following message was received from the Gem ' s Task Group commander, Vice Admiral ]. B. Oldcndorf: YOU HAVE SHOWN YOU HAVE PLENTY OF SAND COLUMBIA. At 0930 the first wave of troops hit the beach to deliver the death blow to the Japanese in the Philippines. This landing was unopposed. From a nearby ship, in answer to a request for medical supplies, came the following message : ONLY TOO GLAD TO ASSIST IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE A SHIP WHICH HAS FOUGHT BRAVELY AND THOUGH BATTLE SCARRED IS UNBOWED. Lingayen Gulf, at this time, with the trans- ports lying peacefully at anchor presented quite a different picture than that of the preceding three days. The COLUMBIA, at great cost, had completed her mission. A feeling of pride in the ship, and in the accomplishment of a duty well done, welled up in the hearts of each officer and man on board. At 1750 (after stand- ing by for call fire throughout the day) orders were received to depart in convoy with unloaded transports leaving at 1830. At this time the following message was received from Vice Admiral Oldcndorf: REGRET TO LOSE YOU AT THIS TIME. THE COURAGEOUS CONDUCT OF YOUR OFFICERS AND CREW HAS ADDED TO THE LUSTER OF OUR NAVY. The following excerpts from the report of the Executive Officer, Commander G. A. Lang, USN, after the battle are believed pertinent to the War Record; During the period January 1st to 9th, 1945, the COLUMBIA as a unit of TG 77.2, in the Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, P. I., operation, performed in an outstanding manner as a combat unit of preeminent efficiency, and the conduct of the officers and crew was fully in keeping with the highest traditions of the U. S. Naval Service. The efficiency of the ;pc nTo . ' .f

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Number three Kamikaze fails to stop the Columbia — January 9, 1945. {n C- fUf r on January 6. At 1700 the Gem ' s medical, billeting, and messing problems were multiplied by the receipt of 26 survivors from another stricken vessel. On the morning of January 8, a minor attack occurred and the H. M. A. S. AUSTRALIA was hit again. Scheduled bombardment was commenced that day at 1000. At 1400 between bombardments (with probably 30,000 Japs looking on) Chief Carpenter J. T. Keenan, USN, went over the side of the Gem in diving gear to inspect the hull for underwater damage. It was hoped that an inspection might reveal that temporary repairs could be made by the ship ' s force with the possibility of removal of the 17 men trapped in flooded compartments below. This time was also utilized to carry serviceable 6 ammunition from turrets three and four forward to turrets one and two, whose supply was rapidly becoming exhausted. Emer- gency repairs to steering gear were also accom- plished and steering control regained on the bridge. Upon completion of diving operations the bombardment was resumed. During the night of January 8-9, transports and assault craft entered Lingayen Gulf. At 0745 on January 9, while proceeding to bom- bardment station, the Gem took under fire a Japanese plane diving at her superstructure. This plane, without any previous warning, was detected approaching from the beach area pro- ceeding from an area in which friendly planes were operating. At this time the Gem was only 4000 yards from the beach. This enemy plane (a Tojo, Zcke, Tony, or similar type of fighter, tracked at 400 miles per hour) strafed continu- ously throughout the approach and although hit by 40mm fire continued on and with a 250 kg bomb aboard, crashed into the Gem ' s forward main battery director. The force of the plane striking the director and the attendant bomb explosion carried the main battery director over the side. The forward 5 director was also put out of commission as well as 5 mount No. 2 (both barrels holed by shrapnel) and four ma- chine gun directors for 40mm batteries. Gasoline was sprayed over the forward superstructure causing a flash fire in the upper works. As a result of this hit, one officer and 16 men were killed or died of their wounds, one officer and six men were listed as missing in action and seven officers and 90 men were wounded in action. At 0757 all fires were brought under control. Although the COLUMBIA had again been critically hit she was soon ready to fight on. A message from the task force commander ask- ing if the Gem could carry out her bombard- ment mission was answered in the affirmative. As the Gunnery Officer and Air Defense Officer had both been wounded their assistants pro- ceeded to the remaining 6 and 5 control sta- tions aft and took over control of their respective batteries. At this time, as a result of the 3 hits sustained, a total of 199 officers and men had been killed, wounded or were missing in action. At 0818 (33 minutes after the hit) on schedule with all remaining serviceable weapons that could bear, the COLUMBIA commenced the pre- landing bombardment. At this time the follow- ing message was received from the WASATCH : THE WASATCH SENDS SYMPATHY FOR YOUR LOSSES. WE ADMIRE YOUR 29

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COLUMBIA, as a combat unit, is well demon- strated by the smooth and precise manner in which all duties were carried out to the final fulfillment of her mission, in the face of the continuous air attacks, and in spite of the casu- alties and damage suffered from three successive hits by suicide dive bombers; two on January 6, 1945, and one on January 9, 1943. When hit January 6, casualties and damage were heavy. But with turrets 3 and 4 out of commission, magazines of turrets 3 and 4 flooded by fuel oil and sea water, progressive electrical casual- ties, the COLUMBIA carried out the bom- bardment schedule January 7th and 8th, 1945, with undiminished efficiency and successfully stood off several air attacks. When again hit and damaged on January 9, 1945, just prior to the scheduled time for laying down the bom- bardment in preparation for the landing of the troops, just at the critical time when transports were unloading, the Gunnery Officer and Air Defense Officer were wounded, forward fire control stations were demolished, the COLUM- BIA, while fighting fire, clearing wreckage, treating and evacuating wounded, and remov- ing the dead, continued the bombardment, covering the landing craft and advancing troops, until her schedule was completed. The ship then remained on station ready for call fire missions until darkness when ordered by the Task Group Commander to retire to Leyte Gulf. The efficiency of the COLUMBIA, as a combat unit, was due to the excellent performance and gallantry of the officers and crew who fought and repaired damage with veteran skill and discipline, and inspiring fighting spirit unsur- passed in aggressiveness and determination, endurance that knew no end, the homogeneous cooperation of clockwork, unswerving loyalty and a courage conspicuous in a courageous serv- ice. AH of which are proved only in bitter and sustained combat. The Gem ' s Commanding Officer, Captain M. E. Curts, USN, commented as follows: The performance of officers and men of the COLUMBIA was all a Commanding Officer could ask for or expect in dire extremity. It was perfect. The following is quoted from Commander Battleship Squadron ONE (CTG 77.2) Vice Admiral J. B. Oldendorf ' s endorse- ment to the Commanding Officer USS COLUMBIA ' S recommendation for awards: Mast and stack damage by third Kamikaze. The conduct of the Officers and men of the COLUMBIA was so remarkable during the Lingayen operation, as to make her ' shine ' among many heroic ships. The recommendation that the COLUMBIA be awarded a Presidential Citation is concurred in. Certainly few ships have ever been forced to undergo the devastating attacks which the COLUMBIA so nobly faced and few ships have ever deserved more than she, the right to recognition by the Commander-in- Chief himself. It was b y heroic performances such as this that the Battle of Lingayen Gulf was won! It is believed that in these actions the COLUMBIA truly distinguished herself by extraordinary heroism in action with the enemy and exhibited gallantry and determination in overcoming such difficult and hazardous condi- tions as to render her outstanding compared to similar units participating in the same or similar engagements. In this action the COLUMBIA has been officially credited with the destruction of 9 enemy aircraft. The following ammunition was expended in this operation: 31