USS Columbia - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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(1) BOMBARDMENT. 6 HC 5 AAC 40mm Jan. 6 92 17 Jan. 7 300 569 1200 Jan. 8 420 442 Jan. 9 623 10 1435 1038 1200 (2) Anti-Aircraft. 6 HC 5 AAC 5 Spccial 40mm 20mm Jan. 5 6 117 42 500 300 Jan. 6 303 111 4200 2300 Jan. 7 46 400 Jan. 8 40 60 160 Jan. 9 39 500 500 545 153 5660 3260 (3) Total 6 HC 1441 5 AAG 1736 40mm 6860 20mm 3260 Emergency repairs to the underwater hull damage were effected at Leyte Gulf, P.I., and Manus, Admiralty Island. The ship arrived in Pearl Harbor, T.H., on January 29, 1945, and sufficient progress was made on the underwater damage to permit the removal of the bodies of 17 men (missing since January 6) for burial ashore. The ship arrived at the Navy Yard, Terminal Island, San Pedro, California, on February 11, 1945. The Gem had finished her second battle cruise — a cruise which brought her home licking her wounds. She had learned much in the Philip- pines — learned that death can come from the sky; that the fanatical little men of the Rising Sun empire would fight viciously when cor- nered; but she had also learned that in a given opportunity she could slug it out with the best (at times better than the best) and make a record worthy of the valiant men who served her. Her head was high now; and indeed it had a right to be high. Australian B-25 ' s strike landing beaches at Balikapapan. • «»aiP ' tr= -,