USS Columbia - Naval Cruise Book

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2 2 2 OPERATIONS ABJD ENGAGEMENTS 2 2 2 CAPTURE AND DEFENSE OF GUADALCANAL Covering Force Patrol Solomons Area 7 - 9 Dec. 1942 17-21 Dec. 1942 2 - 8 Jan. 1943 1-14 Feb. 19 43 RENNELL ISLAND 29 - 30 Jan. 1943 CONSOLIDATION OF SOLOMON ISLANDS Consolidation of Southern Solomons Covering Operation for Landing and Occupation of Russell Islands 20 - 25 Feb. 1943 Covering Force Patrol Operations Solomons Area 20 - 29 March 1943 7-13 April 1943 Consolidation of Northern Solomons Bombardment of Buka-Bonis 23 - 24 Dec. 1943 NEW GEORGIA OPERATION New Georgia — Rendova — Vangunu Occupation. Diversional Bombardment and Mining Operation Shortland Area for New Georgia — Rendova — Vangunu Landings 29 - 30 June 1943 Covering Forces Patrol Operations South of New Georgia 3 - 5 July 1943 Operations to Intercept Enemy Surface Forces North of New Georgia and Kolombangara 6-8 July 1943 10-11 July 1943 Bombardment Munda Shore Installations from Blanche Channel 11 - 12 July 1943 Operations to Intercept Enemy Surface Forces South of New Georgia and Rendova 13 - 14 July 1943 Covering Forces Patrol Operations West of Rcnnell Island 21 - 22 July 1943 Vella Lavella Occupation 28 - 30 July 1943 Operations to Intercept Enemy Surface Forces West and North of Vella Lavella 25 - 26 Sept. 1943 TREASURY-BOUGAINVILLE OPERATION Occupation and Defense of Cape Torokina : 1-2 Nov. 1943 4 - 8 Nov. 1943 9 - 14 Nov. 1943 7 - 9 Dec. 1943 Bombardment of Buka-Bonis 31 Oct. - 1 Nov. 1943 Bombardment of Shortland Area 1 November 1943 Battle of Empress Augusta Bay 1 - 2 Nov. 1943 43

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•h After three years, heading back to the Atlantic. smaller islands — Param and Eten. Both, how- ever, were strategically important since both had air strips which were the objects of much explosive attention from American bombers. Twisted wrecks of planes littered both islands and, on one air strip, patched-up bomb craters seemed to cover a larger area than did the stretches of original concrete that had not been hit. Each of three substantial concrete buildings on Eten had received direct bomb hits that tore large holes through the center of them. One of the buildings was still used as a storage place for the small food supply in which roaches of the B-29 class seemed to show as much interest as the none-too-well-fed Japs. On October 7, 1945, the inspection was completed and the COLUMBIA returned to Guam. Later that month, on the 31st day of October, 1945, the Gem bade farewell to Guam on her way back to the Philadelphia Navy Yard to join the Atlantic Fleet. Thus ended the wartime Pacific duty of the COLUMBIA. With her assignment to the Atlantic Fleet, the Gem left behind her a trail of remarkable war service. She had truly lived up to her name; she was without a doubt the Gem of the Ocean. Back in Philadelphia.

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BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO OPERATION Green Islands Landing 13 - 18 Feb. 1943 ANTI-SHIPPING SWEEP SOUTH OF TRUK ON TRUK— KAVIENG ROUTE 5-11 March 1944 LANDING AND OCCUPATION OF EMIRAU ISLAND 17 - 23 March 1944 WESTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS OPERATION Capture and Occupation of the Southern Palau Islands 12 - 18 Sept. 1944 LEYTE OPERATION Leyte Landings 17 - 29 Oct. 1944 15 Nov. - 3 Dec. 1944 Battle for Leyte Gulf 24 - 26 Oct. 1944 Battle for Surigao Strait 25 October 1944 LUZON OPERATION Mindoro Landings 12 - 17 Dec. 1944 Lingayen Gulf Landings 1-12 Jan. 19 5 BALIKPAPAN, BORNEO OPERATION Preparatory Bombardments and Support of Initial Landings at Balikpapan, Borneo 21 June - 2 July 1945 ANTI-SHIPPING SWEEP— CHINA COAST IN EAST CHINA SEA FROM FORMOSA STRAIT TO LATI- TUDE 28-40 N 20 - 24 July 1945 ANTI-SHIPPING SWEEPS— YELLOW SEA ON SHANG- HAI-EMPIRE ROUTE 26 - 29 July 1945 1 - 7 Aug. 1945 OKINAWA-EAST CHINA SEA COVERING AND DEFENSE OPERATIONS 16 July- 2 Sept. 1945 Indicates operations and engagements for which Bronze Stars have been authorized up to September 2, 1945. 44