USS Columbia - Naval Cruise Book

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Be Beaten » ? Job ' Wlppines l t J n - ' „ sUyed on to fiaWi beti- e Navy revealed toniif ' Columbia it ' rtaci Gulf p- prelJ Sr gainst u J 4 m» !ai tte i e hv e boi c, putt a batti imbia t ;le area n eff ectet the air a ' t »l•; : !V V Way B»clL..-- w - ' ■he vessel, akippered by C E CurU of Washington, ned to the Terminal is vy Yar fyd ' tl 3vy Reveals Dama tingayen Gulf ' ashington, D r t , l.verageof8?5. ; e r ' ' ys at thp T orjcers sp( » the ' i,t , ' .7- in. da ' reported today ,h« Columbia 184 ca ' ' «0 killed and ' aft on agei in sh. if ' ie Lingaj tuck to f] itil 1 , ' , U ' a„ ,?• vefe .. by a Vr ' ' i ia ' ' differ spent 77 ra ■ She k ' ' S ' ' - ■ -she Meel battle fnreH- ri » t I boa lUt lre». t hit the si Dan t«h)y remaf: . Aft„

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THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON The Secretary of the ITavy tnices pleasure in connending the Ul ITED STAT3S SHIP COLIBIBIA for service as follows: For outstanding heroism in action as a Unit of Task Groun 77.2 operating in support of the initial landings at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippines, from Jjuiuary 5 to 9, 1945. 3ngaged in hom- bardment of hostile shore defenses and in coverage of minesv eep- ing opera-tions as a Japanese suicide dive homher plunged to attack, the U.S.S. COLUISIA promptly opened fire, blasting the target ur) ' vard and forcing it hetween foremast and mainmast to crash 80 feet from the side abreast of the bridge and spray the entire forward nart of the ship with gasoline. Althou saved from serious fires by the quick action of the repair crews, the COLUI IBIA suffered severe personnel casualties later the same day when a hostile suicide dive bomber crashed her main deck, put two turrets out of action and caused progressive electric;il failures from extensive flooding. Despite her crippled condition and the increased diimage resulting from a third suicide crash into the forward battery director, the C0LU15BIA stoutly con- tinued her heavy bombardment schedule after each fanatical attack, sending her salvos into enemy gun positions and facil- ities with punishing effect in galliint support of. our assault forces until her vital mission was fulfilled. A resolute and sturdy veteran, complemented by skilled sind aggressive officers and men, the GOLUTCBIA. hns rendf red distinctive sprvice, sustain- ing and enhancing the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. All personnel attached to and serving on board the U.S.S. COLUMBIA during the above mentioned period are hereby authorized to wear the NAVY UNIT COi iSl ' mATION Ribbon. J James Forrestal Secretary of the Navy

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2 2 2 2 4- X} HE BEGIXXIXG THIS, then, is a battle record and a history of the light cruiser USS COLUMBIA from her inception to her last Pacific Fleet assignment in WORLD WAR 11. This is the story of YOUR ship — a valiant ship manned by valiant men. The USS COLUMBIA was named for the city of Columbia, S. C, and she was the second cruiser of her class to be built. She was author- ized on May 17, 1938, and her building contract was placed with the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, N. J. Her keel was laid on August 19, 1940, and on the 17th day of December, 1941, she was launched. Miss Jean Adams Paschal, daughter of the acting mayor, in 1941, of Columbia, S. C, was -- acis (}j (Jniemi Boam «5 ' T ' a Length 610 ' O Displacement 10,000 Draft 24 ' 5 Haled Speed 33 Knots llwrse Power 100,000 Slain Battery 12 « 47 Secondary Battery ..12 5 38 tOM l Anti Aircraft BatlericN 20MM Anti Aircraft BattericN Steamed mileage 178,023 ■ -- -- Miss Jean Adams Paschal, daughter of acting mayor of Columbia, S. C, christens the USS Columbia — Dec. 17, 1941. accorded the honor of smashing the traditional bottle of champagne against the COLUMBIA ' S bow. With the blowing of yard whistles and the cheers of workmen, the youthful ship slipped quickly down the ways into the waters of the Delaware River unaware of the essential role she was to play in victory over Japan. Due to the exigencies of war, a pre-commis- sioning detail was immediately assigned to the new ship by the Navy Department. This first nucleus gathered for duty in the Welsback Building in Gloucester, N. J. — duty which ac- counted for the COLUMBIA ' S plank-owners being dubbed Welsbackers. Early on the morning of July 29, 1942, the order to board ship was given to the Wels- backers, and to many of that first crew, the order marked the beginning of a trip that would see them half-around the world, and for some others, half-around again to return after three years of fighting in the Pacific. The crew stepped up the gangway of the Gem of the Ocean, or Gem for short — a nickname the COLUMBIA had already acquired — at the New York Shipbuilding Cor- poration, having previously been assigned bunks and lockers. It was the first assigned billet aboard a naval vessel for some of the men and