LCI (542) - Naval Cruise Book

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I 29, After the compasses had been compensated, we sailed for a training- shakedown cruise on the afternoon of August 9, with Lt. Com. Pinson aboard and the 417, 418, 516 and 948 in company. When we arrived at Wilson's Cove, San Clemente Island, we anchored for the rest of the night. In the morning we made speed runs, finding that conversion had reduced maximum speed, followed by anti-aircraft target practice in the afternoon and firing at surface targets at night. Those o-n duty in the conn preferred surface firing, since the muzzles of the new 40mms practically joined them there during anti-aircraft. The next day we had our first opportunity to shoot at drones, the small radio-controlled target airplanes, and we knocked one down. Following a night at anchor off San Nicolas Island we bombarded its beach target range from 0900 to 1430--the fire-po-wer of the old 542 was tremendous, even awe-inspiring, as she steamed along parallel to the shore and blasted the rocks. Anchored off the island again that night, all ships mad-e smoke for a while, which, if nothing else, filled the compartments with fog and its o-ily depo-sit. The 13th was a full day: Shore bom- bardment again in the morning, firing at towed sleeves in the afternoon, radar plotting exercise in the evening. That day the radio was full of reports that the Japanese were about to surrender--perhaps due to the wo-rd that the 542, bristling with armament, was o-n the way. At all events we returned to Pier 5 at the San Diego Rep-air Base the morn- ing of August 14, and at 1600 came the news of VICTORY! Bruce went to work on the whistle so that we should not be shamed by any other ship in harbor. All hands now wondered what would happen, we had been due to sail west very shortly and rather suspected that we still would. III. PACIFIC OPERATIONS-POSTWAR At last the orders to sail came, Washington had not seen fit to cancel them just because the war was over. 19 August, after loading ammunition at Mole Pi-er, we tied up at South Quay Wall for final preparations. At 0955 on the 20th the 542 got under way with 26 other LCIs, many of them square-conned veterans of the Mediter- ranean which had been converted to gunboats at San Pedro-. The desti- nation was Pearl I-Iarbor, T. I-I., and the convoy sailed under Lt. Com. Moore, aboard the flagship 514. Word of o-ur departure had appeared in the San Diego papers, so many of the families of the flotilla bade us farewell from the shore as the ships paraded single file down the harbor. Outside the 542 took up her position as leader of the port column of five columns, with four ships astern. The sea proved calm and following, making for a pleasant voyage. Not only were movies shown every night, but for the Hrst time the

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28 The rest of Flotilla 12 had finally returned from England and were being converted to gunboats on the East Coast. Always there was some new scuttlebutt about our future, until at last the word came 3 all of the LC1s in port were to be converted to gunboats, without rockets, to serve as picket ships, presumably in the invasion of japan. On the afternoon of june 21 our conversion began, when a tugtowed us to a floating drydock. In less than 24 hours the bottom had been painted, ammunition un- loaded at Mole Pier, and the ship moored to the 420' at Pier 5. Navy yard workers littered the decks in short order and added to their con- fusion by training Welders on the job, which did not make for neat work. The 28th was a big day, for we got a sound movie projector, due to the efforts of Mr. Littlejohn, who collected money from several sources, the largest amount being a gift from the San Diego Rotary Club. 'Movies every night became the rule, and at first they were triple features. 15 July we officially became U. S. S. LCIQGJ 542. On the 17th an inspection was held with the crew in dress blues on the gundeck and Lt. Theo W. Pinson, the Group- Commander, in attendance. Roberts was summoned to the fore and being a conscientious Bosun's Mate began to worry about what had gone wrong. He was really surprised to be decorated with a well-deserved Bronze Star Medal for his heroism and conduct at the Invasion of Normandy. He and Bruce went off to Hollywood to celebrate. V .On July 20 Lt. Qjgj Donald G. Buchan, a Pacific LCICGQ veteran, reported for duty as Gunnery Officer. Next the ship was towed to the drydock once more, this time for the overnight installation of a fatho- meter. Back at Pier 5 the work continued, with the usual hitches, such as changing the type of radar after what had been shipped to us had all been unpacked or the time a yard worker rigged a bosunis chair from our old and battered yardarm and tumbled to the deck when it broke, luckily escaping with only bruises. 27 July ship's complement was increased to gunboat size with the arrival of Anwyl, Bishop, Co-n- nelly, McGovern, Pearson Polichak, and 16 seamen fresh from boot camp, all but one of whose names began with H. As of 2400 August 7 the conversion to gunboat was completed. The 542' had lost her ramps, bow winch and anchor, bow 20mm gun, and bunks in compartments 1, 2 and 4. She now sported three single 40mm guns, 4 2'0mms, 4 .50 caliber machine guns, a fathometer, radar complete with radar shack, several more radios, a Sperry gyrocompass with repeaters, a new officers' cabin where troop officers had berthed, new crew's quarters in No. 3, and a 4.0mm magazine in No. 2. After loading fuel, fog oil and ammuni- tion at Mole Pier, the ship was ,once more ready for sea by the Sth.

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, 30 Captain permitted the growing of beards, even producing one of sorts himself. On the 23d all ships held anti-aircraft practice, firing at helium balloons, of which we shot down two. On Z8 August there was more target practice, but this time we were detailed to blow up and release balloons for the port column. That was the day the engines acted up, which required dropping back out of formation to change filters. The next day we woke to see the island of Oahu's famous Diamond Head on the horizon, and at 0830 the ship entered Pearl Harbor, proceeding up into the West Loch, where she moored to the 528 at a buoy about an hour later. West Loch was filled with LCICGDS. There followed a week of inactivity and speculation as to the future. All hands enjoyed liberty in Honolulu, even though it was a job to get there: First you had to wait for the LCM liberty boat to come around, that took you to Waipio, where you had to change to another LCM or LCVP, which took you to the Fleet Landing at the Navy Yard, then you had to walk or take a bus to the Yard gates, finally you rode by bus or train to Honolulu, all of which required about two hours. The ship- spent two days in the pontoon drydock at Waipio Amphibious Base for bottom painting and the installation of new shafts, the only time she ever was out of water for more than 24 ho-urs. The next night during movies on the well deck there was a small fire on the ramp, which provided excitement but did no harm. . On 8 September, after fueling to capacity from a barge in the harbor, the ship returned to Waipiio to moo-r in a big nest at T-4. By now the main topic of conversation was discharge points, and it began to look as- if some of the crew might actually be on their way home soon. The rumor that the 542 was going backto the U. S., caused by the' fueling, proved false. Nevertheless, her complement was being cut, for the next day 7 men were transferred asho-re. On the 10th she was shifted to a mooring on the port side of the hulk of U. S. S. OKLAHOMA, and johnson departed for the hospital and discharge, to- the regret of all hands, who would miss the personality that had contributed so much. September 14 most of us repaired to the Navy Yard's Richardson Field for a softball game between the deck gang and the communicators, and for beer. That was the day the majority of the fleet arrived in Pearl Harbor from the peace signing at Tokyo, we had a fine view of them as they circled Ford Island and came into their moorings. Beloin made a surprise appearance at the game. Havlin played ball so vigor- ously that he threw his shoulder out of joint and had to go- to the hospital. The next day, Danielson, Cofer and Lunn, the lirst men to acquire enough points to get out, were transferred for transportation home with the Beet. On the 17th the ship resumed her Navy gray