Ammen (DD 35) - Naval Cruise Book

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POLYWOGS SWIM ACROSS THE LINE NEPTUNUS REX AND HIS COURT H. WILLIAMS, JR.. POLYWOG On December ll, mysterious preparations were noticed. We were nearing the equator and King Neptunus Rex was sched- uled to come aboard and receive new members into his Royal Domain. The Squadron Commander passed the word for all ships to be prepared to receive him. Scuttlebutt that the tt01d Mani, was a polywog and would also be initiated caused con- siderable speculation among the crew. A few minutes after noon on 12 December his presence was announced and King Rex and his Royal Party made their appearance. The Captain relinquished command of the ship and was ordered below. The Skull and Crossbones was hoisted to the peak of the foremast and initiation proceedings commenced. There were 301 poly- wogs initiated that day and the Royal Barber had a busy after- noon before Neptune disappeared at 1700 and command of the ship was returned to the skipper. That was the day we almost ran out of water and salt water was being used for practically everything. Even fresh water for drinking purposes was low and water hours had to be established. One snipe was heard to remark that 'gthey shore want us somewhere in a hell of a hurry not realizing at the time that he had hit the nail right on the head.

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We pulled into Furla Futi in the Ellice Islands at 1500 the next day where we re- fueled, discharged some passengers and settled down for the night. Next morning we were off again for Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides. On the fifteenth all hands rushed topside to see their first waterspout and on the sixteenth we en- tered Segond Channel, Espiritu, where the President Garfield had been sunk by an Allied mine. Moored to the fueling dock, all hands were able to take a good look at jungle similar to that which they were to help win in the months to come. The air had an orchid perfume to it, and here and there we could see gorgeous red blos- soms dotting the jungle landscape. Even the water was sparkling clear and fish HMILK RUNH T0 GLOUCESTER could be seen swimming lazily beneath the ship's hull. However, we cou.ldn't remain here for long and were underway immediately upon the completion of fueling for Milne Bay, New Guinea. On 18 December we passed through the China Straits, enjoying a fine View of the coconut palms and jungle on either side, and entered Milne Bay where we reported for duty with the Seventh Fleet. After a short stay here which included four days alongside the U.S.S. Dobbin for repairs, we left on December 24 as part of Task Force 74 for the landing at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. The twenty-fifth was a beautiful day and all hands enjo ed a Y magnlficent Christmas feast w1th1n easy fighter range of the Japanese air strips at Madang Rabaul, and Cape Gloucester. , We acted as anti-submarine patrol during the landings next morning. ln the after- noon just after we began to retire with our cruisers a large force of Japanese aircraft came in for an attack. Nearly all the enemy planes were destroyed in the engagement but the first ship of our squadron was lost when the Brownson was sunk and several other ships were slight- ly damaged. Next day we returned to Buna Roads to pick up an echelon of LST's to return to Cape Gloucester, thus beginning our period of 'Gmilk runs between these two spots each one hav- ing the serious navigational hazards of Ham Reef, Mitre Rock, and Margaret, Eleanor and Eve Shoals. On ur t th ' ' h M ll o en mission t e u any and Ammen were sent to conduct a bombardment of Gali, New Guinea, on the night of January 17, 1944. The next morning we met the convoy of assault troops headed for Saldor, New Guinea, where the landing was made on the nine- teenth without opposition. BOMBARDMENT On 26 January we bombarded Madang together with the Phoenix and Bush while the Boise and Mullany were shelling Alex- ishafen. This was a very dark night and there was considerable danger of the ships firing on each other. On 30 January while patrolling off Cape Gloucester with the Bush and Mullany, we were attacked by a single-engined Jap fighter which dropped a bomb in the center of the formation causing no damage and making good his , ,,,,, ,,,.,..,,,..,,.-,. ,,,, --f-..,..-,. ..-- 7-w----- f escape. After one more escorting job we j 1, received orders to proceed to Sydney, Aus- tralia for 'ten days of rest and recreation. February fifth we picked up 39 passengers at Millie Bay and headed for 46down-un- derw. Un the sixth, dimmed running lights were permitted for the first time since the Ammen started her tours.