Comet (AP 166) - Naval Cruise Book

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I-I. B. Knowles, on the USS CAIXIBRIA CAPAD. Extensive drills inldebarking troops, further training of boat crews, and gunnery practice consumed the first week in September. The ship then re- turned to Pearl Harbor, debarked troops, and remained there for another week before re-embarking them for the invasion of Yap. LEYTE OPERATION In company with this Attack Group the CGIVIET steamed out of Pearl Harbor on 15 September enroute to the final staging area at Eniwetok. Training and drills were conducted on the way, and before the convoy reached Eniwetok, it was learned that because of a change in Allied strategy the Yap invasion was to be cancelled. Arriving at Eniwetok on 25 September the Attack Group got under- way for Manus Island, in the Admiralty Group, just oiI the northern coast of New Guinea. Tactical exercises and ship handling drills continued, but the high point of the journey was the crossing of the Equator on 2 Qctober with appropriate initiation ceremonies. 'With C hief W ater Tender Caldwell and Chief Boatswain Brady as Neptunus Rex, the Ruler of the Raging Main, and Davy jones, his Royal Scribe, the ceremonies got underway. There weren't too. many shellbacks aboard and for a while it looked as if the polywogs would take over. However, the rebel- lion was quickly .put down and soon the polywogs who had gone through the initiation quickly assumed their roles of shellbacks and the sides were somewhat evened. Chaplain Pillsbury was one of the rebel force. He took over a high pres- sure jire hose, and for a while it seemed that he would hold off the shellbacks indefinitely. He was subdued, however, but not before putting up a mighty wet scrap. The shellbacks rigged up all kinds of devices, much to the discomfort of the polywogs. Lesko, the Royal Barber, clipped hair like a man 50

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i P mowing lawns, and Chief Hicks, the Royal Doctor, passed out his medications with malice instead of mercy. 24 shampoo ' of gooey black fuel oil followed, and then the soon to be shell- ibacks were given over to the mercy ofthe' gauntlet. Many a man had to eat off the mantel the next few days. Following the ceremonies by the crew, the Army passengers aboard took ooer and initiated their men. A The ships anchored in Seeadler Harbor, Manus, on 3 October. At this time it was learned that the date for the invasion of the Philippine Islands was to be advanced from December to 20 Oc- tober, and that the task group of which the COMET was a part would participate in the initial assault on Leyte Island, P.I. For this operation the Task Group designation Was changed from 33.2 to 79.2, and the USS AURIGA QAKD was added to TransDiv 28. Leaving lManus on 14 October, the group steamed toward Leyte Gulf preparing to join, on D-day, a huge task force composed of over 1000 ships. Due to continuous operation Without time for maintenance or repairs, the COMET suffered minor engine room casualties which caused it to break out of formation once, and on two occasions the gyro-compass was out of order for a brief time because of generator troubles. i' The course and speed of the group were frequently changed and many tactical maneuvers were carried out. General Quarters be- came an order of the day both morning and evening. At 0300 on 20 October the Task Force entered the Leyte Gulf from the east para- vanes streamed, and this group anchored in Transport Area 2, which was several miles east of the coastal town of San Jose. At 0922 debarkation of troops and equipment began, and progressed as scheduled. During the day casualties were received aboard and in the late afternoon a Filipino civilian was given medical treat- ment for a superficial bullet Wound and was questioned regarding military intelligence but could give no definite information of value. He was returned to the beach the next day after orders had been received not to treat civilians aboard ships. 52