Daly (DD 519) - Naval Cruise Book

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. Her Adventures fcontznuedl 1 Uur next duty found us as a unit in the screen of an escort-carrier force which was sending aerial strikes against Sakashima. These two weeks were a form of rest for all hands from the grueling schedule of the previous 71 days, although there were many times when 'GG-Q was sounded. Captain Bradley made it known to the crew on the 25th that we were headed back to Leyte Gulf. There was a feeling of loss and of sorrow in leaving behind our honored dead, to rest forever in the area of their heroic struggle. They were gone, but they would never be forgotten. The days between 27 ,I une and 12 July were spent at anchor in San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands. There was recreation for all. Each day, a small group would go to the beach, where they could have a beer or so, stretch their legs a bit, play ball or just sit around and trade a few souvenirs with the natives. Movies each night topside-rain or no rain. It was a rest that untangled the high-strung nerves of all. . In the early morning of 13 July, the DALY steamed out of Leyte Gulf en route to Buckner Bay, Okinawa, as a part of Task Force 95, under Rear Admiral F. S. Low, in company with cruisers and other destroyers. After fueling in Buckner Bay on the 16th, the force set the course for the East China Sea, for an anti-shipping sweep of the China coastal area. To avoid an approaching typhoon, the force changed course on the 17th and rc- tired fro-m the East China Sea. On the 20th, with the typhoon reported as hav- ing passed to the northward, the course was again ,set for our anti-shipping sweep of the East China Sea. Several small craft were encountered, but inves- tigation showed them to be Chinese. By the evening of the 24th, the force had returned and was anchored in Buckner Bay. Fifty nzne

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Her Adventures fcontinuedl , The next day,ithe DALY was sent to aid two ships-victims of kamikaze planes-near Ie Shima. She hadn't been there but a couple of hours before another ship was hit by two more of the suiciders. So, she proceeded to the stricken ship's aid immediately. In the late afternoon, we returned to the an- chorage area to transfer the wounded personnel from the stricken ship to an- other for further medical treatment. On the 26th, we pulled patrol duty on an anti-submarine station off Nakagusuku Wan, later renamed Buckner Bay. Enemy aircraft approached often, but none closed the DALY until the morning of the next day. Two Jap Vals approached from the east. They split, one maneuvered to crash the DALY but was shot down by her blazing guns 1,500 yards out on the starboard beam. The other plane disappeared into the cloud cover and then dived at another ship, crashing into her on the starboard side, causing serious damage and fire. The DALY escorted her into Nakagusuku Wan and then returned to patrol the station. D The 3rd of June, the 5l9 joined the small task unit which supported the assault and occupation of Iheya Shima, another of the small islands in the Ryuku group. After the initial bombardment, the troops landed successfully and took over control of the island. After securing the objective, the small force returned to the anchorage area in the late evening of the Sth, to await further orders. The next assignment for the DALY was the assault and occupation of Aguni Shima, of the Ryuku group. This was accomplished according to plan on the 9th of J une, and the DALY was returned to port for the next assignment. Night Firing Okinawa

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