Dashiell (DD 659) - Naval Cruise Book

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K columns of four ships with the destroyers and minesweepers as an anti- submarine screen and two CV'E's operating astern in a carrier area. At daybreak of 21 July the coast of Guam was sighted. Simultaneously with 53.2's landing of troops, the northern group landed on the other side of Orote Peninsula. The DASHIELL was desig- nated to form a fire support unit with the U. S. S. Murray. At 0400 the ship went to general quarters, commencing prearranged fires on targets below Agat two hours later. For ten minutes before the first landing wave at 0836 the rate of fire was increased from one salvo every two or three minutes to 10 rounds per gun per minute. The umbrella of naval gunfire was largely responsible for the success of the landings. The DASHIELL continued tiring in her assigned area throughout the morn- ing. At 1100 she neutralized Japanese mortar positions on the slope of Mt. Alafan. Soon thereafter contact was established with the shore fire control party, and during the afternoon various enemy strongpoints in the line of advance were neutralized. Most of the firing was conducted at a range of 5000 to 8000 yards from the beach. The only casualty re- ported was a small fire on the forecastle caused by burning cork which was quickly extinguished. That night the DASHIELL was assigned to the transport screen. At 0700 next morning the ship was back in her fire support area. She delivered effective call fires against enemy artillery, tanks, emplace- ments, and other targets until 1600, at which time she replenishd her dwindling ammunition supply from an LST. Upon return to the area she delivered more salvos, then furnished starshell illumination till 0200. In the morning the 2659 proceeded to F acpi Point for a fire mission. She returned to her assigned area at 1600, having liquidated numerous Japanese troops and tanks. During the night 23-24 July she furnished illumination and harassing fire in the Mt. Alafan area. At 0800 next morning the DASHIELL'S second change of com- mand took place under the dramatic circumstances of action against the enemy Lieutenant Commander Barham, now assigned to a shore sta tion after nine years of active sea duty was relieved by Commander D L Cordlner, who had come aboard at Emwetok All this time the DASHIELL S men had been closely following the reports of our advancing front lines By the morning of the 24th the north ern and southern troops had joined and were closing 1n on the mam body of the enemy trapped on Orote Peninsula The DASHIELL now took under fire a specific enemy strongpomt that was holding up the advance f , . . I I 0 Q . , . , fl A ' 0 0 ., , W 9 0 ' Q , I . . , 0 I U . . Q . . O O I 0 O ' a I 0 O . . ., if . , . , . , . an 1 QI, g 3 X' n . v Q g,12g.Lg A 2 15 J . 5 , 'S fr aims: .

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4-Q ate long range aircraft agamst Japan, secure control of the Central Pa- cific, isolate and neutralize the Carolines. Task Forces 58 and 59 were directed to provide strategical and tactical air support for the operation. How well they complied was demonstrated by their rout of the Japanese fleet that had set out from the Philippines and by the overwhelming ratio of plane losses suffered by the enemy. The northern attack force was to strike Saipan on D-Day, set for 15 June. The southern force, Task Force 53, was to act as a Heating reserve for the northern and to be in position for the Guam landing on D plus two, though it was estimated that the attack would occur on the 18th. The DASHIELL was assigned to the southern attack group of the southern force. G 9 The Saipan landing came off as scheduled, though the hard-lighting Marines met even more resistance than they had expected. On D plus two the DASHIELUS group was in the appointed position but was or- dere'd to retire and come in again twenty-four hours later. Next day the same thing happened. -In fact it happened for two weeks, much to the increasing wonder and disappointment of the ship's company. The monotony was broken the night of 19-20 June when the '659 was or- dered to conduct hunter-killer operations in an area where a submarine had been reported. Results of tl1e search were negative, however, and the ship rejoined at 0800. After a few days the east-west route traveled over and over by the task group was christened U. S. Route 1. Some souls even claim to have seen a few billboards and filling stations. Finally on 30 June the Captain announced, 'GBelieve it or not, we're on our way to Eniwetoklw It was an anticlimax but at least the tension was relieved, and the plans for Guam, though postponed, were by no means abandoned. The DASHIELL entered the lagoon at Eniwetok, westernmost of the Marshalls, the afternoon of 3 July. As at Kwajalein, palm trees on the atollls principal islands, now bereft of foliage, at- tested to the fury of the fighting that had taken place earlier in the year. For two weeks the DASHIELL remained anchored at Eniwetok ex- cept for two patrolling details and a day of anti-submarine exercises. Her men got a chance to stretch their legs again on some of the islands that still had trees, to drink some beer, and in some cases to brave the knife- like coral and go swimming. Generally speaking, though, Paciic atolls are not equipped as amusement parks. At 0930 on 17 July the DASHIELL shoved off again with Task Group 53.2, this time for the real thing. The transports were in four

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At 0955 she ceased fire and our troops started their push five minutes lat- er, eventually taking possession of the whole peninsula and its valuable airstrip. The ship fired on pillboxes and other targets throughout the day, joining the transport screen at sunset. The crew did not have a long respite from general quarters, for at 0345 on 25 July a sound contact was made that was soon evaluated as a submarine. At 0420 a full pattern attack was made, followed by three reattacks. After the last charges went off an underwater explosion was heard, with traces of oil and debris appearing on the surface. Contact was not regained, and the area was turned over to another ship of the screen when at 0730 the DASHIELL was ordered back to her fire support area. Owing to the successful advance of our troops call fire was not required that day, and at sunset the ship resumed her patrol duties. After fueling next morning she rendezvoused with a task unit of transports and escorts bound for Eniwetok. On 30 July the unit entered Eniwetok lagoon. S 77czcd,4dc0 cmd -4 1 The DASHIELL remained only a day at Eniwetok, getting underway the 31st to leave the Marshalls and the Central Pacific in company with trans- ports and other escorts. On 3 August Neptunus Rex put in his third ap- pearance aboard the DASHIELL to initiate another consignment of polly- wogs to the mysteries of his aquatic realm. The unit put into port at Esp- iritu Santo on the afternoon of 6 August, the 6659,, receiving tender availability. Espiritu was more commodious than most of the bases encountered. The pre-war sight of a large plantation, its ordered rows of palms were pleasing to the eye. There were adequate recreation facilities for naval personnel in addition to the Red Cross units established for servicemen. Overlooking Segond Channel was a small, neatly kept French missionary settlement whose peaceful environs afforded momentary escape from the turnult of military life. On two nights during the DASHIELUS stay there was the added attraction of a Bob Hope show. Oblivious to the ele- ments, thousands of sailors, soldiers, and marines stood in the rain and deep mud to hear the comedian and gape at the appealingly dressed girls who accompanied him. For DASHIELL men it was welcome reassurance that somewhere female beauty still thrived. 4, :A Y. 5 4 5' -I 4' 1, ii 'V diff ,. , sa, ,- , g, ...Hits- 4, 5,1 if V v , Hifi its ,gt f ..:.e 'fQ:, 1.f , a fiuf' X ff V ,gif ,,,.v,. V - . T11 7 -2 42 11:5-'mfs g ' M' iw: '