Dashiell (DD 659) - Naval Cruise Book

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History Of USS The U.S.S. Dashiell fDDi659l, a 376 foot destroyer with a standard displacement of 2050 tons, was constructed at Kearny, New Jersey andiwas first commissioned at Brooklyn, New York, on'20 March 19435 she set sail for the Pacific, arriving in the war zone in July. Dashiell operated out of Pearl Harbor, participated in carrier strikes on Marcus Island, Tarawa, and Wake Island, on 20 November of that year, the Dashiell stood into Tarawa lagoon spearheading, the subsequent occupation. Her guns accounted for numerous shore batteries, pill boxes, enemy strong points, and an ammunition dump. Damages sustained from an unchartered reef in Tarawa Lagoon necessitated the Dashiell's retirement to the Pugent Sound Navy Yard for repairs after the Tarawa operation. In February I944, the Dashiell proceeded to rendezvous with a battleship task force whichon 20 March bom- barded Kavieng, New Ireland. After three and one-half hours of firing, during which threatening enemy batteries were silenced and other damage done, the force retired to Efate. The Dashiell was than assigned to the Seventh Fleet. The ship participated in the Humboldt Bay landing of April I944, and then proceeded to the Solomons for training. This ship was part of the floating reserve for Saipan, and on the twenty-first of July she commenced providing fire support for the Guam landings. After Guam, the Dashiell regained the Seventh Fleet, and was assigned to two echelons which were reinforcing troops newly landed on Morotai Island, Dutch East Indies. On l3 October I944, the Dashiell operated as part of the Central Phillippines attack Force. Her mission was to cover landings on Panaon Island. ln November she made her first acquaintance with a suicide plane. This plane had leveled off and was heading for the Dashiell's bridge before the ship's guns sent it reeling-into the water. With an amphibious group bound for Mindoro, she sortied from Leyte Gulf on the twelfth of December. A Kamikaze streaked out from land and crashed into the flagship, whereupon Admiral and Commanding General were taken aboard the Dashiell with their respective staffs. On return of the Task Group, the ship received a Well Done , for despite numerous air attacks the ,operation was effected successfully. While in Leyte the gun creWS ,of the Dashiell fouled the attack of a suic'de I b of the Kamikaze. Only the skillful maneuvering by her Captain and the excellence of her gun crews saved the Dashiell from destruction by a suicide dive bomber. On the eleventh of January, in company with several other destroyers, the Dashiell interce t d t A - ' - ' p e G Wenty one ship convoy, the result of this engagement was the destruction of four enemy 1 p ane ut not until six of her crew were wounded from the strafing cargo ships. During the bloody operation in Okinawa, the Dashiell received numerous assignments to radar picket stations. The number of close calls from Kamikaze attacks mounted and the decks were strewn with debris from the close crashing attack planes, one suicidal passed between the stacks before lun ' ' t th O th f teenfh p gang in o e sea. n e OUI' of April the Dashiell fought 'her most desperate battle for survival, the Picket Group of which she was a part was under attack from all directions by a score of Jap planes. Three planes crashed within fifty feet of the ship, and during the melee the Di ' ' C ' ' - - ' . I vision . ommander s ship was hltgso for the second time in her career, the Doshlell took Over GS relief fldg Ship. -The ship was forced to return to Ulithi for repairs. . .:. lily. 7. If 1 .V .i, 2. .Xu 4' 1. W. ' Vx il 'tr sr J, I' .. 5, tl Li 5 I :stil va -' '. wg xi, I . ii I' Zv i' ,fi ,-'Q' u Ti' .. I a if I 1 .F rj Ni, 3 -., 3 KA! .im if I .wtf I fx? -14 JA if 1 ,illdf YQ -Y J.. ., A' L,-I., NH. 15' An iigffnf 5 'iii ' Wa- , fc. ' 4 ir. . frf fret' '-Y I ., b,. rr 'i K. I fx v J- -.Jr .. UQ. if. iii' Wav. .-N. J, , r. ,,-fu ., ,3 5 '. .ii .. ri iq ,Ji fi ' -fl 141 .1 six .. .1 512, '31 QF if ui CJ xt 'nk I S20 f gf? 2' 3 fi ,p,fi,11 .1- . A 124