Hancock (CV 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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Hell on Earth- Iwo Jima Famed M t. Saribachi I wo Jima

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and the accompanying destroyers, Chatelain, Jinks and Pillsbury. Captain Gallery led the boarding party aboard the U-505, first enemy ship to be captured in that manner since l8l 5. Among his four rows of ribbons, Captain Gallery wears the Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Commendation Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Commander of the British Empire Medal, the Expert Pistol Medal. The U.S.S. Hancock steamed into Tokyo Bay on the lOth of September, l946. All hands were topside as she threaded her way through the buoyed channel, glimpsing on either hand the destruction wrought by her own planes in this, the heart of an enemy nation. Silent witness to the devastation was the harbor entrance control post and fort which consisted of fathom-thick con- crete fortifications which now lay in crumpled confusion like the ancient ruins of a decadent civilization. From the murky, stagnant waters of the Bay protruded the masts of Japanese Navy and Merchant vessels. As the l-lannah rounded the breakwater she passed the rusting hulk of a beached Jap de- str-oyer deserted and lifeless in its last resting place. To port the heavy top hamper of the battleship NAGATO loomed in the distance and soon watches on the bridge were able to make out the cranes and workshops of the bat- tered YOKOSUKA Naval Base. To starboard the ships of the invasion fleet stretched row on row to the harbor entrance at Yokohama. C Q Task Force 58 Off Iwo Jiima

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Beachecl Enemy Ships at Iwo Jima