Heywood Edwards (DD 663) - Naval Cruise Book

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Tlio battle off Sarisiao Straits In the epic- battle iif Suiijiao Straits in llu- I ' hilip- pines the destio Pis had their da . And. lhe made the most of it. The ( .S5 lleynood L. Ednnnls was pail of tlic Lnited States Naval task force which sailed Soulii in the Leyte Gulf on the night of October 24. 1944. to oppose entry of a powerful Japanese striking force. In compam uilli other destroyers, several cruisers and so-called old battleships, the Heyuaod L. Edwards took her station in the battle disposition and began tlic long night ' s vigil. Officers and men were familiar with the relative strength and proximity of the Japanese — and nianv envisioned a master squeeze pla b the cneiin. Nevertheless, it secm d there ucie feu men alidard the llcynood L. Edininis llial niglil who ac luallv Ix ■ licved llic Japanese would sail blithelv into an al- in(]sl (liivious trap— one presenting surb perfect tactical silualidMs for ibe Americans. Few men could believe that, despite claims of the Idkv ' o Hadio. the Japanese mmmand ( imld be so misinformed as to dispatch such a force as they were sending against the American units in Levte Gulf. Even persistent air attacks during preieding davs had failed to diminish to anv appreciable de gree the combat elhcicricv if tbc 1 iiited States forces. . n llie hiliiards lav silent in the inkv iiigbl. watched and waited. If ibcv c am. ' llicv liadn ' l at Sai[ an nr rahui tbc slii|i vmiuIiI picibablv achieve ibal dicam of all deslrovers a Idvpcdd run on tbc eni ' niv bailie line. It was with mixed feel- ing, then, ibal she wailed. Her men had bcallhv r( spec I for Japanese guns - and preliminarv repcirls from I ' T boats indicated that al least Inn and pc) - siblv ibrcc balllcsbip- were in ibc cnemv dispcisilicm. Just before midiiigbl icii ibc 2 lib. ihc task foice connnander ordered all ships { tbc battle fciice to man ibeir balllc slations. Tbc Jajis were slill i cming

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