LST (491) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE OL' DOUBLE TROUBLE Our radar picked up the island of Eniewtok long before we could see it, as the island was very small and quite flat. We stayed overnight long enough to pick up our signals and move on to Guam. Not long after our departure, Lt. Herb March became ill and had to be transferred to one of the escorts for return to Eniew- tok for an appendectomy. fHe recovered nicely and was back aboard in a few weeks.j We arrived at Guam on April 28 and found Apra Harbor quite crowded with ships and a bee-hive of port activity. Our Hrst evening in Guam was an enjoyable one, the weather was beauti- ful and the sing-song and show was a corker. Some ships suspected us of having women aboard, but what they saw was Pharmacist's Mate, Harold Lewis, as the Hula-Hula dancer, and Motor Machinist's Mate, Paul Callahan, the mysterious Glamour Girl. Part of our cargo was off loaded here at Guam including our pon- toons, and the remainder on the Island of Tininian. On May 12 we sailed to Saipan where we received aboard several survivors from ships which had been damaged and sunk off Okinawa. On May 16 we were back in Guam and were immediately loaded with 1096 tons of ammunition-destination-Okinawa. 44

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I y ON OUR WAY AGAIN Storekeeper Mudd and others. The engineers saw to it that our ice cream production was increased by tap- ping the brine from the refrigerator to the ice cream machine and rigging up a small motor to do the work. Our voyage was uneventful, but we were shocked when we received the radio message on April 12, 1945, stating that our President and Commander-in-Chief, Franklin D. Roosevelt, had passed away. It was hard to believe that this great champion of Democracy and friend of all Navy men was gone. The ensign was lowered io half-mast by order of the Secretary of Navy, for a period of thirty days. On Sunday, April 15, a memorial serv- ice was held on the main deck with all hands attending. Before our arrival at Eniewtok, the first edition of our ship's newspaper was issued. jack 'Frethewey Storekeeper lfc, won 55.00 in the newspaper name con- test, the name being Now Hear This. The news- paper staff was as follows: Chief of Staff, R. Towner, C.Ph.M.3 Editor, R. Criep. Yflciz Reporters--Engiw eering, F. Chancellor, CMOMMQ Supply, R. Wasielew- ski, CCS, Deck, C. Wilson, BM2!cg Gunnery, VV. Brad- ley, GMl!cg Ship's Control, P. Hadley, SMl!c: LCVP's, R. Capstick, MOMMIXCQ Religious, F. Sweeney, Y2fcg Statistical, W. Runnalls, SKD2!cg Recreation and Sports, L. Anastasi, Slfcg Library, Cunningham, Flfc QMOMMjg Personalities, W. Smith, SMl!cg Make-up Editor, D. Hayes, Ylfcg Copyist, NV. Foley, Y2!cg Fea- ture Writers, W. YV eller, SK3! c and Martin Rogoff, QMSXCQ and Cartoonist, H. Lewis, Phm2! c. 43

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Okinawa We departed Guam on May 21 in convoy and ar- rived at Hagushi Beach, Okinawa on May 31. We launched our LCT, the 554, supplying it with fuel, food, and water. Mr. Foster and 12 men went aboard and were soon ready for operations at Hagushi Beach. The Okinawa operation was difficult and bloody for our forces. Here we had all branches of our Armed Forces engaged against the enemy-Army, Navy, Mar- ines, Coast Guard and Air Corps. Our losses were heavy, particularly in the number of ships damaged or destroyed. The screen of American ships protecting the forces ashore certainly earned the name they were later given, The Fleet that Came to Stay. All during the night we could hear the artillery shells exploding as our land forces advanced on the city of Naha, and the booming of the 16-inch guns of the Battleships from sea. The weather was usually unfavorable as it rained during most of our stay in the combat zone. Trucks, jeeps and other vehicles would bog down in the mud. While we were on the beach we would often have tired and weary marines and soldiers come aboard for water or some food and their boots would usually show the mud line above their knees. Many times our entire 45