LST (491) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE OL' DOUBLE TROUBLE y crew would be at battle stations most of the night as the japs would manage to get some of their bombers through our coastal defense. We would make smoke aboard with the use of smoke generators and have our boats circle the ship with smoke pots. This was done by all ships on signal from the Task Force Commander in order to protect all ships in the anchorage. We returned to Okinawa on july 1 with another load of equipment and men. This group, the 7th Serv- ice Corps, U. S. Marines, was our first detachment of Marines, came from the Island of Saipan. They were neat and tidy and kept their spaces in excellent shape. We arrived at Okinawa on July 28, this time beaching at Nagga Wan Bay on the North Western section of the island. On our return trip to Saipan on August ll, an epi- demic of acute dysentery broke out aboard ship. By noon all aboard except three officers and twelve en- listed men were affected to some degree. The ship was thus disabled and moored to a pier. Dr. Walker and the Pharmacists' Mates really had their hands full, so about half of the patients were sent to hospitals ashore. The same day rumors were flying around that the war would be over in a few days. And when the good news was made oflicial most of us were on our backs, sick aS dogs. We all had a happy feeling though, to know that the war was over and an invasion of the Japanese home- land was not necessary. The question each man IIOW was asking - was When am I going home? 1 46 l

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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

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' Q OKINAWA ' A The war was now over as far as actual combat was concerned, but probably our most important task was yet to come-the occupation of the Japanese homeland by which We hoped to lay the foundation for a lasting peace. We again loaded pontoons on each side of the ship and departed on a new assignment to Leyte, Philip- pine Islands, arriving on September 9, 1945. On com- pletion of needed repairs and assignment to the Fifth Fleet we sailed for Batangas, on the Southern end of the Island of Luzon, arriving on September 19, 1945. It was at this port that we were able to arrange trans- portation to the United States for the first group of our men, who were eligible for discharge to inactive duty under the new point system. Dr. Walker and Lt. Herb March received orders to return to the States. We were happy to know they were going home to their families, but we knew we were losing two grand guys, who had played a big part in making our ship a happy ship. We received aboard a new medical officer, Dr. Thomas Stjemholm, who replaced Dr. Walker, and the following day, Dr. Albert Kattus reported aboard for duty with Group Staff 107. 47 ------uni