Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 252 of the 1946 volume:

-X lf' x 5 X N I . g. 4 J '-I , K W 1 NX , k - K ' . , V V o K 1 . ,,,,,,4 I . . N. ,,--.4,......N,w.Q,Mg-,mQnvp4-www: i Q i Q l+ M 1 5 I 1 u l I l 1 N 1 A ' K l Q MAN OF WAR LOG OF THE UNITED STATES HEAVY CRUISER L0UlSvlLLE By HER OFFICERS AND EMEN' R COPYRIGHT 1946 BY J. PENNINGTON STRAUS PHILADELPHIA All photographs appearing in this book are 0mCial Navy Photographs, with the exception of a few prints donated by individuals or private concerns. They are not to be reproduced in any form, without permission from the U. S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, Photographic Section. DEDICATED T0 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA X IC-Brix . Q S fl I V I 'EAS R a s 2 W I I f 1 i E V N 1 1 i 9 i 5 W J ,Z i ,i ,a , : X I 5 1 1 I, Y i w 7 1 Q 1 1 i I 1. I z l D f i 1 W -ff ---f- -- 5 B 6 ' ? I i WIT Q is a pleasure to extend to the oyficers and men of the U. S. S. LUUISVILLE my congratulations on your fine record. The 'Lady Lou, was in the fight from the earliest raids on the Marshall Islands to Ukinawa, and her guns were a potent factor in every engagement. She is a gallant ship, and her crew deserves a sincere 6W ell Done ,.', Killed in Action ALLSTOT, MAX VERNON .......... S 1 X c-USNR AVERILL, HARRY LEROY .... .....S1fc -USN R BARR, JOSEPH ALONZA, JR. ..... RM lfc-USN BLAYLOCK, JAMES ISAAC ......... S 2fc-USNR BOWLIN, JIMMY LEE .... . . . BROWN, DWIGHT IRVING ..... . . . .S Ifc-USN Lt. Comdr.-USNR BROWN, WILLIAM CECIL ......... S 2 X c-USNR BURKE, RICHARD LAWRENCE ...... S 1 fc-USN BUSBY, CLARENCE RAYMOND ...... S 2fc-USNR CALHOUN, THOMAS JULES .... Lt. Comdr.-USNR CHANDLER, THEODORE EDSON.Rear Adm.-USN CHIN, SHOON ........... Q ...... S 2fc--USNR CLOUD, BOBBY EUGENE .... ..... S Zfc-USNR COADY, WILLIAM GEORGE ........ S 2fc-USN COCHRAN, DERREL CHARLES ...... S Zfc-USNR CORDRAY, CREED JUSTICE, JR.. CRAVER, BATESI BARTELETT, JR.. .Ensign-USNR ....S Zfc-USNR CUMMINS, JAMES GEORGE ......... CSM+USN R EDWARDS, ROBERT MORRIS ....... S 1 ERICHSON, RALPH ......... fc-USNR . .ARM 2 fc-USNR FLOW, HERMAN STANLEY ........ S 2 X c-USN R F RITZ, JOSEPH HENERY ........ SM 3fc-USNR FROST, EDWARD WALTER ......... S 2 X c-USNR F RUSHOUR, JOSEPH FRANCIS ...... S 2 fc-USNR GABRIELLI, ELMO ....... CALL, ANDREW, JR. .... . .......S2fc -USNR -USNR .....S1fc GONZALES, RICHARD ..... GREEN, ROBERT R. ..... . HARTMAN, CHARLES RUFUS HENSLEY, WILLIAM FRANK. . . JELLE, RAYMOND HAROLD. . . . .S Zfc-USNR . .... S 2,fC-USNR AMM 3fc-USNR . .SM lfc-USNR .......S2fc-USNR JOHNSON, LOUIS MARVIN ......... S 2 X c-USNR KATZ, ROBERT EUGENE .... .... S 1 fc-USNR LEMMON, CHARLIE EDWARD ....... S 2fc-USNR LOPER, WENSON WEBSTER LUIZ, JOSEPH CHARLES .... .RM 3fc:-USN LUCAS, RONALD RAYMOND ........ S 2 fc-USNR . .SM Bfc-USNR MCGARVEY, CARROLL GEORGE .... S Zfc MELINCAVAGE, RAYMOND JOSEPH. .S Zfc MESSER, FREDDIE CHRISTOPHER. . .S 1 fc USNR USNR USNR MOORMAN, ODUS DEAN .......... S Zfc-USNR NOAH, BENJAMIN DEAN . . . ..... S 2 fc-USNR 0,CONNOR, EDWARD HURLEY. . .Lt. fj.g.j-USNR SIEGEL, WALTER JOSEPH ....... P.F.C.-USMCR STENZEL, JOHN EMIL .... . . .Lt.fj.g.j-USNR STEPHEN, ERVIN JOSEPH ....... RT 2 f c-USNR TAYLOR, GLENN CECIL ..... .... L ieut. -USN R TAYLOR, LEROY FREDERICK ...... S Zfc-USNR WATKINS, WINFIELD WENDELL. .RM 1 fc-USNR WHEATON, ROBERT NELSON ...... S 1 fc-USNR WORTHINGTON, EDWARD HICKS. . .Lieut. -USN YAUGER, CHARLES EDGAR ...... GM 1 fc-USN 0 ln Memorlam Memorial Delivered by Ship,s Chaplain, March, 1945 Mare Island Navy Yard Chapel IT IS with great regret and a deep sense of humility that we come today into God's pres- ence to pause in the midst of our feverish activities and materialistic pleasures to join our hearts and minds in sacred memory of those who fell in battle. We come together today to pay our respects to our honored shipmates who, giving the supreme sacrifice, failed to return with us upon completion of this tour of duty. There are times when words alone fail to interpret the innermost sentiments that lie deeply hidden and unexpressed within our hearts. No words can adequately express the deep sorrow caused by the absence of the ones we learned to love and respect and with whom we had lived so intimately. ln a very real sense they had become a part of us. Thus it is natural that we should miss them and stand humbled before Almighty God because of the sacrifice so bravely given by those who did not pause to question the cost when the hour of need arose. To the families of our deceased shipmates we extend the hand of Christian fellowship and love. May they be assured that our thoughts are of them in these days of loneliness. We pray that they may be given the spiritual strength sufficient to face the trials and fears and doubts and anxieties caused by the death of those who were part of them as well .... There are men who believe that they can express adequately their gratitude for a sacri- fice made by mere words or by the present action of a gift of pecuniary value. There are others who, because they forget or are not grateful, fail even to acknowledge the sacri- fice of others. lt is my sincere belief that the men aboard this good ship, U. S. S. Louisville, having lived and played and sung and wor- shipped and fought and bled together, will wish to rise above the commonplace of ordi- nary things and make a determined effort to guarantee that the sacrifices of their shipmates are not in vain. The only worthy expression of appreciation for so great a sacrifice is not an outward display of tears, nor a barrage of meaningless words, nor shallow suggestions of sympathy, but lives that bespeak of gratitudeg lives that promote decency and honor, lives that make secure the democracy for which they died. . . lf the sacrifices of our dead are not to be in vain we must heeditheir voices-UYOU MUST NOT FORGET! We must remember that it is imperative that we labor for a world in which war will not come again. We must remember that our lives must be so ordered that the spirit of the Prince of Peace and the teachings of His life will permeate the false barriers we have set up between social classes and races and nations, will root out the weeds of hatred and greed and suspicion, and will make fertile the seeds of peace and brother- hood among men that have been planted in the garden of nations. We must remember that if we are to have a lasting peace we must learn how to LIVE fearlessly and bravely in the time of peace as well as how to die fearlessly and bravely in the time of war. Departed shipmates, we accept the torch of sacrifice. We shall never let its flame die nor shall we allow the light of hope for a peaceful world to grow dim. ln so doing we will indeed be shipmates not for a day, nor for the duration of one tour of duty, but shipmates forever! PREFACE THIS IS the biography of the Louisville, heavy cruiser of the United States Fleet. Named for the famous Kentucky city, the ship, since commissioning day, has carried, on a prominent bulkhead, a shoe of the great stallion, Man o' War, as a talisman against evil. By this, the title of the story was suggested. The account covers a period of fifteen years, and includes launching and commissioning, the days of preparation, and four and a half dark years of war fought by the Louisville in all parts of the Pacific. lt closes with post-War occupation duties in North China and Manchuria, the return of soldiers, sailors, and marines to the United States, and final berthing in the Philadelphia Navy Yard-rest from a long and stirring career. A ship, to those who have served aboard her, is a great deal more than floating steel and rivets and Wood. She has a personality of her own, taken on through the common fears, hopes and daily living experiences of the ever-changing yet continuous group of men assigned to her for duty. Personnel replacements are effected gradually, and the spirit of a particular vessel is never lost, but remains as the accumulation of her achievements and failures. It is therefore appropriate that the material in the following pages, although edited under the direction of the present ship's company, represents the collective efforts and contributions of personnel who have lived and worked aboard the uLucky Lady Lou in all her years of service to the nation. i I 5 r 1 f 1 4 l 1 I 1 l H I V Q i v l Z J I w 4 1 l CONTENTS A SHIP IS BORN . . 13 SHOWING THE FLAG . . 23 THE SAILOR,S DAY . . . 325 THEN THERE WAS WAR . . 69 EARLY CAMPAIGNS . . . . 77 OUT OF THE FRYING PAN . . 87 FIRST INVASIONS .... . 99 KEEP THEM SAFE . . l09 A BIRD,S-EYE VIEW. . . Q23 LEYTE ..... - Q37 SURIGAO BATTLE . - Q47 KAMIKAZE. . - l57 OKINAWA . - Q73 PEACE . . - l90 OCCUPATION ..... - Q95 THE LONG VOYAGE HOME . - 203 COMMANDING OFFICERS . - 213 MAN OF WAR STAFF . . - 214 'if s 1 gf .' A 1, --7,-f'v- w 1,, 4 n . 1 M Q r 4 Q , . , 1 A' al. 'J Q-X '4 W1 , 4,3 , -qv ii! y ,5 V Q v Jn,, I Q ' f 1 .f v ff . .av-.-.-fs . . .. V f a . . , . 0 , 1' ii? i C 1 I 5 1 CONCEIVED under the i terms of the Naval X X QV iv , A NM ,CJ Q Limitation Treaties, of . the Washiiigton Con- : ference, the Louisville was authorized by l Congress on December 18, 1924. She E was then known only as Cruiser No. 28, 3 Q one of six others also authorized at the 1 same time. S 4 I E A Ship is Born 1 construction was made available. Once this was provided, the Navy lost no time in adding to its fleet one ten-thousand-ton cruiser. Bids were requested, and sub- mitted, with the award of the contract going to Puget Sound Navy Yard. On Independ- ence Day, ,luly 4, 1928, the keel was laid. The ship grew rapidly, and it soon be- came appropriate to assign her a name. P E 2 WITH THE KEEL LAID, CONSTRUCTION OF THE It was peace. The world was struggling in a search for security and freedom from wars. Nothing was urgent about the build- ing of this man-of-war, so it was three years ,I later, in March of 1927, before money for NEW CRUISER BEGINS AT P. S. N. Y., JULY, 1928 During the Civil War, in the year 1862, there was built a mighty ironclad of 468 tons with 14 guns. Named the Louisville, she served the Navy throughout the war. The second Louisville had been chris- . tened the St. Louis, an Atlantic Ocean liner, built in Philadelphia in 1894. With this country,s entry into World War I, the Navy acquired her, renamed her the Louisville and placed her in active service under the Cruiser and Transport Force. Designated an auxiliary cruiser, she plied regularly-between American and European ports, successfully braving the submarines and mine menace. At the end of the war she was decommissioned and returned to her original owners. On March 12, 1929 this memorandum appeared on the bulletin board of the Com- mandantgsl Ollice at Puget Sound Navy Yard: It is .noted for the information of all concerned that the Secretary of the Navy has assigned the name, Louisville, in honor of the city of Louisville,- Kentucky, to Cruiser No. 28? Thus she was named- the third of the Navy's Louisvilles. At-the beginning of September 1930, the Laaly Lou's first press notices appeared in the Courier Journal of Louisville, Kentucky: BY MARCH, 1930, CRUISER 28, READY FOR PRELIM- INARY' FLOATING, IS WATERBORNE AND TESTED uBremerton, Wash., Sept. 1-Amid the cheers of a vast multitude, the blare of bands and shrill blast of whistles of harbor craft, the U. S. S. Louisville was christened and uundockedn here this afternoon in an elab- orate and colorful ceremony. Her sleek sides glistening in the bright sunshine of a typical Northwest early autumn day, a long slim lighting ship floats this after- noon in the placid waters of Puget Sound. uSenators, Congressmen, and high officials of the Federal and State governments, scores of Navy and Army oflicers, in dress uniforms, and thousands of Washington citizens partici- pated in the christening exercises. While the official guests were assembling at a reviewing stand, placed abreast the bow of the Louis- ville, a Navy band played patriotic airs. WPromptly at two o'clock the assemblage was brought to order by a bugler sounding Gattentionf Admiral Henry J. Ziegemeier, Commandant of the Puget Sound Navy Yard, made the introductory address, and concluded by introducing Maurice H. Thatcher, U. S. Representative from the Fifth Kentucky Dis- trict, official representative of the City of Louisville. uRepresentative Thatcher concluded a fif- teen-minute address by introducing the spon- sor, Miss ,lane Brown Kennedy of Louisville, Ky., who was attended by Misses Henrietta Henderson and Ruth Crockett Cole of Louis- ville, as maids of honor. '4Chaplain Homer G. Glunt, U. S. Navy, offered a prayer and at exactly 2:30 o'clock Miss Kennedy broke over the shlipls bow a bottle of water from the Lincoln Springs at Hodgenville, Ky., the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, oflicially christening the vessel. 6'Following the christening ceremony. the Louisville's own whistle blew one long and three short blasts and the ship slowly drew out of the dry dock under her own steam while the band played the 6Star Spangled CHRISTENED MU. S. S. LOUISVILLEQ, 1 SEPTEMBER, 1930 Bannerf 'My Old Kentucky I-Iomef and then a series of lively tunes. Mlmmediately after the christening of the Louisville, exercises marking the laying of the keel for the U. S. S. Astoria, a sister ship of the Louisville, were conducted. mln his brief introductory address, Admiral of the contract date, March 13, 1931, but at a considerable saving in cost to the Govern- ment under tl1e contract price., uAdmiral Ziegemeier concluded his remarks by introducing Representative Thatcher. Ex- pressing regret that William B. I-Iarrison, four capable young Mayorf was unable to be pres- 4 1 ACCOUNTS APPEARING IN SEATTLE PAPERS OF THE U. S. S. LOUISVILLE'S PRELIMINARY FLOATING AND CHRISTENING Ziegerneier described the Louisville and the remarkable record made in her construction. - Wflust about two years and two months ago we laid the keel of the Louisville in this dry-dock,' the Admiral declared. 6We now launch her practically 86 percent complete. We expect within the next few months to turn her over to the United States for com- mission. - 46 4We expect to finish not only well ahead ent, Representative Thatcher declared that Gnevertheless, he is here in spirit, as are also the great body of citizens of Louisville, espe- cially the school children, who are keenly interested in this great eventf M This is a great occasion in a great country,' Mr. Thatcher said. uln naming its newest fighting unit for Louisville, Mr. Thatcher asserted, the Navy honors the chief city of the South, second n- l 1 f E 2 f 5 F ' . ' -f , I A Q.. ,, T . I J 4 A , vw! U W, :N 1 , , F I P r k THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY, 15 JANUARY, 1931, IS HELD BEFORE THE LOUISVlLLE,S FIRST CREW ASSEMBLED IN DRESS UNIFORM ON THE FANTAIL only to New Orleans. He then proceeded to review the history and achievements of the Kentucky metropolis. alt was particularly fitting the christening of the Louisville should be started in a North- west Navy yard, he said, since Kentucky gave to this section many of its earliest settlers and one of its native sons, William Clark, of Lewis and Clark, first explorers of the Oregon country, he pointed out. That same month, in another part of the World, another launching occurred, a launching of the first of the overt acts of aggression that eventually culminated in World War ll. Under the doubtful pre- text of an 'cincidentn ,lapan's armies had marched into Manchuria. The launching of the Lou marked a new development in American Naval construc- tion, for she was the first heavy American warship to be built in -a drydock. Hence, instead of a first plunge down greased ways, she was launched by simply flooding the building dock she was constructed in, and she got underway aided by a flotilla of noisy little tugs nudging her on. The Lady lacked the usual ostentation of most ships, debuts, however, she made it up by presenting an impressive display of power and force. Her 600 feet of sleek and slender hull displaced l0,000 tons of water, carried three main battery turrets NEWLY COMMISSIONED LOUISVILLE STARTS OUT ON SSHAKE- DOWNI' CRUISE T0 THE EQUATOR AND HAWAIIAN ISLANDS each containing three eight-inch caliber guns, and her secondary battery consisted of four five-inch mounts. Her 107,000 horsepower turbines could propel her through the water at a speed of thirty-two or thirty-three knots. Fast and powerful, she was a tremendous fighting ship, and in years to come she was to fulfill, in the highest tradition of the Navy, her war- time duties. After the christening there still re- mained much work for the men of the yard to complete before the ship could be ready for commissioning. For three addi- tional months they labored at installing ventilation systems, fire control mechan- ism, furniture, and the innumerable fittings necessary to make her ready for sea. The day was grey-cast and drizzly when the Louis1Jille's first complement of men and officers, in dress uniform, marched aboard and lined up on the fantail. Mili- tarily disposed in compact ranks from the face of Turret Ill aft, the crew saluted the colors, as 'c0ld Glory was run up to the accompaniment of the national anthem, played by the ship's band. The Com- mandant of the yard formally turned over the ship to the United States Navy and the Louisville? first captain assumed command. The shipps clocks were set, the initial entry made in her log, and thus it was, on January 15, 1931, that the Lady Lou was commissioned. ln March she departed on her maiden voyage. During the 12,000-mile Hshake- downi' cruise which carried her to the equator, the Hawaiian Islands and back to Puget Sound, she was put to severe and exacting tests, all of which she successfully - :Qs e T 6' 3 x passed. With only six of her eight boilers she steamed at almost thirty-two knots. Her other accomplishments satisfied the oilicers and crew, the Navy Department, and the Navy Yard. A few days after her return to Puget Sound she again left Bremerton for San Pedro for final acceptance tests. The years that followed were prepara- tory ones. Fleet maneuvers, intensive drills in each department, and good-will cruises, kept her crew busy, well trained and ready for the eventuality that is theacause behind all naval organization. Her efforts were rewarded on many occasions by com- mendations. In July 1934 Secretary of Navy Swanson awarded the Louisville a trophy for the best engineering perform- ance of the year. During the summer fleet maneuvers in 1938, she had the highest score in the heavy cruiser communications competition. Throughout those years her gunnery department proudly displayed its Navy c'E9s,' for excellence in performance. Turret Two, with her MEM and four hash marks, was acclaimed the outstanding tur- ret of the entire fleet. 9 +. S. S. HARVARD, WRECKED OFF SANTA BARBARA. SHOWING VESSEL AFTER THE U. S. S. LOUISVILLE HAD TAKEN OFF SEVERAL HUNDRED OF HER PASSENGERS. Below-THE MAYOR OF BREMERTON, WASHINGTON, PRESENTING CAPT. W. S. FARBER WITH A PLAQUE HONORING THE LOUISVILLE FOR HER TWO SEA RESCUES Two thrilling rescues at sea highlighted the shipis pre-war days. A gay week-end crowd was enjoying itself aboard the liner S. S. Harvard on Saturday morning, May 30, 1931. Groping through a soupy fog, the vessel grounded on the treacherous shoals of Point Arguello off the coast of Southern California. A major disaster was averted when the Louisville, steaming only twenty miles away, raced to the scene in response to the Harvard's S. O. S. and arrived in time to save every person aboard. The carefree survivors made the most of the adventure. Number one Mess Hall quickly became a dance floor with the steamship's band, which had managed to save all instruments, blaring forth with Dixie-land jazz. The Louisville had all the aspects of a pleasure cruise ship as it car- ried its passengers through the night to Los Angeles, their original destination. If anyone of the 41-97 passengers, spirits were temporarily dampened by the near tragedy, the packaged spirits brought aboard in their luggage served as ample stimulus. Everybody was happy. Some years later, in 1937, a burning freighter and the fast-moving Louisville furnished the Mid-Pacific with maritime drama. The Lady sped to rescue passen- gers of the vessel in distress, a British ship, the Silverlarch. Covering 350 miles in less than twelve hours, she rescued eight passengers adrift in lifeboats. The crew of the Silverlarch had remained aboard successfully combating the fires. That same month the Louisville returned to Bremerton for an overhaul. The citi- zens of Bremerton, through their Mayor, presented the ship on March 27 with a bronze plaque commemorating the two notable rescues. Appreciatively received in a presentation ceremony held aboard the ship, the plaque was mounted with the rest of the Louisville's trophies. In these ways the Lady Lou was pre- paring herself for the rigors of war. And meanwhile her five sisters, all to become famous in the vast naval struggle that was to try their strength, were similarly guard- ing the nation,s sea lanes and making ready for an unknown but threatening future. The Northampton, Houston and Chicago were all to be lost in the early disasters of the South Pacific, the Augusta was to play host to Churchill and Roosevelt when the Atlantic Charter was signed in her wardroom, to cover the Normandy landings and to carry President Truman to Potsdam, and the Chester and Louis- ville, assigned to the Pacific, were to fight the Japanese in every major operation from the ,lava Sea and the Solomons to Okinawa. it li ,f V is , X X L i I I i. it i '. T T 5 u Q' ag. , , sage-il. Q i z 5 1 4 li if 1 4 If i 11 +1 if S I 1 f f 1 3 4 1 24 4 43 4 Q. 44 44 gl 44 I4 C44 ii f EW --I 1 .4 4 i 4 4 4 4 4 4 I 4 4 4 H 4 42 51 i P R , 4 14 N . If 1 P I 4 4 4 4 4 l Y P 44 4 W4 v 5 4-:i 414 E F 4 44 4 444 444 F I 4 4 4 l 1 4 I 4 iii 4. 4 4 I I 4 54 44 EU il 4,4 ? - . I 4 4 ' 4 I 4. i if 4 l f l 'll -'I I N 5 f-'J-'. i THE Lady Lou made her debut before Australian society in 1938, after an excit- ing new year opening. The crew had barely recovered from the Pasadena Bose Parade and the California-Alabama Bowl Game when the ship got underway from Long Beach, January 3, to attend the Australian Sesquicentennial Celebration as a representative of the United States Navy. After a brief stop in Pearl Harbor, the ship proceeded to Sydney by way of Pago Pago and Samoa. '6Their hearts were young and gay, was the best way to describe the ship's first visit to a foreign port. Tying up at Wolloomooloo Dock in the Australian port, Louisville officers and men found the city a navy liberty heaven. Beautiful Australian girls rushed them with autograph books, and to cap that, it's said the ladies preferred a tour in the beautiful parks to picture shows and more costly entertainment facilities. The Australians took the Yanks into their homes, held dances in their honor, and went on an all-out campaign to see that the visitors had a good time. The city gave the Lou's crew free fare on all bus and rail transportation. Sydney, like other Australian cities, had a '6Luna Park filled with carnival rides and many inter- esting beer halls, which our lads packed every day. The only thing that drew the Americans from the Utopian into which they had howing the F ag AUSTRALIAN CRUISE ascended was the call to colors each morn- ing. They not only stood at attention for our bugler, but also for the national anthems of the five nations represented in the harbor by French, Australian, Nether- lands and Italian ships. At the time of the Australian visit, the Italians were cocky, having proved them- selves conquerors by successfully invading little Ethiopia a few years previous. As a matter of fact, they caused so much trouble their commanding ofiicer had to restrict his crew to the ship. Louisville men, already popular with the Australians, had a natural desire to show up the Hcockya' boys. Our senior aviator, seeing the Italian cruiseris biplane in the air, challenged it to a mock dogfight and forced the opponent to the water. After an hilarious county faira' two weeks at Sydney, the Lou made prepara- tions for getting underway. Her crew had made so many friends among the people of the city that a sightseeing launch was hired to carry approximately 90 of the well wishers, principally girls, to wave the boys goodbye. As we pulled out at eight knots, the excursion launch, Rodney, approached the ship at right angles, making a sharp turn to come alongside for the Hnal farewell. As she rolled on the turn, her passengers rushed to the side of the ship to wave goodbye. The added weight to the roll of the craft capsized it, sending her down bow foremost. The Louisville dropped anchor as her crewmen dove over the side, and whale- Stopping at Pearl Harbor, we had a glimpse of Diamond Head. Then pressing southward to Somoa and Pago Pago Harbor we found tatooed legs and outrigger canoes popular. boats were lowered for the rescue. Some bluejackets near life preserver racks threw the life rings into the water so rapidly that the Australian commentator of a newsreel talking of the tragedy referred to the f'LoLli.soille Life Preserver Machine. Approximately 25 women were brought aboard ship for treatment, one of whom died. Small craft rescued others, but nine- teen drowned in one of Sydneyps greatest harbor tragedies. The Louisville departure was delayed because of the disaster until the following day when she got underway for Melbourne. . The reception in that city was much the same as in Sydney. The men visited parks and zoos, bought hundreds of koola bear dolls, enjoyed the company of Australian girls, and finally, passed on to the third city, Adelaide. A ship's dance, held in the Adelaide warehouse, still lingers in the minds of I Louisville men as one of the bright mem- ories. The city is also famous with us for visitors aboard ship. No unusual number Arriving in Sydney, an Australian Major General boarded to pay respects to our Captain. We found recreation facilities abundant, with Bon-di Beach and Koala Park favorites of them visited the ship, but they were so interested they stayed late. ln fact, on one occasion the crew's chow was post- poned and repostponed until 1900, and we were waiting for our guests to leave so we could eat. There wasnpt enough chow to feed the multitude otherwise we might have extended them the same hos- pitality they had afforded us. Leaving Australia, the ship proceeded to Hobart, Tasmania, and then to Aukland, New Zealand, spending a week in each place. After that the well pleased and fun-weary crew turned the Lou, north for the trip home. We had one interesting stop on the way, however, the city of Papeete, Tahiti. Q I N ..i1? Xxl ' '-H, .. L I I ll I 1 i is 5. in ,y l. 4 1 1 N .. I , N L I , , J rr,- ' 1 I A I l 4 i 2 . E 3 Upon arrival, the crew learned that Charles Nordhofif, famous co-author of the team, Nordhoff and Hall, resided in the city. A run was made on the library for copies of HlVlutiny on the Bountyw and other books written by this author. These were autographed by Nordhoff, but somehow or other were never checked back into the library. 0613103 L . A if i'.?x? li , fgflv ,J ,Wil ' TQ A -Q. Al?Ea..2i.?'0? t ' . L i ,t 1 ,r e Q: , .. ,, r V . M , i ,,. X , ,... -, ,LN -' -9 ' ' new , , H , ,S wffMn.cfa--f-..i-,:- A multitude of friends crowd the Sydney wharf to wave farewell to the departing Louisville crew. - W. J kim , ,. ,in my k ke ,ia ILKN i'r,,,., ' ,L-'Ls-is-asf, if M Y N-A, . . 1' X ff ,A X ' ' The Rodney before she capsized taking many lives of friends Louisville crew aiding survivors of the Rodney disaster, who had chartered her to accompany us out of the channel. many of whom suffered from strangulation and shock. Sailors and Marines carry casualty below to sick bay. The Louisville laying off Bradley,s Head following the accident Tahiti Harbor. port of the island Agile Tahitians climb after Tahiti was so pleasant two fellows paradise of story book fame. the precious cocoanut milk. went Mover the hill -literally! 25 Papeeteps other boast was cheap cham- pagne, a drink the bluejackets didn't com- pletely understand. They 'gsippedn their drinks in gulps and stood to sip some more. One sailor having just returned from liberty a little on the happy side, plunged overboard and swam for shore. A motor boat, lying nearby, was rushed to the rescue. However, as the boat pulled alongside the swimmer, the bluejacket re- fused rescue and continued thrashing the water toward shore. The rescuers finally pulled him aboard with a boat hook and got him back to the ship. The island city had additional bad effects on our crew, for it is said to have been responsible for a two-hour sailing delay. Two of the ship's crew, who swore they preferred the South Sea Island to returning home, attempted to go Hover the hill. In this case it was actually a hill. The shore patrol dragged them down from a mountain side to give the Lady a full sailing complement. SOUTH AMERICAN CRUISE Late in August of 1940 activity on the Louisville increased impressively. Four months of major overhaul were drawing to a close, rapidly approaching were opera- tional days ahead with the Pacific Fleet. The long overhaul had been a pleasant one for the shipis company, for unlike later high-geared production achieved in the wartime navy yards, work went on during this period at a normal rate. But even so the infinite number of welderps leads, the accumulation of junk and 'gen- eral messiness of repair cluttered the ship's decks. We eagerly anticipated the operations ahead. Clearing the Puget Sound Navy Yard in early September our course was set for familiar grounds-Long Beach, California. This had been our base and home, and it was good to get back just before heading west to the uislandsf' Suddenly new whisperings were to be heard around the ship. Hot scuttlebutt, straight dope, too. Was it true? Yes, in short order it became quite apparent that we were not to join the Fleet as expected. Last-minute prepara- tions were made for a cruise of another type. A pleasure cruise, it was called, but more powerful words were needed to fully describe the glorious times in store for us. A South American cruise, the dope had it, and that time it was straight. Preparations were soon completed for a trip that sounded like a dream. lt was the type of thing one heard about, not actually took part in, yet there it was. VV e pinched ourselves to make sure. Underway with no way on, not a usual status for the Louisville, but it wasn't a normal situation. We were easing up to the entrance to the West Lock of Mira- flores, Panama Canal. As our first lines went over to the donkeys, all hands observed closely the procedure followed in passing through the locks. Across Miraflores Lake, through Pedro Miguel Locks we 'entered the famous Culebra CCaillardD Cut. Moving unevent- fully along the passage, and on out into Gatun Lake, we finally passed through the triple Catun Locks, feeling that we had pretty well mastered the intricacies of the passage by the time we slid into our mooring at Pier 6, Colon, Canal Zone. A few days in port gave us opportunity to drill our landing force for possible parades ahead, receive additional marines to form a full guard for dress occasions and have some pleasant visits ashore. Underway again, heading south as ex- pected, the Louisville was about to enter the domain of the Great King of the Deep. Last - minute preparations were rushed, and, despite sabotage of the Royal Carpenter's efforts, the stage was set for another crossing of the Equator. Precisely on time Davy Jones and his party boarded to deliver the summons of Neptunus Rex to all slimy pollywogs to present them- selves at the feet of his Majesty on the morrow. Early in the forenoon watch of October 4, Hlolly Roger was broken at the peak, and bedlam reigned supreme while the mysteries of admission to the ancient order of the deep were cleared up for the neophytes. Nightfall found us wiser, per- haps stiffer, but united together-Shell- backs all. Entering the port of Recife, Brazil, first foreign port of call on this cruise, was an exciting experience. Language difficulties seemed no real barrier as the oflicial calls and return calls were paid in rapid suc- cession. The ship's company crowded the life lines, staring with intense interest at the crowds on the docks and they, in turn, returned our stares. This visit was in the nature of a preview of the condi- tions we were to find later ashore. The second port of call was the beau- tiful Rio de Janeiro, possessor of one of the most magnificent harbors in the world. Rio was truly a wonderful city. Through the narrow entrance, overshadowed by Sugar Loaf on the port hand, we nosed our way into the harbor and up to our mooring. And so began a 'never-to-be- forgotten period of real liberty and shore leave. Every day our large groups of sight-seers poured up the Avenido Rio Branco, seemingly determined personally to contact every one of the city,s two mil- lion inhabitants. Time waits for no man, nor did it wait for us in Rio, it- simply flew by. All too quickly we were under- way, making course for Montevideo, Uruguay. ' We found Montevideo, capital of Uru- guay, an unusually friendly city. It didn't seem to abound with worldly riches, but neither did it lack for comfort and con- veniences. On our way in that morning, the prow of the well-known German pocket battleship Graf Spec could be seen pro- truding from the shallow water of the Through the Panama Canal. Liberty in the Canal ZOHC- Local Pub in Panama GUY- i if 111 1 1 1 H W N P 1 I 1 i 1 1 W 11 N 1 11 V E 11 1 1 .1 J f I 1 1 !1 1 11 ls i 1 1 .Z X 1 1 ri 1 rl H 11 111 l. Top: Fleet Landing at Colon. Middle: Liberty- bound in Colon. Bottom: On to South America, our first stop was Recife, Brazil. Rio de la Plata estuary. Our planes flew low to survey the remains at close quarters. On the third day our Landing Force, under Dress Standard, marched to the central square of the city, where they formed in colorful array for a ceremony in which we honored the country of Uruguay, simply but sincerely, when our Captain laid a wreath on the monument of Jose Artigas, Uruguayan national hero and leader. on the move again, not far this time, we proceeded the 172 miles up the La Plata River to the largest city of South America, Buenos Aires, capital of Argen- tina. City of broad streets and many parks, HB. A., as we soon learned to call it, was indeed a treat for visiting sailors. And we made the most of it. Our one gripe, as always, was too few liberties. We never seemed to get our fill of it. Visiting again, in rapid succession we stopped in the Brazilian ports of Santos, Rio Grande do Sul, a second ten days in Bio de Janeiro, and on to quaint Bahia. Built on a hill, here one had to Whit the beachw by using an elevatorto get up to the city itself. Ship's recreation parties made daily jaunts to the parks, as Christ- mas Eve approached. Our shipis choir readied themselves with their Christmas carols, and on Christmas Eve toured the city singing tender messages of peace and good will. Christmas Eve was long to be remembered as we spent it in Bahia that year. Predominantly a Catholic area, all the churches were having their high masses that evening. Many of us attended the midnight services in one of the old, but impressive, cathedrals there in Bahia. Christmas was spent quietly by most of us, as our thoughts turned their way northward. Rumors were rampant the next morning. December 26, the Louisville got underway and anchored out in the stream off Bahia. This was rather strange, we thought, and it was indeed. All day we lay thereg spec- ulation grew more ridiculous by the hour. Soon we got underway, and not long thereafter the Captain disclosed to us that we were under secret orders proceeding to Simmonstown, South Africa. What next? It was a long voyage to South Africa. The European war, something only in the papers to us, suddenly took on greater significance. We were about to be thrown right in the middle, or at least the edge of it. Installed prominently about the ship, large American flags were illuminated at night by our searchlights. The lookouts began to mean business, and they didn't limit their line of sight to the horizon either. We could not even raise a radio station for New Yearis Eve because we were so far out. Finally, January 6, 194-1 found us approaching the South African coast. The visibility was quite limited, a general overcast and haze persisted. Suddenly the dim-outline of a large ship was observed off the port bow. GENERAL QUARTERS! We raced like mad to our battle stations for the first time in the war. One talker opened his mouth three times, moving his lips frantically each time, before he could mumble, Main Battery ma-ma-manned and r-r-ready, Sir. Rapid, loud commands from the Gun- nery Oflicer were being passed down the line insuring that all was in readiness for a proper challenge. As the range closed a bit more the shape of a carrier could be made out, and soon the answer to our challenge revealed that it was a British carrier, H. M. S. Hermes, patrolling off the entrance. She then gallantly turned and led us into the entrance channel of their Naval Base at Simmonstown. In record time, with the help of many men from ashore, we were refueled and loaded with GOLD, British gold, destined for deposit in the United States. In all, the amount was valued at 31448,342,212.55, a lot of change for the Louisville. Departure from Simmonstown was made the next morning. Heading north at 25 knots to avoid possible German submarine In Recife the people looked upon us with curiosity, but we thought them a bit 0-dd also. Official visits were exchanged with these Brazilian mine layers. Below is the Sangres, Portuguese training ship. Fl' ' threat, we soon entered the roaring forties we so often read about. Living up to its name, the area pounded us around considerably that first day, as we altered course to the west. By late after- noon the seas were built up tremen- dously by winds of fifty knots. The ship suddenly took several severe rolls of about thirty degrees, and then, seemingly poised for her greatest effort, she rolled forty degrees to starboard. One observer on the bridge fell down between the binnacle and the compass repeater. By the time he could pick himself up, all hell had broken loose. The clanging general alarm was the first widespread notice of the fact that a man was overboard. Perhaps more than one had gone over. Heavy gear throughout the ship broke loose, momentarily no one was safe any- where. Then gradually as order came out of confusion, it became apparent that at least one man was in the water. We caught sight of him bobbing along on the top of a wave for a second, then going out of sight again. The Captain backed down, and in the growing darkness our search- light beam sought out the man. Every- where could be heard the sharp intake of breath and, God, he's a goner suref, But he wasn't a goner. Our whaleboat was put over the side. It was a tense moment, for the chances of safe return were slim. Then the man was again spot- ted in the darkness sharp off the port quarter. The whaleboat hadn't found him, ' 1, . 511 i N - , i f t I t 1 ' ' JPY, Wff x f tw ' f if Q - 5 f fav ' ,iwsfl 43,5-fg',.5.1f ' 1 , LV.-1, ,Af 'Q ,lf aim.-f , we ffzggfi l ,. Q3.,.,,,..v sa, s,,,, - ,, .f fi v ' , - - -,,,,.,,l f . A 5.4 . ft .z , e f it . ,,,, , ..., H f il e , fr' f33iz:s,.5Qz .2,,.- , In beautiful Rio we found shady, mosaic- patterned walks lined with sidewalk vendors and trinket shops. sg... S Scenes of Montevideo. We honored this statue of Uraguay's hero. A street cene in Buenos Aires. for there he was practically under the stern. Maneuvering the ship brought him within reachiand a line was tossed to him. Too weak to hold on to the line, he was able to tie it around himself and be tugged aboard nearly dead from exhaustion. The sea persisted in its violent pound- ing, and our boat was still out there, first in sight on one side of a wave, then gone again from view. Finally, she came along- side and the touchy task of hoisting it in was completed, but only after a narrow escape from disaster. One man was thrown out of the boat between the shipis side and the gunwale of the boat. For a second it seemed as though a fatal blow would crush him as the roll of the ship brought the boat and the ship together with a powerful crash. Butt for the second time within a very short period we witnessed a miracle. A small scupper protruding perhaps a foot from the side of the ship took the blow and did not allow the helpless, dangling man to be killed, as it seemed inevitably he would be. Twenty-two days at sea we spent, before standing in to New York, and the 6,786 miles in one straight run was not to be sneezed at. The Statue of Liberty ,was not the only, welcome we received as we entered the harbor, for a veritable army of policemen met us at the dock. There they stayed until every last gold brick was safely off and enroute to the Federal Re- serve Bank of New York. The Louisville had concluded a most remarkable cruise. For those that were fortunate enough to be aboard, it fur- nished cherished memories, and made spicy conversation throughout the trying years of war ahead. lt was a little difficult to say good-bye to New York as we headed through the Canal, once again for the West Coast and the broad Pacific. 1 1 1 4 Q I I -E , 1 E I i 1 1 3 5 W v M THE AILO ' AY 23s RE VEILLE First up in the morning, the bugler Ze sounds the unwelcome knell of reveille. . . . A . 1 ' - '- 077 L K., ,TL 'fx , l I 0 . ' -Y 4+-AW1 - i N. -' Q kill? T' . .f M y X e -if 5 .511 I' ii? mi: I ilfef K-LAL ghi lpr -h, i :zeaf,'l ' ' , J X A My ill' ft fl ' --5 ' ' T - ' ' 1 + g., 7 J V - Q, I el! -,J lv L I 4. 5 ff :J .45 ' - fl 511 4: , if Hs it- 3,1' 12- 6 5, i t F? 2 x' le i, YV N as fiz gda fgff llx I 7 J' - 2 s-. f ' f L: V., . -I S A, A f .s 1- f- . . - T , f Ji af l 2 t5 'g e'ef X Jf- -Y--f?fy3.5- I- S -f: - Q T,-2 V- 'X . . . for those who break uUp all hammocks is given a hearty out of their sacks an hour response by the Lou's alert crew. before the reveille. There is always plenty of room to wash in the main deck head. 55,22 - f f 5 --, ' - ,Q ,,c, '21 xf?,52gff 1 g9'5ifV.gg?f, 41 ll as ttttt s lf ml But some of the more cynically- minded have a different reaction. Chowdown! The breakfast chow line Morning quarters at 0800 officially looks like this to the optimist . . . begins the dayis work for all hands. 33 Boss man of the ship while on watch, the Officer of the Deck is the representative of the Captain. The underway watch on the bridge is the most important watch on a naval ship. The fate of the ship and all hands often rests on the deci- sions of the Officer of the Deck. He is assisted by a Junior Officer of the Deck, and by a Quartermaster and a Helsman. A VIGAT .0 The Navigator shoots the sun Lookouts, the ancient e es of th h' OFFICER OF THE DECK The Captain, while the ship is under 1 way, must spend most of his time on the bridge. In war-time, he never leaves it. AND Loolco UT y e s lp, to- The Lifebuoy Watch stands by with the sextant just as Colum- gether with radar, form a team to inform the in case someone falls overboard. bus and Magellan did long ago. Ofhcer of the Deck of ll h' 0' b' a approac ing 0 jects. The anemometer tells the wind Here the Navigator takes bearing of In the Chart House speed and direction for nav1 charted objects 1n order that the ships ua t r ermaster gatlon and weather forecasting positron may be accurately determined plots 1n the bearings ' .. H .. aQ 34 p H IPESU 23, The Engineers, better known as Snipes, have many important duties. Here is one of the four firerooms, core of the system. Fourteen burners to every boiler and eight boilers in all make the job of the firemen difficult and demanding. Throttleman on duty at Number 4 shaft Waiting for the signal '4Anchors Aweiglf' Here a fireman is taking readings for the with turns uRight Onf, The beard is the which will quickly be followed by a fire room log. They are taken every hour proudest part of the uniform ofa Snipe. bell that will start the shaft spinning. to reveal accurately fuel consumption The interior communications room uSparkies on the 5-inch switchboard Distribution of light and power through is manned by electricians. Here dis- in plot coordinate gun and fire con- out the ship is controlled from the tribution is made of NA. Cf' circuits. trol circuits for the secondary battery. Distribution Board in the engine rooms . . , Ship's electricians climb into the Emis Shoot the breeze and hug After EYIO 15 the CFUISFYS most obscure and unlikely places. the aloe Pot', in the electric shop. secondary I. C. control station 35 C UMM UNI CA T or visual means of communication-Hag Radio Central, the Control Station, and the transmitter stations. In the picture a mitting a message over a uvoicew circuit, ground another is switching antenna on 0 Communications are vital to the ship in peace and war. A11 the orders that take the Louisville from place to place and control her policies and actions must come by mail, radio, hoist and flashing light. There are three radio ushacksv on the Louisville: Radio II and Ill, radioman is trans- while in the back- the patch-board. The boys on the Signal Bridge can trace their predeces- sors and many of the signal flags they use date back to the navies of the Phoenicians and Greeks. The 'cQueen Hag with the yellow field has been used to indicate a ship under quarantine since the days of the earliest crusades. In the pictures the men are 'Gbending on', signal flags and hoisting them on the halyards. When a heavy wind is blowing the job is cumbersome. Frequent signal drills and contests are held with Signal Gangs of other ships, developing efficiency through the spirit of competition. A destroyer comes to star- A The semaphore, too, in an ancient The flashing light is effec U n s u D - board as affirm IS to- form of visual signaling. Here a tive as a means of signaling , D blocked to the yard-arm. signalman contacts a nearby ship. over considerable distances 36 The Post Office is, at times, the most popular place on the ship. When mail comes aboard there is no lack of volunteers to sort. In foreign ports mail call is invariably greeted with shouts and a stampede. '56 I N -nfs I, msg, - ,P-N , NUI, Q ef 2' 'M wx , Q V f ,A . A ' 6 ZQQZPQQMQ ,JU W f ni' -, N ff D l f a m ff of 47? sr fi Wim if U M WV f ,l'f:'Q2'j grf lfh' AN XL' X X- R ' fi N 'S rs X 'x of W6 ' fx -.r M a d 'i fn 1 R r '4 W ifi - T as 14- 1 l r . N 1 47 5, J J. r , 1 ' 2 ,23 1 1 W U G IFRHGILXSWADLE 1 to I p K Q ill -ah ,A JJ V 999- F- ro gp, N J - Z, 9995, Ll ' - i , K f :LZ f-1 C 1: I A-9 , - ff V if 2 4 .L 42 f, ' fi-J 'W f - ,'f'1, 7 I 'va Z' ' 'Q 5 Y, ' 74 0 - .J , ' J J V' ,,,,e.1w ml -Qi: ' ' W N57 ,. L T . -lm Q lx -F V -LT Y N --r. ' gt, :H' :gf- 3 fffesgyi Also under the Navigation-Communication Depart- The Executive Officer's Office is the busiest ofhce of the ship. ment is the Library, being constantly supplied Here are kept all the personnel records, liberty cards, and by the Navy and from Ship Service Store profits. all other files pertaining to administration of internal affairs. 37 A. A. B TTERY Just as in all other walks of life aboard shi th Cl p, ese eaning, polishing, lubrication are never-endinf proc- D gunne1',s mates and fire controlman take great pride in f ' l' ' esses, or ou1 ives depend upon the pioper functioning the maintenance of their respective mountsland equipment. of the ff d h 38 se ,uns an t eir control when the time comes. : Top: An instructor is teaching 5-inch crews details in operation of their gun. Middle: 20-mm crews stand by to fire practice rounds at an aerial target. Bottom: A twin-mount 40-mm hlazes away at a surface target. Top: A 40-mm crew with clips loaded ready for a urunf, Middle: 5-inch crew Mon target standing by to load. Bottom: Surprise burst-firing practices are frequently held to keep all gun crews on the alert for any attack. 39 AIN B TTERY These big 8-inch guns, trained on the beam, are the Louis Sunday Punchf' All other functions of the ship are subordinate in battle, dedicated only to bringing our nine guns of the main battery to bear on the enemy. Below you see the crews going through the familiar routine of loading drill. The smooth mental and muscular co-ordination required for this operation can only be attained through constant practice. Here they are shown ramming projectiles, loading powder, and backing out plugs for another load. The aerial view shows an 8-inch salvo splash near its mark in target practice. Lastly, you see the projectiles lowered to the shell deck where they are lashed together. ,n RADAR if II Ii' .ffziiiez 1115?'g5af'35iiE1Ea:g., .1Hf55:,'fii L , ':f21' 'iviiiilxl gegllnpgzg, 3- Q: Jr., aiwggaii lag: , . IV..-I' -.1-- I-L.-1 .- ii' 'i -ii: ro' .1-4, -YL. E..:..,, ng H, .-j1,,.. j : ,, 1. .----gi:- II..:i.::....,,.. ,' 7 iq: i E.::!:E: ifiiE:.'I,ff,':i ,f,.:a :..1P4F2..i.? li: 5:51:51 ' A-::!. ng:...:.,f--'ang 1::: '::E:g:', .s 77 EE..1:g5gH2:iiiiEw '1-f!i::::-,gh 25 E! :::'.1'ni.1i-gggn' smggirmg, .. .... mm-egg, 'IIS gall!! - z: 9531? ::::::5,' ' ' Wife. ng: .- , Technicians at work. HP. P. I. Scope. X 5101113 has a target. NP. P. If, Repeater. The care and operation of Radar is now a major function aboard ship. In addition to its aids to navigation and early warning of air and surface attacks, the Radar now brings our guns to bear upo11 targets obscured by darkness with superior accuracy to earlier daylight fire Control methods. Many tech- nically skilled men are required to keep the elaborate equipment functioning. VIATIO Our scout observation planes are designed to hunt out the enemy for us, enabling us to gain advance infor- mation of their strength and disposition. The men of the V-Division who are assigned to the handling and care of these planes are known to us as 'Tly Boys. . '.. ' 4 With motor urevvingf' the pilot tenses awaiting the green flag and the firing of the charge which will catapult him into space. Whalnl In an instant our bird is air-borne. The success of the launching operation, along with the safety of the pilot rests with the diligent teamwork of many men who though they may 7 D neVeI' HY, do j0bs that are of equal importance to that of the pilgt 42 An underway recovery of these aircraft in smooth seas is accom- plished by the plane landing and taxiing up to a sled which is towed from an extended shipis boom where it is caught and hoisted aboard by a crane. If the seas are rough the recovery operation is a little more difficult. The ship makes a long, smooth turn, creating a slick in which the plane lands when the wind is right. Again he taxiis up to the sled, taking care not to dig a wing or swerve into the ship. It is a tense moment as the p1ane's float hovers on the edge of the sled trying to hook on. Once caught she is quickly brought aboard by the shipas crane. Below: In port with the ship at anchor, recovery easy. The pilot lands, taxiis into position under the crane and is hoisted aboard. 43 X t I X f f f f f 4 4 , 4 f X fa f f f X f , X f I f 7 W f 4 x f , f , , W i fs QW 0 f ,fs at W W C, , ,f 8.7 r 4 X i f Mx f fy ff! ffyi nw f If f ff V X MQ' I sf Z- ' Y, Z' V -Q' f X as f Q -sf tt H fav sff- 'M-N, sf, W sr, ZW, ,. A,,2,l.a.. 1- X 'Q ,iq f Q cf 0,' ff A x.. ,xxsfllahk X ,dv N X W 1 ,K M ifiktsx f 4 M F ,a.s.-,zg NW Q N Xxaf-MN f ef. 1 ,Ma A is 1 ,A f . sffx H wi' 2,5 X ' fs sw w ff , fn 0 , X, v 1 X, X my ss, 2 ,- Ai' fe v 5 X, f 1 , fs f i ' f ,sv X y, 1 I ' p ix Q U if 4 44 pc X X',,V fx 4 4 pf Q V , Q ,I A , - s--A X : N, , .... - sw, gas M: ','- swizs- Qfffrf K f, -sf-fi-f e-Y V 4 ff - MWQ W .sa r. -s W - ,Z 6 -' Q- ses Wa N 5 X 3 f X gf 1 K f X X K is X v ff fx X f v iff Ms ' fm Q, ff! av My VS fri- :' , V: as X M fa N! X 4 wfx IK f sf fax CHAPLAIN 4'Padre,,, as the Lou affectionately addresses its chaplain, is generally the best liked officer aboard. He is never too busy to listen to anyoneis woes or give a little spiritual advice when it is solicited. The physical, mental and moral welfare of the men are always uppermost in his mind. When church call is sounded and the church pennant is hoisted to the truck above the colors, the smoking lamp is put out, all games are stopped and silence is maintained about the deck while the churchgoers gather in the port hangar to worship and sing, and listen to the Chaplain speak. Because of the variation of creed represented, the services are necessarily non-sectarian, teaching only the general precepts of Chris- tianity. But never do they fail to give one that spiritual lift which helps us to carry on though our days be clouded with fears and home sickness. 44 SICK BAY Our Medical Department is equipped and trained to handle all cases from the many odd little complaints that show up each day at uSick Call to major operations and treatment of War casualties with all the latest means known to medical science. Though they call them 'Till Peddlersn and other names at times. the crew still runs to the pharmacist's mates when in trouble. The picture on the right shows preparations being made for a tonsillectomy operation aboard ship. WMM The series above show an appendectomy being performed aboard the Lou at sea The anesthetic IS administered through a hypodermlc 1nJect1on to the spinal column When all is in readiness the doctors select their lnstruments and go to work. A careful record lS kept throughout of respiration, pulse and blood pressure It IS exacting woik and no cinch when the Shlp IS rolling Flnally the appendix IS reached, lemoved, the wound sutured, and the patient IS sent off for recovery. The dentist, too, has his own office furnished with the latest equipment of that profession. 45 PPLY The Supply Department furnishes us with all the necessities and luxuries which We enjoy aboard ship. Top: The cook lifts a pan of freshly-baked spuds. Middle: Top: A butcher shop where meat is never rationed. Ship Service Store merchandise is of necessity limited, but Middle: '4Hot stulff' This cook is giving a galley Joe Potv it is a convenience welcome aboard ship. Bottom: The a stir. Bottom: Here are some samples of the fine bread Geduck Standw is a popular spot, especially in warm climes. that comes from the ovens of our bakery aboard the ship. 46 '31 an ma . . Tailor Shop. Ship Service Laundry. Photographic Lab. 64Clip Joint. Commissary Stores working party. Pay Day 47 and R The Construction and Repair Department is charged with maintaining the ship in a seaworthy condition. The men are trained to meet such emergencies as battle or storm damage, taking measures as necessary to assure the safety and continued functioning of the ship. Here are found such specialized rates as shipiitters, carpenters and sailmakers. Upper: Fire drill. Damage control parties run out hgge lines to the Scene of a mythical fire. Lower: An acetylene Welder, an automatic chipper and 3 wire brush 7 u 48 SIDE CLEANERS SAIL LOFT HE BRIGG ANCHOR WINDLASS T 49 DECK APE Topside seamen, known as 4'Deck Apes, are consid- ered the backbone of the Navy. It is these men who master the arts and lore known to seafarers since man first roamed the seas. The handling of lines and tackle, care of wooden and metal surfaces, knowledge of the winds and tides are but a few of their forte. From the picture at right you can get an idea of how the Deck Apesv got their title. f ,N fymyfaq- , ' Y Vfjg' M' 7 ,W y ifyln-wg ZXfs5SZ9f f fff W- M .ffm sons X rw!-ffswx ff wg ,W M. , f f , 24' M 1 I w 371,17 f W Wff.syX,f1' an -. X si? f 4 Z Q, L, ,Vw My ' . - jfffifirf X W , fs,jy!sWZX.c, Q ,K XM , N ,L S I, .- W, J I KW-wi.7,f!:,5 X, f 4 W 1j,, i'6K,. - f , A , , 1 , f ,1?sjwXfW1 If if' ' M, 59 Y V730 Q gg' 205557. ,fn 1 4 , bf , Y fr,ffQ,a.Wg Qf Zggyl Wf, , 0 Kr . Q, , if if ff - f , i,-.Qlp:5::yfv . ,J-QQ, fyfjjfjh sf M Q S M f, . A- -32 sf, V . ' f ,,f.,,, Qs S, f, 4 A X , 4 3' V -: fl 5.f I V1.5 .-v X., Q X MW ' . W .3-, , X x wzfk-X, f s , M 1- f Q1 f 1 .ng VA., .' M f f f M 5,5!Lj3w,,r My 4 V ,I V .. 1 Af? maria , W, ,J 5 3 1? rx A ,wsww ,,.,,-px, 1, 'f'-x:XfFWW, ff f s , f ,f ep, .r.,f,wf.,g,,ffv fl z K gg, 4, .WW4 -vw , sf , ,, -Qf U ' 754, 5 aa .Qff 7 X f 557 Qs, 1 I - ,ff ,xjrwwg-M, 1 f if l 1 2 2 l f 64 , P A f , ' l 1 my H' If ff A 5, 4 ' 5 f f ' fi if X ff azqk ,ffiltffff - 9 f D? - ' - ' 44 ' fi ,qf fe x ,f f -4 Q mf Uri' QZZWJZI 'X , . Q , , , fi w Y ,' 5 fi 2 If V ff, g f f 1,-5 I 3 -A45 4.3 K cw ff gf f4,.4 w, .,-- 7 ,'f' , fu gi' I Q 'f .Q 4 5 I f r, V MX','M' , 41,1 gk, fy , 44 f 'Z,.:,,v :Q K fy, ,1- ff, If ,J l .,,, 4a Vim. ,WS ' 1 ,J fm, 'f we I wif Tif f ' il f' W W 'A 'Xw 5 X 'MW ' ' L ' E 'ww , XM Wi' J- my V ,V .M i xf A k fr .. ., W ff if 1 '4 f., wwf DECK APES Wire brushing and scraping. Holy-stoning the teakwood decks. Painting main battery radar. 50 Just a salt water cowboy. ' i V w K E 1 5 x f p ' 4250, ,4 ,, -V72 ,.s',f- 15,7 V im Ig, ZW f , 44 K K f. Q Q X f f Q7 alntlng hke thxs IS an art too In the llfe of a beanlan ll IS a Lontmuous and never endlng process Su ubbmg down I-losmg down , J. ' ' 3 Scrubbin canvas Wfeavmg a fender. 1l0XlS10IllI'lg1lI1l,. g DECK DI I I0 ENTERING PORT Now set the anchoring detail. Away No. 1 motor whaleboat. 4 Taking a tug alongside. Away No. 2 motor whaleboat. Opposite pager: Alongside the -dock heaving lines passed to docking party pull over messengers and then 8-inch manila lines to asingle up. With rat-tailed stoppers applied, doubled lines are put across. The windlass, though a big help, is no real substitution for manpower in doubling up.', 52 RAM li.. ,,.. ..,... 1 f w 1 I 4 I 53 I 'N n J! H U U 5 1 - l l N x I CHANGE OF COMMAND . This ceremony in the early days was marked with all , officers and men on the quarterdeck, after a short speech 'the pomp and circumstance of the peace-time Navy, of farewell and a speech of acceptance, the ceremony With the advent of war this formality gave way to expedi- of the Change of Command is effected. Above, Rear tious informality, yet never losing its impressiveness. Admiral Chandler is relieving Rear Admiral Oldendorf ' After thenrea-ding of their orders before the assembled as Flag Command on the Louisville, December, 1944. In full dress uniform ship's com- Capt. F. T Lei hto 1' . g n re ieving Capt. pany assembles for the ceremony. R. W. Mathewson, October 1938 , ' 7 ' 54f Rear Admiral Oldendorf relieving Rear Admiral Wright. Capt. T. T. Beattie relieving Capt. R. L. Hicks. Capt. R. L. Hicks relieving Capt. S. H. Hurt. 5 WARD Before the assembled ship's company decorations in token of appreciation for extraordinary service and sacrifice are awarded to these Louisville men. Captain shakes the hand A marine holds up the It is a proud moment V of a deserving sailor. traditions of his corps. when that citation goes on. 56 Assembled on the dock at Pearl Harbor. The Admiral reads a citation A sailor gives a snappy salute. Chris shakes hands with the Admiral. RECRE TIO 1 e Liberty hounds. t ' Hitting the beach. Swim party at Majuro. In port every 11131178 thoughts go to liberty. Providing tactical conditions are favor- able, this privilege is made available to all deserving personnel in large doses. Bring on that 48.', Recreation center. ml H W l N , . is-. X F ' Q45 X ff if i5???:'f-.,f-- ' I 3-2 5 7i5?51?i5:i1 ' ' K 22.1. f5f?Qi5?fe:.f? U - e ,.,.. ......,., i A' ' fl' 'UV ll : Dee sea fishin art -Q ' IJ Q P Y- Camp Andrews beach. . 4 . yfxlvl' To occupy idle hours at sea the ship provides many facilities for the sports- loving individual. Basketball and box- ing are the two most favored pastimes. 59 TOSSING THE BASEBALL TRAPSHOOTING ON THE FANTAIL ACE DEUCE TOURNAMENT A LITTLE MUSIC SOME MUSICAL SPOONS A FEW SMOKES AND GBUBBLESU ORR -TA'3h i 'N 1 -it fd M- fx N ' s ff: '- f' A fwg, 4:9 7:35, 5 ' , A - p .Lk . H in Qi Q NN :? i I-i n S f i' 5 - X- V. 1 E9 'K gs Ai ,fix -2 I i 4 f L -f. . J ' 61 SMOKER THEN THE CHIEF TAKLES OVER HELEN CAUSES A SENSATION ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN HERE SOME MHILL BILLY, TALENT 62 F LATEST AND THE STRAIGHTEST FROM PADRE TAP DANCE SPECIALTY FRANCES LANGFORD AT PEARL COMDR. EDDIE PEABODY, THE HBANJ0 KING 63 , I I I I I I I CROSSING THE L E I , I I I I, I I I I I The 'cjolly Roger broken at the peak on an equa- I torial crossing signifies that Neptunus Rex has come , aboard to see that all Wayward Pollywogs are ' properly initiated into the Royal Order of the Deep. I I I I THE PURGE IS ON REPENTANT SINNERS NEPTUNUS REX I III? Veil L EXERCISING FOR HEALTH JUST LOWL r Y POLLYWOGS ' THE ROYAL BATH IV I. 64 A INVIGORATING SHOWER OPERATING TABLE YOU NAME IT 1 BEFORE THE ROYAL SCRIBE LQOKS LIICE FUN AGAIN THE GAUNTLET 65 is LL HAN General quarters-on the double. Holiday routine. All hands call. Saturday morning inspection. Abandon ship drill' Inspecting the Marines. 66 Jl RATING EXAMS 12.1425 E Q 1, l V 5 u E 5 L N 'w 1 1 -i 1 E K. I u E 1 N 4 1 1 I ,X 1 A u I 2 r f W J fe 4 H lr Q :iq ,x H ki an 'W 11: . H L.: -Q gf , - 'I . f Af' .f fffmif I ll ll there was War ,V- f. l,, 1 ii' Manila DURING the summer of My yf ' ' 1 9 4 1 , th e Louisville had i maintained a heavy operational and training schedule. Gunnery, communications, tactics, and general smartness were brought to new heights. lt was not easy, for there were many diversions at hand in the beautiful Hawaiian area. However, we had our share of recreation, and we tried to live up to our motto-work hard, play hard- enjoying ourselves when off duty, and at other times working unrelentingly to per- fect the Louisville, to us the pride of the cruiser navy. Activity in and about Pearl Harbor became more military as ominous political bickerings threatened the serenity of- the Pacific. We watched and noted with inter- est the use of cruisers in convoying impor- tant troops and supplies westward. On November 6th our turn materialized when we were ordered to convoy the President Coolidge and the USAT Hugh L. Scott to Manila via Guam. Both were laden with Hawaii is a peaceful spotf, we reflected It was summer of ,41, and we were Honolulu was a fine liberty spot. Folks were laving anchored off Lahaina Roads, Maui. far removed from the strife of war. friendly and there were many things to see and do. -1 -k' h t 11033, Some of us even made the trip inland over the beautiful We had silly pictures taken at those Walil 1 p o o s 1 3 1 1 1' 1' k 0 t gf watchinff the Hula Uirls perform. Puuanu Pali Road. Yes, Hawaii was an island of paradise. 4 nr go a ng cu' u D - D I I r l l 1 5 l 1 E 1 vi G W WW emeblffe . J Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 + 1 F t j , 1 S s jj' LH . r 1 1 1 super cargo-American soldiers. Standing out of Pearl Harbor that day we never once stopped to think that it would be our last peacetime aloha for four long years. We casually noted the khaki-clad men who swarmed over the decks of the transports. Too busy with our daily routine, we were not aware of the signifi- cant role they were to play in history: making days ahead. Ten days of uneventful steaming found us entering Apro Harbor, Guam. Several of our men were natives of the island, and as it had been some time since they had been home, they were overjoyed at the opportunity of visiting their families and friends. While the ships fueled and took on water these men were granted liberty. More uneventful sailing, and at last the low-slung Philippines loomed over the horizon, glistening in the reflection of the morning sun. For many of us that was our first sight of these islands. Nature had woven the colors of the sea, land and sky into a symphony of resplendent beauty. In the distance we could see the dark blue of deep water gradually become lighter until it was green near the shore. Without a break in color our eyes followed the light green of the water as it blended with the darker green of the jungle, the whole framed against pastel shades of the sky. Overhead pure white clouds leisurely drifted. As we slowly wound our way through the treacherous channel of the f if - . I: rv j5-ZZ5fs. ' x LL f ith jj. ' .mimi l ll .3 - ' a-S-A . gt? ,N .5 1 7. !- - P 70'l'l'WtN 'X straits, we could see native villages of thatched huts clustered about a church on the sandy beaches, indicating human life amid this wild effusion of nature. It was a long run before we broke out into the expanse of Manila Bay. Passing close aboard Corregidor, we only bestowed on the Rock', a passing glance, never suspecting that within a short time it would be the scene of heavy fighting and heart- breaking surrender to the laps. Easing across the bay we tied up to the new and spacious Number One Pier. Sightseeing in Manila was new only in that it was a different city this time, a city of perhaps even sharper contrasts than any we had theretofore visited. If there was an appreciable tension in the air, we did notlnotice it. Our Louisville baseball team beat the Asiatic champions of the Black- hawk by a score of six to two. A goodly supply of souvenirs and good times' were acquired by everyone before it came time to start the homeward journey. On November 23 we cast off from our mooring and backed clear of the entire assembly of naval vessels anchored in the harbor. lt seemed like a lot of ships to us that day, but future experience did 'lnot bear out this idle observation. Slowly we passed Bataan and turned southward. Pausing on deck at night, as we wound our way through the quiet island-dotted sea, the tiny twinkling lights of each native village were blinking out a message of tranquillity and peaceful calm. It was easy to forget the troubled, pain- racked world. Yet, this was the very theater in which the Pacific war was to be launched in a few days. Requiring fuel, we pushed on south to the small oil town of Linkus, on the Dutch island of Tarakan. Entering the harbor was circuitous in order to keep to the mine- 1 41 Q Q free channel. Three planes of the Royal Dutch Air Force welcomed us with smartly executed capers. One mess cook still claims they flew under the aviation crane. Meeting these same fliers later, we found them to be capable and sincere beyond all expectation. Why couldn't there have been many more like them? Fueling was completed late that night. The engineers fueled to their usual 1103, the shipis store, tailor shop and mess hall holding the extra ten per cent. War After leaving Borneo, we joined up with our same two charges the next day, and directed our course for Pearl Harbor via the southern route. Down through Makas- sar Straits, across the Banda Sea, through the Araforea Sea, passing hundreds of islands, we approached Australia and Torres Straits. With the pilot aboard from Goode Island, it was a day-long pas- sage through the straits separating Aus- tralia and New Guinea. Out in the clear again, the final leg of the journey was at hand. But the rumbling and grumbling between nations persisted, although the trip of the special Japanese peace envoy to Washington had seemed to ease a little t'he strained international nerves. Then two days out of Torres Straits it happened. Shortly after morning quarters, Decem- ber 8, the first flashes of plain language messages reached us. We were over- whelmed with the tragedy. Try 35 WC might to convince ourselves that we were mentally prepared for this most extreme eventuality, quite plainly and simply, we weren't. We were overwhelmed. Confus- ing reports continued to pour in, and our human imagination was quick to paint the picture even darker than it actually was. For a short time we were even ready to believe the false rumor that the landing of enemy troops had been effected on Barbers Point. Gradually we brought order out of chaos within ourselves, and the unfolding of what happened at Pearl Har- bor seemed to pace this progressive step. ln a short time the true facts were radioed to all the fleet units, and while the picture was most appalling, it wasn't as hopeless as we were all too quick to fear. A general firmness of purpose and awareness of the long road ahead settled over us, as we set to the task of painting over all our decking and bright-work. Initially we were rerouted to Pago Pago in the Samoan Group, but upon the night of our arrival there, with the lights of the island in sight, our orders were again changed to send us directly north to Pearl. Every wave potentially contained a subma- rine, and every cloud a plane. lt was easy to imagine the worst, and frequently a lot of us did. The Scott, about whose peren- nial smoking we had joked all during the cruise, now- became a sore spot indeed. Leaving a trail of smoke from her funnel to the horizon, she was the object of our serious cursing all the way home.. Fre- quently we experienced menacing scares. Once the Coolidge spotted what she thought to be a submarine periscope. We went flying to general quarters, but noth- ing materialized. Pulling safely into Pearl Harbor on the morning of the 16th, just nine days after '6The Day,', our heavy-hearted gaze sought JAP PLANES BOMBING AND STRAFINC OVER PEARL HARBOR. THIS, THEN, WAS THE CHALLENGE! some encouraging detail in the havoc be- fore us. At first We failed. Hickam Field, shattered and torn, was but a prelude to the Nevada at the turn in the channel and Ford Island and c'Battleship Rowv beyond. But then gradually we became more and more impressed. Here were countless men on every ship, no matter what her condition, still stand- ing to their guns and ready for anything. Their spirit could not be doubted nor denied. Here was the heartening detail for which We Were looking. The spirit mani- fest Was, in fact, the element upon which the Sons of Heaven had miscalculated so badly, and was the burning light of guidance which was to lead us to equality in arms and fighting men, and finally to overpowering superiority. Here then, deep in the debris of Pearl Harbor, We found the inspiration for the spirit Which was to carry us through all obstacles to victory. if i ' ,.., , Ht' VAV. , KW! ZFYID ,HQTN2 .-- ,.L'V' -AZN ,QV Aff . U 4522- ' faaqrq XIHV I p Ol 44 f1:'-,- .fi '.i' ' - S. ,f 5 ,-gg '1-H'-A.. V fx- -'tv fl!! , -2 v iff-u rf iari Fifzw fl Hl mv i l s i A ,if Q f, if - AL All lfwllll ggi!! 4 ' . rf If ,j .lgfj Z 'J it T ,X f r M J 2 4 at . . , x l -6 gtg: ..- K MM X' 7 W 7 7 ,ylf ff , f f J M W 1 , X ' ,' f, ff X W , AMWW W ' ' X I 'ff frvffjf H f yu In ,yy ff ' X f , ,WW Manda, , , 5 ,,,,. 4, ,- ,.,. . .. . ,,. .,,.. ,.,, ,,.- ,, 4- q v ' 'qv ' .:.fT ' I Q f f' , ,H '. 1 , 4 , Q J .A 'CN 5-L .. N. qv at .5- 44 31. , dm- ,n, . n .v x L r ,,- ,., , w EARLY p QLA 4-' l N i A , ,s X 55 if ip nj ,W 1 1 Y . Early camps-li ns l Marshall-Gilberi' Raids DEPARTING from San Diego, California, in company with the Yorktown and numerous transports early in the month of January 1911-2, We were an excited lot aboard ship. The short period in Mare Island Navy Yard, visits to our favorite port of San Francisco, and eagerness to get ahead with the task at hand, had in- creased our enthusiasm for the trip south to San Diego and the events which were to follow. Our short wartime experience had been entirely in operations involving but few ships. This force looked to us like a veritable armada. Fuel, stores, and am- munition Were all in company on their special ships. The former luxury liners, bristling with countless small AA Weapons and grim with new war paint, carried the first contingent of United States Marines U. S. S. YORKTOWN l 4. 1 4 S i 1 l l l ,s C I r l li gl i X 1 ill ill' li -. .-1 N, X:-g7,1.J...gi, , - -A -M- 2 --x-.. 1-- - .- , , .. --fn . 1 4 .--. - . :lr 13-gi'-s . - - :F Q -- ' 1 E - 5 -': if lr .' G -'5 '5,.--'-5 . -ST' '55,- f.',-eiif' --E 1:14:55 1 , Af -4 - - , ' -. -1- -1 - 'f'T-'Z-I f'5. 5- '- --- ,,q.1i'- - gig--TFS -..yifv 'MCS -'F -fairnes- , ..-:E ,,-s ..- .. 1 35, 1:37 ' --- If - . - -- - - . .f 14- N 4. f . ' -.F -:v, x.-5 s,x-it -,ig 5.5. -,a, .,- ,vs .5 -.. :tt 4-. 2' 'fa-xJ'.'w --,..:ts 1:-, sq-x---I-:5'?f:..: z z,,,-L- ,,--:Qu : :xl-sw. .h dxssh, I . ':.,.., -,.,:15:,Y-'31 QQ. I' 'Sz'- 1 - - ,'n ,.- 3 . gs ' . .'. 18:-5-5,9 ff: ., ' . ,4C':K.,5.. :v:.f'i'.. - L: ,Y .hf 1 - -' - 4 f 'g .- If . . ' -V-:g-.-Y:-I1-.,... '4'1 :- Js'-, : ' i - T ' - ... '-'5',-- - ::,-,- .-,- . , - . -- . I- .5-1:-521, . ,Pri-.Q-'J .- , , . 2 rung-A-3.1. cg., , I . . xi A '. ,A :-I . LQ U Y. --- ez 2- - - M- A .. V-sz..-ff ' -g'4: -12. -L .. -::f -- -113.-1 '?: 53 ' 'L' - If-l- -i-19: .. ' ':- 1.1iL '-,5L':?-5'Ri '- ' -x- 1:-'E -A: ' L- fi Frrgi ' an sf Fill 'e i --k' ': -,ji '- i -' '- i-'Ll ?4f,i7' : T .I--' ' ' to leave the States since the commence- ment of the war. This in itself made it a momentous occasion. The Marines were destined for Samoa, one of the last Pacific strongholds still in our possession, and one that we could not now afford to lose. We were taking the strongest steps open to us to hold this bastion. The Louisville lay off the coast of Samoa while the Lurline, Mutsoniu, and Monterey went in and discharged their precious cargo. And during this period of comparative quiet, we learned that there was to be more to the operation than escorting the Marines to Samoa, for our orders to participate in one of the first large-scale blows of the war were received on board. At home the annoying cry had gone up, Where is the Navy? lt didnat strike appreciative Navy ears anywhere, particu- larly on the Louisville. So the news that something material could be done to stop these unthinking popular blasts was re- ceived with pleasure. The plan provided for a combined operation under the over- all command of Vice Admiral Halsey, and was to be directed against the principal points of the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. Leaving Samoa on January 25, our Southern force under Rear Admiral Fletcher, consisting of the Yorktown, St. Louis, Louisville, and destroyers, moved directly north to the area of action. Mean- while from the north, the second and larger force was moving into position for the coordinated strikes. Prior to the ren- dezvous our submarines completed brilliant reconnaissance missions which revealed un- expected enemy weaknesses, and conse- quently our plans were elaborated. Last- minute changes to the operation plans in- corporated expanded endeavors: Roi, Kwa- jelein, Wotje, Mili, Taroa-Maleolap, Jaluit, and Makin were all to feel the blows of our first retaliation for the raid on Pearl Harbor. Our mission was not to include spectacular amphibious landing which later formed the nucleus of our operations, but was to destroy installations and ship- ping through air strikes. The Southern Forces were to concentrate on Jaluit, Mili, and Makin. The latter, only recently occu- pied by the Japanese, had been taken from the British. The prime objective was to insure the safety of our exposed sea lanes to the South Pacific. All in all, it was a large order for our force of twenty-one ships. Although strong, we were untried.. A few minutes before five oiclock on the morning of February 1, 194-2, the Yorktown began to launch her air group. We were in position not far south of ,Ialuit after a high speed run all night. One after the other of the planes, only their running lights visible, raced down the flight deck of the carrier, and rose lazily in the early morning darkness. We watched all this transpire, wet and tired from the long night of showers and waiting. The weather was generally bad, a factor in our favor during the approach, but against us, now that we were actually within striking distance. Finally, the full strength of the air group seemed to have formed over- head. We subsequently learned that some of the pilots had to proceed to the targets alone due to the difficult visibility. We on the Louisville thought to ourselves of the importance of the occasion, the first of the large strikes against the enemy, and we were scared, scared to the point of thor- ough alertness. Throughout the long day that followed, the air strikes went on Without let-up for Upper: BIRDS COMING IN TO ROOST ON THE FLIGHT DECK OF THE CARRIER YORKTOW N. Lower: FIGHTER SQUADRON SORTIE OVER THE MARSHALLS 79 weather or fatigue. And to the north, the other groups were making similar aggres- sive blows at the heart of this mid-Pacific Japanese stronghold. There, the cruisers and destroyers closed for bombardment missions, while to the south we had to content ourselves with the less spectacular duties of carrier support. Our own Louis- ville planes were sent out in the morning to maintain anti-submarine search ahead. In spite of decreasing visibility one of our planes, piloted by our senior aviator, was launched that afternoon into a rising wind. Soon it became apparent that our plane was lost, for it failed to check in at the prescribed intervals, and was not to be seen in the occasional clear areas. Our every attempt to contact the two in the plane failed. Our hopes faded as the early darkness settled in. But as we retired we refused to abandon all hope that a last- minute rescue had been effected by another ship or a submarine. Although no word was later received, we never gave up hope that they had fallen into enemy hands and would be repatriated at the end of the war. Late in the afternoon, as we were retir- ing, an unidentified. aircraft contact was made to the south. All eyes and guns were glued to the bearing, watching, wait- ing. Our circling fighter cover overhead was vectored out to intercept. Then out of the patchy clouded areas there appeared a large four-engined Jap plane. Apparently he was completely surprised, for it took him a short period to get his bearings and make av visible change of course. Our tracks were begun, eager gunners were pleading for the opportunity to fire, despite the fact that the plane was still outside effective range. This was our first glimpse of the enemy and we were understandably eager to get into action. Sharp on our port bow, he was still Closing us,-ten miles, now nine, then he began turning away. Into our field of vision now streaked two beautiful Wild- cats, the clouds frequently hiding friend and foe in their deadly race. Watching more closely we could see the flash of one Wildcat climbing straight up under the huge Kawanishi seaplane, while the sec- ond Wildcat was diving in on him from above. Then came a burst of flame, and billows of black smoke. Soon the loud report of the initial explosion reached our ears, just after the radio loudly broad- casted the successful pilot7s sentiments, I got him, I shot the tail out of himf' Our own cheers were resounding throughout the ship by now, and the tenseness of the shipns company could be seen to relax. The exploding mass of the enemy plane plummeted to the sea in a gorgeous fiery spectacle, and there it con- tinued to burn and explode sporadically for some time. The brilliant young fighter pilot credited with this early and thrilling victory was later gallantly to lose his life in the Battle'of Midway. All through that night we sped swiftly to the south and east while the tallies of the day's work were compiled. It had been a great day on two scores. The immediate destruction to the Japanese power in the central Pacific was consid- erable: 73,000 tons of shipping were sunk, enemy bases were neutralized, air- Helds wrecked and 35 enemy planes de- stroyed. But perhaps even more important was the lift to the Navyis pride afloat and ashore, and at home. Where was the Navy? Right here, here on the Louisville, and on the other ships of the task force, and in the hearts of its many courageous fliers. The first great offensive blow against the lap had been struck, struck hard and intelligently. , . f f bg I , ii :sf X Ja- 4' L X ---4 ,42?::'4'i -. '1:J.- .,. .. . ga - 553:39 - .1-f,.f,-3-,,:.ffq 5 :'f : M . 'T i' iiS.ilIil.'QfvI'Q.l' ..- - ,. Til-,-31:-2 71-j3'. '1' A ' '..,'f,,. . , 74 , '...:'-: , . wr Q3 Q 4'hTf,,583f.,rL1A J' ' A - -1 X J' ' Reaching Pearl Harbor February 6, we received an ovation that We will never for- get. Bluejackets lined the rails of every ship present giving three cheers as each unit of the force passed to its anchorage. 'CTWO-blocked to the foremast of Admiral Halsey's flagship Was the traditional cgbroomv of the Mclean sweepf, Salamaua-Lae The importance of our forthcoming operation was not to be measured in terms of spectacular front-line fighting but rather in terms of cold, hard logic. Our task was to capitalize upon the heroic sacrifice which other men were making on Bataan, Corregidor, Malaya, Singapore, and Java. These men were fighting a losing battle. They fought to the bitter end, knowing that their hopes of a sea full of ships and a sky full of planes coming from the east was only wishful thinking. There were to be no reinforce- ments and yet they fought, fought in order that We might have an extra day or Week or month to rally our forces and stem the triumphant march of the ,lapa- nese before the life line to Australia was severed. The focal point of attention was cen- tered on our forces afloat in this area. The allied navy was the only resistance available to check the rising tide of the Japanese offensive. On February 14, 19442, Admiral Hart Was ordered back to Wash- ington and was relieved by Vice Admiral Helfrich, Royal Netherlands Navy, as Allied Naval Commander. The situation in this area was critical. The Japanese, with strong forces, had leap-frogged down STRAFED BY TWO F4F,S, AN EMILY SEAPLANE PLUNGES INTO THE SEA JAP SHORE INSTALLATIONS IN! THE MARSHALLS RECEIVE A PREVIEW OF WHAT WAS YET TO COME the Malay Peninsula, surrounded Singapore Cwhich fell on February ISD and landed on Sumatra, the island adjoining Java. To the north the enemy was strongly entrenched on Borneo and the Celebes, and to the northwest they held Ambon and the Moluccas. Thus Java was threat- ened on three sides, the west, the north, and the east. Within a short time the Japanese would capitalize upon this stra- tegic advantage to capture Java and force us to retreat to Australia. To stop this operation, Admiral Hel- frich had at his command a small Ameri- can task force composed of the cruiser Houston, with her after turret out of com- mission, and thefdestroyers Stewart, Alden, Parrott, John D. Edwards, Paul fones, Pillsbury, Pope and Ford. He also had a Dutch force, and towards the end he was joined by the British with two cruisers and three destroyers. These ships endeav- ored to convoy reinforcements to .lava from Australia and attack enemy shipping. In the night battle of Badoeng Strait on February 19, 1942, this task force in- flicted heavy damage upon enemy trans- ports and cruisers. Again in the Battle of Java Sea hits were scored on the enemy. This, however, was the end, for out of this battle only the destroyers Edwards, Alden, Ford and Paul jones survived to fight again. The others were sunk or destroyed. The enemy soon overran Java but the men on these ships had delayed them. The same story can be told of our heroic garrison which fought so gallantly on Bataan and Corregidor. Thousands of Japanese army troops and tons of enemy shipping were engaged in winning this sector. If these troops and shipping had been free then, perhaps the Japanese would have been able to capture Port Moresby and begin their operations east- ward into the Solomon Islands at an earlier date. If the .laps held these South Pacific islands, then they would be in a position to attack Hawaii, the Panama Canal Zone, or Australia. As it was, the ,laps did cap- ture Salamaua and Lae on New Guinea, Rabaul on New Britain, Kaviang on New Ireland and launch an attack on the Solo- mons which carried them to Guadalcanal. We of the Louisville steamed Westward from Pearl Harbor on February 16, 1942. Enroute to the Southwest Pacific we joined a Pacific Fleet force under Vice Admiral Brown on the Lexington, the consolidation becoming Task Force 11. This force was destined to assist in checking the Japanese onslaught. The mission given Task Force 11 in the middle of February was of vital importance in the light of this background. We were to harass the Japanese as they tried to push south and eastward through these islands, and endeavor to prevent them from cutting off our life line to Australia. After careful deliberation at a conference on March 8, it was decided to attack Lae and Salamaua from the landward side. It was a bold plan, for the planes from the Yorktown and Lexington were to be launched on the Australian side of the unsurveyed Owen Stanley Mountains and attack the Nips from the rear. It was hoped that they, expecting a seaward, attack, would be surprised. An even bolder plan to conduct a cruiser bombardment of Rabaul was given up at the last minute as being too risky. The day chosen for the air attack was March 10, 1911-2. The best information available was that a pass existed through the three-mile high mountains at about 7,500 feet. This gap had beenused by an air line between Salamaua and the Gulf of Papua, fifty miles inland. The valley was usually clear between 0700 and 1100. The planes were to be launched at 0800, fly through this valley, make the attack, and return by noon. 0 At the last moment, word was received that a convoy of troop ships from the United States bound for New Caledonia would need protection. The force com- mander detached the cruiser H. M. A. S. Australia, the Chicago, Astoria, and Louis- OUR CARRIER RAIDS STRUCK AT JAP SHIPPING 'ville with their destroyers to act as a screen against a Japanese sortie to the south. This task group, under the com- mand of Rear Admiral Crace, R. N., took up a position off the Louisiade Archipelago southeast of New Guinea. There they could intercept any J ap forces which might come down intending to attack the convoy or to attack the two carriers stationed in the Gulf of Papua. On the morning of March 10, 103 planes took off, successfully navigated the pass' in the Owen Stanley Mountains and completely surprised the laps. They sank five transports and cargo shipsj a light cruiser and a destroyer. In addition a minelayer was left burning, a 500-pound bomb exploded the magazine in a heavy cruiser and caused fierce fires, a 1,000- pound bomb hit plus two near-misses left a second cruiser in a sinking condition. Serious damage was done to two other destroyers, two gunboats, and a seaplane tender. Besides this, anti-aircraft installa- tions, airfields, and other shore facilities were destroyed or badly damaged. By noon all planes, except one, were safely aboard their respective carriers. The raid had been a success. CinPac congratulated Task Force 11 on a raid 'cwell planned and well executed. The war of attrition on the part of the allies had been forwarded another step toward the foreseeable and hopeful future when direct and concerted attacks would be waged on all the strongholds of the far- flung .lap Empire. During this battle we had acted as part of the screen to protect the troop convoy and the carriers. This duty, though impor- tant, was uneventful. Excitement, however, came our way two days later after we had rendezvoused with the carriers and were steaming back to our base. ln the after- noon on March 12, we catapulted two of our planes on a scouting mission. They took off with other cruiser planes at 14-00 and were to return in late afternoon. When they failed to return, we made smoke puffs to help guide them home. Later we em- PATROLING WESTWARD INTO THE SETTING SUN OUR PURPOSE WAS TO PROTECT THESE PRECIOUS CARRIERS WHOSE EFFORTS WERE SAVING OUR COUNTRY FROM DEFEAT IN THE PACIFIC ployed searchlights with no better results. At 1911 the task group formed a scouting line in an attempt to locate our planes and also the planes belonging to the other cruisers. Our hearts were heavy as we searched for our shipmates that night. Late the next day they were still missing so we gave up the search to return to guarding the carriers. Some weeks later, in Mare Island, we were surprised to see our pilots come aboard ship. Their story was incredible at the time, but soon became common in that area. Unable to locate us at night- fall, they landed at sea to save gas. The next morning they took off, searching again for sight of their ships. When their gas supply began to run out, they headed for the nearest land on their emergency tanks. This was the southern tip of Rossel Island, appropriately entitled Cape Deliv- erance. Setting themselves up in a de- serted native village, they lived like kings on fresh chicken and the fruits of the land. Persistent efforts to establish radio contact with patrol planes in the end were finally successful. Identification was a bit more difficult until one of the officers discovered a personal friend in the unit contacted, and was able to supply information of his family as a Hpasswordf' Gasoline was dropped to the stranded fliers, and arrange- ments made for them to rendezvous with cruisers still in the area, a hundred miles to the eastward. Our pilots were flown back to the U. S. via Australia and Pearl Harbor. Meanwhile, after returning to patrol duty, with the temporary loss of our planes, our task force received orders to return to Pearl Harbor. We looked forward to this opportunity to once again stretch our legs on friendly soil and have a bit of relaxa- tion before we set out again for future attacks on the enemy .... f.5'g A2f 'J' I A 4tmf?L5ff6Q1 j .' . .'.5r.I. 1 s 4-1 vw :L . x ff Q I ka, J .4 J' W V , -Q 4 V' 'Wm .n 1.. ' . x ' , f s w. I x A 4 '. be .,A. 4 2 1 . ' Q ' '-JVM' L ' 1 S 'Pu' n , , ,,.QA. 1 .. .Bm gk w 4 k 12 ,A S 4 , , A. ' 'I '.f . ' 4 f x x , . ' 'R .. 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The modernizing of the Lady Lou was a tremendous task to accomplish in a few weeks, but it had to be done. The Jap Navy was a serious and constant threat to our inadequately de- fended island outposts. Midway, Hawaii and the Aleutians were all vulnerable to attack. Aleutians Our subs had stealthily slipped into Jap-held waters to reconnoiter. Their re- ports shot us out of Mare Island in aban- doned haste on the tide of wild rumors. Our overhaul incomplete, our destination an uncertainty, we struggled to iput the THE ALEUTIANS AS SEEN ON THOSE RARE DAYS OF FAIR WEATHER ship together to meet anticipated battle as we knifed our way northward. Out of the welter of scuttlebutt sifted the truth-the Nips in strength were heading east. Was it Midway, Hawaii, of the Aleutians? Mustering every available ship, the Navy sought to defend both areas, using its only remaining carriers to protect the Central The Nashville, St. Louis and Louisville ' on patrol duty in the North Pacific. Pacific forward of Midway. The Aleutians were our flank. The main ,lap force was repulsed at Midway, the turning point of the war. The diversionary enemy force stabbed at Dutch Harbor on June 3 with a bombing attack, and followed ai week later with un- opposed landings on Attu and Kiska. With 'our tenuous forces spread thin, we were powerless to repel these first thrusts of ,lap infantrymen into our hemisphere. Our air force, a courageous group of PBY's and Army P-38's, was thrown into action. Unrelenting foul weather, with accompanying poor visibility presented a superhuman task to the weary pilots who made constant reconnaissance patrols and bombing sorties over the invaded islands. Occasionally, our active submarines drew blood from roving enemy craft, but for the most part our surface forces cooled their heels, awaiting breaks in the damnable weather which cursed the desolate island chain. The ennui of our constant patrolling was broken only by routine early morning G. Q.'s, daily drills, and fueling destroy- ers. lt was this last task, this fueling at sea, that has been acclaimed as one of the logistic secrets of the war. A manifestation of superior seamanship, it enabled our massive task forces to foray into the heart of the Empire waters for months on end without returning for fuel. The Louisville became known to her men as 'CCAO 28, so frequently was she called upon for this assignment. Actually we were all proud of the fine job we did fueling at sea so often, and always in record time. There are few more stirring feats of ship handling than the approach of a ves- sel as she slithers alongside at a distance of twenty or thirty yards. The two ships become almost as one, steaming on exactly paralleled courses and at the same speed. A frothy, agitated sea piles up between them, careens from the sides of the ships, and builds wave against wave, rebounding with sharp slaps along the hulls. Line and hose handlers are often soaked by pyra- miding seas that crash over the sides. Steaming steadily, carefully, the two ships match lunge for lunge, each pacing ex- actly the movements of the other. The fuel hose is passed from ship to ship on saddles, which act as slings, and which are suspended from extending booms. The maneuver of fueling begins as pumps deep in the bowels of the ship start the heavy, black fluid flowing through the bridging hose. FUELING IN THE ALEUTIAN WATERS WAS A JOB TO BE DONE ALTHOUGH MEN FREQUENTLY FOUND IT A DANGEROUS TASK Topside, clad in foul-weather gear, treading decks that rolled and pitched in heavy seas, men hazarded grave dangers. In this business, one slip, one false step was one too many. In the seas we encountered, a man overboard was a man lost. Another cruiser operating with us learned this at the cost of two men. The entire operation was a delicate one, and we came through in smart, seamanlike fashion, fueling destroyer after destroyer during our Aleutians cruise. After a week or ten days of this ex- hausting life We would put in to Kodiak, the advance naval base, for a rest and a bit of liberty. Recreation consisted of a few cans of beer per man, a chance to play a few innings of softball or take a walk. Everyone's nerves were on edge, with the result that razzing between men, which ordinarily would have been accepted in good humor, became the occasion for many fights. It was a life no man could relish. Eventually, however, it did pay divi- dends. In August it appeared as if the weather would break and we would get a chance to bombard Jap-held Kiska. The Lady Lou., in company with the remainder of Task Force 8, got underway from Kodiak. No sooner had we stood out than our nemesis, fog, again enveloped us. It was so thick at times that we couldngt see the bow of the ship from the bridge. Our air support was consequently grounded. However, the fog played both ways, and our approach was well concealed from the enemy. A few scouting planes did, at 1 I N 0 Q 1 w W W m if !I U It M '4 , :N , M 2? W sql I V M M ix 1, i 'J i In .W ,fl EJ. ill' ,gi M FUELING AT SEA Line-throwing guns are fired as the destroyer comes alongside to port. Messenger lines are pulled across which, in turn, carry over 8 lines. Towing the destroyer steadily, hose lines are spanned, fore and aft. Expert ship handling must be maintained for hours while fueling. Rough weather adds to the difficulties and dan- gers of this maneuver. g eleg T r I last, get to Kiska as we were approaching and radioed that the sun was shining. Suddenly up ahead we heard a burst of firing from a sister ship. Then as if by magic we broke through the fog into clear sunlight. Before us lay the bleak, wind- driven shores of the island. On either side of us the other cruiser divisions were exe- cuting maneuvers which allowed them to open upf, Soon our turn came. We swung into position and at long last our guns spoke, spoke with all our pent-up emotions. Every shot fired served to cleanse us of the bitterness and savagery that had been bottled up for so long. Much to our relief and satisfaction we had apparently surprised the enemy, for his return firing was sporadic and inac- curate. lVfost of his shells hit several thou- sand yards ahead of us. Overhead, a Jap Zero stunted and maneuvered, trying to divert our attention, but he did not stay in the open long enough to offer a target for our AA batteries. Towards the end of the half-hour engagement, a Jap bomber appeared off our port quarter. Our bat- teries opened on him at long range as he scooted for the clouds, dropping his bombs harmlessly off our starboard quarter. We steamed back and forth, wrecking harbor shipping and facilities, shore instal- lations and gun emplacements. Then as we retired into the protective fog bank the .lap radio broke into hysterics, telling the homeland of our raid. This was only one piece of bad news that Tojo had to carry to the Emperor that day. For as we retired that evening, the 7th of August, 1942, we learned that our Marines far to the south had landed on Guadalcanal. Our hearts were much lighter that night as we steamed back to Kodiak. Once again we had scored on the enemy without suffering any appreciable damage ourselves. Soon winter came. The nights grew longer and the days shorter, the seas more ferocious, and the fog remained our curse, enveloping the wind-swept, snow-driven island chain, enforcing peace even against manis wishes. No' longer able to wage effective war, the Lou, was directed south. We were glad to say good-bye to the ice and snow and the williwaws of the Aleutians. Little did we think that soon we would be cursing the sun and heat and eternal sweat of the tropics. All we could think of as we steamed south was sun- bathing, tans and swimming, for it was always summer in the 'gland down underf' A Guadalcanal lt was while we were refueling and provisioning in the States that the news of the North African landings reached us. Thus heartened by our successes in Europe we headed for Pearl Harbor, arriving there on November 17. Following a few days' liberty in Hawaii, we stood out for Australia. ' The cruise was uneventful until 1655, November 30. At that precise moment Davy Jones and his Equatorial Welcoming Committee came aboard to greet pollywogs and old friend shellbacks. The ofiicial visit of King Neptunus Rex and his Royal Party was held the following day with traditional mock pomp and boisterous ceremony. C A few days later the Commanding Of- ficer called the crew to the weil deck for an important announcement. The North- ampton had been sunk, he said, making necessary a change in the Louisvillens orders from Australia' to the Guadalcanal area. A week passed before we steamed into Noumea, New Caledonia, where Rear Ad- miral W. L. Ainsworth and his staff came aboard. lt was then we learned our assign- ment. We were to serve with Task Force 67. Our duty-to stop the famous Tokyo express from reinforcing Guadalcanal. We knew the job was a tough one, but one of our crew learned just how tough when he chanced to meet a friend on the island who was attached to a destroyer. HWhat outfit you with?g' asked the tin- can sailor. When he was told we had just joined Task Force 67, he whistled in exclamation. Boyll l've seen four Task Force 67s add to the plating of lron Bot- tom Bayf' With this parting thought, we left Nou- mea for Espiritu Santo December ll, to rendezvous with our units. On the 17th, with the Lady Lou as Admiral Ainsworthjs flagship, Task Force 67 set out on its initial patrol. When we returned to port, the Admiral and his staff transferred to the Ln. S. S. Nashville. The H. M. N. Z. Achilles joined 'c67 as we steamed out of Espiritu, for another prowl of Hirohit0's haunts. Our force was acting upon sheer fighting guts rather than strength to stop the mighty Jap fleet. Apparently the greatest contribution to our success was our ability to keep them inthe dark as to how few ships were blocking their way. But, brother, I knewli' says one man. ul moved my bunk topside and wore my life jacket even while in the csackjfi lt was early morning January 5, as we steamed in formation toward Guadalcanal, when the laps gave us our first real trouble. A group of planes approaching the ships at a high altitude were reported as friendly. Then, suddenly, the aircraft shrieked down out of the sun in a dive bombing attack. The Honolulu -was strad- dled by a pair of bombs in the first sweep. The cruiser Achilles took a hit on the after turret, which wrecked the mechanism and killed nine of the crew. Several of the planes were shot down, one of which was credited to the Louis- ville. The next day we witnessed our first multiple burial at sea as we stood by for services aboard the Achilles. We returned to Espiritu Santo, at which time Foster Hailey of the New York Times reported aboard as war correspondent. While anchored in Pekoa Channel Janu- ary l5, we celebrated the Lady Lou's twelfth birthday. A smoker was held on the well deck in honor of the occasion. In this New Hebrides port our ship became famous with Marines of the island for her goodwill. They had no facilities in which to purchase stationery and ice cream. The Lou welcomed them and we shared as best we could. . X S Fi 73 ' 3 -giiil L W-1 ' is QQ-pfff'-' U 9 i Y BaH'Ie of Rennell Island TMJ Then on January 16, we got underway for Havannah Harbor, Efate lsland, under orders of the commander of the South Pacific Fleet. Arriving the following day we became a member of Task Force 16. 'Other ships of our fighting forces were the Wichita, serving as flag ship, Cleveland, Mont- pelier, Columbia, Sangarnon, Suwanee, Conway, Waller, Meade, and Frazier. Rumors of action to come sifted among the crew as unusual happenings occurred. Admiral Halsey made an official visit aboard ship January 22, remaining until morning. A few days later, the Chicago steamed in fresh fom the States to join the task force. She had just come out of the yard where she had undergone a com- plete overhaul and been equipped with the latest radar and gunnery facilities. At 1658, January 27, the task force moved out for the Solomons. We took formation with the Wichita, Chicago and Louisville in the right column, the light cruisers Montpelier, Columbia and Cleve- land in the left. We were steaming chal- lenge to any and all Jap forces. January 29 was a day filled with warn- ings of enemy planes. At dawn, the Chicago reported unidentified aircraft. Radar picked up an air contact 40 miles away at 1043 and another within 17 miles at 1102. Then all was quiet from the air for several hours. Late in the afternoon radar detected two unidentified planes 12 miles off, and four minutes later they had closed to nine miles. But a raid did not develop. The eight-plane air coverage for the task force was dispersed at 1852 because of darkness. As twilight settled over the fighting ships, ubogiesj' were reported closing from the south. Three minutes later the Chicago Top: Passing thro gl b t th New Hebrides. Mlddl N HI d Bottom: The L listed two more planes bearing 159 de- grees at 25 miles. As another five minutes passed, the TBS crackled with reports of enemy planes. General Quarters rang throughout the ship. As we dashed for our battle stations, the ship swerved sharply to port to avoid a possible tor- pedo strike. g Thirty seconds later our guns opened on and attacking torpedo plane, and at 1930 a torpedo wake slithered from port to starboard between the Louisville and Chicago. Our Captain passed word to the crew to hold fire for definite targets. The purpose was to hide us as much as pos- sible in the semi-darkness. Within the next seven minutes a large group of unidentified planes was picked up nine to eleven miles off the port quar- ter. We moved astern the Chicago and lead ship. The planes maneuvered around the task force. Then with a shriek of rac- ing motors they plunged down among us. The volume of anti-aircraft fire scatter- ing in all directions to meet the attack was unsurpassed in the Louisvilleis history up to that timep One plane was knocked down on the starboard quarter of the de- stroyer Waller, then steaming to the right of the Chicago. Another was shot down in flames off the Chicago's bow, illumi- nating the heavy. cruiser. Three minutes later a torpedo struck the Chicago at the after engine room. Seconds later two more planes crashed in flames-one on the Chicagois port bow and the other on her port quarter. Then at 1943, two minutes after the first hit, a second torpedo drove through her starboard side in the area of number three fireroom. Meanwhile, one competent observer aboard the Louisville reported seeing six distinct torpedo wakes drive at our ship at one time. All passed in front or be- neath us. There were those aboard who swore they felt the strike of duds against the hull. Men in the lirerooms heard a crash against the skin of the ship and felt the dizzying vibrations that should precede such an explosion. 0ccurring simultaneously with the Chicago's hits it is believed by others that the vibrations and sound were the results of her explosions The Louisville swerved to starboard as the Chicago lurched to port upon being hit. Topside men say she appeared as a Halloweien decoration with orange flames leaping out of a black hull. Her crew quickly extinguished the blaze. At 2020 we made preparations to take the damaged cruiser in tow. It was almost an impossible job. Neither ship dared show a spark of light in the black, moon- less night. All communications between the darkened ships were by megaphone- hollow voices shouting through the heavy darkness. Meanwhile, the task force maneuvered miles away. As we lay dead in the water a few hundred yards ahead of the Chicago, our radar warned that a surface target was racing down upon us from the north. Excitement gripped us as all guns were brought to bear on the unidentified ship. While the mystery craft rushed on us at 30 knots, officers made decisions in hurried whispers. Should the Lou open fire? It could be one of our own de- stroyers unaware of our position. There was a grave chance that it was an enemy destroyer coming in on a torpedo attack. In that case the enemy might get both ships. A hurried decision was made to await the contact. Jap radar being weak, it was decided the mystery ship might easily pass nearby without seeing us. We lay quiet, hardly breathing as the minutes ticked by i 1 l y and the ship raced nearer. Soon it was at a range of 6500 yards. Suddenly we could observe the roll of the sea as the shadowy bow cut through the water. From the shipjs speed and silhouette we could tell she was a de- stroyer, but we could not make out her colors. Words took shape in our minds. uWe could throw a lot of steel into her in a split second. '6What was her inten- tion? Nervous lingers waited at firing keys. THE LOUISVILLE AND THE CHICAGO SHOOT DOWN A JAP NIGHT RAIDER Range-4,000 yards. We still waited. The darkness seemed to echo our beating hearts. Within seconds the mystery ship came abreast our bow. We waited. 6'Would she fire ?9' Then, suddenly, the mysterious destroyer was 3,000 yards beyond--and in moments had passed into the night. A motor whaleboat was hurriedly low- ered to carry an eight-inch line and lighter messenger to the Chicago. Thus the tow- ing cable was finally passed to the disabled ship after nearly three hours had elapsed. Left: The Chicago, dead in the water, disabled by torpedoes. Under way, Chicago in tow, we foundf our charge steering badly. Curious onlookers crowded our topside decks.l Heavy shackles connected towing bridle with towing cable. A destroyer dashed here and there warding off sub attack. ---:xr - --2-ff.-r -fi----0-W.-, vi, , -Y F I l 1 V 1 1 w 1 l At 2305 the Louisville tightened the slack between the two ships and opened the throttles to get underway with her tre- mendous load. A few minutes later, firing was heard to the north, but we steadily crept through the shadowy water, gradually raising our speed to three knots, then five. We knew at best we could not get out of enemy plane range by morning, we could only get as much head start as the few remain- ing hours would allow. The U. S. S. Navajo, a sea-going tug, came alongside to take over the Chicago tow line as the light of early morning revealed our position. Acting on orders, we left the crippled cruiser to join the remaining units. Several destroyers were left with the tug and the grievously wounded Chicago as protective escort. Rumor had it that the Jap fleet was maneuvering to trap us. We dared not take that risk by remaining behind. When no immediate attacks were made it was thought the Chicago might make it through. However, enemy planes returned for their prey at 1640, attacking in great number. The crippled vessel joined the destroyers in anti-aircraft fire, helping to down a number of the aircraft. Unable to maneuver, it was not long before she was struck by four additional torpe- does, sealing her doom. Most of her crew was rescued by destroyers before she went down, ending the Battle of Rennel Island. Though we continued to miss contact with the Tokyo Express, we stood in the way of its activities. With Task Force 18, we went through many strenuous weeks guarding against air and underwater attack. Once while on patrol in early February, a submarine got to the center of the task force to release her torpedoes. The wake of one drove a furrow a little ahead ofthe port bow and another, off the port quarter, passed approximately 100 yards astern the ship. The Louisville stepped up her speed to 23 knots and maneuvered to follow the Wichita in a violent zigzag course out of the danger area, as destroyer depth charges heaved the sea into erupting columns. We kept up the Guadalcanal patrol throughout February and part of March before retiring to Wellington, New Zealand, for a well-earned rest. There we were given two exhilarating weeks of the warm- est hospitality in the shipis history. Inland tours were arranged for all. People in villages throughout the countryside threw open their homes to us. Parties and dances were given continuously during our stay in port. As is the case with most good things, it had to come to an end. Sad-hearted lads waved goodsbye to their newly won friends lining the quay and the old floating dry- dock as the Louisville pointed her prow northward early in April. E E I Q E Ei 5. L E ? 3 A N O F P 1.,. .-If! 'fm p ,V 2' S 1 ,, -K, if ,lfjfi , r - 'A 5 'A tif - .. W 'ff 'W ff f 1- ' ,,, g ggi W , A, fe ?'y' 1? ,,f f XVII, 'fy' 1 I WWWWZI, .X 1---, 'T n Q f out - ' Q f- , k , ,7 T T 7'L'54g,fi'j1 -jif . f' ' A NEW ERA had opened in the Louisville? life. We had become the power behind the blow which was to put troops ashore in most of the remaining great invasions of the Paciiic war. The Aleutians Leading the way in that important task were the invasions of Attu and Kiska, of the fog-shrouded Aleutian Chain. The ,laps had landed on the American islands in the early months of the war as a threat to our homeland. Their advance along the island chain had been stayed. We were to take back the ground they had occupied. irst invasions Snugly bound in winter clothing, we arrived in the Aleutians April 25, 1943, and were welcomed to Task Force 16 by Vice Admiral Kinkaid. We took upimme- diate patrol of Attu, feeling our way through the fog and cold of the northern Then on May ll came the awaited invasion of the island. Forming a protec- tive screen to the west, the Louisville took up a patrol carrying her as far north as Komandorskie lsland. While we protected the inner transports from attack by enemy ships, our radio boomed out news of the invasion from the Hair co-ordinatorn then flying over the Held of action. Although Attu was soon secured, and the Japanese threat to our northern de- fenses blunted, Task Force 16 maintained its patrols. The tense situation in that part of the world precluded thoughts of relaxation. We had just completed three pre-invasion bombardments of Kiska when , SALVO AFTER SALVO OUR NINE BIG UUN5 UUKL DEATH AND DESTRUCTION AT JAP-HELD GARRISON 99 l l When the big 8-inch guns pause in their The port battery opens first. Guns are reloaded while hotshellmen dispose of cases. firing the 5-inch hammer away at enemy. Meanwhile the starboard battery impatiently awaits its turn to unleash pent-up might. a l TWO quick buzzer Wal'I1iUgS and-Wham! MRCSHIHC Hreln and Secondary battery This is continued till the word aCheck iirev The Whig shots are at it again up forward. loads, fires, reloads, and fires again. is given yvhilg a negv target is found, l AA ersonnel stand h for lan att k . A th ' ' , P Y P C QC S U0 el' CPUISCI' QIVCS em hell. A fat BB astern of us opens up. A destroyer rushes in fora closer shot. l 100 l l l l I 4 xZ7!'95VT9Y iiT'ef ' s -- ' e .. on ' ' A .. , ,. FLEET UNITS IN ADAK HARBOR Flounrlering through formidable seas the frames of the Louisville and Indianapolis take a terrific beating. One wave took off a hangar door. The last photo substantiates the extremity of roll. 101 v f i i 1 l l t , , , , 'a Without slowing speed, destroyer transfers wounded to the . . . Louisville by provisioning trolley. Stretcbers are quickly We I'CCC1VCd 1HiC111gC11CC reports that The transported below to the sick bay by eveswilling hands ,laps were sending reinforcements for the beleaguered defenders. We were sent out lashing sea, rolling and tossing to the beat to intercept the enemy, but after scouring of its mighty Waves. Then came the calm ' the sea found no trace of them. which quieted the seas-and our stomachs. The Louisville was then assigned to On July 5, the Louisville was on hand convoy troops and supply ships to the area to lend fire support and shore bombard- for the Kiska Operation. lt was while so ment during the Kiska landings. No oppo- , occupied that We were caught in one of sition was encountered by our troops. The the Worst storms of the Laclyis long career. J ap garrison had made a miraculous escape. l Winds of gale proportion piled up moun- Shortly thereafter We left the Aleutians, tainous seas, until the capital ships of the major operations having been completed in convoy Were rolling and bobbing like the area, and returned to our home yard corks. For two days our ship fought the for overhaul. 102 S Patchwork and shoring keep out the seas where a near- miss pierced the bulkhead. The perforated bulkheads of Chiefs' Quarters bear Wit- ness to our close encounter. Even Turret HPS big guns testify to the unfriendli- ness of the Mfriendly shellf, 103 I04 The bombardment and invasion of Roi and Namur Islands. Our observation scout planes photographed the surface bombardment from every angle so that naval photographic files might have a complete record of the operations. 105 106 Our 8-inch guns open the Marshalls attack, followed closely by the 5-inch. On our starboard bow the Californiafs guns blaze away. An erupting ammunition dump sends smoke thousands of feet in the air. ..l1l l The Mdrshalls At the turn of the critical year of 1944 we were completing full scale rehearsals off San Clemente Island in preparation for the Kwajalein Operation. Every detail was ironed out, and perfect co-ordination assured, for this was to be a combined operation of unprecedented size in Pacific warfare. This was the first of the all-out invasion drives with which the Louisville was so intimately associated. The drives which were to take us to Tokyo. Stopping only at Lahaina Roads, Hawaii, for one day's provisioning, the task force steamed for Kwajalein Atoll. Leaving the task force, our group delivered a diver- sionary and neutralizing bombardment of enemy-held Wotje Island during the fore- noon of January 30. This bombardment was successful and without event except that our screening destroyer was struck by a five-inch shell from the beach. As we retired from the island, we took off her critically wounded for treatment in our sick bay. The following day we opened the inten- sive pre-invasion bombardment of Namur Island, northernmost of the Kwajalein Atoll. The heavy fire schedule was main- tained throughout the day with good effect. Our air force denied enemy planes even a view of the action, theirs was a superb performance. The bombardment stepped up next morning as our troops stormed ashore on both Roi and Namur. The marines quickly swarmed over and secured them both. lt is said that their first sweep of these two islands cleaned them of souvenirs, but additional sweeps were required to finish the laps. Later, in the afternoon of D Day, as we were awaiting further targets, an eight- inch shell from another cruiser ricocheted off the island to explode alongside our starboard quarter. Heavy pieces of shrap- nel riddled the chiefis quarters, but the crew of the battle dressing station within miraculously escaped injury. The island was secured February 3, and we dropped the hook in Kwajalein Lagoon to repair our battle damage. Working day and night our teams completed the job in record time. For this accomplishment we were commended by the group commander. On the 17th of that month we descended on the neighboring atoll of Eniwetok. Moving directly into the lagoon we con- ducted heavy bombardment of the northern island, Engebi. Following the pattern they set at Namur, the dauntless marines soon had control, and we moved to the south- ern part of the lagoon. Here we maintained an ironic schedule of alternating movies and bombardments until the islands were a mass of devasta- tion. The subsequent job of the marines was thus rendered inexpensive and easy. The victory at Eniwetok following so swiftly after Kwajalein, demonstrated the growing offensive might of the American forces. Eniwetok had enriched our island possessions greatly, and given us a fine anchorage. lt was once thought the island would require a full-scale amphibious operation, instead, a relatively small out- fit of marines boldly fought to a quick victory. W X v' X A X . xx x N .fafufzs i-ffftfit lx f. gi 5, 'i xv '3 if N X , f ' 107 N F W ? V 'i H 1 , , , M W w , l? 1 'N 'N N Ml r 1 I 1 x P B w 1 l Q! Hollandia FOLLOWING successful sweeps against Palau and Truk in March with Task Force 58, we again sortied with this famous force on April 13 for the covering operation off Hollandia. The temporary lull in the Cen- tral Pacific made it possible to take part in the operations under General MacArthur in New Guinea. And it was a treat to carry on with the 'clirst teamv for another run. Present with the fast carrier force under Vice Admiral Mitcher were all the first- line carriers and cruisers, carefully guarded by a horde of our finest destroyers. And as if to add unneeded backbone, all the new battleships also traveled with this force. Our Task Group was commanded by Rear Admiral Reeves. As the ships approached Hollandia, April 21, waves of carrier planes were sent in to bomb and strafe an airfield. lntensely alert against sudden air attack, we on the Louisville were not getting much business. Keep them safe At 1000, word was suddenly received from the Group Commander that a Hghter pilot had been shot down and was afloat in Tanahmerah Bay. Fellow fighter pilots were continuously strafing the beach to ward off snipers. A float plane was needed to effect the rescue. The Louisville was ordered to action. Mend dashed to flight quarters to launch the plane. Speed was of essence, yet time dragged. The planes took an eternity to warm up. With the pilot Hnally in place, first the red flag, then the green, and he was shot off on his mission. Anxious hearts beat a fast pace aboard ship while the plane was away. Was our rescue plane in time? Could the strahng Hghters give their fallen mate sufhcient protection? The suspense-filled hours passed slowly. Finally our plane came circling in with his thumbs upi' for suc- cess. The rescued pilot reported this to be the third time he had been shot down, and the most exciting. Nearly taken by Nips when his raft was driven in to the shore, he managed by frantic paddling and a friendly current to gain the middle of the bay once more. Thoroughly rested, he was as good as new the next day. Enroute to our base, the cruisers were assigned to conduct a bombardment of Satawan Island, while the big battleships tendered attention to Ponape Island. ln the afternoon of April 30 we gave Satawan a thorough going over. Except for a 109 ll0 K I :L-1-, . x 'W j. L I T - weather interference during the approach, it was entirely uneventful. Stopping briefly at Eniwetok, we pushed on to the peaceful Majuo Lagoon where some rest and recreation loomed high in our expectations. The Marianas The Marianas, heart of Hirohito's mighty Central Pacific defense, and great- est obstacle to the increasingly important American supply lines, had become, by Spring of 1944, number one on the Navyis hit parade. These islands were later to become the site of air bases from which the enemy was pounded unmercifully. At that time of the war the job appeared as difficult as entering the city of Tokyo to steal the Emperoris famous white horse. Yet it had to be accomplished. That was the task facing the Louisville and other ships of the Fifth Fleet! in the early sum- mer of 1944. Fresh from a monthas rest in the quiet Lagoon of Majuro, men of this heavy cruiser were once more ready to put forth to action. They had enjoyed ball games, swimming and beer parties-even the mail had come in abundance. Then orders were received, and prep- arations were made for getting underway for the operation. The plan provided for preparatory attacks on three of the Mari- anas lslands: Saipan, Tinian and Guam, with the opening attack by the full might of Task Force 589s gunhre and aircraft. Meanwhile the Louisville and countless other ships of the bombardment and fire support groups loaded provisions and ammunition. On June 6, the fire support group under the command of Rear Admiral Oldendorf, aboard the Louisville, set a course to a staging point for the assault on the islands. The Admiralgs force, similar to that employed so successfully against Kwajalein, Eniwetok and Satawan, included battleships, cruisers and destroy- ers. The ships were not of the latest design, but were veterans of proven ability. Such was the Lady Lou. The fighting groups assembled with close air support units at Roi Anchorage for fueling and final review of plans. On .lune 10, the entire force got underway for the first phase of the greatest amphibious effort yet made against the lap. The Louisville was guide ship, and the first stop was Saipan. Tenseness gripped us as we pushed through water near the enemy stronghold. Word had been received that Task Force 58 had completed the attack on the islands. It was early morning June 14. The Louisville and her force were to take over the firing line. 1 With night shades still on the water, we edged toward our objective. As the .I A SECTION OF THE TREMENDOUS MAJURO ANCHORAGE dim shadow of Mutcho Point blurred into the hazy dawn, word was passed that a surface contact had been made. Guns whirled to positions on the target. Men tense with the anticipation of action, waited for the order to fire. Long minutes of delay passed. Then the Melvin, one of the screening destroyers, reported the con- tact to be an enemy cargo vessel. She alone was ordered to destroy the ship, much to the disappointment of the Louisville. The Melvinfs early hits dashed the enemy vessel into brilliant flames which lighted the task group's way on to Saipan. A short time later the first salvos from the bombardment group found their targets and the incessant pounding of Saipan was begun. Bombarding ships searched for targets with glasses and planes, seeking to destroy all visible means of the enemy,s power to resist landing forces. The Louisville moved in for close range tiring. It was a danger- ous mission. An enemy battery could spell doom at any moment. Alert eyes earched the shore. Men were excited beyond fatigue. The Louisville unloaded her deadly salvos and received no return fire. She was earning her nickname- The Lucky Lou. Reaching a point close into the beach early in the afternoon, the ship covered under-water demolition teams by holding snipers at bay with automatic weapon fire. Meanwhile the gallant demolition teams removed all boat obstacles protecting the shore. The unceasing bombardment continued hour after hour throughout the long day. During the night a fleet of transports moved silently into position for an early morning discharge of their cargo. Vice Admiral Turner, commander of the am- phibious operation, directed movement of , , Our 8-inch cause havoc ashore on Saipan Island. The 5-inch bombarding near 6'Sl1iCid6 Bluff-'i Saipan- 40-mm pumping projectiles into Jap barracks. Captain observing as bombardment continues P nearny 112 1p's broadside cuts loose. U. S. S' port land coming in to relieve us. P Heading in for another hard dayis work. Continuously but unhurriedly We pour it in. Here gun crews take time out for a smoke. 40-mm Director Operator awaits his chance. AA gun crews stand by to repel air attacks. Gun boss and his side-kick in the foretop 113 IPAN NEUTRALIZED , FUEL OIL EXPLODES AON IAP SHIP AS DIRECT HIT IS SCORED H AERIAL VIEWS OF OILFIRE WHICH BURNED FOR THREE DAYS I ll4 Dff1U01i5hCd Shipping facilitiffsw Saipan Harbor. Japanese airfield on Saipan neutralized by shelling. GRASSHOPPER. This small Marine Corps plane wings its way over the Saipan locating enemy positions for Marine artillery. Fires on Suicide Cliff where laps leaped to their deaths. Oil streaming astern, Jan tanker flounders before our might troops ashore. His superior, Admiral Spruance, commanding the Fifth Fleet, was also present to witness the beginning of the all-important blow to the Jap mid- section. The bombardment group formed an arc off the western and southern shores, with the Louisville taking a position on the northern perimeter of the fire support When the invasion was still young, Word came that the .l ap Fleet was steaming in to attempt rescue of their beleaguered forces. All major units with the exception of the Louisville were sent out to meet them. We kept up a continuous bombard- ment of the island for the next eleven days and nights,with time out only for fueling and taking on ammunition. A: 3 5 3 ll6 A TINIAN AIRSTRIP IS RAZED BY FIERCE BOMBARDMENT ships. She gave heavy support to the northern flank of the hotly contested beachheadias the streams of landing barges flowed to the shores. Though the main force landed south and west the entire operation was visible from our decks. Aboard, fatigue kept pace with appre- hension, but laggers were few. Ashore, the Marines and Army found the fanatical Jap rising to new heights in his determination to hold the strategic island stronghold. Meanwhile the enemy was making an . AFTERMATH ON GUAM-A 6-INCH COASTAL DEFENSE GUN FOUND ON SHONITO CLIFF ill-fated bid for fame in the first battle of the Philippine Sea. Those were portentous days. Because so much hung in doubt it was easy to forget the vast preponderance of strength on our side. Men eagerly lis- tened for the outcome of the battle at sea, while the ship frantically answered one call after another for gunfire support. Twice Louisville planes were damaged by anti-aircraft fire as they spotted targets from low altitudes. One plane capsized and sank when its battered wing gave way during a landing, but no one was injured. Meanwhile, ,lap aircraft kept shipis gun- ners on the alert with frequent raids. On one occasion the Louisville was firing a bombardment mission and anti-aircraft simultaneously. Then came the breaks. Task Force 58 won a smashing victory in the sea battle. Men ashore encouraged by this news dis- played increased determination and capac- ity for the fight. However, it was not until after twenty-four gruelling days of the hardest fighting yet recorded in the Pacific that Saipan fell to the force of American arms. The victory of that cam- paign was announced July 9. On July 20, the ship commenced pre- paratory bombardments of Tinian, the island twin of Saipan, located a mile south. The Louisville and her bombardment force softened the island for four days before the transports moved in for the second phase of the great operation. The cam- paign was under the command of Vice Admiral Hill aboard the Cambria. The Louisville was directly opposite the main landing beach, 2,000 yards out, as landing parties opened the assault. The long lines of barges passed within easy hail of the ship. As they edged onto the beach, every gun that could bear from ships and nearby Saipan was speaking- Hkeep them safe. The ship's planes, spotting overhead, n 117 6II .aogpoes Qwgldns 9,11 .wuoq gdm QIEIIM plsq ug QIHIBS 'pesp sql 01 sslnlns pgdea sslql ssag p-Jang sugxew 'ess sql 0111! A1'lusB pgs sg Apoq Sql 6.I9A0 uoglsgpsusg '.1sAeJd sql spesx ugeldeqg sql uoglgsod ug sg .lsglq Qql usqmh 'qsspxslmenb qseoaddn slslesqned se uisuue lusssadv -uogugng 12 gpugq Hg GAIIOLIIQJQQ ggg 12 Papua I Q F I i. l 1 1 5 l 1 1 1 . 120 Whaleboat returns with rescued Chamorros. The island lies approximately one hundred miles south of Tinian, and being a former American possession, it was probably the most interesting to Louisville men. Unex- pectedly on August 2, the ship was ordered to participate in the closing days of that part of the campaign. On the following morninglwe were view- ing the high bluffs of Guam with anxious eyes. The signal watch on the long glass was scanning the coastal area, when he sighted a native sending frantic semaphore signals for help. He was amazed at first, because the man was in enemy-held ter- ritory. Rescue was delayed because we suspected a ruse. However, as the native,s signalling continued, the ship became con- vinced of his affiliation with the American Navy. We had recently read of Raymond Tweed, who was stationed on Guam at the After a hearty meal the natives pose for a photo. time of the Jap invasion, and who for three years eluded the enemy,s relentless search, until rescued by an American destroyer a few weeks before our arrival. It was decided to send a rescue party. A call went out for volunteers to man a whaleboat. It was quickly answered by more than enough men. A group was chosen and the Captain met them on deck and warned them of the risk they were taking. He wished them luck. When the rescue boat was within about one hundred yards of the shore a signal- man aboard the craft sent a message to the native to swim out. As the Chamorro climbed aboard he began begging that his native friends be included in the rescue. They were an old man and his two sons. A message was signaled to the ship and orders received to bring themfalong. The .-?Qi 4- ,g -N J group was taken aboard the Louisville without further incident. lt was then learned that the Chamorro sailor was a seaman second class of the lnsular Service. He was a survivor of the YP 17, lost when the ,laps invaded the island. The man was sent to the force commander by plane next morning. He gave important infor- mation concerning enemy dispositions. The Guam operation was approaching a successful conclusion by August 9. That day the Louisville fueled in Apra Harbor, under bluffs freshly scarred by Naval gun- fire. On one height was silhouetted the pitted, smoke-blackened walls of a ,lapa- nese Headquarters building, symbolizing in its destruction the termination on that island of the Emperorns regime. The Louisville had been in the battle area for fifty-nine days and nights, and in the Marianas campaign had fired 24,948 rounds of ammunition. The crew was proud of its part in the operation, proud to have carried the Hag of Admiral Oldendorf, the group com- mander, and proud to have made a con- tribution to that crushing, conclusive victory. When orders came on August 10 to retire to Eniwetok for replenishment, they were resoundingly received by a crew needing and deserving rest. The ship got underway, setting a course for recreation, but with full awareness that in the cabin of the high command lay operation plans already formulated and awaiting execution. All wondered what new adventure orders would bring. l2l I ? v A 5 1 K V x ' Y V 1 ,113 U ,, I1 1 i 1 i 1 I 1 1 F K, I H I 1 1 1 1, 5, 1 1 5 1 Y I1 I He ' ll 1 l I N N 1 1. fl , 1 1.1 1 N 1 W 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 M W, 1 IN ..........4,,, -..-Y, , , Y WY, H www '.vg5,gwLn,g,,,gg,,-A4.,1..-...g ' A. .Q ,'.., I 4 g 1 W , f 3:1.L,1..Q-nf+1fy4gqf,-4?Ag 1.1.1 A A - '-,Lg , ' ,Q 31-1 V., -:du 1 . 1.1, Lf. ,li i Lf, 1 Q bird's-eye view PELELIU i v A CRUISERQS spotting planes are its eyes during bombardments. Though there are many other effective devices that accom- pany this visual aid, it is the spotting plane which searches out the hidden tar- gets, checks the ship's accuracy and halts the bombardment when the target is de- stroyed. Our cruiserps fly boys deserve great credit for all of our shooting. The Lou, left a long, hot, arduous cam- paign behind as she pulled away from Guam, setting a course for liberty, sup- plies, and mail at Eniwetok. Most of the Pacific Fleet rested tranquilly at anchor in the broad enclosure of the atoll, carving into our memories the tremendous potency of our forces. From foreground to the horizon powerful men-of-war crowded the scene, presenting a panorama of invinci- bility and might. After a week of recreation snatched between handling tons of ammunition, stores and povisions, we weighed anchor for the pleasant, lolling beauty of Espiritu Santo. Scuttlebutt swept the ship in antici- pation of the forthcoming operation. It was not until August 28 that official orders revealed the picture of events to come. Rear Admiral Fort, aboard his command ship, the U. S. S. McKinnley, issued training orders for the Palau oper- ation. The Louisville, again serving as Rear Admiral Oldendorf's Hagship, was to be attached to the Peleliu fire support unit. We got underway immediately for Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal, to start the Peleliu bombardment rehearsal. After one day's firing we moved into Purvis Bay, Florida Island, for a final week of battle staging. Then it was September 6, and we were underway for Peleliu. Carrying the flag of the western fire support group, we led the column. The tension of a great approaching moment grasped us as our Louisville once again set her bow for an enemy strong- hold. This one, we knew, was bristling with surface ships, subs, planes, and shore batteries. Expecting a bitter struggle, we prepared ourselves with early morning GQQS, studied topography, listened atten- tively to briefings, sweated over drills until we were ready for whatever they had. The island is small, being only five and three-quarters miles long with a maximum width of approximately two miles. Though generally fiat, it has a ridge running through the central and northern parts. This elevation, composed of coral crags, - .: .'--. -fi-3'lIEf:I-'-'iz'-I ' A - 2 -N , 123 sheer cliffs, and narrow ravines honey- combed with caves, earned the name of Bloody Nose Ridge. It was also on Peleliu that the Japanese had established their principal air base of the Western Carolines. The base was modern in every phase-communications, service aprons and dispersal areas, hangars and' shops, fuel and storage facilities. Military strength of the Palau Islands was approximately 39,000, of whom 14,000 were construction personnel. Peleliu and nearby Ngesebus were said to have about 10,700 of the total strength. Unlike defenses of many islands pre- viouslyattacked, the Japanese at Peleliu had carefully evaluated the terrain, and employed it effectively for defense of the island. Tank obstacles, pill boxes, block houses, and other field fortifications were the normal types encountered, except that there were more of them, and so located as to give maximum co-ordinated support. Camouflage of these positions was uni- formly good. All this we learned of our objective as we steamed for the enemy islands. Then on Tuesday morning, September 12, the atmosphere changed. The GQ clang that rang through the darkness was not for practice. The Battle of Peleliu was about to begin. The motor of the plane on the catapult shattered the still darkness as it warmed for the initial flight over the enemy terri- tory. The silhouettes of the pilot and radioman could be seen in the fire-flashing exhaust as they climbed aboard. The grind of gears, the throb of strain- ing motors marked the swing of the huge catapult seaward. The green go-ahead sig- 1 Our bird takes to the air, up for morning spotting. SALVO . . . SPLASH . . . UP 500, LEFT 60 125 nal, the downward whip of the catapult oflicer's arms, the pilot grasping the stick, his body rigidly braced, the sharp report of the explosive charge, and the plane was hurled into the air. Peleliu Seen by Louisville Airdale Up in the plane, designated 'cAce Free- lancef' I noticed dawn breaking rapidly over the horizon. Our anticipated expec- tations of the island were soon revealed. Peleliu looked as familiar as an old boy- hood haunt. There was the airfield, mod- ern with solid buildings, and planes in the revetments, on the aprons and along the runways. Approximately one hundred of them-all knocked out by recent car- X rier raids. . ff Q N L?- fix ' In Q 126 My brieing served me well. I quickly lined up the grid co-ordinates of the first target. Within twenty minutes after leav- ing the catapult, I noted the ship had maneuvered into position ready to fire. Flipping the contact on my radio I called the ship's Gunnery Control Officer, identifying myself for communication. Freelance,,' I said, uThis is Ace. On station. Let ,er goln Preparing me for the hit, the Control Officer answered, c'Ace--this is Freelance. Salvo . . . Splashlg' The 'gsplashi' came a second before the projectile crashed on the objective, enabling me to alert for the hit. r f 'f 4 fr -,L ff X f 1 The salvo missed the mark. I spotted, Freelance-this is Ace. Up 200, right 100. Over. Ace, he answered, c'This is Freelance. Up 200, right 100. Roger. Out. He then followed up with, Ace-this is Free- lance. Salvo . . . splash. Freelance, this is Ace. Bullseye! No change, no change, rapid firef, Upon that signal all hell tore loose. What seemed like minutes later, I said, c'Hello, Free- lance, this is Ace. Target destroyed, sug- gest we shift fire. Over. 'cAce, this is Freelance. Good. Next target will be-. On we went, sometimes demolishing, always giving the target a good blasting. Methodically, we moved from pillbox to blockhouse, to cave, using both the main and secondary batteries. One of our planes spotted the ship's fire, while the other searched for new targets. 4 1 ,A PELELIU AIRFIELD LAID WASTE BY OUR BARRAGE I hadnnt seen a Jap all morning. There was no return fire. We Werenit fooled, however. We had learned his game through bitter experience. He was only waiting for us to take him for granted. I knew all this, but in spite of it I was feeling pretty brave as I flew back and forth at 1,000 feet looking for targets. The ship wanted more active targets. More active targets-hell! That wasn't the way these birds fought. They didn't move 'til you got a flame-thrower on their tails. I was beginning to wish they would open up just for a change! Then out of nowhere, tracers swished past me. Where were they coming from? Damn-they were all around. At last I identified the firing. They were fighters from our own carriers plunging down atop our spotting planes, strafing all the Way. It was a narrow squeak but I got out whole and barked a message to the ship: 'Treelancelv I bellowed. This is Ace. Dammit, give me the Word on these car- rier strikes. That last one nearly got mef' The carrier planes finally retired, and we Louisville pilots' pulled in on a new target. It was a good-sized blockhouse-- easy money for Lady Loufs boys. Then, suddenly, I realized someone else had taken the target under fire. A fat old bat- tle-wagon, that looked like the deacon of our church back home, was the culprit when-swish-boom-. 'cHello, Freelance, this is Ace. Our next target has been destroyed. A sixteen-inch did the job. Twenty minutes gas left. Request orders. Over. 127 128 Opposite page: Underwater demolition teams operating close to the beach TARGET DESTROYEDI position charges which clear the coral reefs from the paths of invasion barges. Ace, this is Freelance. Return to base. Over. NThis is Ace, Wilco, out. As l headed for the ship I began think- ing over the day. Weid done pretty Well. We'd knocked out pill boxes and block- houses, and Worked over the ravine. While taking a look at the terrain below, my eye suddenly came upon a cave with stores piled high in front of it. Gas was low, but, hell, this had to be taken care of. Hlfreelance, this is Ace. live spotted a cave. Suggest We get it. Over. Realigning our grid co-ordinates, we took the target under fire. nlfreelance, this is Ace. We've been hitting all around it. Hold fire While l go down to take a look. As I dipped low before the cave the first time, I got no response. Hm-m-m-m, I thought, that was good. Wcid go down for a better look. Thatis what the ,laps were Waiting for. As we came in low a 20-mm. lashed out at our boxseat chariot. Bullets drove through the wings, bursting in dull grey puffs of smoke and a splattering of fire, as I gave her the gun and got out of there. 'cYou all right back there, Radio? I shouted. c'Yes, sir, he blurted. 'gBut let's get out of here. Do you think those Wings will stand a landing?,' I assured him she was flying all right and We headed for home 129 130 -1 The next morning reveille jarred us awake raucously. No lounging in the sack. Only a few minutes and the clanging gen- eral quarters alarm would be sending us to our stations. The routine repeated itself: A hot cup of njoef, last-minute instructions, and I was up in the plane, revving the motors. The ship was alive by then. Guns were training out, men with sleep still in their eyes, yawning, stretching, scratching, climbed into pointer and trainer seats, gun covers were yanked off, ammunition lockers opened, men fum- bled with sound-powered phones, others gazed intently through binoculars at the beaches that were to take such a working over that day. Over the island again, the radioman and I noticed bargeloads of demolition men hitting the water not over 300 yards from the beach. I decided right then they had more guts than I, because I wouldn't Opposite page: SOC returns damaged by AA fire. V-Division sets at once to work making repairs. Smoke boats lay screen to protect invasion barges. want to go in swimming with TNT tied around me. They were preparing to blast openings in the reef for our landing craft. Freelance, this is Ace. OK on that supporting fire, but make the first salvo long, and We'll walk it back. Can't risk shorts on account of demolition teamsf' We kept the Nips pinned down until the demolition boys got their work done, and out of the way for the charges to clear the reef. With that completed we were ready for the big event. We hit the ,laps with every- thing we had. More than fourteen tons of projectiles drove into the beach each min- ute. Bombers joined the assault to drop their giant explosives in just the right places. A plane nearby splattered in mid- air as though his bomb had exploded just beneath him. lt was almost as if the air had swallowed him-nothing much left to fall. Gunboats pulled in close to send out a barrage of rockets in advance of the land- 131 E 132 4 ww 4255 f ZSQQMQ ,gy VZ S 24 1 . V W. W fn fW my awk wg w A Q f Xf 7 X4 W M QWZW f f , .yr 574 of-S ,, -7, f s QM IZZWKV1 M! , ffjby 7 Y X Af! X f Wcpsgf, yzgwi ff, X 7 Z, , X 'fb gf' AU, Q Q w , ,,f- v,-I ,ff 4- , ,J 4 M , R R f 7 A , ZZ: A f Q J 55, . Z MW? 4 KW4? A X , 1.1 , ,f , Q 2 , A KEXY 0 A AQQQ7 ,XM M fr , W ffv w ry WWI? ' X f F ,V 7 - W f 1m Q W M ' .S .max M :X G W -,W mf ,, , 1 Q , , , 1 ,ff rj 4 7 I AZQ, My 4 X Q . We A f , Q ,sf f ,r if R 4 f ' f il! Ml . M: ff I W ,L 9 K ,,,k 52, M A was y R X4 KX m fr ,S Qx 4? Opposite page, upper: Higgins' boats, alntracks and LCIS race for the beach under rover of screen. Lower: Amtracks, caught in the l'l'0SS-flfl? of Jap Shore batteries, burn on Peleliu beach. MARINES FLOUNDER THROUGH SURF TO PELELIU BEACH 133 134 .. - ai A '- J - n p -H pk-PJ., . I, ,, 4:n 'l 7 .,l y 4' fi 27' ef f'9x1vllllllli1: A . ' r ' I- 4 I. 4 4- X W' ll I G ' - l' I I r 'f . In 'L ,J E In i . f ' 5' 6 2' f. .' S-1 : o .' I: ,I 'I I Qfi Ez? Ea ai If 2 .fi V is N ii, 'fel 4:1 Q' B ' L i .': 'll 1,1 if 1 'fy ' --f 1., gl U. IN .2 . . I ff, Q? :f 'g , . ,. fr, 'F ly 'fa 15 af 5: '-f - TE rf , w .' '5 ' 1' 2: J - IJ f. tr i ' 5 ing Marines. The troops were making for the shore with everything, they drove con- tinuously onto the beach, with little con- cern for the whistling shells overhead. The smoke and dust of the bombard- ment were so thick I could hardly see the advancement of troops. At last, I made out the second 'wave advancing on the reef. It was a beautiful sight of power in the haze. Abruptly, something went wrong. One of the amtracks exploded in flames. It was diflicult to trace where the firing was coming from because of the dust and smoke. Then another, and still another amtrack burst into flames. Looking to the flank I located the Nips on nearby Un- named Islet. They were apparently using a three-inch gun. Freelance!- Freelance! This is Ace. There's a pillbox on Unnamed Islet re- turning fire. Let's get it. Overf' Ace, from Freelance. We see it. Cangt fire. Too close to our front lines. Out. Moments later an American tank edged in on the pillbox flank to put it out of commission. With that out of the way, I decided to take a look around the ridge, so headed inland and to the north. As I whirled free of the dense smoke of battle, my eye caught a line of enemy tanks approaching our lines for a counter-attack. g'Freelance, this is Ace. Jap tanks moving from the north. Looks like twelve to fifteen. Can you get them? Overf' Ace, from Freelance. Negative. Canit fire in that area. Keep us informed of their movements. Overf, Freelance, from Ace. They are on the airfield moving like hell for our beachf' I knew something had to be done or they would massacre our foot troops. I strafed the column but it didn't begin to stop them. Then, when lid about given up hope, I noticed the laps swerve from their course. They were racing to attack our own tanks. That was our break, and their one mistake. They were light, as opposed to our mediums, and their doom was soon sealed. With that to close off a tough day, I returned to the ship. Next morning as I flew over the front- line beaches I contacted a land radio fire control station. 'gHello, Oboe 75, this is Ace Freelance. Radio check, over. g'Hello, Ace, this is Oboe 75. Hear you five by five. Want to take airfield today. Your first target is power plant just north of the strip. Itis full of snipers. Over. 'cAce to Oboe 75. Roger. Hello, Free- lance. This is Ace. Did you get Oboe 759s last transmission? Over. -er l.--.- -f vs. J Freelance to Ace. Roger. Will use high capacity projectiles on target. Report when on station. Outf' As the Loufs gunners blew the power plant into shambles, I picked up what looked like a Jap concentration of troops on the extreme southern end of the island and notified the ship. She started the attack with some well-placed projectiles scattering what was left of the ,laps straight into the iron claws of a converging tank attack. By the end of the day our tanks were lined up facing Bloody Nose Ridge. The whole southern tip of the island was ours The Pelleliu campaign moved along quickly for us. Bloody Nose Ridge was tough, but it was a marine battle and they took care of it in the traditional manner Anguar Island lay just south of Pelleliu about two miles. A small, heavily vege tated island, it was a threat to our forces because of the possibility of flanking fire and because it formed a stage from which counter-reinforcement landings could be launched. Our occupation, soon after Pele liu was well underway, was a military necessity. The Louisville did her share of pre-invasion bombardment, knocking out pillboxes, caving in entrenchments, and contributing to the general confusion of enemy forces. A little float plane had been making nuisance bombing raids on the ships each night. Though he had always missed, it was thought best to put him out of the way before he improved his aim. Figuring the logical place for h1m to be based the Admiral sent us to Arakabesan to check the already bombed hangars and ramps As suspected lt was impossible for him still to operate from there I was sent up to spot After the Lou made a few hits in the right places I decided to fly north for a look at Koror I was an unwelcome VISI- tor So unwelcome in fact that the NIPS started throwing heavy AA at me On returning to the ship we came across Jap reinforcement barges around the north tip of the island off the east coast I notified the Lou and she maneuv- That was the end of a busy two weeks The fire support m1ss1on was finished although fighting was long to continue on Bloody Nose Rldge On September 25 we were ordered away to other duties 135 7 , . 7 ' 7 - 7 . 7 I . , for the taking before I returned to the ship. ered to position, clearing them out. 7 . . , 7 7 in- 11? W s N w K WV, ! W F 'g gg? +4 if i V H FIU il-1 f mi f 'J -w W ' w W l OUR 1NcEssAN'r drive against the Japanese Outer Empire had swung into a series of climactic punches. Palau had opened the door to mighty air strikes against the Philippines, Formosa and other strategic Jap possessions. We were on the brink of one of the greatest battles of the Pacific war. Admiral Halsey took his fast carriers o11 exploratory strikes not only to destroy enemy installations but to confirm the reported distribution of principal Jap con- centrations. We were planning multiple landings to start at Mindanao, when Ad- miral Halsey returned from his sweep of the China Sea. His report changed the entire course of the war-Leyte was the open door, not Mindanao. We could strike immediately at that island, thus cutting months from our war eyte calendar. Washington was notified, high commands made the decisiong plans were changed. Headquarters' officers worked night and day for two weeks re-mapping the operation. Leyte was on the way. Meanwhile we of the Louisville were catching up with a little rest and recrea- tion at Manus. We relaxed our bodies on the beaches, but could not drag our active. minds from the driving aggression of the war. We knew the importance of this next offensive and that it would be one of the toughest we had yet faced. The Philip- pines were the heart of the Jap Outer Empiref, By taking them we could sever vital life-lines between Japan and her rich Southern holdings. But most important of all, we would betaking a staging area for the all-out battle for the Homeland itself. Natives, principally feminine, paddled out to our ship to barter and sell to sailors. 137 138 Then came the news of Admiral Hal- sey's discovery and the plans of an early advance. The ship buzzed with excitement. October 12, 1944, the veteran Lady Lou gathered her fighting crew around her for the initial onslaught against the Philip- pines. lt was becoming af personal war. We were going to avenge the deaths of those who had fought and died on Cor- regidor and Bataan. This was our land and the ,lap could not stop us. As we neared Leyte Gulf a typhoon struck with such violence that carriers were unable to launch aircraft. It was feared that pre-landing bombardments might be postponed until skies cleared and the sea calmed. It was a moment of great decision. Then the storm exhausted its fury, and the treacherous Philippine Sea settled. Out of the calm came the sight of land-our land. To gain entrance to Leyte Gulf and the Eastern beaches on the island itself, we had to pass between two ,lap-held island bastions, Suluan and Homohon. That ob- stacle was quickly overcome, however, when the army's First Cavalry Division stormed ashore to take both positions. We sailed safely into forbidding Leyte Gulf with our spotting planes ranging ahead of the ship to watch for floating mines. Aerial reconnaissance had been thorough and perfect. Our bombardment charts had been rushed to us by special plane-pic tures that had been taken only hours be- fore we opened fire on the beach defenses. We cruised back and forth before the town of Dulag, searching for targets well camouflaged. 0ur observation planes roved far inland searching for troop concentra- tions without success. However, one of our pilots did spot a column of ,lap cavalry moving down a mountain road, and made a bombing run on them. He radioed back, '6Nip cavalry now dismountedf, Our next job was to stand by as pro- tection for the Underwater Demolition Teams who swam near the beach to remove anti-boat defenses. This dangerous work is done by highly-trained swimmers. They were all steel-nerved volunteers, the elite of the amphibious forces. Under the very muzzles of beach pillboxes, the demolition men attached dynamite to anti-boat mines, concrete pillars, barbed wire entanglements, steel pilings, and coral reefs. During our second day of bombardment, one of the small boats operating with the teams was shot up by a well-hidden Jap gun. Almost before the Louisville could silence the enemy offender, two of the demolition crew were brought aboard for treatment in sick bay., One of them died and was buried in the waters of Leyte Gulf--the same water in which he had so heroically performed his last duty. Though we found few targets on the beach, we were constantly on the alert for J ap planes, most of which held just out of firing range. However, all were not so dis- creet, for early in the operation a ,lap 'cVal,' suddenly appeared out of nowhere in a dive on our formation. The ,lapis presence was not detected until his plane unaccountably disintegrated in midair, about 1,000 yards forward of the Louis- ville. The plane's engine struck the water a few yards from a nearby destroyer, while the enemyas bomb plunged into the sea 600 yards off our port bow. It was on AU Day morning, as we were resuming our systematic destruction of shore installations, that a dive bomber slipped in over the formation. Louisville lookouts were the first to spot him, and Demolition teams blast reefs with underwater charges to pave way for entry of landing craft. LCIS CRUISF IN CIRCLES WHILE AWAITING HHOUR 139 140 l 4 With the arrival of A-day the pre-invasion bombardment be- comes a withering barrage rid- dling the beach 'til it seems that no living thing could exist there. H-hour, and through the smoke and the haze all along the beaches of Leyte thousands of landing craft, Wave upon wave of every conceivable type, streak for the shore. 141 .,. 142 X ' T . N L if 00,2 ,-4' -i '1i'5 'T' 4 f X y X our guns were the first to take him under fire. Then, as if in vengeance, the Jap pilot swerved from his course diving for a low sweep over the ship. Five-inch guns bombarded with streams of steel, but failed to stop the speeding plane. Then the 40-mmfs opened fire and later the 20-mmfs joined the fray. How- ever, fortune rode with the Nip flyer as he bored through the wall of tracers. As the plane zoomed above the ship the pilot dropped his two wing bombs and sped on over the beach. All hands topside stared hypnotized as the bombs arched gracefully away from the speeding plane. Their flight seemed endless. However, fortune rode with us, too, for our wither- ing barrage had spoiled the pilot's aim. The bombs whistled over the ship to explode harmlessly in the sea, not 300 yards away. A Before daylight on the morning of Oc- tober 20, huge gray shapes edged over the horizon. The transports with our troops were arriving. They wound their way carefully through mine fields to join the waiting men-on-war. The spectacular landing was not wit- nessed by our eyes alone. Hordes of Jap pilots saw the drama of rockets, gunfire, and blood, but few of them ever lived to relate what they had seen. As the landing progressed the ,lap air force increased its efforts. During the day skies were spotted with anti-aircraft bursts Machine guns poked patterns of fire into the black night to drive away marauders Most of the enemy planes were shot down however some of them got through our CAP to make direct attacks upon individual ships. The cruiser Honolulu was torpedoed in the early dawn of Octo ber 21 while lying not far from our ship The next day our senior aviator made a daring air-sea rescue of a pilot from the U S S Sangamon downed southeast of Cebu He landed in the dangerous waters after being advised to discontinue the search and return to the ship Fighter pilots co-operated by strafing the beach to keep Japs from manning their guns For his heroic action he was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross It was only a short time later that we had our Hrst encounter with the most dread weapon of air-sea warfare-the sui cide plane ' We had spent the afternoon fueling and were cruising singly in the mild chop of Leyte Gulf when a flight of eight enemy planes appeared from over the hills of Samar An attack in numbers wasnit new, but the tactics were The planes were the same, but their actions different They were piloted by members of the Special Attack Corpsv-kamikazes. Two planes broke from the group to start an unhurried circling of the ship, while others sped into the distance to attend to other mischief. The Jap pilots were waiting for the zero minute-that time of the evening when darkness filters into the eyes of nervous gunners. The pilots kept circling while working up their courage for the final plunge. 7 7 7 7 . I 0 I 7 ' 7 I Marines, tanks and trucks, bearing all the implements of war, pour from the gaping mouths of the LSTS. The shoreline area is soon overrun and taken by our superior forces. Here the men consolidate their lines and catch their breath before the push inland. 143 144 When the light was just right for them, one of the airmen rolled his plane over on the wing tip and pushed his throttle against the stops. N Our gunners sent up a challenge of steel to meet his steep angle dive, but nothing seemed to divert his aim. He drove through the mists of darkness like a projectile. Every man felt the plane was directed at him as he froze 4 in position waiting for the crash. Then suddenly it was over. The lap had missed the ship by inches. As he plunged into the water on the starboard side of the boat deck shrapnel flew back aboard ship, killing one of our men. That was our first kami- kaze. It had caused our first action death aboard the Louisville. t W 1 ' U. S. S. Honolulu, damaged and grounded by a .lap aerial torpedo off Leyte, receives first aid from auxiliary craft. The other plane made his do-and-die plunge before we had fully recovered from the first. However, he had waited an instant too long to start his run and nar- rowly missed the bridge. He crashed into the water a few feet beyond us, in a funeral pyre of smoke and spray. With these continuous enemy air attacks to contend with, it was little wonder that we were edgey about taking on ammuni- tion in Leyte Gulf. Risks had to be dis- regarded, however, for our only protection was our ability to fire, and we were dan- gerously low on ammunition. We eased alongside an ammunition ship on the afternoon of October 24, and pre- pared to repeat a process that had grown familiar through the many months of i heavy bombardment. Safety, and yet safety through speed, was the thought uppermost in our minds as the gunner sprang across the rail with our ammuni- tion order in his hand. Soon the booms were going at top speed, whipping up box after box of projectiles, and net after net of powder charges to deposit them on our decks. Long lines of Louisville hands quickly shouldered the containers and hustled them to stowage places. Normally each division handled its own type of ammunition, but in the interest of speed all strong shoulders were put to the wheel of progressg' on any lagging type. Walkiiig each container to the low- ering hatch was only the first step. Next the ammo was struck below by whip or hoist and then manhandled to its final spot in the magazines. Meanwhile other eager hands were pass- ing empty containers from previous bom- bardments in bucket-brigade fashion to the ammunition ship. Workiiig until we felt our muscles could stand no more, then working on, we com- pleted the job in double time. We had received several 'cred alerts while han- dling the explosives, but luckily nothing materialized from them. Although all our eight-inch armor-piercing projectile needs were not filled, we felt reassured as we pulled from the side of the ammunition ship late in the afternoon. We were not, however, fully aware of how important that ammunition was soon to become in the night engagement at Surigao Straits. This skyscape of a flaming Jap raider, highlighted against L 145 o . . r .. . I I Q Q 1: W w. g 4 1 L I F 1 1 A i 1 4 E , A 1 J ,1 4 3 1 E E 1 I 5 E r Q 1' J V, 1? 1 I i I 1 i I I G 4 I 2 F 5 3 1 1 ,1 1 1 1 ,,1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 , 1 1 V11 11 1 1 1 1 ,1 ,1 11 11 Vi 1-1 '1 11 11 ,111 111 - ,.1, --1 1-1 N1 pi 111 11 ,013 11 1 11 - 1 '1 1 1 1 I1 111.1 1 1 , 1 x 5 RECONQUERING the Philippines was the beginning of the in- evitable end. No one knew this bet- ter than the Nips. Goaded by the taunts of 'cldulli' Halsey, confronted with severance of supply lines to South China and the East Indies, losing face and heart with our every strike, they had to fight back. Like cornered rats, a stand had to be made, and the Philippines had to be the spot. We suspected it. We were prepared. lf any of us had any doubts concerning the determination of the faps to wrest Leyte from our hands, he began changing his mind on the 23rd of October when scuttlebutt raced like wildfire through the ship of the approach of large enemy naval forces. Those reports formed the current that set mighty machines in action. Com- municators worked all night decoding dis- patches. By early morning the dope was out. The enemy, in an all-out gamble to smash our hold in the Philippines, was deploying his entire fleet. Three powerful task forces, like giant pincers, were closing in for the kill: one from the north moving south from the Empire, one from the west steaming towards San Bernadino Straits, and the other approaching Leyte Gulf from the Mindanao Sea. Decisions, the kind that win wars or lose them, had to be made. Admiral Halsey, in one of history's boldest, most courageous gambles, ordered his entire l Suri ao attle Third Fleet to intercept and sink the ,lap forces to the north. That order meant that Admiral Kincaid's Seventh Fleet, of which we were part, had to meet the other two forces. On our success hinged the fate of thousands of men ashore and in troop transports in the Gulf. Officers and men worked shoulder to shoulder loading ammunition in a blazing, unmerciful sun that turned the tar of decks into blistered rivulets. Admirals, barges and captains' gigs, skimmed from ship to ship, as hasty conferences were held and hurried, terse briefings made. The laps were no idlers. Their plan of at- tack was a skillfully co-ordinated operation designed to crush with inexorable force our offensive. Mass air attacks greeted us that morning. Relentlessly they pressed their attacks, only to be intercepted and deci- mated with each attempt by our Lightning and Corsair fighter planes based on the airfields at Dulag and Tacloban. As the dogfights raged to the north over Luzon, our plans were formulated. Admiral Kincaid was informed that the ,lap force approaching San Bernadino Straits had re- versed course and was retiring. We were later to discover this report to be in error. Based on this misinformation, Task Group 77.2 under Rear Admiral Oldendorf, consisting of six battleships, four heavy cruisers, four light cruisers, and twenty- four destroyers, was ordered to guard the southern entrance of Leyte Gulf, to attack and destroy any enemy forces attempting to enter. The Louisville had reached the pinnacle of her career. With Admiral 147 7 JAPANESE 148 Oldendorf aboard, she Was the flagship that spear-headed the greatest surface engagement of this war. Under cover of darkness, We weighed anchor. Silently, grimly, We steamed in I , CARRIERS- i . EQUISERS' . Q E r 3 ESEURT AUZCRAFT i KARRQER GROUPS, column down the Gulf with the Lou, in the Van. UNOW hear thisf' the calm, deliberate voice of the 'cold mann broke the stillness of the night. Through the rasping back- FASTBATTLESHIPY. V r DSTRUYERS-'-'--L-'L '-' X 1-1- ground of the loudspeakers, our skipper told us the moment was at hand to de- cisively defeat the enemy. Clammy sweat moistened the palms of our hands as nervous tension heightened. Many a man standing at his battle station said a silent prayer as the Captain told of the certainty of battle. He concluded by expressing his conhdence in his officers and crew. His confidence in us was exceeded only by our confidence in him. Plucky PT boats, stationed as advance pickets at the mouth of the entrance, re- ported radar contacts closing in column from the southeast between Camiguin and Bohol Islands at 0100 on the morning of 0ctober 25. 0ur forces were disposed in classic naval form. A battle-line of battleships with right and left flank forces of cruisers to each side and forward some three or four thousand yards. The Louisville took her station in the left Hank. Alert and apprehensive, we steamed back and forth across Surigao Straits waiting our prey. In two columns, one four miles ahead of the other, the enemy cautiously felt his way forward. As he entered the Straits, the command to attack was given to the PT boats. Valiantly, the mosquito fleet struck. Star shells shattered the black of night. Greenish yellow flares slowly de- scended, their illumination probing every shadow, exposing the mighty midgets as they attempted to press home their tor- pedo attack. Tracers laced the dark as the laps laid a solid curtain of fire before them, and it proved impenetrable. Our boys were beaten back. Twenty miles away we continued our wait. Tension electrified the air. What man aboard did not shudder when the re- port, fcNo hits claimedf, came back from the commander of the PT,s? No sooner - ig. --.f ---,, , Q Q ? A L did the word reach us via inter-ship com- munication than it was relayed to every battle station over our sound-powered tele- phone circuits. We had ring-side seats at the greatest show on earth. Soon we were to be in the ring-no longer the spectator. The stakes were high, too high to think about very much. 4 Over two hours had passed since the first enemy contact. Having fought their way safely through the picket line of our PT boats, the Jap columns closed steadily at eighteen knots. Twenty-four of our destroyers were lurking in the radar shadows of Dinagat Island. When the leading Nip heavyweight crossed the ten- mile range band, the order was relayed to the tin cans to close the enemy and launch their torpedoes. The destroyers, Zig-zagging crazily in the night to foil enemy gunners, suddenly knifed into a graceful curve and fired their underwater missiles. 0ne hundred and twenty-seven deadly fish churned away toward the Jap ships, their wakes forming a series of expanding fans. A large part of the Emperor's proud battle fleet stood in the path. Hits were scored. Retiring from a torpedo run is often a more hazardous venture than the attack itself. In this case, the assault had been a surprise to the enemy, but he retaliated with a murderous barrage directed at the destroyers as they raced back to protec- 149 tion under our big guns. One, unfortu- nately, dropped behind the main destroyer formation and being mistaken for an enemy ship was fired upon by our own forces. ln night engagements, gunners do not take a chance on questionable targets. However, the Grant finally identified her- self by radio and limped through our formation, and returned to Leyte Gulf. Meanwhile, our own radar has picked up the approaching ships. The ranges and bearings were being continually dis- seminated. Over the telephone circuits came the ominous report, using code nomenclature, Skunks-bearing 192- range 28,5007 Anticipation made our breathing shorter, quicker. Again the range, . . . 25,0007 Not long to go now. At 241,000 we expected all hell to break loose, for that was the maximum effective range of our main battery. Unconsciously we sucked in our breath, taut for the expected blast. The moon had set, leaving a sky blank- eted with low, dense clouds, blacker than ink. Only the churning of the propellors, and the throaty rumble of the screws, which ordinarily are imperceptible back- ground noise, broke the deadly silence. c'Range-21,000.93 For Chrissakes, what tha' hell are dey waitin' for,', muttered one of the anti-air- craft gunners, anxiety and fright giving a hoarse trembling timber to his voice. For once it was his turn to wait and pray and watch, with his fate in the hands of the men of the main battery. Range-18,000.39 e The silence was heavy, unbearable. Why didn't they open up? They should have fifteen minutes ago. Was something wrong? Weren't we crossing the damned laps' T,'? Wasn't that what every Admiral in the world dreamed of doing 150 ,S THE LOU,S 8-INCH GUNS SHATTER THE NIGHT AS THE COMMAND COMES TO HOPEN FIRE, 151 152 FOLLOWING US OTHER SHIPS OPEN UP IN RAPID SUCCESSION in naval battle? What the hell Was Wrong with the old man? Open upl Doubts, curses, misgivings such as these flashed through our minds. Those of us ,With binoculars thought We could vaguely make out the portentous hulls of the enemy ships. Doubts were giving Way to a gnawing, helpless fear when the word was passed, Stand by for main batteryf, The range Was 17,000 yards, almost close enough for our secondary battery. It appears that difficulty had been experienced getting ships into position. With further delay impossible, Oldendorf gave the Word 120 open fire. Two rapid Warning buzzers alerted us. Bodies stiffened, hands cupped protect- ingly over the ears. Suppose We missed! The lap's Hre was going to be just as benefited by the closer range as ours-. A blinding spurt of Hre billowed int0 massive, rolling flames, filled with acrid, orange smoke. The Lady lifted a few feet, recoiled to port and shook as her nine- gun salvo hurled over a ton of steel and .A FI Night becomes a phantasmagoria of blinding flashes and Of shapes, now silhouetted, now illuminated. The roar of the big guns is deafening. 154 explosives at the approaching column of ships. At 0350, we had touched off the greatest ship-to-ship naval battle of World War Two. Lazily, indifferently, the tracers arced through the air. With nothing stationary to serve as a comparison, that was the impression one received as he watched. Actually those projectiles were traveling over 2,000 feet per second. Other ships opened up at our signal. Night was day as their guns belched flame and fire. Our attention was riveted on the first group of shells fired as they descended toward the target. A hit! Our second salvo drowned the mighty cheers. The lead J ap ship was a mass of flames shooting hundreds of feet into the sky. What an awe-inspiring sight! The enemy never quite knew what happened as salvo after salvo tore into him, ripping ships apart like matchboxes, setting off maga- zines that scattered the remnants of bat- tered hulls into oblivion. Time and again, the Lotfs guns roared. Shaking and shuddering from stem to stern with each blast of the turrets, we continued our devastating fire. At 0404 a lap destroyer closed enough to allow our secondary battery to open up. With both batteries aboard hurling death and destruction, the Louisville proved her mettle. During that decisive battle she fired more main battery eight-inch shells than the total of all calibers fired by the six battleships added together. Admiral Oldendorf later paid tribute to her greatness by beaming proudly, NRC- member, an eight-inch shell which hits iS far better than a sixteen-inch that misses. ln utter confusion, the laps broke formation and retired. By dawn, only Thi? dying and the dead remained. 0ur left flank made a sweep down the channel to polish off the cripples, sinking a game destroyer Whose single remaining after-gun was still firing as she settled, bow first, into the sea. Countless survivors amid miles of debris struggled in the Waters turned pink by the reflections of the rising sun. Our attempts at rescuing them were abruptly ended by a pleading, frantic radio message from a group of escort carriers who were uncer attack by a powerful Japanese force off the east coast of Samar, just above the eastern entrance to Leyte Gulf. The ,lap plan materialized suddeniy, tragically. That Jap force in San Berna- dino Straits had faked a retirement and then had reversed course, this time head- ing for the vulnerable, unprotected troop transports and cargo vessels lying off Dulag and Tacloban. Had they not run into the carrier force, they would have been able to inflict heavy damage on the transports, and the consequent loss of life and equip- ment might have postponed the Philip- pine operation for months. Fortune had smiled upon us, but not upon the CVE's and their escorts, who were taking a murderous beating from the laps. With most of our ammunition spent, We sped north through the Gulf to their assistance. By the time We reached the transport area, the ,laps had turned and fled, but were intercepted by the planes of Admiral Halseyss fleet, which had previously trounced the northernmost pincers of the Japs. By the grace of God, and some phe- nomenal marksmanship, the enemy's plan Went asunder. The Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, of which the Surigao Strait Battle was one phase, made possible the conquest of the Philippines, which clinched the outcome of the War. The .laps Were fighting a lost cause Upper: A PT boat man rescuing a Jap Slll'ViV0I' Of the night's battle. Lower: A Japanese battleship goes down at Surigao still burning furiously under water. 155 4 1 A y .n 0 1 . ' , i. ag, if W .-,: D X , . , e' - 2. xA K .'k I .1 .1 A ,A k ' ' 8 nf 'Yu i'ffg,x'f,J mg 1 f, Q , , F. 4 42,513 W W WW WW .V W,W . WW W, W W ., 'WWW : W W W. W, WW WA WWW WW W, W' 'W ,WW ! W Wi' W W W W5 .M ,WWW W W W'WWW-W i, WNW? W WW' ALL. W? Wa- ' W W W,W W WW, ZW WW :IW WW WW! I WlW' ,,W , , WW fWW :Q WW WW' 'W WWW ,W W WW W WWW' W-W ,WWWW W WW W W W WW , 5 I W W WW! ,WW WWW .WWIA WW H WWW WWWW uw! 'WWW W, WW, WWW ,, WWW, 'WWW WWW ffWW WWW WWW ,W ., WWW ,U ,,.. W W, P,Wj'W WWQ ,WW 'WWWW 'WVW 'W WWW Wt, WWW' .WWW W. WW W W WWW- WWW WWW' , WW W W W W W W W W , .51 W W, WW W WW W W W W W 2 W 'WW ,IW W W WW WI ' WW VW Wu WW, WW WWW 3-Q E fs , Mi. i -'T ,ji . 5 I I 4 ,Y gf 1 li .K 5 'B a N r 'I THE TERRIFIC pace of the war continued relent- lessly from Peleliu through Leyte and Luzon. On November 3, immediately fol- lowing the first Philippine invasion, the Louzsville stood out to join a fast carrier task force for strikes on Luzon Island. The two previous days had been sweaty when line after line of men rushed to load stores and ammunition from the supply ships at Ulithi. As the last shells and crates were struck below, we joined our task force, which headed for Luzon at twenty-five knots. Suddenly the dreaded warning of Hsub- marinem came over the TBS from one of the destroyers. The formation hurriedly swerved eighty degrees to the left, resum- ing its course when the contact disap- peared. We learned later that the light cruiser Reno, steaming with a task group forward of us was crippled by a torpeoo that same night. With this as a reminder, we proceeded cautiously but speedily on to Luzon. Arriving in position on November 5, the carriers launched their planes for dev- astating strikes on the southern airiields and harbors of the island. With this done, we reversed our course and steamed for our base. Our force had gotten through the raid with little difliculty from the laps. How- ever, 'while returning home, we met a Kamikaze LINGAYEN typhoon whose angry claws ripped the sea into a rage. With undiminished speed, we plowed through heavy, turbulent seas. Mountainous waves slapped us with pon- derous force. Violently pitching, groaning in creaking protest, the Lou. stumbled through to arrive in Ulithi on November 9-battered but safe. A week of much-needed repairs pro- vided opportunity for the crew to obtain a well-deserved rest. During that time Rear Admiral Oldendorf presented Air Medals to three aviators and Purple Hearts to several members of the crew. Leaving the harbor on November 17, we took-our Admiral to a conference with General MacArthur and the Commander of the Seventh Fleetat Hollandia, for Ia last-minute polishing of the Luzon inva- sion plans. We returned to lVIanus for a week and then back to pick him up. On December 1 we again cleared Hol- landia for Manus. The calm quiet of the night was suddenly broken by the wild ringing of bells, and the piercing notes SOC DAMAGED BY TYPHOON ' p g W V ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,i, ,W I of the bugle. On the double fire stations were manned. The cover on number one stack had caught fire, causing a battle problem for the repair crews. The onlY damage was to the cover, however, tl'16 emergency taught us something about fire in the superstructure, a lesson which was to serve us well later on. Tying up alongside the California at Manus, Rear Admirals Oldendorf and Chandler exchanged commands. It was at this time the former received his advance- l4- V 158 ment to Vice Admiral. During the impres- sive exchange ceremony, the shipgs com- pany stood at attention. Admiral Olden- dorf's flag was lowered, and Admiral Chandler's hoisted at the main. The part- ing with Vice Admiral Oldendorf was a sorrowful one. He had gone with us into many hazardous tasks and skillfully brought us home. With our new Hag aboard, we got underway immediately for Leyte Gulf, the primary staging area for the Luzon Campaign. After our arrival, enemy planes attacked spasmodically. During one alert, the eve- ning of December 20, we shot down a Japanese Nell off the starboard quarter. Instead of waiting for Santa to come down our chimney on Christmas Eve, we were continuously alerted to keep Jap planes out of our stack. The enemy worked dili- gently to spoil Christmas Day, but failed to keep Louisville men from a Saint Nick party on the beach. There was an air alert awaiting them when they returned aboard that evening. Then on December 26 we had a rush call from our newly landed forces on Mindoro. A Japanese surface force was bombarding them, causing light damage to our facilities. Under full steam- We dashed south through Surigao Straits, then north up through the Sulu Sea, slicing through the slot between Palawan and Panay, only to find the enemy gone. They had fled to the safety of the Empire waters. I The run to Mindoro by four cruisers, the only heavy combatant ships in the vicinity, to challenge what radio reports claimed to be a powerful Japanese sur- face force, was frightening. Many of us experienced acute fear at the thought of engaging such a numerically superior enemy force. It was a sleepless night as we stayed awake shooting the breeze, searching for comfort and security in each other's words. The trip was not altogether fruitless, for even though the Japs had fled they did not do so without suffering loss. A destroyer of theirs was sunk by OUT planes, and a few survivors of the 'ccani' were picked up by PT boats and trans- ferred to the Louisville. Our crew crowded -the life lines to stare with eager curiosity at the bedraggled prisoners as they were taken aboard and hastily herded down to the ship's brig. Intense questioning by an interpreter revealed some startling information C011- cerning the recent Japanese losses. Th0S6 Upper: With their clothes taken away to be burned, ,lap prisoners of war await new garments in slate of abjection. Lower: Prisoners are led below blindfolded. valuable bits of information were later corroborated by CincPac. We returned to Leyte with our POW's, traveling the same path We were to use a few days later when we limped back from the painful Lingayen Gulf ordeal. Lingayen Gulf Finally, on January 2, near midnight, the Louisville got underway for Luzon. We were part of the fire support group commanded by Vice Admiral Oldendorf, consisting of six battleships, nine cruisers and thirty destroyers. This force was to prepare the beaches of Lingayen Gulf for invasion by our troops. Starting several days before DM Day, We were to neu- tralize and destroy enemy shore installa- tions such as pillboxes, stores, coast artil- lery and personnel concentrations. This 159 160 A Kamikaze coming ing he's hit hut doesn't stop. Coming straight through that withering barrage. Ploughing into Turret 2, and erupting into flame. A holocaust billows forth, and hell reigns throughout. Flames and smoke mush- room toward the sky. And disappear leaving death and destruction. 161 Three Jap planes 'coming in, Our guns knock two down. 162 The third is coming in at us very fast, low over the water. Three ships open up with all the fire power they command. But everything wasn't quite enough for this son of Heaven. :lv- X X 'K X it x r, . t ji s L if X FNQ1- Y X35 gxlx u w' L X X we 'A X Hifi? N 21- X 3' , if x X. x NXXX -,P X X X A -x 'I' ii.i'?MtfN' BX j R f5 F15 'Av' -'95, .XX xx x .I tl : x ,r J . M fp f--s' :. ' W s 'V f 'T eu N LI' xii 9' N - Q X X fs Ax NX VIEW SSN -rf 'WE WX? 0a9 -Q Again the Lou has to take it on the chin, and take it she does. That same devilish one-act play had given a repeat performance. This time with even greater success for the producer. 163 job was one which had become familiar to us in many operations during the past year 'and a half. From previous experi- ence we knew that fire support missions had their difficulties, for it was seldom possible to provide them with adequate air coverage. , In the late afternoon of January 41, steaming again up the Sulu Sea with enemy-held territory on each side, the huge armada knifed its way northward. The rapidly setting sun variegated the western sky, casting in ever diminishing intensity its blinding core. Reports of bogies sent us scurrying to our gun stations. The clanging of the shipjs gen- eral quarters alarm was in direct contrast to the serenity of the sunset. The warning was late, for even as we ran to our guns the escort carrier, Ommaney Bay, erupted with massive black smoke. A fanatical Jap had found his mark. The Navy lostw an important ship as her fires raged, out of control. The Ommaney Bay going up in a terrifying, light-of-day explosion, was a grim fore- warning of dark days ahead. After this attack the enemy planes kept their distance, but, like a tiger stalking her Casualties were hurried to the emergency dressing stations. , ..,..,-x,.-.- prey, they were always with us. During the afternoon we passed Manila. This city was our ultimate goal, but for the present our task was to clear the beaches at Lin- gayen Gulf. Nothing could deter us. Not even an air attack the next afternoon could slow us up. This attack, coming twenty-four hours after the Hrst one, was even more severe. The TBS gave its terse warning, uBogies -low-closing fast? Targets appeared instantaneously and the path of tracers shredded the sky as our batteries barked defiance. The Louisville was under direct attack by two kamikazes. These human-controlled projectiles took position as though for a ski jump. The first plane rushed into an angular dive at the ship. On and on it came through the great barrage of steel. It seemed that nothing could stop it from crashing into us. Then suddenly it made a last-minute swerve from the Louisville to plow into a nearby destroyer. As the second plane plunged at us, all port guns were immediately on it. Tense figures throughout the ship drew a sigh of relief as they saw projectiles drive into the rapidly descending plane, setting it ablaze. However, their relief was soon spent. The plane merely wavered and then plunged on towards the ship. The crescendo of its motor became a roar, reaching its zenith with a terrific explo- sion as she crashed into turret two, rip- ping the gun compartment open and iv, I I r a T1 1 1 4 U 4 J i 2' THERE WAS DEATH IN MANY FORMS, NONE OF IT PLEASANT sending a wall of fire up -through the superstructure to the main battery director at the foretop. After the first shock of the explosion the crew performed magnihcently. Many individual and collective acts of heroism and skill under great stress took place. Momentarily the ship hesitated, as the engines backed down at the Captainys order. With control established in Batt. Two We proceeded at full speed ahead to regain our position. Quickly, reinforce- ments Were rushed to re-man the AA batteries affected and they were reorgan- 165 VV ,1 4 1 1111, 1 11 , 41, 11, 1111 1 H7 11 1 ,3-1 ,. ,1,I 111 I 1-1 11 ,,1 111 11 ,1 1 11' 113 11x 1 1 1 1 1 1, 1,1 1i.111 1,3 .N 1'1I 1 '11 ,,11 1 1 111 11 11 1 ,V 1 1 1 ,11 1'1 ,J , 1 1, 111 1 111 1, 1 XI1, 1 1 11 M 1 , ,W1 1 11, 1 ,li 1i ,1 11 1 1 ,M 1 1 ,11 11 .11 1 1 3 11 166 A 11 11 Wa1'd rooms, mess halls and passage ways became wards for the many wounded. The less seriously injured had to wait for treatment. ized to continue the fight., Our Captain, though severely burned, remained on the bridge directing the damage control par- ties and the rescue of two men trapped in the turret. Though every moment seemed an hour, the fire was actually extinguished in ten minutes. Our casualties were low, consisting of one man killed and many burned. How- ever, We had seen enough to make each of us shudder with unabashed fear at this terrifying Weapon confronting us. Vice Admiral Oldendorf sent a cheering aggressive message over the TBS saying that he knew we would stay up with the formation, but if We should temporarily drop behind he would keep the formation intact around us. We were a HDO or Dieu crew, we kept our place in formation. The next morning, as the sun rose bathing the sea and sky with brilliant hues, our guns in turrets one and three opened on schedule. Soon all the targets on the nearby beach Were destroyed. Air attacks were fought off intermit- tently throughout the morning and early afternoon. About 1100 a fast twin-engine lYip plane was sighted low on the water off the starboard bow. The ship swung snarply to port unmasking the starboard batteries which quickly splashed him close aboard. Admiral Oldendorf then decided to enter tne gulf in search of more enemy installa- tions. At 1530 the bombardment group steamed into the gulf preceded by the plucky little minesweepers. A lull in air activity prevailed for several hours. At 1710 the group commenced the bombard- ment of the Lingayen beaches. Twenty minutes later the column of ships reversed course and headed back for the open sea. Just as we completed the change of course a new very heavy air attack developed. lt has since been estimated that one hundred Japanese planes were involved. Before the attack was overcome, seventeen ships had been hit. Among these were the New Mexico, California, Columbia, HMAS Australia, and the Louisville. All ships opened fire simultaneously as the planes came in. The sky, in a matter of seconds, became a billowing cloud of smoke, flying steel, and flaming planes. Three kamikazes closed in on our star- board bow in an attempt to break through our fire. However, with the assistance of the Portland, steaming dead ahead, we managed to knock two of them down. The third, flying low over the water, con- tinued to drive upon us. He was as deter- mined as an eight-inch salvo about to hit its mark. Gun crews shrieked curses as the plane came onward through their steady rain of bullets. A 20-mm. machine gun got him fifty yards from the ship. The battle had been so desperate for this plane that few had noticed a f'Val coming in at an intense speed off the starboard quarter. Guns swung to fire on him, but to no avail. In a matter of sec- onds the plane crashed into the signal bridge, piling its motor and fuselage into number one sack. 0ne of its bombs ex- ploded above an ill-fated 4-0-mm. gun, killing the crew which had fired on the plane, the other bomb exploded at the height of the open bridge just outside the Captain's sea cabin, hurling death-dealing shrapnel throughout the area. As fire leaped over the signal and open bridge, dazed men still on their feet in- stinctively manned fire-fighting equipment. Admiral Chandler, though critically burned, helped hold one of the hoses to fight the searing blaze. 'He was finally taken below by an officer of his staff. The bridge was knocked out at the time of the crash, forcing ia switch of control to Batt. Two. There the assistant naviga- tor cooly and skillfully conned the ship. He was aided by the Gunnery and Radar A Philippino boy receiving blood plasma. 167 'C 'F if 1 O 1 5i l rx, fi '5 W i V w 13' i , i , , xi . 1, Rf, ' ii Y , 5 i His plane hit by our fire, a J ap Tony pilot strives vainly to direct his Hight V in a suicide run against the Lou. Bursting in flames he plunges into the sea. 163 H: Ho I I 1 i Officers, who directed the course by ob- servation from their respective vantage positions. Heroism became commonplace. The entire foremast was engulfed in flames. The starboard side became the funeral pyre of many of those men who were sta- tioned in the area of the hit. Men hor- ribly burned stumbled to assist firefighters. Persistently, relentlessly, damage con- trol parties fought to save the ship, to beat back the inferno. In the after half of the. ship, men, choking and gasping for air as the thick smoke, stinking of burned flesh and paint, enveloped them, stood their ground feed- ing the anti-aircraft guns. They blazed away at two other suiciders closing on us, making a total of six Hred upon in a few minutes. Lingayen Gulf became a holocaust. The forward portion of the ship was a tragedy of twisted plates, twisted bodies, and twisted minds. High in the superstructure in the main battery fire control station, men wondered if they were trapped. On bended knees one of them prayed. On the open bridge, an officer who had miraculously escaped injury, screamed in crazed, instinctive re- flex, HWho9s fighting this ship! Fire those gunslw Out of the flames, broken, burned bodies pulled themselves over blackened fire hose, through stinging salt water, along the buckled decks to the arms of those who mercifully injected morphine, applied rudimentary first aid, lifted them into the wire-meshed battle stretchers and lowered them to safer areas. Gradually the fires were brought under control. The distasteful, ghastly business of cleaning up began. With the Admiral on his death-bed, the Captain painfully burned, with over 125 men swathed in bandages, and overflowing the sick bay into neighboring sleeping compartments and into officers' country, the ship for the first time in her history 169 170 Balloons blink 6'Welcome Home Under the Golden Gate again. Home again, but not for long. was unable to complete the task she had begun. Grievously wounded, we were or- dered to safer waters and the protection of a group of CVE,s steaming off the gulf. It was during this disaster that the Medical Department was observed. With- out any fanfare the corpsmen and stretcher bearers moved about the decks collecting the wounded and carrying them to first- aid stations in the wardroom, chiefis quar- ters, and to sick bay to wait their turn for the operating tables. First the most severely wounded were cared for. Blood plasma in large quantities was adminis- tered. What a God-send that was! It was new life blood for these men who had left theirs on the deck overhead. Then gently but quickly the wounds were bandaged, and the doctor, without faltering, turned to the next patient while corpsmen carried the previous one to a bunk or cot. Hour after hour this went on far into the night. When the last patient had been cared for the doctors turned their attention to the dead. Each body was positively iden- tified. Then it was prepared for burial. Sailmakers stitched for hours making canvas bags for shipmates who had given their lives. The chaplain moved among the men, comforting them, administering last rites, hearing last words and confessions, saying prayers, holding this man's hand as the pain mounted, or lighting a cigarette for another. A quiet, calm person who was always present to do some small task others were too busy to do. Then as the men quieted down and slept, he prepared his service for the morrow. The ensign was lowered to half mast as we buried our dead. On the well deck the chaplain read the service, said prayers for the repose of the souls of these men Who had paid the sacrihce that our nation under God would always be free. The silence was broken as military honors were 53 given, three volleys were fired and the bugler sounded taps. Then gently the bodies of our shipmates were committed to the deep waters of the South China Sea, and we turned away to carry on where they had left off. Among those buried was Admiral Chandler. Though he had been with us only a short time he had earned the respect and loyalty of all hands. With successful landings at Lingayen on the ninth of January, the Louisville returned in company with transports and damaged combatant ships to Leyte Gulf. There the wounded were transferred to hospital ships. We then turned our prow towards Manus and from there to Pearl Harbor. The word to leave for uUncle Sugari' came on January 31, and the Louisville headed out of Pearl Harbor bow pointed for San Francisco's Golden Gate. It seemed like centuries to all of us before we finally steamed under the Golden Gate Bridge on the morning of February 6, and Hdropped the hook in San Francisco Bay. It had been a long time, fourteen months, since the ship had been home. We all eagerly anticipated our leaves and reunions at home, and all the other things that are meant when we speak of the ship being back in the States. With repair of the ship and rehabilitation of the crew completed, we knew we would set out again for the last long, hard push to Tokyo. Meanwhile we intended to enjoy uStateside,7'-uOh, brother! 171 7.4111-, 1--4' ,qw ,-1---rw , ,gfvf . ,, M' Q. ,,- ,.. if Y h+,. ?' , , . 'K' ,A ... v W . L, L 1 , H1 in 'MA- K 1 'ye ' . Q5 .As 'lf' 4, 4 sn- ' , - , , 3 - ..- 1 fm 1 , .- u., x , 9 f,, ,,, 5, N - 1 '. f4.x. x,x ,, 'A - 1 . .f - 'Cx ff- A ' ' qAW, Y 4vld'L 1 , M A M A,, . A . I f I I I I , I I I III I I II I I FI C ' I I ,I II I I1 I II II ,f II I I I . 5, V I I I 1 I If 1 I I I , I I I I 174 Fifth Fleet for duty. That could only mean one thing: Okinawa. We were to join the most vicious struggle in naval history. For forty days the Fifth Fleet had been combatting ai continuous stream of deadly Jap suicide planes. The toll of men and ships was already a record in naval annals. And in some quarters it was wondered if we would not be driven back. Or was the fleet that came to Okinawa there to stay? After storing ton after ton of supplies into seemingly cavernous holds and tuck- ing enough TNT inside our tight steel skin to blow us over the moon, we took on fuel for the passage to battle. Then Entering Hagushi anchorage. 1 l - t rt P on May 9, after taking Admiral Halsey's staff of fifty officers and one hundred men aboard, we were joined by the destroyer Stormes and steamed west for Guam. One morning an alert was flashed from Guam and we rushed to air offense. Forty S millimeter quads ground nervously, omi- nously on the turntables. Snooper planes had been discovered over the area. They usually presaged attack. We seemed a long way from engagements, yet Truk and other enemy-held possessions were relatively near by air. Sensitive radars searched the circum- ference of horizons throughout the day to trace down the threatened foe, but with- out success. The raid did not develop. Upon arrival in Guam, we moored alongside the fleetjs mighty Missouri to give Admiral Halsey his staff. He, as commander of the Third Fleet, was to relieve Admiral Spruance. Upon receiving his staff, the Third Fleet Commander sent usa typical Halsey HThank you. Soon after, we received orders to report to Vice Admiral Turner, Commander of Task Force 51 at Okinawa. As the bugler sounded the solemn notes of approaching Sunday morning church services, we set outifor Okinawa. The Stormes was again our escort. The short trip to the front was swift and por- tentous. Our nights were troubled by a maturing moon, whose brilliance made, our silhouettes all too obvious. Upon approaching Okinawa, the Stormes flashed us a warning of a sub contact. We immediately whirled into twists and turns to make ourselves a difficult target, while the Stormes darted about like a pointer nosing out a covey. However, the game could not again be detected, and we were soon relatively safe in Hagushi Anchorage. When we came in sight of the harbor, a great deal of our old confidence re- turned. There were so many ships of all kinds and types that we might have been looking at East River, New York, rather than at an assault task force in the battle areas. Many old friends of former en- gagements, battleships and cruisers, were present. In the fading daylight we had a brief chance to observe our general surround- ings. The Ryukyus spread in an arc be- tween Kyushu, the southernmost of the lap home islands, and Formosa to the southwest. At the midpoint of the chain was Okinawa, bearing Naha, the capitol city of the Nansei Shoto Prefecture. The island is long and narrow-approx imately sixty miles in length and not over twenty-seven miles in width. Overlooking Naha was the ancient feudal castle of Shuri, where Commodore Perry was re- ceived by the King of the Okinawans in 1850. The Royal Line had long main- tained the vestiges of independence by playing the Chinese against the Japanese. However, after about 1879, there was no longer any question of power, for the laps then came into absolute control. Thus, for the past several generations Okinawans had been an integral part of the Japanese Empire. The native Okinawans made up the majority of the population, but became the lower branch of society. The top men of the island government were Japanese. Economy was controlled by the mother nation, as well as all positions of standing. When our forces landed upon the islands we found the cities inhabited largely by women, children and the old. The younger men were in labor battalions and the army, many of them then oper- ating in other theaters. At the time of our arrival, on May 23, the land struggle was well advanced. The conquest of the northern half had been At anchor in Hagushi, Okinawa, relatively easy, but the southern half, where the strategic Jap withdrew to his best prepared fortifications, proved another matter. The air attacks on the fleet were continuous, yet we were getting regular shipments of supplies into the island. Damaged ships were being repaired or re- placed as fast or faster than the ,laps could knock them out. But bitter fighting lay ahead. The ,lap had no idea of surrender. On the morning after our arrival, we were assigned to a fire support group as aid to the advancing Marines. lt was the unpleasant custom of the laps to start infiltration tactics under cover of dark- ness. We were to move in and lob star shells over the now famed Shuri-Naha line to discourage their purpose. At about 1630 that afternoon we got underway with the Wichita, St. Louis and I75 176 New Y ork for the scene of the night's operation. Arriving on station at dusk, we commenced Hring according to instructions of Charlie Oboe, the radio voice of the Naval Gunfire Liaison Oflicer on the beach. Two air attacks were announced during the night by 'cDelegate, voice call for the Commander of the task force. By color code, he warned' all ships of approaching planes, A 6'Bogies,'7 giving position and course. This was followed up with, 6'Raid ten, two planes, 50 miles, bearing zero two' zero from cBolo9, Bolo being a geo- graphical reference point for the operation. Each separate raid was thus catalogued, numbered and followed in. The Combat Air Patrol, made up of Army, Marine and Carrier fighters, was our protector and 'cdear friend. During raids, the planes were directed by destroy- ers, destroyer escorts, and even smaller craft assigned to the picket line, stationed 20 to 50 miles in a broken perimeter sur- rounding the island. This protective ring of ships was the first to contact approach- ing bogies, and consequently exposed them- selves to extreme danger. Every night and every day since early April, these little ships had been inter- cepting the suiciders, knowing the odds were that one in every three of them would be hit. Orders to picket duty were com- monly received by destroyer sailors with, 'cHere comes the death notice again. So our first night of operations passed, punctuated by intermittent explosions of five-inch guns and the tireless voice of '6Delegate,', announcing each raid, follow- ing it in, and signing with, uThis is Dele- gate-outf' Charlie-Oboe came through the next day with excited talk of targets. He was soon joined on the circuit by our own aviator and a flyer from the New York, both flying low over Jap emplacements. Troops were massing at a certain point, Landing craft unload supplies at Hagushi, near Yontan, Okinawa. On the fire support line automatic weapons are often kept busy blazing at suspicious surface objects while the larger caliber guns continue bombardment of the island mobile enemy units were joining for the attack. The Louisiiille, along with other major ships, trained her heavy batteries on the troop concentration. Then, as directions came from Charlie-Oboe, we opened up with all turrets. Reeling from the concus- sion of each explosion, we repeated, and repeated again the thundering salvos. During the bombardment, planes rushed in to bomb and strafe the enemy troops. When the laps had planned their attack from a point outside artillery range, they had not adequately calculated upon the heavy batteries floating off shore, and their deadly, disastrous accuracy. ln less than fifteen minutes uCharlie-Oboeu gave the order to cease fire. The enemy was either destroyed or dispersed. During the morning, we were pleased to see the Missouri, with Admiral Halsey and his staff aboard, standing into the anchorage. The Admiral had come to dis- cuss the general situation with Admiral Spruance, Commander of the Fifth Fleet, aboard the battle-damaged New MexiC0. When the conversations were completed, Admiral Halsey relieved Admiral Spruance, who returned to Guam in the New Mexico, and we automatically became a member of the Third Fleet. In parting, Admiral Spruance sent us the simple, stirring fare- well printed on these pages. lt was quiet from the air that first day. Then came the second night at Okinawa. Enemy observation planes appeared, and then were gone again, the usual sign for a coming attack. However, throughout the early-evening, c'Delegate maintained an ominous silence-a silence which worried rather than reassured. A We were still lobbing star shells over the beach at 2200 when 'cDelegate,' broke silence to announce several bogies coming in from the northwest, fifty miles from Bolo. The raid was soon 'ctalleyhoedfg and 'csplashedw by the C. A. P. However, immediately following that raid, HDelegate announced another from a northeasterly sector. This was followed by a third and fourth raid. ln a half hour, more than twenty raids were reported. '6Delegate', was having difficulty keeping up with them-some moving in closer and closer I77 i 1 1 MI .N .N .. N. M if , iV' Iii H4 WE li .. il H 11.5 ti Vi 'i:, ,li fi ,J ,Ll up 1. 3 :ii ,Wi V N! w N i 1' 131 4.7: x 1 .yt U Ll li ,lg .V , ,,. il ill, Q. M if WS W? I Z Wit MH it yn. ti .'3 .pg as W. . i . ni 4 I 178 uw . V T i it . Nearly every day we observe a new fleet of landing craft take away from hopelessly besieged laps, spinning another strand while others 'copenedn and maneuvered to come in again. A large number of the planes were being splashed, but we knew some were bound to get through. Then came a radio announcement which caused a shudder on the Louisville. The Stormes, our escort from Pearl Harbor, had been hit as she stood her first nightis duty on the picket line. The kamikazes were getting through. There were too many to hold. Already, estimates indicated over 100 planes in the area. Every gun was ready, every radar another section of the beach in the web of encirclement. searching. A bright full moon made fine targets of the ships on the water. uDelegate's,' voice had become almost incessant as one transmission followed immediately after another. He was flush- ing up bogie after bogie, raid after raid. On a second reporting circuit came the calls for help from the crippled and dying ships on the picket line. And the reports of ships being hit continued to mount. Expectant moments ticked by as We waited for the inevitable. A lookout reported a fire to the north- Each evening about dusk the air raid warnings would hoot and wail, and the little smoke boats would faithfully begin their task of covering the immense fleet with a protecting blanket of fog. ward at Hagushi Anchorage. lt was such a raging fire that We suspected it to be a tanker. The blaze sprung to alarming height and intensity, lighting up the entire area. HDelegateM continued, 'Tiaid 73, clos- ing. This is Delegate, out .... 9, 6'Splash one Valfp came the familiar radio voice. uThis is Delegate, outf' UCIQM Combat Information Center, was full of darkness, green luminescent dials, tense, peering faces. The clamor of amplifiers and usquawk boxesp' never quite drowning out the persistent staccato of This is Delegate, out. From the chaos of sound and dials and gadgets, the ship got the now familiar Word of targets and approaching danger. A target at 050 de- grees was within 10,000 yards. No lights were showing, meaning target was not in- dicating friendly signals. 6'Sky control soon reported the target sighted. The ,lap plane started circling us from a low altitude, hunting his target, getting poised. Then came the terse order aboard ship to hold Hre, to wait until We 179 180 , -.n,,,v.-ww,--tgwgifff,-,-.-W... .tv - ,. ii' were sure of his intentions. The plane continued his circling. Then suddenly it straightened for a run on an LCI out to port. Streamers of orange tracers shot up from the LCI. Tension eased aboard ship as the Jap attacker was hit, and fell flam- ing into the sea. 'cfiaid 55-zero six zero-two miles from Bolo. This is Delegate, outf' Meanwhile, the fire northward had in- creased. It now seemed beyond Hagushi Anchorage. We learned next day that two Jap Sallys, loaded with suicide squads, had landed on our air strip at Yontan Field. As the enemy planes landed, the suicide squads leaped out and threw hand grenades into our parked planes and fuel dumps. A half dozen aircraft were de- stroyed and an immense quantity of fuel fired before the daring ,laps were killed. Across the island at Nakagusuku Wan, reports came of suicide boat attacks. Speed boats, with explosive charges in their bows, were used by suicide crews as a means of attack on our surface units. All boats were destroyed without damage to us. Notice also came of an attack on the Talbot by two small' craft loaded with grenade-armed soldiers. Survivors of the boats refused rescue. No prisoners were taken. The night was almost over when the last of the enemy planes was driven from the area. The untiring voice of Delegate then gave us a HFlash White,,' and some were able to catch a bit of sleep. With the coming of morning, we again joined the bombardment group. As we stood off shore in the afternoon, looking Opposite page, top: A destroyer disabled by kamikaze- Middle: Naval bombardment of the beach. Bottomr. On Cvery hand warships pour big stuffw into the .THD lines- over recent gains of our forces, the Officer of the Deck saw the sea spout up into a geyser a short distance ahead. Our main battery quickly went into action as the Amtracks bring wounded marines out to the ship. third shell from the enemy shore battery burst close aboard. After a few, of our salvos, the enemy ceased firing. However, we learned the next day that we had not permanently silenced him, for he opened up on other ships. They were within range and immediately took him under fire. That time he was quieted forever. On May 30 we pulled into Kerama Retto, a group of small islands near Oki- nawa known as 'gWiseman's Cove, for fuel and ammunition. Here was our logis- tic center, and the graveyard of damaged ships. Thereafter, we returned to the Hr- ing line for several days, and on June 4, entered HWiseman's Cove again for more ammunition. Targets were getting scarce, 6'Delegate was having fewer dread warnings. On June 5, we got orders to flycatcher duty with the Hooks. 'Tlycatcher dutyv consisted of supplying star shell illumina- 181 tion for LCI's and other small ships lpatroling close inshore to intercept suicide boats. 0ur position was off the southern part of the island, a highly undesirable area from the standpoint of air attack. At 1830 we relieved the New York, taking position about three miles off the coast. The Mississippi was two miles astern. The Rocks, our escorting de- stroyer, was about 2,000 yards in the lead. Weather was not favorable for illu- mination work, the sky being overcast. It was hot and the air hung heavily over the ship, indicating an approaching storm. Men moved topside from the stulfiness below decks, to write letters and get a breath of the early evening air. Two radio- men just relieved from duty remained in Radio One to exchange stories. Meanwhile, one of the doctors having completed sick call, joined an officer friend for an eve- ning stroll around the decks. Time was progressing slowly. The doc- tor and his friend passed number one A low-flying Jap suicider coming in at dusk. 182 XXX X X X XF - X -X HXXXL X x XXX XXX XX XXX X -X w - X 9 V X91 Q X KX XX XX 1 XX XX-X-yi XXX. - XX X ,XXX -XQXXAX X X X X --XX - X XX XXX xx XXX -XX XX XXX X X --XXX XXYX -N X XNXS x X X X K XXXXQX 5 A X XR X XX ,XX X XXXXXX x XXX -NX XxN Xi i- XX x 'NX XX X A Wiki X 1 A X Yr Y - X 1 K XX-XXX X XX X -XX XX - I - XXX Q- if X. ff -- XX X 'AXXXKR-X LX X k Xi-f -X X X XX -X X X5 X X X X: - k X NX ff X xlg X A X XX X 1:5 X X S X X X X X X sf x X - - f 5 f Xv f X 3 X - gif X - K ,Xwf XX S XX , ,XX , kk ' 2 . ' X- ' M- XX' X , QW- X-XYX' - XX S , ' x X X 1:-ff i ' . ' if L ff' L N X . .LX ua Q ' ' KX X Xk ,X sf ,' X - XX, -X f K XX if if X K X K X X S X X X -f S ' if ,X ,qs i FF' k r X X X X ff k i E f i' -.ff,'. 4- ' ' . 'X' X' x X Q 1 E f F ' - ' - X f fl XX-ff ' - ' I' ,' ,fXX-5'2 X ' Q XX 'X fXX ijf5 i S - X X- x X K ,mv X Q gi X X - Wi: - X ' L' x f X? f 5 ' X - J f -X Q -5 X ,., - X ,iwfv X ' -X f v X 3 'V f VX .r X iw X E fl , XX v 5 sf ,ff X KX x ,X f . Xw Q W 1. , K fr , - N' f fir- fi X 3 - f XX 1 X f -,N X f X X XX Iv X 'f X XP XX ffl' fff fp ' -6 A 1 . X X f N' XX 1 X Xlf Q if, ,X t - X' J X , X Nia-XX , X- I FC X XS Xlqlf x , A 2 X ,J if ffyl XV V x -X-iff V .MX-X. - V . XF , I ,,X.-X ff ,X XX- H K XX 'X 1 X in 41 - M 1 x sf pk 5 X X f XNXAXX - N X . X X X S MX I y y ,sg XA , I Y gr, X1 - X . X, , X- . 1 f ,za X LM X5 X Q. o QA ' I 1 Q o f I84 on the battleship, sending up a mass of flame and smoke. At that instant our eyes were torn from the tragedy of the Mississippi by shouts of, Coming in port sideln Low over the water, a second plane was racing directly at us out of the land mass. Skipping over two of our LCl's three thousand yards away, he continued to direct his attack on us. Men off duty topside dashed for cover. A messenger about to descend the ladder from the navigation bridge was seized by an oflicer and dragged behind a splinter shield. The unsuspecting Radiomen con- tinued shooting the breeze with the c'Tech,' in Radio Three. A few 20-mm. guns which could fire safely opened up and set the plane ablaze. But its aim was not diverted. On it came, straight for the bridge superstructure. Then it hit. The kamikaze struck our plane perched on the port catapult with cyclonic power, driving across the ship into number one stack, most of which it carried away, as it ricochetted to starboard, and fell into the sea in a geyser of smoke, burning wreckage and spray. A 200-pound shrap- nel bomb, .carried by the enemy plane, exploded near the stack, riddled all bulk- heads in the area, and by concussion blew out the boiler casings in number one fire room. All that was left of our plane was the engine and propeller, which had been A Corsair 'unleashes his death-dealing rockets at a spot inaccessible to naval gunfire I A .lap suicider in a daylight raid on the picket line goes to meet his ancestors. V hurled 30 feet into the air and dropped on the starboard side of the signal bridge as neatly as if by the calculating arm of the shipas crane. The doctor in the wardroom, main bat- tle dressing station, was quickly joined by corpsmen to start the tragic work of the night. The first casualties brought in were the two Radiomen and the '6Tech,,, their bodies torn by shrapnel. All died. Then came the crew of gun F orty-two, seriously wounded, some dead. Others followed. The cost of that suicide hit was eight killed, forty-five injured. Fires were quickly gotten under control and the destroyer H. C. Edwards led us through the black night to the anchorage. Next morning crews started removing the remnants of the battered stack. In the afternoon services were held for the dead, who were buried ashore with the heroes of the Army, Navy and Marines. On the following day necessary repairs were completed, and we returned to the firing line. The number of fire support ships had decreased, and although the bat- tle was waning, there remained much to be done. Proceeding to our station in company with another cruiser, our Captain flashed a message to our sister cruiser, How do you like our manicure?', The answer came speedily back, HTO us it looks more like a circumcisionf' On June 12 while bombarding, we were signalled by a Marine contingent on shore. 185 Out of the dusk on an evening such as this came the suicider that fate had destined for CA 28. In the light of day we survey the wreckage A Immediately C. and R. men set to work caused by our fanatical visitor from the sky. with acetylene torches to cut away debris. 186 Our dead are removed from the hanger The plane on the catapult is found to into a boat to be sent 'ashore for burial. have been swept clear of its pontoon. :FEC 210a01'kisbdiscol:fered high up on the Here is a riddled bulkhead of Radio III Om CEC v uf t 6 Plane has vanlshed. where all the occupants lost their lives. The rakish angle of the mutilated stack Then in sharp perspective presents a weird pattern against the sky. takes on immense proportions. In a few hours this mass of twisted steel and Sans Stafka the Louisgillel lifould Soon broken leeds was disposed of by the crew be headm, back to ear or repairs. 187 Receiving our permission, two amphibious craft put out from the beach and brought thirty-four wounded marines alongside. We took them aboard and gave them thorough care. Some were badly wounded, others were suffering from battle fatigue. Their greatest desires were satisfied with showers, haircuts, Coca-Cola, ice cream and fruit juice. They were transferred to other units of the fleet that day. On June 13, we were ordered to Pearl Harbor for repairs. We were thrown open to Hcannibalizationn and consequently suf- Upper: Once a .Tap 90-mm h 't ' L : B i . owl zer, now a museum PICCC. Upper: An ancient Okinawa crypt. Lower: A grave yard ower aka or suicide bomb f d H d Dun camou age on beach' for the many hundreds of Jap planes destroyed at Okinawa. 188 fered through interminable boarding par- tiesi' from other ships in the area, bring- ing urgent requests for everything, includ- ing the hull. Departing for Pearl on June 14, minus one stack, we were fittingly escorted by the destroyer Stack. So it was the Louisville won a battle star at 0kinawa. We had swelled by one the startling list of over 200 ships dam- aged and sunk in this costly campaign. We had added names of our men to the role of more than 5000 Naval dead, wounded, and missing. But in retaliation we had thrown tons of steel on the mauled and mutilated Jap forces ashore, and we had helped and speeded the campaign's victorious conclusion, which was announced 011 .lune 30. 0kinawa will never be forgotten by the U. S. Forces who fought there, and it will never be forgotten by the Japanese. To us it represented one of the greatest trials of courage in a long war of tough chal- lenges, and to the ,laps it meant the destruction of over 4,000 planes, the core of their weakened air force, the loss of their last outpost of defense, and conse- quent proof that the home islands them- selves could be successfully invaded. Significantly, the first peace feelers from the Emperor came in June 1945, after the capture of Okinawa was first admitted by the Japanese High Command. u. s. s. LOUISVILLE U. S. NAVAL COMMUNICATION SERVICE HEADHNT RESTRICTED 271430 PRIORITY THE OPERATION WHICH WE HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING FOR THE CAPTURE OF OKINANA HAS BEEN THE LARGEST AND LONGEST ONE SO FAR UNDERTAKEN BY THE 5TH FLEET x THE FIGHTING BY SHIPS OF THE FLEET HAS BEEN MARKED BY GREAT COURAGE AND DETERMINATION AND HAS CAUSED US THE HIGHEST NAVAL CASUALTIES OF ANY OPERATION UP T0 THIS TIME x IN PARTICULAR, THE DESTROYER AND SMALL TYPE VESSELS WHICH HAVE SO SUCCESSFULLY SCREENED THE TRANSPORT AND UNLOADING AREAS AROUND OKINANA FROM ENEMY - AIR AND SUBMARINE ATTACK HAVE SET US EXAMPLES OF GREAT HEROISM IN ACTIONS TOO NUMEROUS TO BE CITED INDIVIDUALLY x OUR AIM HAS ONCE MORE EXHIBITED ITS MARKED SUPERIORITY OVER WHAT THE ENEMY HAS HAD T0 OFFER IT AS TARGETS x I AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED ONCE MORE WITH SO FINE A BODY OF FIGHTING MEN AND I REGRET HAVING TO LEAVE YOU BEFORE OUR UOB IS COMPLETED x WELL DONE TO ALL HANDS SPRUANCE BU ZfBUZ 271435 TOR Q247 METHOD NPM NR H S557 DATE 28 MAY 1945 FROM X Priority I Routine 1 Nite 'Originator Release COM FIFTH FLEET fiction! F I FTH FLEET 'ffnfop C I NCPAC ADV , ic-ps. lam. Im Lex Gun. H Nav. N Eng. xsupplyl Med. tc.mm.1 num I isps. ' oon i Am. I ggi I 533 lsagliflbggifl I I I 9123-M.I.N.Y. 5-20-42-500M 189 190 PEACE WE WERE in the middle of intense re- fresher training in Hawaiian Waters when persistent rumors of peace reached their climax. On Thursday, August 9th, Japa- nese radio reports stated the Emperor had made overtures to accept the Potsdam ultimatum. The alleged peace proposals left us with mixed emotions. On the one hand, we now had apparent evidence that on the Jap home front, and at some point high in her government councils, the futility of further resistance was manifest. On an- other hand, We had heard for years the Jap propaganda for a finish Hght, and all too Well We had observed the suicidal devotion of the foe to ultimate victory or death. We thought, too, of the treachery which had been so readily adopted hy the enemy as a strategem of war, and We were inclined to he skeptical of these late indications of Willingness to call the whole ll- ' thing off. News of the disaster that had struck the cruiser Indianapolis only a few days before gave fortification to our skepticism. Yet at the same time we were too human not to be stirred by hope that what we had heard was true: that it was to be all over, that fear in battle, and death in battle were past, that victory was ours, and that we might at last return to loved ones at home. Later, on the evening of August 14, we were off the island of Maui, waiting the arrival of planes which were going to tow illuminated target sleeves for night AA practice. The Hawaiian night was magnificent with stars and the perfume of the islands, the sea was calm, and here and there long yellow tracks ran from the ship over the placid water to brilliant, low swinging stars. Soon planes appeared and the quiet of the night was shattered by the racket of our AA guns opening up on target. Orange-red tracers added their brilliance to the rich illumination of the heavens. The smell of burnt powder filled the air, and little clouds of smoke from the ship's guns drifted up against the stars. ln the course of a lull, while we were waiting for the plane to make another run, the radio announced that the Emperor had accepted the Potsdam ultimatum. It was still unofficial, but the sources seemed authentic. lt was really over! Practice continued through the evening, however. The guns fired, tracers rose from hot barrels, and preparation W61'1T 011, even though it had become probable that the guns of the Louisville would never fire in earnest again. But we hoped that our warlike activity while peace was first becoming a reality, would be a symbol of the alertness the Navy would maintain in years to come. Let there never again be a Pearl Harbor! The following day the formal announce- ments were made by the President and Prime Minister Attlee. We were sailing back to port under a bright noonday sun, when the captainps voice came over the '.'I'A': system, gave all hands the official good news, and added warning against possible treachery of individual enemy units. Shouts went up, and a spirit of celebration settled over the ship that lasted for many days. Everyone felt good inside. Several weeks later, riding out a typhoon off Okinawa, whither we had come to commence our occupation duties, we heard the finale of the drama. While forty-knot winds drove green water over our bows, we listened to the broadcast of the solemn ceremony that was taking place on the forecastle deck of the Missouri. The nation had been everywhere tri- umphant. Peace, diflicult and uncertain of achievement, was again settling slowly on the world. And much work lay ahead. Many important undertakings .remained for our forces abroad, and at home, as we soon learned, painful readjustments were in the making. The same basic problems and heavy obligations of the nation had been phrased by Lincoln for another gen- eration of Americans: fGWith malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan-to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nationsf' I9 The surrender of the Japanese forces is certified by the pen of Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu in the ceremony aboard the U. S. S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay September 2, 1945. I , - -rr was-Qiirx Overjoycd at the prospect of peace, celebrations are by captain, officers and crew alike. 192 '1 Admiral Chester W. Nimitz signs his name to the surrender instrument. Mightier than the sword, the weight behind this pen is that of the greatest navy in the world. ' ff. Reactions of men at their battle stations are to holler. laugh, do a jig, or just grin. 193 -V-vw - I .4, C .wg ARRIVING in Guam August 25, our long speculation about forthcoming duties was answered. Rear Admiral Settle and a special staff of Russian language and Naval Intelligence experts were embarked, and we were informed we were to do liaison work in Russian Siberian ports. So we stood out for Okinawa on the Hrst ccupation THE YELLow SEA Reaching Dairen on September 11, we found that American officers of the China Theater, and a destroyer division which had arrived some days before, had laid the groundwork for the repatriation. In short time the U. S. S. Relief and trans- ports pulled in to carry home the ragged and starved prisoners. The twenty-hour af' A-. Underway for Guam, full speed. leg of our journey, and thereafter waited in Buckner Bay for further directions. Un September 5 they came. Our original assignment was cancelled, and we were ordered to proceed through the Yellow Sea to Dairen, Nlanchuria, and there to super- vise the evacuation of l,7OO Allied pris- oners of war from camps in the vicinity of Mukden. General Jonathan Waiiiwright had just been rescued by air from one of these camps, and the condition of the prisoners was reported to be extremely poor. Again showing the Hag. train trip from Mukden on Jap-operated trains terminated on the dock, berthing the beautiful, white Relief. The Russian-controlled city was a tired, desolate, pillaged and unsettled community. lt was quite evident that the ambitious Jap had made effective use of his forty- ,.2,,7.f2L.,,f7t.-C.. 5l,L':ff,iE:,:Z1,.,,7,. 7 I f - 5 .t':::ii?:t i::::: ff' ' f ' -lilumiu, . f-A,..-,L Y ts, ? F, F -i--.. ,- , 1-,- ,u.,. , '- 195 196 year period of control, for the city was extensively built up, and the docking facil- ities conspicuously good. Yet the entire area now possessed a deserted and run- down iatmosphere, indicating that our sub- marine and air operations in the Yellow Sea had long since effectively blockaded this important seaport, and had eliminated it as an outlet for Manchurian products. After completion of this mission, and while enroute to Jinsen, Korea, for logis- tic replenishment, we received new orders which were to be the highlight of this entire period in the Yellow Sea. We were directed to proceed to Tsingtao, China, on the southern coast of the Shantung Penin- sula, and there to receive the surrender of all interned Japanese vessels. On the day following our arrival, Sep- tember 15, in ceremonies aboard the U. S. S. Herndon, Admiral Settle received the surrender of all Japanese Navallunits present, from Vice Admiral Kaneko, lm- perial ,lapanese Navy. c'O1d Glory was raised above the flag of Nippon on each of them. All of these vessels-two de- stroyers, the Kari and Hasu, one destroyer mine sweeper, and three sub-chasers- were moored in the vicinity of Pier No. 1, Tsingtao. Our Marine Detachment occu- pied and held this pier throughout the six days following the surrender. Six prize crews from the Louisville and Herndon occupied the ,lap vessels, supervising their disarmament and rnaintaining a security watch. The ,laps disarmedithemselves and their ships according to our instructions. Our prize crews found the ships to be poorly preserved vessels, requiring paint and re- pairs, although their propulsion machinery was in good operating condition. Except for two of the subchasers, they were old, and in every case were dirty, and rat-in- TSINGTAO, CHINA fested. The ships contained many wooden fixtures, and a fancy wooden Shinto Shrine installed in the Captain's passageway of the Hasu, was destroyed by her crew a few days after our occupation. Before sunrise each morning the ship's company of each .lap vessel assembled on deck for solemn chanting and two bows in homage towards the Emperor in Tokyo. A long, vigorous and stereotyped physical drill preceded the morning work period. Scrubbing down the decks, damp with morning moisture, was done by bare- footed seamen bending over their hand swabs in fore and aft lines. Starting and stopping on the boatswain mate's orders, which the men repeated in chant-like monotone, they completed the job with machine precision. Breakfast at seven for them consisted of thick soup with chopped meat and the ever present rice. They ate heartily of the food, which was brought from the small, mal- odorous galley. Dinner and supper usually consisted of fish, rice and vegetables. The discipline was hard and thorough. Late arrivals for watches were punished by slappings from the unrelieved watchg one man we found lashed to a stanchion in the engine room receiving a painful beating from his mates of the engine room gang for some misdemeanor. Kicking the shins of bad actors was also a favorite method of rendering justice, and every t IS Although the Jap Nledical Officer told of many sick cases ashore, in general the men and officers of our charges appeared to be in good health. lVleticulously clean in their persons, they ironically used the same water of the common wooden wash tub week after week. A special pan and brush was provided to wash one's shoes before using the accommodation ladder. The crew slept crowded tightly together seaman possessed scarred limbs to verify h' . Top: A Chinese admiral is received aboard with honors. Middle: Seated before Turret One, Rear Admiral Settle poses with the Chinese adlnirals, their interpreter, and two members of his staff. Bottom: The admiral shows Chinese dignitaries about the ship. 197 l98 JAPANESE SURRENDER The exec gives prize crews briefing. Well armed marines leaving the ship Some are assigned to guard the beach. Others of them set out on patrol. .laps awaiting our Admiral's pleasure. Rear . Admiral Settle speaks through interpreter. AT TSINGTAO, CHI Orders are relayed to Japanese officers. Q Qt' h d uex lon a out isposition of Jap crews. l ullapplness Boysw receive the answer. Then the signature of surrender. ,.., ,, ,, .... ,W Q x 1 e 2 f f . k W was-2 or-:1 Jw' f , ' ,, ,ffm f lr 4.94.:w,lQjw V4 M , , f ff A f . ,.r..,,,,Mw f 1 r , K fnfew' f ,dw 4 A wffffa -kv f , fr w w wa, I ,f f , kwygaf ,Avi - N., M f in 56? 5 L. M 3 , . X. fy ,WM A3:.4..:: , f -y g 3, . , ,few mph XS X X :X I g 3 H ,r X 1 i , E 5 . , gf- f f, m y V I 5 L N XS V Y E' Wye The Japanese ensign is lowered. And Old Glory takes its place at the truck. 199 200 on low benches, their bedding consisting of one blanket. It was decided to move our six prizes to Jinsen, Korea, logistics base for the Seventh Fleet. This We did, sailing our strange armada across the sea with the Herndon in the van and We of the Louis- ville riding herd on the six captives from the rear. Arriving in Jinsen September 24-, we soon turned the prizes over to other Upper: A small fry Jap sentry plays coy as we try to take his picture, but the Bosin Mate Cupper rightj gives us a big smile. Lower: Paying homage to their Emperor with their 64Sunrise Serenadef, sons of Nippon bow to the east. Lower right: Their morning meal of rice and smoked fish. U. S. hands. -The destroyer Kure was later sunk, Without loss of life, during a mine- sweeping mission in the Waters off South- ern Korea. , From this time on We were given a series of different and more general assign- ll I .11 IKHIXIIIK na , , hForty-four pointn men say last good-byes, check out with the O. O. D., and climb into the boat that will start them on the long road home. ments. Simultaneous with the surrender acceptance, and with the disarming and reorganization of Japan under General MacArthur, a similar series of events were being enacted in China under the direc- tion of General Chiang Kai-Shek. In this he was assisted by General Wedemeyer, China Theater Commander, the Seventh Fleet, and Marines of the Third Amphib- ious Corps. Our tasks now were confined to patrol duty in supporting our forces in the Yellow Sea area during the transition period following surrender. The political situation proved to be most important and complex. The pres- ence of the U. S. Forces in the North China area was, of course, to perform the militaryiduties attending the surrender of the Japanese forces to the Chinese, andy' to supervise the former's repatriation. However, it became an increasingly diffi- cult task for our U. S. Units, because the internal politics of China, far from quiet at any time, now flared into a state of open rebellion. The Communist Party, attempting to gain full control of the rich districts of North China, objected strenu- ously to the entrance of Kuomingtang troops. Treading on thin ice most of the time, our commanders continually had to evaluate the varying conditions in the dis- tricts concerned, and act accordingly. 201 Once the thriving port '4 xx of Dairen The splendor of Rome. The 5ClU2ll0l' of MThieve Muket Shmtg pl-iesfs chair, Russians treat us as comrades. East meets West and poses for a photo Meanwhile, we of the Louisville called at Chefoo, Weiheiwei and Taku Bar in China. From the latter, small liberty par- ties visited Tientsin twenty miles up the Hei Ho River. Aboard ship We cleaned and polished day. after day to bring our Every man gets a Jap rifle and bayonet. standard of smart appearance back to the high level of peacetime days. Smokers and boxing matches were re- vived. A basketball court installed on the well deck Was the setting for a hotly con- tested basketball league. All these activi- ties bolstered the morale of the ship in an attempt to dispel the low hanging clouds of monotony. Each Week or so another group of our high point oflicers and men would depart for home and discharge with our Cod- speed and sincere gratitude for a long job Well done. And then one day We, too, We who still remained, could give a rousing cheer of joy. We received our orders to become a ulVlagic Carpetw ship, which meant a homeward voyage. On November 14, We stood out of Jinsen, Korea, loaded with high-point Navy personnel, bound for Pearl, and Uncle Sugar! only the Marine Corps managed to get shore duty at Tsingtao. H' ' U l l ,' 'li at Jinsen, Korea, we find ourselves welcomed by a grateful populace. lltlllr, tie neat WWWW Strolling about towi 1 We Hn-d interesting sights and souvenirs plentiful. ,A..i-,,,.,,..,- 203 y as 204 The Bumhoat Squadron was forever with us wherever we dropped the hook in China. Varying slightly in size and shape, these boats follow the same general design that has been used by their people for centuries. They always came out to salvage discarded refuse from the ships, and, on the sly, sell liquor and other commodities to the sailors. MAGIC CARPET High point Army and Navy personnel crowd the decks as we steam nd. To while away the long hours of the journey some sit in the sun and swap stories, while others prefer to lounge below decks playing cards, reading, or just dozing. Enlivening the trip, a tour was instigated for those interested in learning what makes a warship tick, and a few fellows exercised their talents in some mess hall jam sessions. homeward bou 205 S- wwwmwmmm 4,1 If ik .4-P' as regular living compartments were overcrowded Passing through Pearl our passengers saw how they might have been making the homeward journey. 1 4'Glad welre going home? Entrance to the Harbor, The 4'Snafu Marul' greets us, complete Are you kidd'n?,' San Pedro, U. S. A. with hand and pretty girls. 206 ' Many of the men bunked in mess halls and hangers alum nose D H21 :nun Humane W ME EICU HUM Over go the first lines, and the band strikes up a lively tune while lines are being secured. Some lucky fellows have friends to meet them, but one, not so lucky, is met by an ambulance. Over they go at last with bag and baggage to the Waiting trucks for the next leg of the along road backf' 207 THE LONG VOYAGE HOME 208 To HAVE been assigned to C'lVlagic Carpet duty came asa great boon when our ship was stationed at Taku Bar, China, but when she was tied to a dock at Terminal Island, such an assignment had no magic in it whatever. The Lou was scheduled to leave San Pedro on December 8, 194-5 and to proceed by great circle course to Guam, there to gather together a few hun- dred 'fseparateesf' and to return them to the States. After sampling stateside liber- ties over a period of six days, these orders were hard to carry out, especially when they meant not being home! over Christmas. Saturday, the eighth of December, was therefore an exceedingly blue morning, as we singled up, cast off lines, and com- menced the long two weeks' journey west- ward. And, as it turned out, the trip re- quired not fourteen but seventeen days to complete, due to certain intervening cir- cumstances contrived by man and nature. During the Hrst weekiwe were besieged by an angry and implacable ocean that had cast away all pride in its name Pacific. Day after day our progress through the latitudes just south of the 'gfioaring For- ties was blocked by a stupendous show of strength put up by roistering elements. The Lady Lou, pitched and rolled with un- ladylike abandon, taking at one point two rolls of over thirty-five degrees that did much to ruffle the calm of some members of her crew, even if the old girl herself did not seem worsted by the teetering experience. . When the weather was abating, we picked up an SOS during the .mid-watch of a Saturday night that sent us scurrying off our course to the assistance of a vessel apparently in distress, whose position was unfortunately either 173 West Longitude or 173 East Longitude. We were close to the West Longitude location, and there we searched for a whole day, fruitlessly, and with growing bad temper. lt soon became obvious that the ship in distress was not in our locality. We were ordered to pro- ceed on duty assigned. Watching the dis- patches during the next few days, we un- covered a miserable denouement to the tale. The SOS was a fake. And who was responsible for the fakery, so far as we know,-has never been established. We later celebrated Christmas amid ninety-degree temperatures at Saipan, to which we had been diverted, Mess Halls and Wardroom were resplendent with be- decked Christmas trees, and here and there throughout the ship a few carolers tried their best to give traditional color to the season. The day after Christmas we de- parted, and set course for San Pedro, this time by the southern route. We had beautiful sailing all the way. Two weeks in San Pedro gave the West Coasters a chance to see their friends and families, and the rest of us an opportunity to learnhmore about fabulous HL. A. and Hollywood. When January twenty-second arrived, it was the turn of the East Coast- ers to be happy, for we then heaved anchor, and steamed for Philadelphia via the Panama Canal. The Lou had pre- viously been designated for the Inactive Reserve Fleet, Atlantic, with permanent All hands are ordered clear of weather decks as the Lou noses through heavy seas Westward to Saipan. Flying salt spray frequently envelops the ship like a fog. As calmer seas are reached at last, damage to ship is found to be light. 209 Long Beacli-appearing like this only on cluty nights. Balboa, Canal Zone. Approaching Miraliores Locks. i 5 if ' ,lv x Into the locks and up we go. The Panama mule. 210 i i r 1 K I E 5. K ' Xxx.. 'A Y mhz The last step up, then on through Culebra Cut, across Gatun Lake and then down. I Emerging from Gatun Locks, uFarewel1 Panama, and at last, HHello, Philadelphiaf' ' 211 1 212 berthing in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and now the time had come for her to take her retirement. The cruise turned out to be one of the most pleasant the Lou had experienced in many a year. lt seemed as if the elements had combined to make bright and pleas- ant to memory this last voyage of the Louisville. Like Prospero, we were borne by calm seas and auspicious galesv on the long voyage home. The Canal Zone provided its customary break in the voyage, with cafes, c'Blue Moon Girls, and the whole gamut of a sailor's recreation. When we pulled out of Colon on the first day of February, our seabags were filled with souvenirs, and our pockets empty of pay money. lt had been a great and traditional Bacchanalia. Even the Atlantic, much want in winter- time to stir up trouble for mariners, be- haved admirably and with great consider- ation for the solemnity of our voyage. We made Overfalls Light Ship late on the morning of February sixth, and because of heavy fog, crept up the Delaware River and were forced to anchor off Wilming- ton for the night. The next afternoon we aighiad the Philadelphia Navy Yard. There, to our pleasure, we greeted many old battle friends of the Japanese war, preparing as were we, for a long and dig- nified rest. There were the Portland, the Chester, the San Francisco, Minneapolis, Tuscaloosa, and New Orleans. Ships that had fought the war and survived from the first gunfire at Pearl Harbor to the last at Okinawa and in Japanese home waters: each one a vessel more storied, more filled with gallant traditions, than was the case with whole fleets in other times: each one a heroine of surface battles, air battles and shore bombardments in countless numbers: each one in herself a full-length history of the greatest war this country ever fought at sea. And so it was, on the afternoon of February 6, 1946, that the last active duty cruise of the Louisville in World War ll was completed. The record of duties that had covered a period of 15 years and one month, and that had taken her into almost every sea, on every type of mis- sion, from humble to heroic, had ended. Like all things genuine, and in their man- ner great, her deeds stand as the justifica- tion of her glory. Some part of the record that here has been set down is remembered, and some part of the spirit of the ship is carried, by hundreds of men now scattered over every part of our land and over all the seas, serving in all branches of the Navy in all ranks and rates, or else turned civilian, and following occupations as diverse as the stars. lt was they, who by their daily thoughts and actions while serving aboard, made that record, and created that spirit. As his reward, each man now bears with him a small part of the Louisville, which he will pass on to his friends and bequeath to his descend- ants, as part of the legend of the people. The beautiful old Lady Lou, quietly gathered together with her sisters of bat- tle, and with her great memories, is appropriately moored in Philadelphia, where patriot guns once established, what her guns thundered so often to defend and maintain in victory: the United States of America. N 1 ? E 1 v N i I I I a 1 . In Philadelphia Navy Yard The Louisville is Laid to Best 4 I E V 4 I E 1 N ' I E 1 1 i Q i U. S. S. LOUISVILLE 7 U. S. NAVAL COMMUNICATION SERVICE HEADIN G u PLA I N 132254 ROUTINE GROUP., COMMANDER APPRECIATE YOUR PFIOFICIENT HANDLING OF ALL TASKS, COOPERATION OF YOUR SHlP'S COMPANY X BEST LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR FINE SHIP 132254 v TOR 01542 METHOD FLASHING LIGHT DATE 'I4 OCT 45 FROM CTG 6 'Priox-ityllloutine' Nite 'Originator Release Igcfionm uss LoulsvlLLE ICA 282 mfom Cmnt. Exec. ll! Ll. Gun. Nav. Eng. Supply Med. Comm. Rmdiu HEADING U S N U. S - PLA AVAL CO . S L0u,swL IN LE Q ' I IT ,S WIT ICATION SER sm-M.I.N.Y 5-20-42-500M THE V H REGRET TH 11.04.08 ALIANT AT 1 NO THE SERVICE TE YOUR A To ALL F LINGAYE R'Flcg OF HE FROM T TINE x MNKAID N GULF CANN YOUR OFFIH His FLEET X OT BE FORGOTTE CERS AND MEN H N X My V BEST W TOR FROM H846 COM: METHOD T :JA fiction, USS NDER SEVENTH F 355 Kes 0 Lo LE gnfoi UISVILLE fc ET fpnolfwllz.. ' Clin. A 282 ef Nite DATE 12,4138 Exec. 1,g LL jorig-inator 1 i Gun.jN., X Rele X - g- mb! 383 ' 5 xm.LE ERVICE u'SiwIiwII?AicAT10N S ROW 'NE H U S NAVAL C0 . 229514525 O You FOR WE XQX FLAG I sw 1 D XNTENSE HEADNG PLAIN wg DOWN NN PART WG AN N of vmuw Row M THE HE GCCASIO uae OF SOR 1. QONE' ' LAST NME IN comm AOHIEVEM EP I P8199 229.1226 45 DATE 22 Xilexease i inawr ' 2 . we mg won NPN J A5AXPi-aofauv XROWHE U ME ' 95322 FLEET A TOR ' FROM COIIMANDER PEW, S I1 ET 5 ..- is 'Nl' I 0 HIRE ILE ADQU-WEB 0. Mb- Emi' LL TLAQIAODIT .aw Sw: 0 f To Cm-GPM: C Bmw W... Ly, num mu. Gm, Clvf' Ein. 3? f . X I x A -0.1'zf50m , Qxzs-M.1.N-Y' E' 1 ,z .3 'I I x il H 4 I I i I ! I N ,J CAPTAIN CAPTAIN CAPTAIN CAPTAIN CAPTAIN CAPTAIN E. J. B. L. C. V. W. S. R. W. F. T. COMMANDING OFFICERS MARQUART, USN .... CANAGA, USN .... STEWART, USN. . . FARBER, USN .... MATHEWSON, USN. LEIOHTON, USN .... COMMANDER H. J. NELSON, USN. CAPTAIN CAPTAIN CAPTAIN CAPTAIN CAPTAIN CAPTAIN E. C. A. S. R. T. B. T. S. H. L. T. NIXON, USN .... JOY, USN ......... WOTHERSPOON, USN HURT, USN ..... HICKS, USN .... BEATTIE, USN .... . . . January, 1931 - October, . . . . October, 1932 - April . . . April, 1934 - November . . . November, 1935 - May, . . . . .May, 1937 - October, . .October, 1938 - December, December, 1940 - February, . . .February, 1941 - August, . . . .August, 1942 - August, . . August, 1943 - December, December, 1943 - December, . .December, 1944 - October, . . . . . October, 1945 - April, 7 1932 1934 1935 1937 1938 1940 1941 1942 1943 1943 1944 1945 1946 MAN OF WAR STAFF Edi'I'ors-in-Chief ARTHUR G. ESCH . . . ....... . ........ Lieutenant Commander, USN J. R. GORMAN .... ............... L ieutenant Commander, USNR Editorial Board G. B. GALATY .... ............... L ieutenant Commander, USNR J. P. STRAUS .... ............ L ieutenant,USNR G. M. WHITE .... ........... L ieutenant, USNR M. H. KANTER .... .... L ieutenant USNR M. C. CLAPP ..... ...... L ieutenant fj.g.j, USNR G. L. LANCASTER . . . . . . ..... .... P harmacist Mate 3fc, USNR Con'I'ribu'l'ing Wrifers J. M. ASHLEY, JR. .... . . . ...... Lieutenant Commander, USN R. M. PETERSON .... ............ L ieutenant, USN R. L. VOSS ....... ........... L ieutenant, USNR W. C. ORR ..... .... L ieutenant USNR E. I. SETTLE ..... .... L ieutenant USN R. W. CoLL1cK ..... .......... E nsign, USNR Ar'I' and Phofography C. M. CONNOR .... ............................ L ieutenant, USNR M. M. MILLS ..... ..... F irst Lieutenant, USMCR J. F. DUNN ...... ............ E nsign USNR R. W. WHITNEY .... .......... E nsign USNR A. D. HIRSCH ........ .... S eaman 2fe USNR S. WARRINGTON, JR .... .......... .... S e aman Zfc USNR Business M. S. MAYER .... .......... .... L i eutenant USNR C. A. LoY ...... ............ F. nsign USN O. B. GARVER .... ............... E nsign, USNR H. S. SHURSON .... .... R adio Technician Zfe USNR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS THE Man of War Staff wishes to express its appre- ciation to all those oflicers and men who contributed in so many diversified ways to the creation of this book. We also wish to thank organizations listed below for their kindness in contributing photographs and historical data: d The Los Angeles Times Seattle Post Intelligencer Louisville Courier-Journal Puget Sound Navy Yard Melbourne Sun X Z -- be ?h.. X 1 'ff , Q , Vw, , 'tw . , My b A K ,,.!, i . 1 4 1 O f Sn I K Q . 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