Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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