Lowry (DD 770) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMUNIQUE No. 7 U. S. S. LOWRY lDD-770I Af Sea, Augusf, I945. Dear Families, Af presenf, fhe LOWRY is af a rear area enioy- ing a very well deserved resf. For a period of almosf five monfhs fhis vessel has been sfeadily on fh-e go, eifher underway, or sfanding by wifh fhe engineering planf Iighfed off and ready fo go on a few minufes nofice. During fhis period, fhe LOWRY confinued fo discharge her varied dufies in fhe excellenf man- ner in which she became nofed. The monfhs of May and June were occupi-ed in fhe grimly hazardous buf very successful dufy of acfing as Radar Pickef and Fighfer Direcfor Ship af Okinawa. Our highly successful record againsf fhe Japanese Air Forces shows fhe following fofal for fhese monfhs:-5 planes desfroyed by gunfire of fhis vessel alone, 5 planes desfroyed by fhe ioinf gunfire of fhis and ofher pickef ships, and over 30 more planes desfroyed by LOWRY confrolled Combaf Air Pafrol. The 23rd of July, fhe LOWRY celebrafed ifs firsf birfhday, having be-en in commission land remained in commission, a fhing uncommon for de- sfroyersll exacfly one year. During fhis year, I have seen fhe crew of fhis ship, mosf of whom were green and unfried, improving consfanfly, unfil fh-ey have emerged as a seasoned and veferan crew, capable of meefing every sifuafion. Shorfly affer our arrival here af fhe rear area, fhe LOWRY was visifed by Commodore Harrison, Commander Desfroyer Squadron SIXTY. In a cere- mony on Augusf 4, Commodore Harrison presienfed me wifh fhe Silver S'I'ar Medal for fhe LOWRY's parf in fhe Lingayen Operafion. In presenfing fhis clecorafion fhe Commodore sfafed, and I agree mosf hearfily, fhaf if represenfs fhe combined efforf and abiIi'I'y of every man in fhe crew and is fo be considered as much an award fo fhem as fo myself. Commodore Harrison also awarded 'l'he Purple H-earf Medal fo fhe following men for wounds received in acfion on May 4fh, I945: Wade lnl EMERY, MoMMIc, USN. Henry G. SMITH, Slc, USNR. Calvin L, McCOURRY, Cox, USN. Glenn E. HUIETT, Slc, USN. Jimmie L. HOLBROOK, GM2c, USN. Joseph F. LUBINSKI, MM2c,, USNR. James N. PLIMMER, S2c, USN. Hardy C. COFFINDAFFER, Slc, USN. Mervine L. MIRE, S2c, USNR. William J. SYBEL, S2c, USN. Donald E. MYERS, SC3c, USNR. Joe E. BASS, GM2c, USN. Herberf L. MCOUEEN, Slc, USNR. Roberf L. FULTON, Slc, USNR. Daniel V. MCGUIRE, Y3c, USNR. Gordon E. MacDONALD, Slc, USNR. Samie J. DEL MONTE, Flc, USNR. The Commodore spoke very highly of fhe excellenf record in all respecfs fhaf fhe LOWRY has made. Unforfunafely, as is so offen fhe case, our good news is fempered wifh some bad. On our way fo fhe rear area, an explosion fook place in fhe affer parf of fhe ship, killing fhree men, and iniuring several ofhers, all of whom are nearly well wifh no permanenf ill effecfs. The nexf of kin of fhe casualfiesi have been nofified by fhe Navy Deparfmenf. While enfirely unavoidable, fhe accidenf was mad-e more fragic by fhe facf fhaf all hands had been fhrough so much af Okinawa and were heading for a resf and recreafion period. c Several very inferesfing evenfs fook place during our four of pickef dufy. On one of our 'Irips fo our base for replenishmenf, we capfured 7 Japanese soldiers who were frying fo escape from Okinawa, in an oufrigger canoe. These pris-oners were furned over 'ro Army aufhorifies. for infelligence purposes. Our Iasf bif of Anfi-Aircraff acfion fook place during a brighf moonlighf nighf while on a hof pick-ef sfa- fion. Enemy air raids heckled us for six hours. We were engaged in violenf maneuvers and AA firing fo combaf fheir affacks, when a providenfial fofal eclipse of fhe moon occurred, giving us fhe cover and profecfion of darkness fhaf we so urgenfly needed. Affer fhe eclipse was over, smoke from Okinawa, 50 miles away, cover-ed us. We had fhe disfincf pleasure of sfarfing a ball of fire in fhe engine of one invisible plane which grew unfil flames enveloped if and forced if fo crash info fhe wafer in a mighfy explosion. Through our radios we direcfed Black Widow nighf fighfers fo o'I'hers of fhe raids, and had fhe keen safisfacfion of wafching 'I'he Jap planes come down in flames in fhe brighf moonlighf. Thaf abouf brings- us up fo da'I'e wifh fhe news. We have enioyed fhe chance for a bif of recreafion and resf, while af fhe same fime we have kepf busy wifh fhe many urgenf needs of fhe ship, repairing and cleaning and geffing ready for our forfhcoming dufies. Whafever fhey may be, 'you can be sure fhaf fhe LOWRY will fackle fhem in 'rhe same able and purposeful manner 'Ihaf she has shown in fhe pasf. Alfhough fhe real acfion may be abou'l' over, fhe record every man in fhe crew has made ouf here since our arrival in fhe Wesfern Pacific Area musf make his family iusfifiably proud. I have received many fine Ieffers from your fam- ilies. They make me realize even more my responsi- bilify 'ro bring your men back siafely, and 'rhaf you are all behind us wifh our prayers and efforfs fo finish fh-e war. E. S. MILLER. Commander, U. S. Navy, COMMANDING THIS COMMUNIOUE MAY BE RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION.

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JK W-22'-x P ---'1 A+ resf in San Diego, Navy Day, Odober 27, i945-H19 end of a long voyage