Meade (DD 602) - Naval Cruise Book

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which the destroyer MEADE exercised complete control of the area all by her- self. Leaving the South Pacific Area on 18 March, the MEADE arrived in KULA BAY in the ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, April 15. While in these waters she participated in the bombardment and occupation of ATTU on 11 May and KISKA on 7 August. She was then given a navy yard overhaul at the Navy Yard, Puget Sound, during September. After a brief period at PEARL HARBOR, on the 16th of October she de- parted once again for the South Pacific. On 29 October, the MEADE arrived at WELL- INGTON, NEW ZEALAND, and reported for duty with the FIFTH AMPHIBIOUS FORCE. Operating with Task Force 53, the MEADE escorted the marines to the bloody landing on TARAWA where she partici- pated in the shore bombardment and the protection of TARAWA. A sub contact was made on 22 November. With the assist- ance of the U.S.S. FRAZIER the sub was brought to the surface with depth charges, shelled and sunk. One Jap prisoner was taken. The ship left TARAWA on the 26th of November and proceeded to PEARL HARBOR for a period of training opera- tions. The MEADE departed PEARL HARBOR on 22 January 1944, in company with Task Force 52 for the MARSHALL ISLANDS. On 30 January, she fired shore bombardment on TAROA ISLAND, MALOELAP ATOLL. On 31 January to 2 February she acted as fire support vessel for the KWAJALEIN OPERATION. On 8 March, the MEADE re- ported at MAJURO to Task Force 58 for duty. Task Force 58 conducted air strikes and shore bombardment against MILLE ISLAND on 18 March, YAP and PALAU on 31 March, North Coast of NEW GUINEA on 21 April, TRUK and PONAPE on 29 April. The MEADE was then detached from Task Force 58 and from 12 May until 10 July patrolled off the by-passed islands of WOTJE, MALOELAP, MILLE, and JALUIT. On 26 July she arrived at Mare Island Navy Yard 'for a long overhaul period. Departing from the Navy Yard on 15 Sep- tember, she proceeded to PEARL HARBOR to conduct training exercises until the first of December. In December, she departed PEARL HAR- BOR with the WISCONSIN to proceed to the forward area. For a month the MEADE performed escort duties between ENIWE- TOK, GUAM and ULITHI, after which she reported to the SEVENTH Fleet. From Janu- ary until March 1945, the MEADE operated in the LINGAYEN GULF area, Philippine Islands, performing duties in connection with local naval defense and fire support. From April until August she was attached to the SEVENTH AMPHIBIOUS FORCE, and on 15 May acted as fire support vessel for the MACAJALAR BAY Operation on MIN- DANAO. During the remainder of the period the ship was engaged in escorting in the Southern PHILIPPINES. On 15 Sep- tember the MEADE made a trip to TABLE ISLAND, FRENCH INDO-CHINA to locate and resupply a group of French Military Personnel known as the MAROC MIS- SION . On November 2 the Homeward Bound pennant was streamed and the MEADE left San Pedro Bay, P. I., to proceed to the east coast of the United States.

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Executive Officer Lt. Comdr. Robert S. Guy WAR DIARY U.S.S. MEADE The U.S.S. MEADE was commissioned on 22 June 1942, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. She then had a shakedown cruise to Guan- tanamo Bay until 22 August. On 23 August she got underway, proceeding for.Pacific waters. She reported for duty to the Com- mander in Chief, Pacific Fleet on 28 Aug- ust. On 18 September the U.S.S. MEADE joined Task Group 17 in the South Pacific Area. Here after various escort jobs, on November 15 immediately following the Second Battle of Savo she destroyed four beached transports on the North Coast of Guadalcanal On the same day survivors were picked up from the destroyers WALKE and PRESTON and BENHAM Of this period of the war Admiral King has calls the Battle of Guadalcanal there was a period laconically described as one in I ll said, Toward the end of what the Navy

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