Renville (APA 227) - Naval Cruise Book

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Ulithi, with a comforting preview of some of the power to be employed fand a not-so-comforting preview provided by the famous FRANKLIN limping in proudly only three days after her tragedyj, the RENVILLE took the final plunge, as it were, on a beautiful Easter morning-and All Fools' Day-in an unex- pectedly easy landing, thousands of Marine and Army troops poured ashore on Okinawa. Ensigns Lax, Hoffman, and Mika, and Radiomen Wara, Morrison, and Schulz, were in boats in some of the first waves, then for four days First Lieutenant Van Devere and TQM Erdevig yelled themselves hoarse in getting hot cargo unloaded. Meanwhile, under Lieutenants Diamond and Gunn, Ensign Gideon, and Boatswain's Mate Kellum, the two-hour Lieutenant, the beach party routed the stuff ashore and collected souvenirs. Twice, back on the ship, the anti-aircraft opened up, for fortunately the supposed krzmikazzer proved to be nothing deadlier than the planet Venus. Then, just as the waters were getting dangerously choppy, the boats were hoisted aboard, the beach party returned, and the RENVILLE started on the long trip east. The next phase took place during the ensuing four months, 'Vw 'Q E' 3,7 ' 6-fi., s

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Yeoman Royal Princess joy, Chief Chaplain Lackey, Cook Royal Baby Miller, and sundry other official and otherwise courtieres, the pollywogs were swatted, clipped, smeared, punched, greased, electrocuted, dunked, swatted again, and in general reminded of their lowly condition. And for days before they were victims of psychological warfare as the shellbacks recounted their experiences, which unfailingly increased with horror each telling. But no doubt the same will be true of those told by the RENVILLE,S crop of shellbacks. However, not everything was shenanigans that first trip, as the RENVILLE was to participate, though as yet unaware of the P 1-N oJ milk O -is xitfd . 2.7.7 3 C- K. fact, in the invasion of Okinawa. At Guadalcanal and in adjacent waters she went through maneuvers which left most everyone more bewildered than before, if possible. But the practice paid dividends. 5 .In the middle of March, jammed from forecastle to fantail withatabrine-colored and poker-playing First Division Marines, she Joined a convoy headed northwest. After a brief stop at

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0 QK. which were spent in routine transportation, commuting between the west coast and Pearl, and sampling the dubious pleasures of Market Street, Waikiki, Kailua, and the Yukon Club. Notable among these trips was the one carrying, together with battle- hardened Marines due for Stateside leave, some three hundred japanese prisoners of war from Saipan to Pearl. Some had been captured only a few days previously in the hills of that Marianas base, all looked quite chipper and well-fed, what little the crew saw of them the few hours they were permitted to sun themselves on the hatch forward of the bridge. They lived in standard troop compartments, with showers and refrigerated drinking water, and ate of the same food as the R1-3NVILLE,S crew, providing basis for an interesting contrast a few weeks later. The atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima, the RENVILLE headed west from Hawaii, and a few days later japan surrendered. The immediate effect of the end of the war was that the crew and troops had two weeks to make liberties at Mog Mog, Garden Spot of the Pacific, before finally delivering the Army and General Stilwell's shiny new Cadillac to Okinawa, almost six months after the first visit. Although under more peaceful con- ditions, the second provided more excitement in the form of a