Richard P Leary (DD 664) - Naval Cruise Book

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Voit, D. K., S2c Wager, S. H., Slc Wagner, E. H., Slc Walker, G. W., S2c Wallech, L. E., S2c Warfield, R. T., RM2c Warren, D. L., TM3c Weinberg, J., FI c Wells, C. T., S2c Wells, S. E., S2c West, F., GMI c West, J. E., Y2c Whitley, M., CK2c Whitlock, J. H., TMI c Wichser, J. N., COX Wicker, J. B., S2c Wilkins, J., S2c Wilkinson, S. A., SC3c Williams, C. C., Slc Williams, C. W., Flc Williams, E. O., PHMlc Williams, W. W., Sl c Wilson, G. C., S2c Wilson, J. W., Flc Wimp, G. W., Flc Wolfe, B., FI c Wolff, A. V., EM3c Wolper, L., SF2c Wood, B. H., Slc Wood, G. K., Sl c Woodard, C. F., Flc Woodruff, R. L., Slc Woodworth, H. B., EM2c Worth, L. B., Flc Wren, T. G., Sl c Youskites, S. J., WTI c Ziomek, L. F., TM2c I s Letter of Commendation From: Commander Destroyer Squadron FIFTYf SIX. To: The Secretary of the Navy. Via: Official Channels. Subject: Recommendation for Award of Navv Unit C Commendation to Uss HEYWIOOD 4 L. EDWARDS qDD663p and Uss q RICHARD R. LEARY CDD664J. 1. ln accordance with current directives, it is recommended that the Navy Unit Commendationbe awarded to the USS HEYWOOD L. EDWARDS CDD663J and the USS RICHARD P. LEARY CDD664D for outstanding performance in combat against enemy japanese forces ashore, afloat and in the air in the Pacific War Area from 29 May 1944 to 28july 1945 for the H. L. EDWARDS and from 9 july 1944 to 28july 1945 for the R. P. LEARY. 2. During these periods the subject ships par' ticipated in the six major amphibious assaults and landings in the Marianas, at Palau, Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf, lwo jima and Okinawa. ln each of these dillicult and very consequently the first ships to arrive in the area and in almost every instance among the last to leave. During this period the H. L. EDWARDS fired a total of rounds equivalent to four times the normal life of the guns. Both ships have been repeatedly commended for their accurate and devastating fire, and have ac' counted for the timely demise of many japanese. During these operations both ships have been under fire from shore batteries and under repeated and heavy air attaclc. Both ships have made attacks on submarines, and both have claimed probable sinlcings of one submarine each, though official assessments have not been received. The H. L. EDWARDS on 24 September 1944 destroyed a large group of small enemy surface craft, attempting to reinforce the garrison of an enemy held island in the Palau with the loss of a large number of enemy troops. 3. Both ships participated in the Battle of Surigao Straits and were with this squadron when O DIVISION ENGINEERING

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Di Palma, J. J., MM3c Dixon, G. F., SIC Douglas, R. L., CWT Downing, T. A., SM2C Donovan, J. F., BMI C Draper, M. L., MM3c Dreffs, L. F., F2C Drew, K. G., SIC Drummond, J. A., SI C Dudek, P. J., EM2C Dumdei, M. W., RM3c Durand, R. J., QM2C Durbin, J. M., RM3c Dutton, R. H., GM3c Eberle, C. J., MM3c Eisert, D. B., S2c Elder, J. M., S2C Elkins, H. E., SC2C Ellis, W. B., SIC Emerson, C. J., BKRI C Engel, R. G., Fl C Eubanks, C. R., FC2C Evans, F. A., CEM Evans, L. D., FIC Faith, G. V., MM3c Farris, J. W., SI C Farrel, L. E., WTI C Fierro, R., EM3c Finnin, R. F., CFC Fitzpatrick, F. A., SIC Flader, T. D., SIC Fleming, F. T., Sl C Flitton, R. F., FIC Floyd, J., MM2C Fogg, L. E., RDM2C Forcier, R. M., YI C Fortune, W. M., Sl C Freeman, R. N., FCIC Ganoe, R. E., TM3C Gardner, W. F., RDM3c Garvin, P. G., Y2c Gates, H. O., STMI C Gauthier, F. E., FC2C Gaydos, M. M., COX Gers, B. F., WT3c Gill, L. C., STM2c Ginepra, R. E., TM2c Gooden, L. J., STM2C Gorden, F. J., SIC Gregro, R. W., GM3c Gribble, C. F., MM2C Griesmaier, J., EM3c Griswold, R. I., FIC Gullahorn, J. S., GMIC Haas, A., CSC Haldeman, A. H., MMI C Hall, L. G., RMIC Hall, R. D., SIC Hannah, H. B., SIC Harlowe, N. M., SIC Harmer, A. J., BMIC Harvey, H. W., SK3C Harvey, R. E., SIC Hatt, H. E., SIC Heaton, D. C., BMIC Heldmann, R. A., FCR3c Henderson, G., SIC Herring, C. E., SI C Hill, C. B., GM3c Hill, R. R., SIC Hitchcock, C. E., FC3c Hoffman, E. B., SIC Hosmer, G. H., SIC Howard, R., STM2c Hoyda, N., SIC Hudgins, CMM Hunt, W. L., SIC Hurst, R. J., EM3c Israel, J., RM3c Jackson, G. T., MAlMI3C Jagodzinski, E. M., FIC Jensen, H. L., FIC Jilcott, J. H., CQM Johnson, F. C., RM3c Johnson, H. L., FI C Johnson, L., WT2c Johnson, R., S2c Jones, C., S2C Jones, STMIC Jordan, F. L., S2C Kadlec, J. J., FIC Kaminsky, A., SIC Kapus, S. A., FIC Katsifos, J. A., SCI C Kelley, R. F., FIC Kelly, R. H., F2C Kimbrell, J. F., SC3c Kinner, T. l., FI C Krieg, W. E., S2c Laisure, J. H., SI C Lagkam, F. F., MM2C Larocque, R. O., FIC Laverty, G., CMM Lawson, J. R., FIC Layne, R. E., SIC Leger, J. L., SIC Lenore, E. A., SIC Lesnikowski, J. P., TM3C Lewis, W. E., EM3c Lieberman, S. M., FIC Lindley, J. L., CWT Lomax, H., STMI C Long, K. L., TM3C Lord, C. E., GM3c Lutz, H. J., SI C Macrensen, E. H., FI C Maehr, R. W., GMIC Marcum, C. J., SI C Marsalla, D., CMM Martin, S. E., SKI C Mason, R. L., STMIC Massaro, J., RM3c Matthews, R. J., TM2c Matreiek, E. J., S2C McCarrell, E. J., SMI C McClain, T. H., PHM2C McCorey, J. H., SIC McFadden, T. P., TRI C Mclntyre, SIC McWilliams, J. T., S2C Meador, M. A., CM3c Meinecke, W. L., CMM Millay, C. L., SIC Millett, W. B., M2C Miltimore, J. R., SIC Misdom, G. H., Y3C Montanino, F. J., S2C Moore, D. W., SF3c Moore, F. T., CMM Moore, J. S., S2C Morris, A. G., S2C Motisher, L. R., RTI C Mullinix, C. D., SIC Muncie, H., SIC Murphy, E. J., SIC Murr, G. A., MM2C Murray, G. E., CMM Nagle, P. E., SAC Naugle, O. T., BKR3C Neal, S. G., MOMM2C Nichols, W. D., SIC Olds, R. L., CCS O'Rourke, J. E., FC3c Owens, H. P., EM2C Padgett, J., COX Parker, S. E., Y3C Parrett, R. J., SIC Pendergrass, H. J., SIC Peters, H. J., GM2C Peterson, E. W., SIC Plenger, V. F., EM2C Pluszczynski, J. J., SI C Polidori, A. J., SOM3c Pomykala, J. P., SIC Porter, L. A., S2C Postles, D. R., Y2c Poston, A. W., SIC Poznick, L. W., SOM3c Price, C. B., S2c Primavera, M. A., FIC Pyles, R. F., SIC Quarles, R. S., SIC Rabon, O. W., SIC Ramsey, O. N., SIC Ray, H. W., Y3c Raymond, W. J., SIC Read, A. R., QM3c Reech, T. M., WTI C Reddick, C. H., FC2C Reid, J. W., SFIC Reitzer, L. J., SIC Riban, J., RT3C Riesenberg, N. G., S2C Rink, W. N., FIC Ritter, D. L., GM2C Roberts, E. V., SIC Roberts, W. W., SIC Robnolte, O. K., SIC Rosson, C. E., Y3c Roth, B., SIC Rothaar, P. V., WT3C Roussell, W. A., WT2C Russell, W. C., SM3C Russell, W. L., SIC Ryan, W. D., CMM Sabbia, N. F., SIC Sander, D. H., EM2C Sanders, S. H., GM2C Sandoval, H. M., SI C Sargent, H. A., SK3C Sarna, F., SIC Satcher, C. F., SIC Saunders, M. D., SIC Schwab, H. T., F2C Senko, L. O., SIC Shackelford, A. C., EM2C Shepard, C. W., S2c Shepherd, T. J., FC3c Sheridan, R. E., RM2C Sheriff, A. A., CPHM Sherrill, J. A., SIC Skrzypek, B. F., SIC Smith, F. A., SIC Smith, J. L., SIC Solonichne, M., SIC Stacy, W. E., SIC Steen, D. E., SIC Steinhoff, E. L., GMIC Stewart, J. A., FIC Stowe, M. B., SIC Tate, W. D., SI C Taylor, C. J., S2C Thayer, M. P., GMIC Thompson, L. M., GM3c Threatt, J. M., SIC Tippitt, R. L., S2C Tison, F. J., EMIC Torma, S. J., F2C Tosh, H. J., MMIC Treece, R. W., RMIC Tregoning, R. O., SC3c Tucker, G. W., SIC Tullock, S. A., QMIC Turnage, J. E., SIC Umbright, V. W., SIC Vance, H. R., COX Vanek, O., GM2C Veith, R. F., FIC Vest, C. E., TM3C Vogler, J. T., SIC

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C DIVISION 5 DIVISION C 84 R DIVISION it delivered a coordinated torpedo attack on the japanese battle line, the R. P. LEARY being credited with hits on a jap battleship which no doubt contributed to its loss. Both ships were under heavy enemy Iire but escaped without injury. 4. During the Okinawa campaign both ships were among the mainstays of the fire support group. VVhen the originator requested Commander, Am' phibious Force, Pacific Fleet to give these two particular ships a breather, he was told, Those will be the last ships to be relieved, because they are so good that we cannot spare them. We can always rely on the EDWARDS and the LEARY to produce in the tight places. 5. The remarkable thing about these two ships, and the thing which the originator wishes to emphasize, is that in spite of these long and arduous duties, neither ship has been hit by the enemy, either from ashore, surface or the air. ln view of the fact that six of the other ships of the squadron, participating in the same actions, have been hit and damaged, this record cannot be passed off as mere luck. Rather, it is the writerls opinion that this fine record is due to outstanding performance of duty by all olhcers and men of both ships, and is one of the principal bases for this recommendation. Many of the officers and men have been decorated for their individual acts, but it is the earnest desire of the squadron commander to see every man receive recognition for the outstanding performance men' tioned herein. 6. While neither ship has participated in any action of the spectacular nature which draws the attention of the press and radio to it individually, it is desired to point out that to the writer's knowledge no other destroyers in the Navy, except the other ships in this squadron have participated in all six of the above named major operations as a part of the bombardment and hre support group. This record the writer believes to be of such an outstanding nature as to warrant the award of the Navy Unit Commendation. H, F. STOUT. :I iw. 5 I I