Richard P Leary (DD 664) - Naval Cruise Book

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IWO .IIMA OPERATION 1945 January-February Enroute Lingayen Gulf. Screen for shore bom' bardment olf Luzon Island. Hit by IRVING at No. I and No. 2 mounts causing minor damage and injuries to one man. Assisted in shooting down four planes. Observed air craft crash several ships of formation. Delivered shore bombardment o1I Lingayen Town. Supported assault troops in landings around Lingayen area. Designated cover' ing force for Task Group 77.2 in Lingayen Gulf. Anchored San Fabian Harbor. Retired to Ulithi. Upkeep. Repair. Beer parties. Mog Mog. February 10. Underway to Tinian for Iwo Jima rehearsal. February 16. Commenced scheduled operations as seaward screen of heavy units on shore bombard' ment. Delivered night illumination fire. Com' menced operations on enemy gun emplacements. Assigned Radar Picket Station. Anchored approxi' mately 1,000 yards from southeastern shore of Iwo Jima and delivered call fire. Delivered night illumination on completion of call fire assignments. OKINAWA, RYUKYU ISLANDS March-April Ulithi. Upkeep. Liberty. Underway with Task Force 54. Screened heavy ships during shore bombardment. Took four bogeys under fire. Assisted in downing two. Screened minesweeping units off Ie Shima. Delivered night harassing and illuminating fire on western beaches. Delivered prearranged fire on beaches prior to landing of assault troops. Opened fire on two planes, one probable kill. Observed USS MORRIS hit by suicide plane, went alongside and assisted in extinguishing fires. Received 23 casualties for medi' cal treatment. Screened MORRIS in retirement to Kerama Retto. Received COMDESRON 56 and staff aboard. Screened heavy ships. Delivered night illumination. Assigned patrol station inside Naka' gusuku Wan. April 20. Delivered prearranged fire in support of advance troops. Hit vehicles, scattered troops, uncovered and knocked out camouflaged guns and started fires in troop headquarters. Opened fire on an enemy plane scoring an assist. Continued harass' ing fire, night illumination, driving enemy troops from trenches and inflicting heavy casualties. MAY-J UN E-J ULY May 3. Delivered night harassing and illiuninating Iire. Destroyed ammunition dump, pillbox, com' mand post and antifaircraft emplacement. Sighted two small Japanese boats, distance 1,000 yards. Illuminated with searchlights and star'sheI1s. Fires with 40MM and 20MM batteries 3 sank both boats. May 6. Commander Destroyer Squadron 56 presented various awards to various officers and men of this vessel. Observed TONY crash USS ST. GEORGE, shot down enemy plane attempting to crash escort carrier. May 13. Captain Herald F. Scott USN assumed command of Destroyer Squadron 56 aboard this vessel, relieving Commodore Roland N. Smoot, USN. Delivered daylight call fire which resulted in many casualties among enemy troops. Scored numerous hits on enemy antifaircraft emplacements, destroyed and sealed four caves and destroyed gim emplacements. Underway for Leyte with USS SALT LAKE CITY, MOBILE, ST. LOUIS, WICHITA, HAIL AND D. H. FOX. Regunned 5 battery which had fired 21,600 rounds, an average of 4,320 rounds per gun. Anchored Kerama Retto, Okinawa Gunto. Routine investigations reported contacts anchoring in I-Iagushi and Kerama Retto. Observed collision between two friendly planes. Rescued First Lieutenant Guy Oliver, USMCR.

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ALEUTIANS-JAPAN-HOME August-September-October This vessel Was assigned to Commander of Northern Pacific Naval Forces in the Aleutians. Upon arrival there it Was anticipated that the ship would stand by for operations attacking the northern islands of japan. As the ship dropped anchor in Kuluk Bay, Adak, the japanese acceptance of Potsdam surrender terms was announced. August 31. Captain Herald F. Stout, USN CCGMDESRON 565 relieved Commander D. P. Dixon, jr., USN as commanding officer this vessel. September 1. Underway in company with USS CHESTER, SALT LAKE CITY, PENSACOLA, KILLEN AND IZARD enroute from Attu to rendezvous with Task Forces 42 and 44. September 2. Lt. Commander Wayne W. Watkins, USNR, came aboard by breeches buoy from USS FULLAM, relieving Captain H. F. Stout as Commanding officer. Patrolled Waters off Northern Honshujapan. September 27. Anchored Tokyo Bay. After 18 months in Pacific Area sailed for Pearl Harbor, T. H. Hoisted homeward bound pennant set course for HCME. Arrived beautiful scenic Puget Sound Area. Overhaul completed set course for Destroyer Base San Diego for inactivation. CITATIO :I -' : - 'fp ,, ' -,. . Flip ,.,.,..i.. ,.l........ , ' ...T 1 50 5' '- fi-- - Yi A. t, . --A f '--E. ?1' f it .4 - ' ? .F izvlgi nf w -H' 7'n rn' A . i . 'S