Rodman (DD 456) - Naval Cruise Book

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Pre-Imzasiofn Sweep 1 3 5 T- '-,.jv E.: . .,.. U. .1 Q., u' 1 M. 7, 1 gi . Y.. - 'J-, F- r -'ww

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CONVERSIGN TO A DHS In November 1944, the RODMAN returned to Boston Naval Shipyard to a Destroyer-Minesweeper. On January 6, 1945, she passed joined the Pacific Fleet as Destroyer-minesweeper Number 21. , jg?

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OKINAWA-April 1. 1945 The Ship had a short minesweeping shakedown, and in March she jdhd tk ffl i to stage for the invasion of Okinawa. The sweeping force sortled from Uhthi March l9th S0 88 to UTIVH ID UU days before D-Day. The actual sweeping operations turned out to be rttbd' Ellvii after the RODMAN had been in the area thirteen days she shot down .tio i, rescued two Japanese pilots from the water to be turned over to naval lllf8l The events of the afternoon of April 6th, the RODMAN'S. fourteenth dl! B th ill Okinawa, make this day the most eventful one in her history. She was conducting routine minesweeping operations oil' the northwest cull J MII suddenly, about 1530, two Japanese dive . bombers dived from A cloud only I fl! i ahead. In a matter of seconds her main battery and A. A. machine guna spud ll C 1 coming suiciders. One plane was driven off but not before he dropped two near-miss holbl. Ti 5 through the forecastle into the forward living spaces where a s lit second kill' KI iv! 5 ploded, burstlng open the forecastle deck and both sides of the shi to the 'iff 1 compartments were completely demolished. Sixteen men were killei Another Jap simultaneously crashed into the t th RODM EIIH- i 2 b0U1b exploded, tearing open that side above andwlameleonvsnthe :yaterlineAl!i?8oaMQ Bhd 1 forward part of the ship. Survivors from the EMMONS. which vu :think ik RODMAN was completely enveloped by a wall of flame after the Hn! klmili i ' Personnel topside were saved from severe burns only by a wall of nel taht UQ