Saufley (DD 465) - Naval Cruise Book

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Un thc morning of January 26th, the SAUFLEY led, the Division up the Narrows into New York Harbor, and tied up at the 35th Street Docks in Brooklyn.. From February lst through February 28th, the SAUFLEY underwent repairs and alterations at the New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn. On the night of February 25th, a Ship's Dance and Party was held by all hands at the Starlight Boof of the Waldo-rf Astoria. This dance was attended by many ex-crewmen of the SAUFLEY who were either stationed in and around New York or who were by now civilians. Everyone agreed that this was the nicest party ever given by the ship. n Un March -ith, the SAUFLEY, in company with the remainder of the Division, steamed out of New York Harbor-destination: Charleston, S. C., and decom- missioning. On the morning of March 6th, she com- pleted the last sea journey of her career prior to inacti- vation. Steaming past historic Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie, on under the Grace Memorial Bridge that spans the Cooper River, she tied up in Berth F-5 at the Charleston Naval Shipyard at l240. This voyage made a total of 238,980 engine miles steamed in her three and a half year career. Cn April l8th, Commander Francis W. Silk, USN, was relieved as Commanding Officer by Lieutenant Com- mander Richard C. Smart, USNB. On June l2th, the SAUFLEY was formally decom- missioned and placed in the Out of Co-mmission, ln Be- serve, status in the SIXTEENTH Fleet. Ei'NiiD 26

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the boat, when one of his feet was caught by a line at- tached to the boat. All efforts to save him failed and he was officially listed as 66Missing . His body was never recovered. During the latter part of November and the first of December, the SAUFLEY made a couple of mail runs between Okinawa and Shanghai. On December 12th, flying the homeward bound pennant, in company with Destroyer Division FORTY- THREE QUSS ROBINSON DD562 carrying the flag of Captain Robert L. CAMPBELL, USN, CDS-225, USS WALLER DD466, USS PHILIP DD489 plus the USS CHARRETTE DD58l, departed Shanghai, enroute to San Diego, via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor. Arriving in Pearl Harbor on December 23rd, the Divisio-n remained overnight while fuel and supplies were taken on. Christ- mas Day, l945, was spent at sea, when for the first time in the history of the ship, no reveille was held on the crew, except for watch standers. The men were allowed to get up when they got good and ready, breakfast was not prepared until 0930, and a delicious Christmas dinner was served about 1400. Point Loma, California, was raised on the morning of January 30th, but the Division was fogbound until about noon, and the harbor of San Diego was entered in the afternoon. After two weeks of very enjoyable liberty and rec- reation, the SAUFLEY, ROBINSON, WALLER and PHILIP stood out of San Diego Harbor for New York, N. Y., via the Panama Canal. Captain R. L. Malpass, USN, C.O. of the ROBINSON, was Officer in Tactical Command. 25

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STAB ENGAGEMENTS AND OPERATIONS PARTICIPATED IN BY THIS VESSEL Capture and Defense of Guadalcanal Consolidation of Solomon Islands New Georgia Operation Treasury Bougainville Operation i Bismarck Operation Marianas Operation 5 fi Leyte Operation ff' 'Luzon Operation Borneo Operation ENEMY SUBMARINES CBEDITED TO THIS VESSEL September 15, 1943 One submarine - Class HB Assessment, be- tween Purvis Bay, Solomon Islands, and Es- piritu Santos, New Hebrides Islands. Sub- marine was contacted by sound contact, sur- faced, and was destroyed by gunfire. April 7, 1944 One submarine - Class NB Assessment, near Emirau Island. Submarine was contacted by sound contact, and was destroyed by depth charges. I November 27, 1944 One submarine - Class QA Assessment, at Ormoc Bay, Philippine Islands. Destroyed on surface by gunfire. V ENEMY PLANES CBEDITED TO THIS VESSEL DATE , No. PLANES LOCATION or ACTION July 12, 1943 1 Munda Point July 18, 1943 1 Munda Point August 17, 1943 4 Vella La Vella October l, 1943 1 J Kolombangara, New Georgia Islands October 27, 1944 3 Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands November 29, 1944 3 Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands January 8, 1945 l Cassistl Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands January 9, 1945 1 Lingayen Gulf, Luzon Philippine Islands, Personnel attached to this ship from commissioning date to the end of the War should be entitled to wear the following ribbons: American Theater No stars Asiatic-Pacific Theater 12 stars Philippine Liberation Ribbon 1 star 27