Tazewell (APA 209) - Naval Cruise Book

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XXXXX 'Si QxXxxxxxxxxxx QQXXXXXXXXXxXyXXxxxxxxyxxXXXXX XXXXXyxx.xxxxxX.,Q,fs.i. 'si and the least preferred, money. They insisted that the money be in fifty-cent pieces, for they would accept only silver. Our half dollar is equivalent to one peso in Philippine currency. They use mattress covers in the making of sails and clothing, as for the cigarettes we have doubts, ' One aged wrinkled old native was seen to put three cigarettes into his mouth and chew them up quite thoroughly. A dungaree liberty was finally granted us about our second week in port and we were taken f...-W , ashore by P-boat. The ride in was a pleasant one, and it felt great to be going ashore, if only for a few hours. Once ashore we visited the village of San Antonio and found it to be dirty and unsanitary, with living conditions in general surprisingly primitive. The villagers live -in single-roomed, thatched huts constructed of straw and raised above the ground on poles, one at each corner of the building. They sleep on straw woven mats similar to the ones they traded us. Their eating utensils are awkward things, and resemble dippers and salad forks made from bamboo. Hollowed out coco- nut shells are used as bowls and dishes. Coconut trees grow in abundance throughout the village, and their fruit can be had just for the picking and climbing. Patroling SP's prevented our entering the village and so all our bartering had to be done from the far side of a ravine that separated us from the natives. They however, not being under the jurisdiction of the Navy, carried their wares to our side of the ditch. The native girls reallygtook a liking to our scented soaps and perfumed hair oils, which they appropriately called foo-foo water . These articles could be readily exchanged for their woven mats, purses, and hula skirts. We soon learned that one in the possession of a loud pair of pajamas could practically purchase the island. Besides the enjoyable hours spent in trading with the natives, an equally good time was had by all who took part in the lively soft-ball games played on the area's large athletic field. Many of the men spent the afternoon enjoy- ing a cool dip in the ocean at the nearby beach. Not to be forgotten were the two cans of beer given each man, our first since departing from the States. Ii 6

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V . then, the cruise of the 'Trembling T might well have been ended in the Palaus. No anchorage being available, after Condition 1-A was sounded, the soldiers and supplies were lowered over the side into boats while the ship was underway. This operation, much to the surprise of everyone, was performed flawlessly, though it had been practised many times before in the amphibious part of our training. Interesting things to remember about Pelelieu are: before the island underwent its terrific bombardment from sea and air, a rare species of prehistoric lizards that grew to a length of five to six feet could be found habitating the island. It was also on this islet that the Battle of Bloody Nose Ridge was fought and dearly paid for with the lives of almost a complete Marine division. Not many miles north of Pelelieu is situated the by-passed island of Babelthuap, where twenty thousand sons of heaven were slowly starving to death. It was these hunger crazed Japs, who when the tide was low, swam and stumbled across the coral reefs to unsuccessfully banzai against our soldiers' quarters on Pelelieu. KNO sooner was the task of unloading completed than orders were received directing us to sail for San Pedro Bay, Leyte, P. I. The next few days were spent steaming slowly in convoy, until on February 9th, the hooks of our anchor dug in on the harbor bottom of San Pedro Bay. The following day we weighed anchor and soon were underway to tie up to a waiting tanker to be refueled. After refueling we cast off, and once again proceeded to the anchorage. We remained idle in San Pedro Bay for over a month, the days slowly dragging on in endless fashion. Little then did we know that we were to be a small part of what would be the largest invasion fleet ever assembled. The natives from the surrounding islands of Leyte and Samar paid us frequent visits in their outrigger canoes, they carried their usual assortment of wares to barter. The majority of these sea-going souvenir shops offered for trade such articles as bananas, bolo knives, hula skirts, and a few hand woven hats and mats. Very little English is known by the l native traders, and for L most of them their voca- ' bulary consisted of two ' T words, Hey Joe , how- ever, these proved suffi- cient to attract the atten- tion of their prospective buyers. In exchange for A X their goods they would accept Ollf 1'I12ltfI'CSS COV- . . K , a X ps K M i ers, cigarettes, clothing, X A 15 zu, .1 , -1- - - Pvasiafvf-gay!-.-ra-'Q t xxxxxxxxxx xx-txxxxxxyxx co. -.s.x -91 xxxxxxxxxxx-.ess Vsxxxxx Xhxx we-f

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ll Y find fmllki d rlrtd but happy crew, quite willing to leave the island to the natives and get back aboard ship. The Tazewell seemed more than ever like home after seeing the conditions of filth and hardship that existed for the men stationed on the beach. Many of our sleepless nights down there were due to the incessant visits of Alarm Llock Charlie , a jap reconnaissance plane that seemed to make it a point to Hy about in our vicinity in the early hours of the morning, causing allshipsto , . 1 v-'f ' 'S sound Cieneral ' Quarters. Short- ly after these ,- I Q C 0 :zaf- re c o n na issance f l i g h t s were made,Taclo- Q 5 .... 3 ban and Dulag -, -I--5 G1 were bombed. 1 ,,,1.,---- :pq '- the ship was ,,,,,. lf , B Once again loaded with Xff ,ff troops of the 506th Infantry of the Seventy-seventh Division, all well primed for combat. Our remaining time in the Philippines was occupied with a series of simulated battle-drills, in preparation for fulfilling the part assigned to us in the forth- coming operation. At 1248 on the 21st of March, 1945, we pulled out of San Pedro Bay in the Philippines, underway with Task Group 51.1 to a secret destination. Ofhcially it was a secret, but within there was something that seemed to explain the secret. We were assigned to the job we were trained to do. From that time on things began to take shape and form a picture, much as we had heard and read about and seen in the news-reels at home. Actual combat was the picture. A few aboard the Tazewell had been through it before and had an idea of what to expect. Let us, before we get scared, cruise up to where the show takes place. We were traveling in a convoy of about twenty ships, the greater number of which were APA's. Protection accompanied us in the form of Destroyer Escorts. We were loaded for an invasion with supplies, provisions, ammunition, army equip- ment, and army personnel, totalling thirty-eight officers and six hundred and seventy-five enlisted men. The fourth day underway, March 24th, an escort CDE 3439 reported a submarine contact. Later dispatch proved the contact to be false. 17 XXxxxxXN Xxxx x