Tazewell (APA 209) - Naval Cruise Book

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up Qxxxxxxxxxx xsxxxXXN'W XX y Nxxxxxxxs XXxxxxxXN Mmixx X Xxx XXV in Mighty T opened fire on two low flying enemy planes approaching from our port beam at extreme range. They separated before coming into effective range, one being shot down by surface craft and the other by two of our hghter planes. The Tazewell then joined in a mock invasion upon the southeast shore of Okinawa. Task Group 51.1 along with battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and many planes put on a spectacular show to encourage the japs to draw their defenses, enabling the Marines to advance from the other side of the island. The boat crews that day again earned praise by riding a very rough sea. From that time until April 30th, we cruised around Okinawa and spent most of our time running to and from General Quarters. Yes! General Quarters was the routine day and night while we were undergoing bombing raids, and more suicide planes, and hoping that the Baka Bomb or a Suicide Boat would not pick our ship as a target. However we did manage to exist, eating the regular chow, sleeping now and then, and eating smoke . At that time, inspir- ed by the order make smoke , Lewis F. Connor, CM5c, wrote the following poem : -' They dropped their bombs and hurried away And let us go for another day. The sun came up and we were glad- fe We'll always think of the nights we had! C 5. 'MJ .1-S. '? sq 1- 'TI L.. Then we would eat and turn to : A bit of rest we never knew. The days dragged on, then the duskg Again they came, and in God we would trust. - We waited for days-what a terrible strain, Then came the clouds and then the rain. , 51 J ...K The rain meant rest and rest we had, But it was short and the story sad. 1 4.2 jf w The skies cleared up and again they tried, T They tried their bombs, then suicide. They died in vain trying that, But planes hit our ships fore and aft. MAKE SMOKE It was off Okinawa in forty-five, x ll Where the Japs invented the suicide dive. They first came days, and then at night, l l li lg The nights were long and the moon was il bright. The alarm would ring and that's no joke, 1: The words we would hear were Make Smoke , Q And the smoke We would make all through the night r As planes came in from far out of sight K A few were sunk and that's no joke, But our worst battle was Making Smoke . Now we're far away from there, And we can breathe some good fresh air. I hope they give away our boats, And send us back where there is no smoke. As our job was hnished and we cruised away We thanked our God for giving us an- other peaceful day 'y i 22 A

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XXXXQXXXXXXXXXX X XXXXXXXXNXXXXXX xxx ' 'X X Xxxxxxx Vsxxxxx and all ships sent up AA fire with llack bursting low. This turned out to be a B-29 Super-fortress, but it was far out of range. It was also at about this time that an AKA off our port quarter was taking pot shots with a 20mm at a Mariner coming in at low level for a landing at Kerama Retto. The 2nd and the 3rd of April, 1945, still remain as the days containing our most exciting experiences. Thank God for bringing us through without a scratch. . The next day the strategists agreed that the Japs were getting too rough and whittling us down too much each day, and so our Task Group 51.1 was sent to a waiting area in the Pacific, east of Okinawa, to sail around in circles for ten days awaiting further orders. While in this waiting area we witnessed the performances of one of the Navy's then secret weapons, the method of refueling while underway. On April 13th we received orders to sail to Okinawa, where we were to disperse with the rest of our cargo and troops, the bulk of which was beached on Ie Shima by our sturdy and well-trained boat crews, From the Okinawa anchorage, where we V parked at night without sleep, but with smoke in our eyes, we would leave each morning returning to le Shima, proceeding fi, , fra under Condition 1-A. The main event of this operation occurred on the morning of April 16th when at 0620 we com- menced unloading cargo and troops, the invasion of Ie Shima was on. The . - laps being aware of that fact, sent out a force of approximately two hun- dred planes to stop us. About nine planes got beyond the screening vessels to the transport J pq,-5'-f.-are area, and they were well taken care of by our fighter planes and the iw -ss.. .A -as X- - . . 5 - as-Sift-,ad E . 1 N- -s , . -- fda-xx S -fi t. 1- .,t....--N + surrounding ships. The mt M 'N-'W 21 wuz .Ii in 'i SU1hfvQ3f 5 9-4 KH 5 s e if 4 . I 1 l 1 ,l L r J 1 1 1 l -. 1 1? iv '11 1 ll ,Q

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QXXXXXXXXX gxXXXXXxy X xxxxxxXXX xxxNXXxxxxxXXXXxxx xxxwxxxxxx On April 50th we departed from Okinawa in convoy for our next stop, Saipan, where we arrived on the morning of May Sth, The next day the port watch was granted liberty and getting our feet on Mother Earth again, eating peanut butter sandwiches, drinking a few bottles of -beer or coke, and playing ball was enjoyed by all who made the trip to the Navy Recreational Cen- ter on Saipan. Once again we enjoy- ed the privilege of sleep- ing through the night without the sounding of General Quarters. Then came the mes- sage we were waiting for Proceed to San Fran cisco . Happiness and ex- citement ran through the ship with the knowledge of our destination, and as We got underway the sight of freshly washed dress blues hanging from stem to stern brought thoughts of the good times ahead. These thoughts were ac- companied to the tune of hammers going chip-chip-chip, as the Captain had given the order to clean 'er up and paint 'er down. He realized full well that a clean ship and also the Jap plane painted on the bridge would be good argu- ments to back up a request for leave. At 0750 on june 6th, the Mighty T dropped her anchor on the Hoot of San Francisco Bay. The surrounding atmos- phere was natural for Fris- co, but the sights at hand were of great ease to the eyes. The requests for leaves began to swamp the Exec's office, and a good portion of them, to our surprise, were granted. But let us pause a moment before we go on leave, and glance back to Oki- nawa taking into consideration a few facts that should be imprinted in our minds Let us look at thesc little things without which we would not be able A-HAH 23