| WAR STORIES |
Much more
could be written
about the battle but I did not have the time to include it in this article.
I hope this will give some idea of what took place in the
On October 25, 1944 just after the landing on
General Quarters were sounded on this day at 0600 and secured at 0640. Men
who were not on watch were called to the upper deck to watch a force of ships in
the distant horizon. Because of low clouds and mist we were unable to
identify them. We believed them to be Jap. Our belief was confirmed when
shells began to fall around us. It was just five minutes after securing
when General Quarters again sounded at 0645.
The force attacking us was four Jap battleships, eight heavy cruisers, and a
large number of destroyers. Knowing it impossible to encounter such a
force we tried to escape with as many ships as possible. This started a
battle that continued for about two and one half-hours.
Two destroyers and the destroyer escort, Samuel B, Roberts, were given the task
of first laying a smoke screen for the fleeing ships and then turn and make an
almost suicide torpedo run into the Jap force. By zigzagging we were able
to keep from being hit by enemy torpedoes. We released our torpedoes
making some damage to the enemy. Finally their shells found their mark.
First, Gun 2 AFT, was hit killing all but three of a crew of twenty-seven.
Gun 42 was shot completely off the ship, killing all of its crew. Then we
were hit severely on the port side amid ships aft. Lower handling room on
Gun 1 was hit. A shell passed through Chiefs Quarters then upper handling
room on Gun 1. This was my battle station and I was blown against a
bulkhead causing injury to my right knee. My knee gave me considerable
pain. Water was pouring into the lower handling room endangering the crew
in the upper handling room. With the help of another sailor we dogged the
hatches between the two compartments.
Abandon ship was given, as the ship was certain of going down. I climbed
topside and was making for the side when shellfire tore my life belt nearly off.
Reserve belts were kept in Gun 4 so I went there but found none. Remembering
that a small belt had been made for our mascot dog and kept in the forecastle I
made for there. The belt was there; I slipped it over one arm and jumped
over portside.
The closest life raft was a considerable distance out. It was also the one
I was assigned to. I swam for it but was tiring. Noticing a large
wooden block, I made for it. A shell hit nearby forcing me underwater.
Coming up I again tried to make for the life raft. A short distance from
the raft, there was a terrific explosion. It felt as though I were being
torn apart. I turned to see the stem of the ship rise straight in the air.
A Jap cruiser pulled towards it and shelled it some more and it soon settled.
The cruiser then came for us. Just then two Hellcats over strafed the
cruiser causing it to turn and run. A number of our planes then
encountered a number of Jap planes, which approached the scene. I saw one
Jap plane go down.
The water all around was heavily covered with oil. The oil was also all
over my body. My eyes were swelled nearly closed and the pain in my leg
was terrible. Hanging onto the life raft I heard someone yelling.
About one hundred fifty yards out was a radio technician second class suffering
from exhaustion and out of his head. I swam out and brought him to within
a few feet of the raft. Exhausted and in pain I asked for help and two
sailors came to our aid.
After spending fifty-two hours in the water we were rescued by PC623. We
were about dead when they picked us up. One sailor died just as he was to
be taken aboard. Shortly after being taken aboard we were attacked by Jap
aircraft but no damage was inflicted. We were taken to