5 JANUARY 1945
1530: LEFT SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA FOR PEARL HARBOR.
2000: SEA IS GETTING ROUGH AND EVERYONE IS GETTING THEIR FIRST TASTE OF SEA SICKNESS.

7 JAN 1945.
0155: RADAR TARGET PICKED UP. DID NOT REPLY TO CHALLENGE SO OPENED FIRE WITH THREE ROUNDS OF STAR SHELLS. SHIP IMMEDIATELY REPLIED. IDENTIFIED AS FISHING BOAT.

8 JAN 1945.
1830: MET A U.S. SHIP HEADED FOR HOME.

11 JAN 1945.
0900: ARRIVED OUTSIDE PEARL HARBOR.

3 FEBRUARY 1945.
0800: UNDERWAY FOR ENIWETOK WITH LSM'S AND LCI'S. WE ARE ESCORT SHIP.

12 FEB 1945.
PASSED WITHIN 15 MILES OF JAP HELD WOTJE AND CAME WITHIN SIGHT OF KAWAJALIN.

14 FEB 1945.
1400: ARRIVED ENIWETOK.

16 FEB 1945.
1000: -LEFT ENIWETOK WITH CONVOY OF 4 MERCHANT SHIPS AND 1 NAVY TANKER, 2 PC'S AND OURSELVES AS ESCORTS.

17 FEB 1945.
1400: SIGHTED A 7 SHIP CONVOY AT SUNRISE DESTINATION UNKNOWN.
PASSED WITHIN 38 MINUTES FLYING DISTANCE FROM JAP HELD TRUK.

19 FEB 1945.
0930: ONE UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT SIGHTED.

21 FEB 1945.
0730: ARRIVED OUTSIDE OF NAVY ANCHORAGE AT PALAU. ANCHORED 2 MILES OFF SHORE OF MAIN ISLAND WHICH IS HELD BY ABOUT 20,000 JAPS.
2200: UNDERWAY FOR PELILIU ISLAND AT THE SOUTHERN TIP OF THE GROUP.

22 FEB 1945.
1200: ARRIVED OFF PELILIU. THIS SMALL ISLAND IS THE ONLY ONE HELD BY OUR FORCES. SOME OF THE CREW WENT ASHORE TO LOOK AROUND. (The shore party was heavily armed with Thompson submachine guns. They learned after returning to PGM-10 the island was still held by the Japanese, but they encountered no natives or Japanese. Did catch the dickens from the Skipper. - James W. Collins).

23 FEB 1945.
0230: CHALLENGED BY AN ATTACK TRANSPORT WHILE AT SEA.

25 FEB 1945.
0600: STARTED OUR FIRST PATROL DUTY AROUND THE LARGE ISLAND TO STOP ANY JAPS TRYING
TO ESCAPE.

26 FEB 1945.
PATROLLING OFF THE LARGE ISLAND JAP HELD. RADIO INSTALLATIONS ARE VISIBLE ON THE BEACH. OUR AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN STRAFING ISLAND AND STARTING FIRES WITH BOMBS.

27 FEB 1945.
1600: SHELLING JAP RADIO STATION. OUR FIGHTERS ARE OVER US AND ALSO STRAFING THE BEACH.

28 FEB 1945.
WE SHELLED THE JAPS AGAIN TODAY.

2 MARCH 1945.
2000: ARMY AND JAPS EXCHANGING A FEW ROUNDS AT EACH OTHER.
TRACERS CRISS CROSSING, LOOKS LIKE A FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.

4 MARCH 1945.
OUR PLANES BOMBING AND STRAFING JAPS ON ISLAND AND STARTING FIRES. SOME ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE THROWN UP BY JAPANESE FORCES.

6 MARCH 1945.
0935: SIGNAL FROM OUR AIRCRAFT TO INVESTIGATE ISLAND FARTHER NORTH. SPOTTED JAP HOUSES ON THE BEACH. OPENED FIRE DESTROYED SAME.

8 MARCH 1945.
1345: ONE OF OUR AIRCRAFT HIT BY JAP AA FIRE OVER RADIO INSTALLATIONS. PILOT RESCUED AFTER HE HAD JUMP BY PARACHUTE.

10 MARCH 1945.
PILOT WE PICKED UP THE OTHER DAY HAD BEEN CIRClING US AND DIVING ON US. HIS WAY OF THANKING US FOR PICKING HIM UP.

12 MARCH 1945.
0730: UNDERWAY FOR KASSAL PASSAGE, OUR PATROL DUTY AT PALAU ENDED.

13 MARCH 1945.
0800: UNDERWAY FOR ULITHI. SEA QUITE ROUGH AND WE ARE HEADING RIGHT INTO IT AT 16 KNOTS.

14 MARCH 1945.
ARRIVED AT ULITHI.

15 MARCH 1945.
TOOK ON PROVISIONS AND AMMUNITION. SOMETHING BIG IS IN THE MAKING. WE WATCHED NATIVES ON THE BEACH WITH
LONG GLASSES.

19 MARCH 1945.
1000: UNDERWAY FOR OKINAWA JIMA, JAP ISLAND IN OYUKYOS. LARGEST OPERATION TO DATE IN PACIFIC. TEN BATTLE WAGONS 86 TROOP TRANSPORTS, OVER ONE HUNDRED MINE SWEEPERS, 75 DESTROYERS, AND MANY OTHER SHIPS FROM
DIFFERENT PLACES.

23 MARCH 1945.
0720: (A.M.) AIRCRAFT CIRCLES SHIPS. REFUELED FROM MINE SWEEPS.
SKIPPER EXPLAINED OUR MISSION, IT SHOULD BE SOME FUN. (?). STEAK FOR SUPPER.

24 MARCH 1945.
0630: WEATHER IS LOTS COOLER NOW. FOUR F4F'S FLEW OVER CONVOY TODAY. WE MET TWO CARRIERS AND TWO
BATTLE WAGONS.

25 MARCH 1945.
0630: GENERAL QUARTERS ALL HANDS MAN BATTLE STATIONS.
0930: ISLAND BEING BOMBED AND SHELLED. OPERATION WELL UNDERWAY. CAME ACROSS A MINE. WE ARE NOW CLOSE, TO AKA SHIMA, JAP ISLAND.
0945: THE SKIPPER JUST BLEW UP A MINE BY RIFLE FIRE AND IT SURE MADE A HELL OF AN EXPLOSION.
1050: STILL GOING IN ON AKA SHIMA. FIRES ALL OVER AND SMOKE. WE ARE RIGHT CLOSE TO THE BEACH. BATTLE WAGONS ARE SHELLING OVER US.
0450: WE ARE ABOUT TO BE ATTACKED BY AIRCRAFT. BATTLE STATIONS.
SOME OF OUR SHIPS BEING STRAFED BY JAP AIRCRAFT. A MITSUBISHI FLEW TO DAMNED CLOSE TO THE SHIP. SOME OF OUR SHIPS ARE BEING HIT BY JAP SUICIDE PLANES DIVING INTO THEM. THOSE JAPS MUST BE MAD TO DO IT OR CRAZY. WE WIN THE ROUND. MANY FIRES ON BEACH AND MANY PLANES SHOT DOWN.

26 MARCH 1945.
0615: BATTLE STATIONS.
0630: ONE OF OUR TROOPS TRANSPORT JUST HIT BY BOMBS.
0635: ONE JAP SHOT DOWN (A FLAMER).
0700: OUR FORCE SHELLING AND OUR AIRCRAFT BOMBING OKINAWA. JAPS ARE FIRING BACK.
0720: ONE OF OUR PLANES SHOT DOWN.
0800: THERE ARE FIRES ALL OVER THE ISLAND WHERE ATTACKS ARE BEING MADE. THERE ARE ALSO MANY OF OUR PLANES.
0815: WE NOW HAVE JAP SUBMARINES WITH US. FISH FIRED AT MINE SWEEP ON OUR STARBOARD-MISSED.
0845: WE SUNK 3RD MINE CUT BY MINE SWEEPERS.
0850: OUR BATTLE WAGONS FIRING OVER US ON BEACH WE OPENED FIRE ON ISLAND.
0359: EXPLODED 7TH MINE.
0410: AIR ATTACK. JAPS COMING IN ON OUR FORCE. ONE OF OUR DD'8 JUST HIT BY TORPEDO.
0800: SECURED FROM BATTLE STATIONS.

27 MARCH 1945.
1201: MID-NIGHT. ATTACK STILL ON (OKINAWA).
0530: (A.M.) JAPS ARE NOW BOMBING OUR FORCE. WE HAD TO MOVE OFF.
0630: TWO JAPS HIT SALT, SHOT DOWN OVER OUR FORCE. OUR LOSS ONE DESTROYER AND ONE MINE SWEEPER BY JAP SUICIDE CRASH DIVES.
0800: SET CONDITION TWO STANDBY BATTLE STATIONS AND NOW FOR SOME GOOD OLD SLEEP. JAPS MUST THINK WE ARE OWL'S, KEPT US UP JUST ABOUT ALL NIGHT.
0922: HERE THEY ARE AGAIN-TWO MORE AIRCRAFT (JAP) SHOT DOWN.

28 MARCH 1945.
0600: AIR ATTACK.
0620: TWO MORE SHOT DOWN. DURING LAST NIGHTS ATTACK JAPS LAYED 60 MORE MINES AROUND OKINAWA BY RED BEACH.
0900: ENEMY AIRCRAFT STRAFING SHIPS.
0345: (P.M.) SHELLS PASSING OVER-HEAD.
0530: WE ARE NOW PASSING WRECKAGE OF SHIP (OUR'S) SUNK TODAY.
0555: THE SKIPPER TOOK US IN TO DAMNED CLOSE TO THE BEACH BUT JAPS ARE TO BUSY FIRING ON OUR PLANES.
1200: MID-NIGHT. SHORE BATTERY (JAPS) OPEN UP.
0255: (A.M.) OUR FORCES FIRING ON SHORE GUNS. AIR FLASH IS RED (STAND BY FOR AIR ATTACK). PLENTY OF ACTIVITY GOING ON. OUR BATTLE WAGONS AND BOMBERS GIVING JAPS HELL. SHELLS BURSTING EVERY SECOND IT SEEMS.

29 MARCH 1945.
ONE OF OUR MINE SWEEPS FOUND BY ITS SELF AND IS UNDER AIR ATTACK. DD 24 [USS Thomas E. Fraser (DM 24)] SHOT DOWN A JAP BOMBER.
0540: (A.M.) JUST ABOUT DAY LIGHT-AIR ATTACK EXPECTED, FLASH RED CONTROL YELLOW. EVERY ONE IS JUMPY.
0550: JAPS ATTACKING NOW. OUR ACK ACK ALL OVER. WE OPENED FIRE ON ONE OF OUR OWN PLANES BECAUSE HE CAME TO CLOSE AND WAS MISTAKEN FOR JAP SUICIDER.
0610: JAP SHOT DOWN NEAR BY.
0700: JAPS BEING SHOT DOWN.
0710: WE PICKED UP AN ENEMY SARGEANT AIR CREW MEMBER OF PLANE DOWNED BY SHIPS AT HEAD OF BATTLE FORMATION. OTHER FLYERS SHOT IN THE WATER AND DEPTH CHARGES DROPPED ON THEM. ONE PRISONER WANTED FOR QUESTIONING.
1100: FLASH RED-BATTLE STATIONS-WE CAME ACROSS A JAP SMALL BOAT, OPENED FIRE AND BLEW HELL OUT OF THEM.
0850: (P.M.) WE ARE CLOSE TO THE BEACH SPOTTING AND KNOCKING OUT PILL BOXES. MSG BY RADIO TO US FROM THE BOSS MAN "WHERE IN THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN ALL DAY JUNIOR?" (WE HAD BEEN OUT SCOUTING).

30 MARCH 1945.
0303: (A.M.) FLASH RED
0330: FLASH WHITE.
0800: FLASH RED. RADIO TOKYO CLAIMS WE ARE KILLING WOMEN AND CHILDREN ON OKINAWA BY SHELLING AND BOMBINGS, SO SORRY.
2140: SHOT AT OBJECT IN WATER OFF FANTAIL. JAP SWIMMERS WITH MINIS TRY TO BLOW UP SHIPS AT ANCHOR. ALSO JAPS USE SMALL FAST BOATS WITH T.N.T. IN BOW TO RAM SHIPS.

31 MARCH 1945.
0540: (A.M.) FLASH RED.
0730: ONE ZEKE SPLASHED.
1030: ESCAPING JAPS IN OLD BARGE SUNK BY OUR GUN FIRE. ESTIMATED NUMBER OF JAP TROOPS ON OKINAWA IS BETWEEN 40 TO 50 THOUSAND.
0230: (P.M.) OUR FORCES JUST MADE A LANDING ON SAND BAR ACROSS FROM OKINAWA.

1 APRIL 1945.
0545: LOVE DAY AT OKINAWA. GENERAL QUARTERS.
0600: SUICIDER DOVE INTO U.S.S. ADAMS. [DM-27] OUR TROOPS ABOUT FIVE MILES INLAND ON OKINAWA. WARNING TO SHIPS-MIDGET SUBS IN VICINITY.
LATE AFTERNOON-FLASH RED-ACK ACK ON ENEMY AIRCRAFT SMOKE SCREEN LAYED AROUND US AND THE REST OF THE SHIPS.

2 APRIL 1945.
1240: (A.M.) SMOKE SCREEN BEING LAYED.
0330: AIR ATTACK, BOMBING LIKE HELL.
0600: SHIPS COMMENCE FIRING ON ENEMY PLANES.
0850: BATTLE STATIONS AGAIN COMMENCE FIRING. ONE JAP JUST HIT SALT WATER.
0645: (P.M.) JAPS HAVE STARTED ATTACK AGAIN. ACK ACK ALL OVER. UNABLE TO SEE ENEMY AIRCRAFT YET. PROBABLY MORE SUICIDER- JUST SAW TWO PLANES CRASH, ONE EXPLODED AND OTHER A FLAMER.
SMOKE SCREEN NOW. APA 43 HIT (U.S.S. HENRICO) [APA-45] BY SUICIDER.

3 APRIL 1945.
0120: (A.M.) FLASH RED. TRACERS COVER SKY. JAP PLANES DROPPED FLARES. SMOKE SCREEN LAYED.
0135: FLASH WHITE ALL CLEAR.
0350: FLASH RED. LCI LAYING SMOKE SCREEN.
0600: HEAVY ACK ACK FIRE.
0650: SUICIDER SHOT DOWN DURING HIS DIVE ON AN LST AND MISSED.
0430: (P.M.) OUR AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN BOMBING AND STRAFING ISLAND WE ARE OPERATING OFF OF (I.E. SHIMA). PICKED UP A JAP DINGY AND WOMANS BELONGINGS. APPARENTLY FAMILY TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM OKINAWA. FOUND PICTURES OF TWO GIRLS AND ONE OF A JAP SOLDIER. SPOTTED BOAT ON BEACH AND FIRED ON SAME.

5 APRIL 1945.
NO AIR ATTACK LAST NIGHT OR THIS MORNING DUE TO BAD FLYING WEATHER.
1110: (A.M.) WARNING TO ALL SHIPS TO STANDBY FOR AIR ATTACK IN FORCE.
1135: BATTLE STATIONS.

6 APRIL 1945.
0810: (A.M.) BATTLE STATIONS. WE ARE GOING INTO A JAP HELD HARBOR. FLASH RED. JAPS ARE OUT IN FORCE. OUR UNIT BEING ATTACKED BY SUICIDERS. FOUR SHIPS HIT ALREADY BY CRASH DIVES, ONE IN OUR GROUP.
0840: (P.M.) SKY IS COVERED BY ACK ACK. FOUR JAPS CIRCLING OUR GROUP PICKING OUT SHIPS TO CRASH ON.
0500: TWO OF OUR SHIPS JUST HIT. WE ARE GOING OVER TO ASSIST.
0610: ONE JAP JUST HIT SALT NOW BURNING WATER (GAS) MARKS HIS HON GRAVE.
0630: PICKING UP SURVIVORS.
0635: JAPS STILL COMING IN ON OUR GROUP.
0637: DESTROYER 528 [USS Mullany] JUST HIT AND IS BURNING AFTER A BIG EXPLOSION WHERE T. N. T. LOADED SUICIDER CRASHED.
0710: TWO MORE SHIPS HIT. WE NOW HAVE ABOARD ABOUT 75 MEN (SURVIVORS) OUR FLEET FORCES CAN PROUDLY SAY ABOUT 76 JAPANESE PLANES SHOT DOWN TODAY. OUR LOSSES-TEN SHIPS HIT BY SUICIDERS- AND SO ENDS ANOTHER DAY'S WORK BUT NOT TO WELL FOR US.

7 APRIL 1945.
0255: (A.M.) JAPS STARTING IN EARLY THIS MORNING AND SO ARE WE. DMS 27 [USS Jeffers] SPLASHED ONE JAP. WENT UP ALONG SIDE SHIP HIT BY SUICIDER. TWO PILOTS FOUND WERE CHOPPED UP BY FIRE AND PUT IN 40 MM CANS, THEN GENTLY DROPPED OVER THE SIDE.
OUR MEN WERE BURNED AND SHRUNK OTHERS PICKED UP WITH SHOVELS, BLOOD AND FLESH ALL OVER THE DECKS.
1100: (P.M.) YMS 140 HIT BY SUICIDER.

8 APRIL 1945.
0330: (A.M.) FLA8H RED ENEMY AIRCRAFT DOWNED. SCREENED FOR MINE SWEEPERS AGAIN.
0300: (P.M.) WENT IN CLOSE TO THE BEACH. FIRED UPON JAPS.
0330: EXPLODED A MINE ON THE BEACH. U.S.S. PGM 18 HIT A MINE, BLEW OFF BOW AND SANK. YMS 92 HIT MINE. IN THE PAST FIVE DAY'S ELEVEN SHIPS HAVE BEEN HIT BY BOMBS AND TWO HIT MINES.

9 APRIL 1945.
ENEMY USING 40 KNOT BOATS WITH T.N.T. IN BOW, TRY TO SUICIDE CRASH OUR SHIPS. THESE BOATS ARE MANED BY TWO MEN. TWO WERE HIT ON THEIR RUN AND BLOWN UP. ONE ENEMY BATTLE SHIP SUNK BY OUR FORCES. ALSO 4 OTHER ENEMY
SHIPS SUNK.
(P.M.) MAIL SENT OFF AT LAST.

10 APRIL 1945.
TYPHOON EXPECTED. ITS BEEN A PRETTY QUITE DAY EXCEPT FOR PREPARATIONS FOR THE STORM.
ONE PATROL CRAFT HIT.

11 APRIL 1945.
MAIL TODAY FROM HOME.
0620: (P.M.) BATTLE STATIONS.

12 APRIL 1945.
FLASH RED A COUPLE TIMES. TWO SHIPS HIT BY SUICIDERS.
0600: (P.M.) WE ARE ESCORTING BACK TO ANCHORAGE A DD HIT BY JAP PLANE.

13 APRIL 1945.
TWO SHIPS CRASHED BY KAMAKAZY PLANES DURING THE NIGHT.

14 APRIL 1945.
0800: (A.M.) WE ARE TO TAKE IN MINESWEEPERS CLOSE TO THE BEACH.
1000: NOW WAITING FOR MORE FIRE SUPPORT.
1130: MOBILE GUN SEEN IN TARGET AREA. ALSO SIX AMPHIBIOUS CRAFT. TRUCKS ALSO IN TARGET AREA.
0215: (P.M.) PICKED UP PART OF JAP BOMBER FLOATING IN WATER ON ONE WHEEL. U.S. MARINES CAN BE SEEN RESTING ON
THE BEACH.

15 APRIL 1945.
CLOSE TO THE BEACH- VILLAGE BURNING JAP CIVILIANS WALKING ON THE ROAD.
0620: (P.M.) COUPLE ENEMY PLANES FLEW OVER US AND TWO MORE AHEAD OF US.
0710: WE OPEN FIRE ON JAP PLANES.
0735: ONE AIRCRAFT DOWNED NO SUICIDERS AS YET.

16 APRIL 1945.
0545: (A.M.) GENERAL QUARTERS.
0630: SECURED FROM G.Q.
0930: UNDER AIR ATTACK. WE GOT ONE (BEFORE HE GOT TO US AND ALSO THE F4F BEHIND HIM). (A direct hit with the 3" stopped the suicider in the air. - James W. Collins).
WE GOT ANOTHER ONE. SIX JAPS SHOT DOWN ALL SUICIDERS TWO TRYED FOR US. WE PICKED UP A FELLOW BLOWN OFF THE DM WITH US.
0645: (P.M.) FOUND A JAP PILOT, ONE LEG AND HEAD MISSING IN THE WATER. HE STUNK LIKE HELLO.
0830: ALL IS QUIET NOW.
0930: GENERAL QUARTERS. ONE OF OUR PBM'S SHOT DOWN BY OUR SHIPS IN HARBOR. WE HELPED CREW BACK TO ANCHORAGE.

17 APRIL 1945.
STAYED IN PORT TODAY FOR PROVISIONS AND FUEL.
0915: (P.M.) FLASH RED. SMOKE SCREEN LAYED.

18 APRIL 1945.
TODAY WE ARE ASSIGNED TO A DIFFERENT FORCE, PICKET STATIONS AROUND THE ISLAND TO INTERCEPT ENEMY AIRCRAFT ON THEIR WAY IN. WE NOW HAVE TWO JAP FLAGS PAINTED ON OUR BRIDGE FOR PLANES WE DOWNED. WE HAD TWO PRETTY BUSY DAYS. SIX OF OUR SHIPS WERE HIT BY ENEMY SUICIDE PLANES.
(P.M,) JAP CIVILIANS CAN BE SEEN WORK IN THEIR GARDENS.

19 APRIL 1945.
(A.M.) UNDERWAY FOR PICKET STATION. ON STATION.....

20 APRIL 1945.
0420: WE ARE ON STATION. (SUICIDE JUNCTION). OUR FIRST BOGIO (ENEMY PLANES) BEARING 0420 DISTANCE 30 MILES CIRCLING HIGH. COULD BE PATROL JAP PLANES.
0730: (P.M.) FLASH RED PLANES CIRClING OUR GROUP.
0835: BATTLE STATIONS AGAIN. NOW OPENING FIRE ON JAPS. ENEMY PLANES HAVE STARTED IN THREE TIMES BUT OUR UNIT OPENS FIRE AND THEY TURN AWAY. MOST LIKELY BOMBERS.
1000: SECURED FROM G. Q.
0120: (A.M) GENERAL QUARTERS.
0150: OUR UNIT IS NOW FIRING ON JAP PLANES BY RADAR.
JAPS TURN AWAY. SECURED FROM G.Q.

21 APRIL 1945.
SUNDAY MORNING. THE DD WE ARE OPERATING WITH GAVE US SOME ICE CREAM SURE WAS GOOD.
0545: (P.M.) TWO TO THREE WAVES OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT COMING IN ALL HANDS TO
BATTLE STATIONS.
0555: TWO "VAL'S" OFF OF OUR STARBOARD BOW.
0600: SPLASH TWO "VAL'S. VALS ARE USED FOR SUICIDERS.
0605: SECURE FROM G.Q.
0620: MORE JAPS COMING IN -GENERAL QUARTERS.
0630: SECURED FROM G.Q. TODAY ABOUT 29 JAPS DOWNED BY AIR COVER AND SHIPS' IN OTHER UNITS. SOME OF OUR SHIPS STRAFED OR HIT BY BOMBS. THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE TO MANY "VALS" MOSTLY BOMBERS AND FIGHTERS.

23 APRIL 1945.
0500: (P.M.) BUSY DAY WITH 0500: (P.M.) BUSY DAY WITH SUBMARINES'S (ENEMY).

24 APRIL 1945.
VERY FEW BOGIES TODAY-BAD WEATHER FOR FLYING.

26 APRIL 1945.
ON PICKET STATION ONE WEEK TODAY. PRETTY LOW ON FUEL SUPPLY AND AMMUNITION. HOPE TO GO INTO ANCHORAGE.

27 APRIL 1945.
ONE OF OUR SHIPS WAS DOVE ON BY SIX SUICIDE PLANES AND SHOT ALL SIX DOWN. ONE OF OUR PBM'S SHOT DOWN A VAL AND THE PILOT WAS MAD BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T LET HIM GO AFTER THE OTHER ONE. THIS MORNING WE ARE RELIEVED. ON WAY BACK TO ANCHORAGE WE PASSED CLOSE BY I.E. SHIMA AND WATCHED OUR PLANES BOMBING AND STAFFING THE HELL OUT OF THEM I.E. SHIMA IS WHERE ERNIE PYLE WAS LATER KILLED ON LANDING.
0315: (P.M.) ARRIVED AT ANCHORAGE OFF OKINAWA. OUR TROOPS NOW HAVE ENEMY TROOPS ON SOUTHERN ONE FOURTH
OF OKINAWA.
NO MAIL?????
0715: FLASH RED (AIR ATTACK).

28 APRIL 1945.
0730: (P.M.) SUICIDE PLANE DOVE INTO SHIP NEXT TO US AND BLEW UP. SHIP IS NOW BURNING.
0820: ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. MORE ENEMY AIRCRAFT HEAVY BARRAGE FROM ALL SHIPS.
0900: U.S.S. COMFORT [AH-6] HOSPITAL SHIP HIT BY BOMBS. FOUR SHIPS HIT TODAY BY
SUICIDE DIVES.
1055: SECURED FROM BATTLE STATIONS.
1110: GENERAl QUARTERS. FLASH RED. SHIPS OPEN FIRE.
0135: SECURED G.Q.
0320: FLASH RED G Q.
0345: FLASH WHITE (CLEAR).
0440: BATTLE STATIONS.
0520: SECURED G.Q.
0935: (P.M.) BATTLE STATIONS.
0310: (A.M.) GENERAL QUARTERS.

30 APRIL 1945.
0312: (A.M.) FIRING ON AIRCRAFT FLYING OVERHEAD.
0313: CEASE FIRING.
1043: (P.M.) FLASH RED.

1 MAY 1945.
0400: (A.M.) SUICIDE JAP DOVE INTO ANOTHER SHIP OFF TO OUR PORT SIDE EXPLODED AND SHIP IS NOW BURNING.
0410: SECURED FROM G.Q. THE SHIP HIT IS STILL BURNING.
0425: FLASH RED. SHIPS COMMENCE FIRING.
0730: AIR ATTACK. TWO SHIPS HAD COLLISION. NO SERIOUS DAMAGE.

3 MAY 1945.
0400: FLASH RED. (P.M.)
0757: FLASH WHITE. ITS GETTING PRETTY TIRESOME SLEEPING WITH ALL ONE'S CLOTHS ON.

4 MAY 1945.
0812: (A.M.) FLASH RED.
1045: FLASH WHITE. TEN SHIPS HAVE BEEN HIT BY SUICIDE, BUZZ BOMBS AND BOMBS IN PAST
TWO DAYS.
0708: (P.M.) FLASH RED.
0755: FLASH WHITE.

5 MAY 1945.
0130: (A.M.) FLASH RED.
0300: SHIPS STILL FIRING ON AIRCRAFT. 0340: OUR UNIT OPENS FIRE ON ENEMY PLANES AGAIN. TODAY WE ARE TAKING MEDICAL SUPPLYS TO RADAR PICKET STATION.
ON STATION ALL DAY NOW HEADING IN TO ANCHORAGE. ONE OF OUR UNITS SHOT DOWN 18 JAPS. DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR, SHIP WERE HIT.
0330: FLASH RED. JUST ABOUT THE WHOLE UNIT ON RADAR PICKET WHERE WE WERE TODAY WAS WIPED OUT BY
SUICIDE KAMAKAZY.

6 MAY 1945.
0300: (A.M.) FLASH RED. ONE SHIP HIT-EXPLODED.
0800: HEADING OUT NOW TO SUICIDE JUNCTION NUMBER 5.

7 MAY 1945.
NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AS YET. BAD WEATHER VERY FEW BOGIES.

8 MAY 1945.
FALL OF GERMANY ANNOUNCED BY ALLIES.

9 MAY 1945.
0715: (P.M.) FLASH RED.
0770: FLASH WHITE.

10 MAY 1945.
LOST A COUPLE OF OUR SHIPS TODAY. ONE TOOK THREE JAP KAMAKAZY PLANES, ONE BOMB AND ONE TORPEDO. SURVIVERS (NOT MANY) PICKED UP. OUR FORCES DOWNED 200 JAP AIRCRAFT.
OTHER THAN THAT IT HAS BEEN A NICE DAY.

12 MAY 1945.
0715: (A.M.) GENERAL QUARTERS. JAPS DIVING ON SHIPS. TWO JAPS DOWNED IN FLAMES LEAVING A BLACK SMOKE TRAIL
BEHIND THEM.
FOUR MORE FLYING HIGH ARE UNDER ACK ACK FIRE. MORE JAPS COMING IN. SMOKE SCREEN BEING LAYED. FOUR JAPS JUST DOWNED. ONE VAL JUST DOVE INTO A BATTLE SHIP. ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY MEN KILLED OR WOUNDED.

13 MAY 1945.
0415: (A.M.) FLASH RED SHIPS OPEN FIRE ON ENEMY PLANES.

15 MAY 1945.
0330: (A.M.) FLASH RED-OPEN FIRE ON AIRCRAFT FLYING OVERHEAD.
JAPS BOMB ISLAND WE ARE ANCHORED OFF OF.

16 MAY 1945.
OUT GUNNER SHOT THROUGH THE SIDE. RADIOMAN NICKED. IN SIDE WITH SAME PROJECTAL.

17 MAY 1945.
ASSIGNED TO SUICIDE JUNCTION NUMBER 4 THIS MORNING.
0734: (P.M.) FLASH RED-SPLASH ONE JAP.
0743: ONE OF OUR SHIPS JUST HIT.

18 MAY 1945.
0458: (A.M.) FLASH RED.
0501: OPENED FIRE ON PLANES OVERHEAD. SHELL OR BOMB LANDED IN WATER OFF TO OUR STARBOARD. BELIEVED TO
BE MAGNETIC.
0720: (P.M.) FLASH RED. THREE SUICIDERS SHOT DOWN BY OUR AIRCRAFT AND FIVE FIGHTERS (JAP) ALSO.

19 MAY 1945.
0706: (P.M.) FLASH RED- UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT IN VICINITY.
0708: SPLASH ONE JAP.
0720: SPLASH TWO MORE.
SPLASH THREE MORE AT 0748.
SPLASH SIX MORE SON'S OF ___________.

20 MAY 1945.
BACK IN ANCHORAGE FOR FUEL, AMMO AND SUPPLYS. PREPARATIONS FOR ANOTHER OPERATION OR SOMETHING SEEM TO BE IN THE MAKING.
WE NOW HAVE CREDIT FOR FOUR PLANES SHOT DOWN. WE HAVE FOUR FLAGS PAINTED ON OUR BRIDGE, ONE FOR EACH.

24 MAY 1945.
0820: (P.M.) SMOKE SCREEN-BATTLE STATIONS.
0130: (A.M.) ENEMY AIRCRAFT AND SUICIDE BOATS OUT IN FORCE MANY JAPS SHOT DOWN. ONLY ONE SHIP HIT THAT WE
KNOW OF.

26 MAY 1945.
0800: AVAILABILITY UP ALONGSIDE REPAIR SHIP.

27 MAY 1945.
0800: (P.M.) FLASH RED MAKE SMOKE.
0900: FLASH RED-MAKE SMOKE.

28 MAY 1945.
SUPPLYS ABOARD, AMMO, FUEL AND PROVISIONS.
1032: (P.M.) FLASH RED.

29 MAY 1945.
0145: (P.M.) BATTLE STATIONS.
0730: BATTLE STATIONS.

31 MAY 1945.
0350: GENERAL QUARTERS. MAKE SMOKE. ENEMY AIRCRAFT OVERHEAD.
OPENED FIRE ON THEM.
0250: (P.M.) GENERAL QUARTERS, 0305: SPLASH ONE JAP.
0320: SPLASH ANOTHER JAP-THREE DOWN NOW.
0330: SPLASH 0NE MORE JAP.

1 JUNE 1945.
0600: GENERAL QUARTERS.
0800: FLASH RED AND G.Q.

3 JUNE 1945.
0100; (A.M.) FLASH RED. TODAY WE WENT INTO UNET-KO COVE. NATIVES (JAP)WORKING ON FARM LAND. COVE IS VERY SMALL WITH HOUSES ALL AROUND.
LOTS OF KIDS AND FLIES. WOMEN DO THE WORK IN FIELDS.
1230: (P.M.) FLASH RED.
0100; SECURE G.Q.
0114: G.Q. AGAIN.
CLOSE TO BEACH-NATIVES WAVE AT US.
0225: STILL AT G.Q.
THIRTY JAPS HAVE BEEN DOWNED S0 FAR. SIX OF THE JAPS HAD AMERICAN MARKINGS ON THEIR PLANES. THIRTY SIX
JAPS SPLASHED.

4 JUNE 1945. AT ANCHOR AT KANTENNA WAN FOR EXPECTANT TYPHOON.
NATIVES SEEM VERY FRIENDLY. JAP BOMBER ON BEACH WHERE IT CRASHED.

5 JUNE 1945.
0750: (P.M.) FLASH RED.
TODAY BENHAM, PRICE AND I WENT ON THE BEACH ON THE NORTHERN END OF OKINAWA WHILE AT ANCHOR IN KANTENNA WAN. THE NATIVES ASKED US FOR CIGARETTES. ONE GUY ASKED US YOU SPEAK JAPANESE HE ALSO WANTED BUTTS. EVERY WOMAN YOU SEE HAS 7 TO 10 KIDS NATIVES ALL HAVE BAD TEETH AND DRESS RAGGED.

6 JUNE 1945.
0440: (P.M.) FLASH RED.
0450: BACK IN MAIN ANCHORAGE AND JUST PASSED A PC AND A DD HIT BY BOMBS OR SUICIDERS, NOT MUCH LEFT OF EITHER BUT STILL FLOATING.
TWO OTHER SHIPS HIT TODAY.

7 JUNE 1945.
0730: (P.M.) G.Q. AIRCRAFT APPROACHING 5 MIlES. SMOKE SCREEN LAYED AROUND US.

8 JUNE 1945.
0730: (P.M.) FLASH RED.
RADIO TOKYO CLAIM PGM'S ARE MIDGET DESTROYERS.

11 JUNE 1945.
0540: (P.M.) TYPHOON WARNING TO ALL SHIPS UNDERWAY FOR KANTENNA WAN, OKINAWA SHIMA.
0710: GENERAL QUARTERS.
THE SKIPPER IS IN COMMAND OF ALL GUN BOATS IN THIS AREA.
SOME OF THE FELLOWS WENT ON THE BEACH (OKINAWA).

13 JUNE 1945.
1100: (P.M.) UNDERWAY FOR NEXT OPERATION. HEADING TOWARD CHINA SEA.

14 JUNE 1945.
1100: (A.M.) SCREENING FOR MINE CRAFT NOW SWEEPING FOR JAPANESE MINES.

15 JUNE 1945.
ALERTED-ENEMY AIRCRAFT REPORTED IN VICINITY.

16 JUNE 1945.
1210: (P.M.) FIRST MINE CUT.
0100: WENT ALONGSIDE FOR ICE CREAM.
0300: FLASH RED-BOGIES COMING IN.
0310: OUR FIGHTER COVER TALYHO ENEMY PLANE-SHOT DOWN SAME.
0315: ENEMY AIRCRAFT IN VICINITY.

17 JUNE 1945.
RAN ACROSS ANOTHER MINE FIELD, MINES CUT. NOW TRYING TO EXPLODE.

18 JUNE 1945
MORE MINES CUT TODAY. WARNING TO SHIPS-PREPARE FOR ATTACK TONIGHT BY ENEMY AIRCRAFT.

19 JUNE 1945.
OUR MINECRAFT HAVE CUT 14 MINES IN PAST HALF HOUR.
1200: (NOON) GENERAL QUARTERS-AIRCRAFT APPROACHING.
1240: AIRCRAFT COMING IN AT A VERY HIGH ALTITUDE. NOW CIRCLING AND OPENING TO THE NORTH.
0300: TYPHOON WARNING. HEADING IN TO KANTENNA WAN COVE.

21 JUNE 1945.
0800: (P.M.) FLASH RED SHIPS FIRING-NO SPLASHES YET. ONE A.V. HIT BY SUICIDER.
0920: ACK ACK AGAIN-ENEMY AIRCRAFT.
1140: FIRING ON LOW FLYING JAPS.
THERE WERE FORTY TWO MEN KILLED AND SIXTY WOUNDED ON THE A.V. HIT (A PLANE TENDER) BY THE SUICIDER.

22 JUNE 1945.
0807: (A.M.) BETWEEN 0807 AND 1145 A.M., ALERTED FIVE TIMES FOR AIR RAIDS.
0100: (P.M.) UNDERWAY FOR CHINA SEA.

23 JUNE 1945.
0830: (A.M.) ON STATION. 13 MINES CUT BY MINECRAFT. WE JUST SANK ONE. RADIO TOKYO CLAIMS U.S. TASK FORCE OPERATING IN THIS AREA.

26 JUNE 1945.
NOT MUCH DOING TODAY-MINES CUT AND SUNK BY GUN FIRE.

27 JUNE 1945.
FLASH RED A COUPLE TIMES THIS MORNING.

4 JULY 1945.
GENERAL QUARTERS A FEW TIMES IN PAST FIVE DAYS.

5 JULY 1945.
1130: (A.M.) UNDERWAY WITH ABOUT 160 SHIPS HEADING NORTHWEST.
0715: (P.M.) FLASH RED ENEMY AIRCRAFT TEN MILES.
SIX MONTHS AGO WE LEFT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

7 JULY 1945.
MINE CRAFT CUT 31 MINES TODAY.

8 JULY 1945.
FOUR DAYS AT SEA. MINES CUT, WE SANK FIVE AND BLEW UP TWO.

10 JULY 1945.
PEACEFUL DAY. FLASH RED ONLY ONCE.

12 JULY 1945.
0410: (A.M.) BATTLE STATIONS-ENEMY AIRCRAFT CIRCLING US.
ENEMY CRAFT NOW IN TO THREE MILES.
NOW GOING AWAY. MOST LIKELY PATROL PLANES.

15 JULY 1945.
BACK TO ANCHORE NAGASAKI.

19 JULY 1945.
AT ANCHOR KANTENNA WAN COVE FOR EXPECTED TYPHOON.
WE HAD MOVIES TOP SIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME. DURING THE MOVIE FLASH RED.
TWO JAP BOMBERS WERE SHOT DOWN IN FLAMES.

20 JULY 1945.
0330: (A.M.) FLASH RED.

22 JULY 1945.
0200: (A.M.) FLASH RED.
0410: SUICIDER'S SCORED HITS.
WE HAVE BEEN AT SEA FOR TEN OR TWELVE DAYS TODAY WITH PGM, DD, DM, AM. AND YM.

30 JULY 1945.
HEADING BACK TO OKINAWA.

1 AUGUST 1945.
UNDERWAY FOR TYPHOON ANCHORAGE.

5 AUG. 1945.
PULLING OUT FOR GUAM, MARIANAS ISLAND.

7 AUG 1945.
NEW ATOMIC BOMB USED ON HIROSHIMA JAPAN.

9 AUG 1945.
NAGASAKI HIT WITH SECOND ATOMIC BOMB USED IN THIS WAR.
RUSSIA DECLARES WAR ON JAPAN. THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

11 AUG 1945.
REPORTS JAPAN EXCEPTS SURRENDER TERMS NOT CONFIRMED BY WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON
D.C YET.
WE HAVE CREDIT FOR FOUR JAP AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN. ON MID WATCH MESSAGE INTERCEPTED FROM BERN SWITZERLAND TO THE UNITED STATES FROM JAPAN ACCEPTING SURRENDER AS STATED IN POTSDAM AGREEMENT.

12 AUG 1945.
DROPPED CONVOY AT SAIPAN MARIANAS.
WASHINGTON HAS NOT ACCEPTED JAPANS SURRENDER SO FAR. ARRIVED GUAM THIS EVENING.

13 AUG 1945.
REPORTS JAP SUICIDE PLANE DOVE INTO BATTLE WAGON AT OKINAWA LAST NIGHT.

15 AUG 1945.
0900: (A.M.) MARIANAS TIME-ANNOUNCEMENT::: WAR IS OFFICIALLY OVER.

2 SEPT 1945.
OFFICIAL SURRENDER AT 1130 A.M. IN MARIANAS. THAT'S ALL LETS GO HOME.

22 SEPT 1945.
WENT IN DRY DOCK ON ARD 24.

10 OCTOBER 1945.
0725: JAP DESTROYER PULLS IN GUAM STRIPPED OF GUNS. NAME OF DESTROYER IS HATSUZAKURA.

13 OCT 1945.
1000: DEPARTED FROM GUAM, MARIANAS FOR OKINAWA.

14 OCT 1945.
0400: TANKER CROSSES OUR BOW ABOUT FIVE MILES GOING SOUTHWEST.

17 OCT 1945.
ARRIVED OKINAWA. LARGE NUMBER OF OUR SHIPS ON REEF DUE TO TYPHOON. PGM 9 IS ON REEF. TIDAL WAVE WASHED AWAY ATOLL OF ENAWETOK.

21 OCT 1945.
TOOK ON FUEL AND PROVISIONS THIS MORNING.
1230: UNDERWAY FOR S0UTHERN JAPAN.

22 OCT 1945.
0805: PASSED A FLOATING MINE JUST OFF OUR PORT SIDE.
1241: SIGHTED KUSAKAKI SHIMA.

23 OCT 1945.
0830: PASSED A JAP FISHING BOAT.
0910: DESTROYER MINE LAYER PlCKED UP FOUR JAPS AND SANK THEIR LANDING BARGE WITH GUNFIRE.
1110: FOUR JAP MINE CRAFT OFF TO PORT SIDE.
SWEEPING KOREA STRAITS. WE BLEW UP 14 MINES.
1820: (Z) AT ANCHOR TADEI-PO, ISLAND OF KOJE, KOREA.

24 OCT 1945.
AT ANCHOR TSU SHIMA.

NOV 2 1945.
JAP SUBMARINE CAME BY US VERY CLOSE WITH ARMED GUARD ABOARD.

3 NOV 1945.
ANCHORED FOR THE NIGHT OFF OF ROSS ISLAND. WENT INTO SASEBO, JAPAN CITY OF SASEBO IS BOMBED LEVEL TO THE GROUND.

28 NOV 1945.
UNDERWAY FOR LUZON, P.I.

2 DEC 1945.
ARRIVED SUBIC BAY, LUZON, P.I.

7 DEC 1945.
AN ANCHOR (MANILA. P.I.) MANILA BAY. CITY PRETTY WELL SHELLED AND RUINED.

[Transcribed by: Joseph M. Radigan, MACM, USN, Ret.]

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