Second Cruise

At 0328 on 30 October we were steaming various courses to make Hawaii landfall and arrive at a rendezvous with a tow plane on schedule. Maui was sighted broad on the port bow at 0613, distance 12-miles, not a cloud in the sky, wind is negligible and the seas are like glass. A good day for target practice. We went to General Quarters for A.A. fire on target sleeve. Guess they want to know how good we are. The exercise ended at 0706 when we shot the sleeve down with 40-MM fire - must have hit the tow line. We expended 49 rounds of 5-inch A.A. common, 1168 rounds of 40-MM and 1045 4rounds of 20-MM.

The FOOTE received verbal orders from ComDesPac to enter port and proceed to Berth King 3 and load stores, fuel ship and receive 50-tons of cargo. The port worked through the night to secure the cargo on the fantail and by 1006 the following morning the FOOTE was ready to sail. The special sea detail went to quarters and the FOOTE got underway at 1030 on 31 October in accordance with Commander In Chief Pacific (ComPac #310309), enroute to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands where the ship will receive fuel and further routing to Ulithi Island. Speed of advance will be 25-knots. Someone is in a hurry to get this 50-tons of whatever it is.

At 1524 on 2 November we crossed the International Date Line and loose a day (November 2nd became November 3rd). The only ceremony observed was to muster all hands for another of those innumerable shots - this time it is Tetanus. Just like any other week with no Friday.

On 5 November at 1253 we sighted Eniwetok Atoll, distance 12.5-miles. The FOOTE entered the anchorage and moored starboard side to tanker SS LUNDAY’S LANE in Berth J-9. After topping off all fuel tanks we received routing instructions to Ulithi Island. We cleared the port at 1856, set course 268 Degrees True and made turns for 25-knots.

On 8 November at 0615 we sighted Ulithi landfall, entered port and moored starboard side to USS CORUNDUM IX-164 (a vessel that provides mobile storage for supplies) and off- loaded the 50-tons of cargo we brought out from Pearl Harbor.

The FOOTE was assigned to the Northern Anchorage, Ulithi Island, Berth 8 to await orders after she topped off all her fuel tanks from USS CAHABA AO-82. When the ship reported ready for sea she received ComCarDiv-29 (Commander Carrier Division Twenty-Nine) secret dispatch directing her to proceed to Kossol Roads, Palau Islands. We were also directed to take aboard two whale boats and lash them down on the fantail for transport. Looks like we are getting in the fast hauling business. We cleared the harbor at 1518 on 12 November and set course for Palau Islands. At 1115 on 13 November the bridge sighted Babelthrop Island, bearing 260 Degrees True, 15-miles. We entered the anchorage at Kossol Roads at 1404 and moored starboard side to USS SAGATUCK to take on fuel and off-load the two whale boats. We received a secret dispatch from Commander 7th Fleet directing the FOOTE to report to ComCarDiv-29 for duty.

The Foote was assigned Berth #4, Kossol Roads, Palau Island to await routing to ComCarDiv-29. Finally, at 1220 on 16 November the FOOTE received orders to rendezvous at the earliest time with ComCarDiv-29 at point given by latitude and longitude. After steaming all night we contacted ComCarDiv-29 by TBS (Transmission Between Ships) at 0500 on 17 November and was assigned station 5070 in formation. The guide and O.T.C.(Officer in Tactical Command) is USS MAKIN ISLAND CVE-93. The Task Force course is 296 Degrees True, speed 18-knots, formation is 5-V and ships in formation are; Aircraft Carriers MAKIN ISLAND CVE-93, HOGGATT BAY CVE-75, LUNGA POINT CVE-94, SALAMAUA CVE-96 and Destroyers CHARLES AUSBURNE DD-570, CONVERSE DD-509, PATTERSON DD-392, RALPH TALBOT DD-390, BAGLEY DD-386, BENNION DD-662 and FOOTE. DD-511. The Task Force is operating in support of the Philippine invasion.

On 17 November a plane crashed while landing on SALAMAUA and went into the water. The FOOTE was on plane guard station and went to the crash scene immediately, but by the time we arrived there was no trace of the plane or pilot - it had sunk nose down. A second plane went into the water off the MAKIN ISLAND the same day and the BAGLEY was able to recover all three crewmen (that’s 30-gallons of ice cream for the BAGLEY). The days are occupied with anti-submarine patrol and plane guard duty as the carriers launch and recover planes for the days operations.

The Japs found the Task Force on 21 November with six twin engine bombers, but they made one mistake, they had no fighter escort and our C.A.P. (Combat Air Patrol) shot down three of them and the others withdrew, at best speed, with no damage to the Task Force.

Early on the morning of 23 November the FOOTE fueled underway from HOGGATT BAY and immediately following us, the RALPH TALBOT took on fuel. The Task Force set course for Manus Island. It’s Thanksgiving Day and we are over 8,000 miles from home. We had a big meal tho’ and the day is spiced by talk from the Shellbacks (sailors who previously crossed the Equator) about the upcoming crossing of the Equator when we will cross over into the Forbidden Domain of Neptune Rex. Everyone is giving the Pollywogs (sailors who haven’t crossed the Equator) a bad time with their embellishment of sadistic things to come. On the 24th the remainder of the destroyers were fueled underway from the HOGGATT BAY and SALAMAUA.

THE BIG DAY HAS ARRIVED. We will cross the Equator at 1430. Quite a hilarious time is planned. The poor Pollywogs were mustered for inspection at 1230, in full dress uniform. They were then given 10-minutes to change completely and be ready for their separate trials before the Court of Neptune. The Court convened on the fantail and one after another the Pollywogs were dragged aft - questioned - misunderstood - and given the works. The WORKS consisted of a 12,000-volt electric chair with shining copper plates. An operating table where the grease and diesel oil was diligently applied - with the Court Jester applying his 110-volt needle to the miserable Pollywogs. From there they were handed over to the Royal Barber. After gapping their hair shamelessly they were unceremoniously dumped from the chair and scrambled to their feet to look down a long, gauntlet of 50 to 60 waiting, grinning, hideous Shellbacks, liberally sprinkled with clubs, belts, rope-ends and what have you. The poor Pollywogs would take a deep breath and shove off about 60-knots, but would be stopped immediately to say a few words over the "Mike" (a saltwater hose in disguise). Then came the "Underground" - a barricade of fenders to be crawled through - the "Invasion" - where they had to clamber up a swaying, perverse, collision ladder in the face of a couple of 2-inch saltwater hoses - "Royal Aircraft Service" - riding a Bos’un Chair down a pulley from the after stack with arms flapping - "Submarine Duty" - where the Pollywogs crawled under the torpedo tubes against a saltwater stream and finally - the "Slop Pit" - the accumulation of two weeks of well fermented garbage, where they were completely submerged.

Shaved, shampooed with slop, smelly, visibly shaken, but no worse for the wear, they emerged as Shellbacks, the most coveted deep water title. They were now sufficiently salty to stand before King Neptune and his Royal Staff. The Court was sufficiently overdressed - underdressed - and well done up in burnt cork Be it known by all ye Sailors, Mariners, Land Lubbers and others who may be honored by his presence that these lowly Pollywogs have been found worthy to be numbered as Trusty Shellbacks after having been duly initiated into the Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order Of The Deep.

As dark fell and we stood at sunset General Quarters, the USS FOOTE DD-511 was completely manned by Shellbacks. Two hours later we let the anchor run in the harbor at Manus, Admiralty Islands.

(USS FOOTE Deck Log, USS FOOTE WAR Diary and Gene Schnaubelt account).