Leyte Gulf to Kerama Retto

On the morning of May 14th when we went to morning G.Q. the weather was noticeably cooler with a slight wind from the northeast. We are still steaming in a circular formation at 16-knots. As we move into the upper latitudes we will be breaking out the foul-weather jackets and cutting the forced-draft blowers down to low speed. ComDesRon-23 (Commander Destroyer Squadron) issued orders for all ships to hold daily instructions and drills in aircraft recognition, hold damage control drills and have the gun watch on the alert to fire at an unannounced “star shell” thrown up by designated ships in the squadron. Any ship that can safely bear will see how quickly they can fire on the “star” with their 5-inch and 40-MM guns. All “look-outs” were told to be alert.

We expended 10 rounds of 5-inch AA Common ammunition at surprise “star shells” firings today.

Word from the Radio Shack is more than 500 B-29s hit Nagoya, Japan today and the Chinese Army enters the city of Foochow. According to the Quartermasters, we are about 700-miles from Okinawa.

We received CTF-51 (Commander Task Force) secret dispatch 140420 directing CDS-23 (Commander Destroyer Squadron) to proceed with all vessels to Hagushi Beach and report to CTG-51.5 (Commander Task Group) for duty. We went to evening G.Q. (We go to Battle Stations, G.Q., for about an hour at sunrise and sunset ever day) at 1940.

Dawn broke very gloomy on the morning of May 15th . There were rain squalls, thick haze with low clouds and it was very cold compared to the heat we have been experiencing in the Philippines. It will be very comfortable sleeping below for the first time in many months. At 1230 we met the old battleship USS TEXAS (BB-35) escorted by a new Sumner Class Destroyer, the USS COMPTON (DD-705) and the USS ABERCROMBIE (DE-343), on an opposite course to our group. They were escorting the old battleship south away from Okinawa, but we couldn’t see any battle damage. As they came abeam, to port, the ABERCROMBIE pealed off and joined our formation taking station in the center of our circular disposition. I’m sure they would have much preferred to stay with the TEXAS and put Okinawa far astern. In mid-afternoon we fired one round of 5-inch and 17-rounds of 40-MM ammunition at a surprise “star” shell thrown up by the AULICK.

The full squadron went to G.Q. at 1600 when an air target showed up on the radar with no IFF (Identification, Friendly or Foe) - he did respond to radio contact - it was a C.A.P. (Combat Air Patrol) who had not activated his IFF. He had better be alert - this group will shoot at him. We went to evening G.Q. at 1850. Darken ship at 1915. We secured from evening G.Q. at 1950. After evening G.Q. many of the crew could be seen standing on the deck or leaning on the lifelines looking across the dark seas ruffled by light winds - there was mostly silence about the decks with quite anticipation. Our ETA for Okinawa is 0700 tomorrow.

We sighted land at 0616 on the morning of May 16th, bearing 347 Degrees True, identified as Kerama Retto (Code Name - Wiseman’s Cove). The weather is overcast and very hazy - it is impossible to make out many details on the beach. At 0722 the Little Beavers formed a column, by division, with the ABERCROMBIE as guide, steering various courses and speeds proceeding to anchorage independently We dropped anchor at 0945 off Nagushi Beach in 50-fathoms of water with 75 fathoms of chain to the port anchor. We set a modified Condition I watch with one-half of all stations manned. At 1100 ComDesRon-23 reported to CTG-51.5 that DesRon-23 was ready for duty. The FOOTE is now a unit of Task Force-51 and CTF-51 is Vice Admiral R. K. Turner, USN, under direct control of CTG-51.5 commanded by Commodore Frederick Moosburgger, USN.

From our position, about 12,000-yards away is Okinawa. It is located almost exactly equidistant - 350 miles - from Japan, Formosa and the Chinese coast. Okinawa is the logical staging area for the invasion of Japan. It is sixty miles long, eight miles wide on the average and the island has protected harbors, fleet anchorages and four working airfields with room for many more.

On the 1st of April, two Marine and two Army divisions landed on a 6-mile stretch of beach near Hagushi on the island’s western shore. They found a sunny, almost Arcadian Easter morning. Resistance ashore was so light that by nightfall the beachhead was eight miles long and more than two miles deep and the troops had seized two vital airfields virtually undamaged. While the Marines turned northward encountering little resistance, the Army turned south to capture Naha Airfield and the valuable fleet anchorage in Nakagasuku Bay; but, quickly ran into a nightmare. It was called the Machinato Line, an island-spanning network of hollowed-out hills and fortified caves, some with several levels, connected by tunnels and providing intersecting fields of fire. The Army called on the Navy for help.

There were several Battleships, Cruisers and Destroyers offshore lobbing in a steady stream of shells (we heard one destroyer has fired over 14,000 rounds of 5-inch)..

We secured from Condition I Modified at 1640 and set Condition II Mike. Nothing much happens until after sundown. Darken ship at 1909. We went to G.Q. at 1957 - small craft commenced making smoke. No firing - secured from G.Q. at 2138. Back to G.Q. at 2445 for 30-minutes and again at 2248 when there was considerable AA-fire in the anchorage, but we did not fire. One Jap plane passed up our starboard side very close aboard at 2256, but with all the smoke we couldn’t see him and did not fire. The big concern is being hit by friendly fire. We heard that two Jap planes were shot down tonight - better than last night when there were more raids and 18 planes were shot down. And, so it goes, on our arrival day at Okinawa.

On the morning of May 17 the ship went to morning G.Q. with several Bogies (Unidentified Aircraft) on the radar. None closed our anchorage. We weighed anchor and got underway at 0755 and proceeded with DesDiv-46 to fuel from the tanker USS CIMARRON (AO-22) as she sails about 10-miles northwest of the Hagushi anchorage - this gives the ships taking part in the operation plenty maneuvering room in the event of an air attack during fueling. Port and starboard fueling procedure will be followed at a speed of 15-knots. CONVERSE and THATCHER fueled first - DYSON and FOOTE followed. The FOOTE was alongside to port and connected at 1020 - completed fueling and disconnected at 1112. It was a very smart operation. The FOOTE took screening station on the port bow of the tanker with CONVERSE on the starboard bow. DYSON and THATCHER were screening on the port and starboard quarter of the tanker as we returned to Hagushi Anchorage.

We were underway again at 1659 in accordance with orders from CTG-51.5 (Commander Task Group) to join the Anti-aircraft screen outside the transport area. We were on assigned station at 1741. The OTC (Officer in Tactical Command) is ComDesRon-56 (Commander Destroyer Squadron) in USS PUTMAN (DD-757). We are patrolling the inner Jig Line in company with USS PUTMAN (DD-757), USS BAUER (DD-738), USS LOWRY (DD-770), USS PRICHETT (DD-561), USS CLAXTON (DD-571), USS AULICK (DD-569), USS BRAINE (DD-630) and USS MASSEY (DD-778). Word from the Radio Shack is the USS FOX (DD-234) was hit by a Kamikaze this afternoon - she is still afloat, but no word on the casualties - she shot down one plane and rammed one. We were at G.Q. almost constantly until the group was ordered back to the transport area at 2340. Twelve raids so far tonight with eight planes shot down.

Dawn brings a beautiful bright day. The Battleships, Cruisers and Destroyers are still blasting the Japs on land. Rumor has it that they have already fired approximately 24,000-tons of shells since the invasion began. After four grueling days of fire support the USS LONGSHAW (DD-559) ran aground on a coral reef just south of Naha Airfield this morning. The Jap shore batteries had a sitting duck and concentrated their fire on the stationary target. The LONGSHAW tried to fight back, but her bow was completely blown off by a hit in the forward magazine. The Captain and eighty-six of her crew died with their ship. Later in the afternoon, LONGSHAW battered beyond salvaging, was destroyed by American gunfire and torpedoes. She was a gallant ship with nine battle stars.

This is the second destroyer to get it in 48-hours since our arrival which doesn’t help the appetite very much.

We got underway at 1715 as a unit of the Anti-aircraft screen outside the transport area. It appears they want as many destroyers between the anchorage and the planes coming down from Japan as they can have from late afternoon until around midnight. So, any destroyer anchored at Hagushi with no assignment can expect to be assigned to the Jig Line every afternoon (about 8-miles out). During this period we are at G.Q. almost continuously. We returned to Hagushi Anchorage and dropped the hook at 2350 in Berth #180. With about 15 raids reported tonight, there was a great deal of firing, but not in the area patrolled by the FOOTE C.A.P. (Combat Air Patrol) splashes five Jap planes and the destroyers down nine. I guess we are winning.

On May 19th the day dawned rainy and very gloomy, but the war goes on. Our ships continue to bombard the Japs 24-hours a day. LSTs are delivering munitions to ships while they are on the firing line - pretty good system. We receive secret message 190310 from CTG-51.5 directing the FOOTE to proceed immediately to Radar Picket Station #15 (Current hot spot) thirty-five miles northwest of Okinawa as an additional picket support for USS WADSWORTH (DD-516) and USS MASSEY (DD-778). We arrive on station at 1432 - the weather is very threatening with low hanging clouds and many dense rain squalls in the area. Bogies (Enemy aircraft) show up on the radar immediately and we go to G.Q. Three LCSs (Landing Craft Support) and one PGM (Motor Gunboat) are following the three destroyer picket group at a safe distance. Their sole purpose is to be in the Radar Picket Station’s area so they can pick up survivors. That’s good - or is it?? Our air-search radar goes A.W.O.L. at the worse possible time. We can only listen to the Fighter Director Team over the radio on the WADSWORTH to know where the Bogies are. At 1725 - like magic - seven F4Us (Corsairs) show up and start circling the area - it sure was good to see those guys.

Shortly after dark the C.A.P. (F4Us) head back to Okinawa and leave us unprotected. Our little group of ships goes rain-squall hopping to avoid the Bogies - once the WADSWORTH reported them in as close as 3,000-yards, but we were not able to see them and apparently they couldn’t see us - I’ll buy that. Our air search radar was back up and operating at 2210 - good work guys. A wet, cold and tired topside crew secured from G.Q. at 2130. The weather is great for sleeping below, but everyone will be wearing his clothes this night.
(USS FOOTE Deck Log, USS FOOTE War Diary, Gene Schnaubelt)