Invasion of Aguni Shima (June 1945)

At 0106 on June 9th we picked up 60-fathoms of chain with the starboard anchor and got underway in company with Task Group-31.25 in accordance with CTG-31.25 reference 070220 (Land on and occupy Aguni Shima). The Captain has the conn, the Navigator is on the bridge - using various courses and speeds to clear the anchorage. We take Station #5 in the formation - speed 7-knots. At 0150 a low flying plane sends us to Battle Stations and since our bombardment is scheduled to begin at 0500 we stay at Condition Affirm. The Bogie passes so low and close we could hear his engine clearly, but there was no firing. At 0345 the FOOTE is detached from the invasion formation to go ahead and be in position for the scheduled bombardment of Green Beach. At 0455 we are in position for bombarding - using engines and rudders, occasionally, to maintain position. At H-hour minus 60 we began our bombardment of the landing beach.

We “check fire” at intervals to allow our planes to make low level bombing runs. At H-12 the amphibs are about 500-yards off the beach and the LCSRs start their rapid fire rocket bombardment followed by aircraft coming in low for strafing runs. It is really well timed and a sight to behold - nothing could be left alive on that beach. At 0600 the landing forces make a dash for the beach and all shelling is stopped. The troops go ashore standing up and we are laying to on station awaiting request for “call fire”. The Spotter Plane reported at 0730 that the landing was going very well. We are instructed at 0923 to move to the North side of Iguni Shima and establish an Antiaircraft Picket Station. We are on station 2-miles North of Aguni Shima by 1020 and are joined by the Destroyer Escort USS EDMONDS (DE-406) in column 1000-yards astern. At 1228 the Destroyer USS DALY (DD-519) relieves EDMONDS - shortly, LCS-120 reported for duty as support vessel (Pallbearer) on station 1,500-yards astern. All ships on station went to G.Q. at 1420 - we increased speed to 34-knots when the Bogie approached the area - Bogie turns away. By sundown Aguni Shima is completely secured - very little resistance. We went back to G.Q. at 1925 - just before darkness a Bogie is reported in the area - darken ship. All ships at the landing area open up with every A.A. Gun they have, but the Bogie makes it through and heads toward us and begins to circle us at about 5,000-yards, just a few feet off the water. This goes on for a while after complete darkness - all hands are tense - he thinks better of it and turns away. We were tracking him on radar and the Captain was keeping us broadside to the target so all guns would bear - if it had been daylight we would have nailed him. The remainder of the night slipped by without incident.

We went to G.Q. several times during the morning of June 10th when Bogies approached the area - we did not fire. At 1038 the USS PAUL HAMILTON (DD-590) relieved the DALY on this station. Under orders from CTG-31.25 the PAUL HAMILTON, FOOTE and LCS-120 vacated this station at 1321 and proceeded to the transport area. Then shortly, the entire Task Group got underway for Hagushi Anchorage, Okinawa. The FOOTE took station to screen the Task Group until it arrived at Hagushi Anchorage. We dropped anchor at 1722 and received verbal orders that Task Group-31.25 is dissolved.

We get word that the USS WILLIAM D. PORTER (DD-579) has been sunk by a Kamikaze on our old Radar Picket Station #15. A Jap “Val” (Dive bomber with fixed landing gear) dropped out of some low hanging clouds and made straight for the ship. Quick evasive action by the Captain caused the Bogie to miss the ship, but he hit close alongside and somehow, the bomb he carried ended up directly beneath the WILLIAM D. PORTER before it exploded. Suddenly, the entire after section of the ship was lifted out of the water and dropped back again. She lost power and suffered major broken steam lines. There were numerous fires burning furiously. For three hours the crew struggled to put out the fires, repair the damage and keep the ship afloat, but their efforts failed and twelve minutes after the order to abandon ship was given the “WILLIE-D” healed over and sank by the stern. Sixty-one men were injured, but miraculously, there were no fatalities.

In the early afternoon of June 11th we weighed anchor and got underway to fuel at sea, west of Okinawa, from the USS TALLULAH (AO-50). Fueling was completed at 1513 and we were directed to Kerama Retto for logistics. FLASH RED occurred just as we were coming alongside a munitions ship - what a place to be. Fortunately, no Bogies appeared in our area and we completed replenishment, then we are directed to drop anchor in the southwestern corner of the anchorage. We receive orders to make all preparations for heavy weather. A typhoon is reported moving toward Okinawa. All hands work at securing any loose gear topside and below decks - generally, batten down for heavy seas. By June 12th the typhoon brought heavy rains, winds and some high seas, but passed to the West of us causing no real problems. At 0600 the typhoon warning is canceled and all extra precautions aboard ship are lifted. At 0843 we weigh anchor and get underway from Kerama Retto en route to Hagushi Anchorage, Okinawa. The work day aboard ship officially begins at 0800 and anything that happens immediately prior might be explained away as a minor irritation and annoyance due to exigencies of the Navy. From eight in the morning ‘til three in the afternoon, if you are not on watch, you are expected to “turn-to” and earn a day’s pay - so, let the day begin. Arrived at the anchorage and reported to CTG-31.5 for duty at 1035.

On June 13th we receive orders from CTG-31.5 to get underway and relieve the USS KNAPP (DD-653) on Radar Picket Station #5. (R.P. #5 is about 40-miles East of Point Bolo. The sixteen Radar Picket Stations that ring Okinawa are located by bearing and distance measured from a jutting point on the west coast of Okinawa with the Japanese name of Zampa Misaki, but the Navy calls it “Point Bolo”. on the invasion charts.). On station we are in company with the USS BRADFORD (DD-545) and USS BOYD (DD-544). BOYD carries the O.T.C. (Officer in Tactical Command) (With a 28-year old Captain it will be a rare occasion if we carry the O.T.C.). We went to G.Q. at 1310, 1430 and 1735 as unidentified aircraft approached the area. Each time the planes were identified as ‘friendlies’ - our ‘chicks’. Miracle of miracles - we pass the night without one G.Q.

The Kamikaze hitting the ships off Okinawa were mostly on a one-way mission - some were actually incapable of making the round trip to Okinawa and back - and the pilots had their ritual and sent home a lock of their hair before they took off. Their mission was to give up their life for the Emperor and our mission was to help them before they smashed into a ship. Even when their planes were crippled, and on fire, they bored in. The only way to stop them was to blow them to bits before they got close enough for the pieces to hurt you.

On the FOOTE, like other ships on station, the screws maintained a steady RPM as they made way on the Jig-line. The Yoeman prepared more reports in the Ship’s Office; in the Galley the cooks brewed more coffee, sliced more mutton, baked more bread, cooked more beans; in the scullery, Mess Cooks steamed more cups, trays and utensils; the Postman told everyone who asked that he didn’t know when the hell we would get mail again; in the Radio Shack the “sparkies” copied more pages of messages that may be important to someone, but not to the FOOTE; in the Laundry the “button smashers” washed more drawers and lost more socks; and in Sick Bay ‘Doc’ Allen handed out more APC pills (All Purpose Compound) to anyone who showed up at Sick Call - yes, the FOOTE was ready on Radar Picket Station #5.

After the foul weather, day before yesterday, the weather has been very nice - clear, tangy sparkling, spring-like day. Good Bogie weather. A few unidentified planes on the radar that turns out to be friendly. All in all - not bad Radar Picket. duty - some of the crew gets a little sleep.

Just as the mid-watch is relieved the ship’s power fails - completely - both generators out - we are on auxiliary power for about 30-minutes. Some poor Electrician is going to catch hell.

The FOOTE, BRADFORD and BOYD move back and forth on R.P. #5 waiting for the “Divine Wind” - G.Q. at 0455, 1011, 1412 1925 and 2115 - all “friendly” or they didn’t close.

(USS FOOTE Deck Log, USS FOOTE War Diary, USS FOOTE General Action Report Gene Schnaubelt)
(Written by: Wilbur V. Rogers)

Invasion of Iheya Retto (June 1945)

Our little armada of about 56 ships and landing craft is standing by to make another invasion try at Iheya Retto. It is very warm and cloudy and I bet the Marines crowded in those small boats are ready for something to happen. Let’s get it on or call it off.

On June 3rd we weigh anchor at 0215 and slip silently seaward sheparding our LSTs, LCIs and LCMs like a sheep dog. The night is pitch-dark with rain in the area and forming up is all done with the surface radar - destination is Iheya Retto - north of Point Bolo about 45-miles. We go to G.Q. at 0245 and the rains came - mighty uncomfortable topside - glad it’s not cold. When we arrive at Iheya Retto, five of the destroyers move in parallel to the beach and began laying down a barrage on the landing area. Troops began disembarking at exactly 1000. As planned, when the pre-landing bombardment of the beach is completed, the FOOTE immediately swings around the small island and established a Radar Picket Station opposite the beachhead so any planes coming down from Japan will see us first. We didn’t have to wait long - Bogies heading in at 1309. The overcast is very dense and very low. It will be very hard for the C.A.P. to pick up a Bogie visually. The USS O’BANNON (DD-450) and the USS PAUL HAMILTON (DD-590) joined us on station to provide more fire power. A Jap “Val” (Dive Bomber with fixed landing gear) came screaming down our port side at about 6,000-yards with four Corsairs on his tail - closing steadily. They were in and out of the low lying clouds until they disappeared and about five seconds later there was a big flash on the horizon - scratch one Bogie.

At 1341 we sighted another “Val” on the port side with that unmistakable fixed landing gear - our 5-inch and 40-MM guns opened fire at 4,000-yards. Suddenly, he dips his wing and turns off in a long sweeping dive at one of the other destroyers. The other two ships open fire - the “Val” is hit and aflame, but he never varies his course - misses the O’BANNON by yards throwing up a geyser of water as high as her mast.

At 1430 additional raids headed in were splashed by the Corsairs about eight miles out - if it was clear, it would be visible to us on the horizon. Those Marine Corsair pilots flying C.A.P. for us are doing a yeoman job - can you imagine what it would be like without them? We are picking up the incoming raids at about 50-miles and they come in like homing pigeons - their bearing never changes as much as one degree. With the incoming raid range down to 6,000-yards we still can’t see them. At 5,000-yatds - still not visible. (In clear weather, planes can be spotted at about 12,000 to 16,000 yards and 6,000-yards is considered “duck-soup” for the Main Battery.) When the Bogies are down to 4,000-yards, two Corsairs streak across our bow at about 400-knots and hightail it into the overcast. The topside crew members are real tense - everyone is holding their breath.

About 15-seconds later (which seems like forever) a ball of flame hurtles down off the starboard bow. In about another three seconds another Bogie goes down about a mile away. Reports from the Radio Shack indicate the C.A.P. has splashed 25 Bogies today and the Radar Picket destroyers got another five. After dark the area was clear of Bogies and the night was uneventful. A fellow can lose weight doing this kind of work.

On June 4th we are still patrolling on Radar Picket Station west of Iheya Retto and dawn breaks very cloudy with constant rain. We are on station with the USS PAUL HAMILTON and our “Pallbearers” are LCS-69 and LCS-95. The O’BANNON has been detached. We go to G.Q. at 0745 and again at 1020 - Bogies are in the area, but we can’t see them - good thing about it is they can’t see us either. The clouds are hanging right down on the water with almost constant rain. At 1030 LCS-69 and LCS-95 were detached and ordered to return to the Iheya Retta anchorage. We get the word at 1110 that typhoon warnings have been posted in the area (Iwo to Shanghai) - winds have picked up to about Force-4 on the Beaufort Scale. The Beaufort Scale goes from 0 to 12, with “0” being a calm, smooth, mirror-like sea. These twelve conditions are referred to as “Forces” and a Force-12 is a full blown typhoon. The descriptions are visual, not digital. Force-4 is a moderate wind, small waves, becoming longer with white caps. Around Force-8 you begin to have some sick sailors and feel a little anxious and foam is blown in well-defined streaks with the wind. In a Force-10 storm the official description calls for 30-foot seas where the “tumbling of the sea becomes heavy and shocking - the whole surface of the sea takes on a white appearance.”

At 1235 we are directed to immediately leave our Radar Picket Station and rejoin Task Group-31.25 and took station as A/S (Anti-Submarine) screen for the Task Group. The entire Task Group is underway at 1600 for a protected anchorage off Kouri Shima, on the northwest side of Okinawa - this is a land-locked bay called Nago Wan.

The typhoon doesn’t hit - it passes well to the east of us - winds never exceeded Force-4, so we stand out at 0400 with Task Group-31.25 and are directed to take up our old Radar Picket Station west of Iheya Retto. We are still under the low, ominous looking skies as the FOOTE and PAUL HAMILTON start patrolling our station on the. Japan side of Iheya Retto. The slower LCS-69 reported on station for duty as our “Pallbearer” at 1030. We went to G.Q. several times during the afternoon and evening when enemy aircraft approached, but we couldn’t see them and we didn’t fire. I love this lousy weather. The topside crew is wet constantly.

On the morning of June 6th we received a Commander Task Group-31.25 dispatch directing the FOOTE and CONVERSE to proceed to Kerama Retto to take on ammunition, fuel and stores - upon completion these vessels are to return to Iheya Retto. We departed our Radar Picket Station at 0600 when we were relieved by CHARLES AUSBURNE and joined CONVERSE en route to Kerama Retto. After nine hours of replenishment - hard work for most of the crew - we head back to Iheya Retto and anchored off the landing beach at 1817. G.Q. was sounded several times before the mid-watch, but we didn’t fire. The Radio Shack reports twelve Kamikaze were shot down in the last 24-hours.

We got underway at 0458 on the morning of June 8th in company with CONVERSE for our old Radar Picket Station. At 0543 the FOOTE and CONVERSE relieved CHARLES AUSBURNE and PAUL HAMILTON - USS DALY (DD-519) had joined them yesterday and she remains on station with us. (I learned after the war that I had a nephew serving on the DALY and neither of us knew what ship the other was in.) After only about seven hours on station the FOOTE, CONVERSE and DALY are directed to vacate the Picket Station and proceed to Hagushi Anchorage at Okinawa. Rumor has it we are standing by for the second invasion operation. Bogies approach the anchorage and we are at G.Q. from 1350 to 1910, then back to Battle Stations from 0210 to 0500 - this way nobody gets any sleep. The C.A.P. shot down ten planes in the past 24-hours.

The word is official, our little Task Group will support the landing and occupation of Aguni Shima - another of the little out-lying islands. All charts are made ready for the FOOTE’s role in the bombardment of the invasion beach. Reports are, there should be little or no resistance. Another land-based Radar Station will be installed to relieve the destroyers on Radar Picket duty. That’s a good deal. We went to G.Q. at 1110 and again at 1430 with lots of raids reported in the area, but none approached our anchorage. We went back to Battle Stations at 2015 with Bogies at 35-miles, headed in - this time one plane made it in to about 10,000-yards and was splashed astern of the FOOTE by the C.A.P. On the course he was holding he would have come right down our centerline in less than 2-minutes if a Corsair. had not nailed him - and us swinging on the hook. The FOOTE’s luck is holding pretty good.
(USS FOOTE Deck Log, USS FOOTE War Diary, USS FOOTE General Action Report and Gene Schnaubelt)
Written by: Wilbur V. Rogers