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)