Ashore on Zamami Shima (June 1945)

We arrived in Kerama Retto (Wiseman’s Junkyard) at 0710 on June 26th and went alongside the USS CUYAMA (AO-3) to take on fuel. The CUYAMA is one of the very old oilers built in 1917 with a normal 14,500-ton displacement. Upon completion of fueling we anchored and commenced availability assigned to the Destroyer Tender USS HAMUL (AD-20). Because of the large workload on this tender only the most urgent work can be accomplished - there are destroyers tied up port and starboard to the HAMUL, so we start our availability anchored nearby until a ship leaves the tender.

The USS THATCHER (DD-514) (Little Beaver) was hit on a Radar Picket Station on May 20th - killing 14 and wounding 53 - she limped back into Kerama Retto and is still waiting for drydock availability to repair a large hole below the waterline in the vicinity of the starboard boat davits (such is the crush of business - take a number and wait in line).

On land at Okinawa the glory of dying for the Emperor seems to be fading. The word is, more Japanese soldiers are surrendering than ever before - many waving the red, white and blue leaflets dropped by American planes. Others are choosing suicide. Hundreds of Japanese soldiers are shooting themselves or blowing themselves up with hand grenades. A communiqué intercepted from the Japanese home islands announces that everyone, including civilians, must now be prepared to turn their bodies into human bombs. Radio Tokyo broadcast that while, “all Japanese regret the loss of Okinawa, the future is still bright. The sooner the Americans come to the homeland the better for the Japanese people - for our battle array is complete. There will be worldwide amazement when our special attack weapons display full activity”. I wonder what all that means?

We passed a relatively quiet night on June 27th - only one Condition Red and we went to G.Q. One of the destroyers leaves the tender, so we weigh anchor and get underway at mid-morning and moor port side to the HAMUL to continue our availability. We will supply all our own power due to the threat of an air attack.

The FOOTE has broadcast receivers that permit us to pick up both the Armed Forces Radio and Tokyo Rose. Everyone listens to Rose, if they can - in the Wardroom, Chief Petty Officers quarters and in the crew’s mess. Sometimes the music isn’t too bad. Rose’s claims of damage done by the Japanese Navy and Air Force gives everyone a good chuckle. On her radio broadcast the Japs were always sinking the U.S. Navy, but everyone noted that each time the Navy got sunk it got sunk a little closer to Tokyo.

This availability is nothing but work - work on what needs tender help was first priority, but that isn’t all - it was clean, paint and re-supply the ship. There were “working parties” for everything. “Working parties” are the Navy’s answer to automation. Everything the Navy eats, uses or shoots at the Japs comes in packages small enough for a sailor to lift. Stuff was steadily moving from service boats, barges or the tender to storage spaces aboard the ship - moved by sailors who know that the emphasis in this scenario is on “working” - never on “party”. It took a sailor with real finesse to avoid an all hands “working party” - and, if he got caught, he was usually put on report. Remember sailors, it’s five days and we are out of here - ready or not.

Japanese aerial activity seems to have diminished. I hope it is not just a lull before the next “Kikusui” (Floating Chrysanthemum or mass Kamikaze attack).

On June 29th it was announced that crew members from each section, that could be spared, would be allowed to go ashore on Zamami Shima for a short time. This would be the first time our feet touched land in a very long time and it was hard to pass up - we would only be allowed four hours and two cans of beer. The LCVP (Landing Craft Variable Purpose - our transportation) put us ashore on the beach where the first assault landed to secure the Kerama Retto area. The flat area at the landing site was only about 800-yards across and maybe 1,500-yards long ending in very steep rising hills. A twenty minute walk up the hills put us on a ridge looking out to sea on a magnificent view of this small group of islands with all the ships massed in its roadstead. Looking inland there was a picturesque valley and the small town of Zamami, whose salient feature was a newly made, neat little cemetery - the price of occupation. Those who went down to look around said most of the markers are Navy.

There were several caves on the hill - all sizes. The most pointed picture of all were the many unburied Japs lying helter-skelter all over the crest of the hill in various stages of decomposition amidst the most nauseating odor you can imagine - reminding you that just a short time ago a violent war was waged in this pastoral scene.

After prowling over, around and into everything we could, it was back to the beach and a ride in the LCVP to the ship. Some of the crew picked up souvenirs - the prize would be a Rising Sun Flag that most Jap soldiers carried in his helmet. Those personal flags were supposed to protect him from harm. Must say they haven’t been very efficacious on this hill. After returning to the ship there was a bulletin posted that warned---“…booby traps….possible infiltration of enemy guerrillas….stay in area posted….” Now they tell us. What a guy want do to get off the ship and drink two lousy hot beers.

It seems that at least one Jap plane is sent down ever night to make us go to G.Q. - we can’t shoot - just sit on our battle station in the smoke laid down by our small boat smoke generators - seems they just want to keep us from sleeping and they are doing a good job of that.

One of our guys talked to the USS THATCHER (DD-514)(Little Beaver) mailman and he said they were scheduled to enter drydock tomorrow.

Today (June 30th) is our last day of availability alongside the HAMUL - we will move to an anchorage sometime tomorrow. It looks like we just may get all the vital work completed.

(USS FOOTE Deck Log, USS FOOTE War Diary and Gene Schnaubelt’s personal account.) (Written by: Wilbur V. Rogers)

Steaming on Station Niece (June 1945)

We are anchored in Hagushi Anchorage and go to sunrise G.Q. at 0527 on June 20th. We begin our day by making sure all ship elements are battle ready - without qualification. The word is, we will be on the move again very soon - despite the rumor, this thing with the Kamikaze is not over yet.

We weighed anchor and got underway at 1201 in accordance with ComCortDiv-4, dispatch #200100. The FOOTE is now assigned to Task Group 32.15 (CTG 32.15 is Rear Admiral I. C. Sowell, USN, ComBatDiv-4, USS WEST VIRGINIA (BB-48), flagship). We rendezvous with the Task Group west of the transport area and take A/S (Anti-Submarine) Screen #55, Station #5. Task Group 31.15 is composed of USS WEST VIRGINIA (BB-48), (ComBatDiv-4), USS CALIFORNIA (BB-44), USS WICHITA (CA-45) (ComCruDiv-4), USS TUSCALOSA (CA-37), USS ST. LOUIS (CL-49), USS PAUL G. BAKER (DE-642), (ComCortDiv-73, ComScreen) USS BRADFORD (DD-545), USS COWELL (DD-547), USS CROSS (DE-448), and USS FOOTE (DD-511). Word from the Radio Shack is this Task Group is retiring to Area Helmet east of Okinawa a distance sufficiently far from the active area (center of the bull’s eye) to give the ships security and the crews a little rest. Sure feels good having all those big ships near us. It may be more dangerous from friendly fire being with them if a low flying Bogie is inbound and all those guns start firing over us in the outer screen position. I don’t want to think about that.

The ship dipped gently in the slowly rolling sea as we move east-southeast towards Latitude 25-Degrees North steaming on various courses and speeds to maintain position in the formation.

On June 21st at about 4-bells of the mid-watch (2 A.M. to the man in the street) the disposition course was 090-Degrees True, speed 13-knots. The screen axis is the same as the course of advance. Our speed and course takes us out of Area Helmet into Area Niece at about 3 A.M. We went to morning G.Q. at 0535 and the “ship was lit” at 0616. We secured from G.Q. at 0638 and set condition of readiness II MIKE, material condition BAKER.

Two TBM’s (Navy Torpedo Bombers) in the area are lost and about to run out of fuel. At 1142 we are directed to leave the formation and stand by for them to make a water landing. Our Whale Boat is manned and lowered to about 4-feet above the water.

At 1148 TBM #309 (Voice Call 5V461) made a very nice water landing on our port quarter. The Whale Boat is in the water and on their way to pick them up before the plane hits the water. With some nice ship handling by the Captain two airmen were picked up with lines from the forecastle and the Whale Boat picked up the third airman. All three were uninjured. We are lying-to, using engines as necessary to maintain position, to render assistance to the second TBM in trouble.

At 1213 the second TBM #376 (Voice Call 105V461) crashed landed in the water (a bit rougher than the first). The Whale Boat picked up all three of the airmen uninjured. Twelve minutes from the time they hit the water we were picking up the Whale Boat and getting underway for Nakagusuku Wan, Okinawa (now called Buckner Bay in honor of Lt. General S. B. Buckner who was killed in action four days before the declared land victory). We were directed to deliver our two Marine Corp pilots and four enlisted Marines to Commander Task Group 31.19. This is going to be a quick trip - we kick the speed up to 32-knots. We passed through the A/S (Anti-submarine) net at Okinawa and are laying-to off BROWN BEACH at 1555. The Whale Boat was put in the water and we transferred our six Marines to the LCI-782 ( No ice cream - normally, we would get 30-gallons from a carrier - five gallons for each airman returned). We steam back through the A/S net at 1720 and set course for Area Niece where T.G.-32.15 is now operating.

History will record that the land war on Okinawa ended on 21 June 1945. Japanese resistance collapsed in a horror of Banzai charges and Hari-kiri. But, around Okinawa the Navy maintained a vigilant watch. By all indications the Divine Wind has not blown itself into history. Today, the LSM-59 and USS BARRY (DD-248) were sunk by suicide planes and the USS KENNETH WHITING (AV-14) was hit by a Kamikaze. Two of the Bogies came into Kerama Retto using our IFF - that’s not good. All hands maintain an alert watch - on your toes, guys. We rendezvoused with T.G.-32.15 at 2300 and assumed our normal screening station. Earlier this evening Tokio Rose broadcast our Task Force strength and position - how did she get that dope???

On June 22nd there was a bright moon until after mid-night, as we made way at 12- knots on our screening station, and no G.Q. all night. Dawn broke under clear blue skies with smooth seas and an ever so slight wind out of the southeast.

Something new has been added today……MINES!!!! I wonder how many we passed during the night - best we don’t know. All of a sudden we are surrounded by a bunch of them. We exploded two with the forward 40-MM guns - not easy to hit with only 12 to 18 inches above water - and, you can’t get too close. They do make a bang and sling scrap iron for some distance. Two other ships in the screen exploded several - I believe I’ll sleep on the Flying Bridge tonight. We went to routine G.Q. at sunset. There were 34 raids over the Okinawa area yesterday with approximately 50 Jap planes shot down by the C.A.P. (Combat Air Patrol) and ships. One raid of sixteen planes was completely wiped out by the C.A.P. Somebody needs to tell the Japs that Okinawa has been secured.

On June 23rd we passed a dark night in Area Niece with the moon hidden by clouds. The weather is still, cloudy and a bit warm. There is a moderate sea running from astern and what wind there is comes from the north. The motion of the ship is gentle - a slight
pitch and an occasional deep roll as quartering seas come in. With the feeling of tension subsiding throughout the ship it becomes easier to submit to fatigue and at times it is a struggle to stay awake on watch. But, mercifully, morning G.Q. comes and goes - the day’s routine begins. We expend 1146 rounds of 40-MM ammunition in morning firing practice at air bursts. In late afternoon the WICHITA, ST. LOUIS, COWELL and BRADFORD left the formation to proceed to Kerama Retto for logistics and mail. No. G.Q. all day.

There was no G.Q. all night on the 24th - sleep was only interrupted by the watch you stood - we could get to liking this. We went to sunrise G.Q. at 0530 and secured at 0628. We made daily inspection of magazines and smokeless powder samples. Conditions were normal. At 0651 the USS TENNESSEE (BB-43) is visible on the horizon. Commander of Task Force 32 in TENNESSEE joined this Task Force and assumed tactical command at 0720. (Vice Admiral J. B. Oldendorf, USN, ComBatRon-1
USS TENNESSEE, flagship).

The USS WICHITA (CA-45), USS WALKE (DD-723), USS ST. LOUIS (CA-49), USS CHESTER (CA-27), USS COWELL (DD-547) and USS WEBER (APO-75) joined the formation early in the morning on June 25th and brought several sacks of mail for the FOOTE - morale goes sky high. Looks like mail service from the states is running 10-days to two weeks in some cases - pretty good. As we steam on station Niece we will even have time to answer - hate those CENSORS.

After sunset G.Q. the FOOTE, in company with the CALIFORNIA (Prune Barge) and CROSS, left the formation to proceed to Kerama Retto . The FOOTE has been assigned five days availability alongside a Tender - all department heads have your list ready, in descending order of priority - remember, it is only five days. Speed is set to arrive in Kerama Retto (Wiseman’s Junkyard) after morning G.Q. Get a good night’s sleep sailors, because we are about to go to work.

(USS FOOTE Deck Log, USS FOOTE War Diary, USS FOOTE General Action Report and Gene Shnaubelt’s Personal Account) (Written by: Wilbur V. Rogers)