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)