[South Pacific map. Locations mentioned in these logs are marked in yellow]
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Joe Hamilton (as told by his daughter) "In Iwo Jima we arrived prior to the arrival of any other troops or ships and swept for mines. After we swept off shore, we were told to screen for shore batteries. When the shore batteries would fire on the DEFENSE, pilots and other ships would pick up the gun flashes and the cruisers would bombard that area and dive bombers would swoop in and dive on areas of gun flashes. While none of the Jap shore batteries struck the DEFENSE, some came very close. When the Marines arrived, landing craft approached the shore and dropped their front unloading door and we could see the Marines approaching the beach, knee-deep in black ash. One of the landing craft was struck by Jap gunfire and began to sink. The coxswain positioned his craft to keep it from sinking completely by riding it up on another boat that had sunk. We took the Marines on board, and the Captain got orders to take them away from shore and await further orders. Time went by, and we still had no instructions as to what to do with the Marines. We overheard them saying that they couldn’t wait to go relieve their buddies. I grew to have a great deal of respect for them because of their concern for their buddies. I remember the day we got orders to take them in closer to shore where another landing craft would meet us and take them to shore. I remember watching them scramble across the beach and over the hill, and I’ve wondered what ever happened to them." |
February 1, 1945
Underway pursuant to CDS 63 secret speed letter 003 dated 25 Jan 1945 and ComPhibsPac Operation Order A25-44, escorting transport group Able in position 4030 of inner antisubmarine screen. On base course 255 degrees T, speed 14.5 knots. O.T.C. in USS AUBURN (AGC-10), screen commander in USS VAN VALKENBURG (DD-656).
1800, changed time to zone minus 12, retarded clocks 30 minutes and changed date to 2 FEBRUARY, 1945.
February 5, 1945
1152, commenced maneuvering on various courses and speeds entering Eniwetok Harbor and Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands.
1337, anchored in berth 522.
1600, moored starboard side of USS BEAGLE (AO-112), berth 379, for fueling.
February 7, 1945
0550, made preparations for getting underway.
0620, underway pursuant orders ComTaskGroup 96.3 out anchorage area for assigned antisubmarine patrol duty.
1349, Transport Group commenced forming disposition 3AL2 on base course 105 degrees T.
1719, proceeding to station 4030. On course 282 degrees T.
February 9, 1945
0046, changed course to 332 degrees T and P.G.C. by emergency turn movement due to underwater sound contact by USS VAN VALKENBURG.
0120, resumed base course of 282 degrees T and P.G.C.
February 11, 1945
0315, made radar land fall 305 degrees T, distance 45 miles.
0738, left convoy and proceeded to assigned screening station as ordered by ComDesron 63.
0810, arrived on assigned patrol station and commenced patrolling on courses 338 degrees T and 158 degrees T.
0838, sighted drifting whale boat, changed course to 070 degrees T to investigate.
0911, took whale boat in tow; proceeding into Siapan Harbor to deliver to Port director as ordered by CDs 63. Returned to patrol area.
1647, ceased patrolling area 21 and proceeded to report to ComMinRon 1 as ordered by ComDesRon 63. 2111, anchored port side to USS WABASH (AOG-4) for fueling, Tinian Harbor.
February 13, 1945
1431, underway pursuant CTU52.3.18 movement orders CominPac 1-45 of 10 February 1945, proceeding out of Tinian Harbor on various courses at various speeds to cover sortie of Task Unit 52.3.18. 1615, took position #7 of outer antisubmarine screen, Minecraft Cruising Disposition MD-1, screening Task Unit 52.3.18; OTC in USS TERROR (CM-5); Screen Commander in USS HOPKINS (DMS-13). Base course 271 degrees T.
[Roy's Note - The USS TERROR has a home page at http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Thinktank/8093/USS_Terror/USSTerrorHomePage.htm ]
February 16, 1945
Task Unit 52.3.18 en route to Iwo Jima.
0509, Sweep Unit FOUR detached to stream gear and proceed to objective.
0530, arrived off the coast of Iwo Jima.
0745, Commenced sweeping in assigned area "5" on courses 060 degrees T and 240 degrees T. This task unit is named 52.3.5, and is composed of the USS Champion (AM-314), USS DEVASTATOR (AM-318), USS Ardent (AM-340) and the USS Defense. Task Unit Commander is in the USS CHAMPION.
1040, commenced firing at targets of opportunity on beach.
1050, ceased firing.
1328, port sweep wire parted - veered out of formation into swept waters and commenced recovery of wire.
1431, recovered lost port-side gear by sweeping with starboard gear and lying to in order to join sweep unit four upon completion of sweep.
1750, proceeded with USS Champion to form screen on USS Estes (the amphibious force flagship for Task Force 52 and the control center for the pre-invasion bombardment. Rear Admiral W. H. P. Blandy, Commander, Amphibious Group One was aboard this vessel)
February 17, 1945
0736, detached from screening duties and proceeded to sweeping area.
1050, commenced sweeping area "8" on courses 325 degrees T and 145 degrees T.
1128, commenced firing at beach.
1425, ceased firing at beach.
1640, relieved of sweeping duties by C.T.G. 52.3.
1717, completed recover of minesweeping gear and proceeded to report to C.T.U. 52.3.18 on USS TERROR (CM-5) for duty in connection with towing damaged L.C.I. 441.
2027, passed line to L.C.I. 441. Proceeding on course 000 degrees T at 3.5 knots on all engines.
[NOTE from official US Navy History: Fire support vessels and carrier-based aircraft commence 3-day pre-landing bombardment and bombing of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands.]
February 18, 1945
Underway pursuant to ComPhibsPac Operation Order A25-44 and as ordered by CTG 52.3 with USS LCI441 in tow on course 090 degrees T.
1055, Made sonar contact 155 degrees T, range 1500 yards; maintained contact on various courses and speeds until arrival of USS STRENGTH (AM-309) who delivered 3 subsequent attacks and assessed contact as doubtful.
2120, arrived at Point Crime, assigned rendezvous point.
February 19, 1945
1112, cast off tow, which was taken in tow by the USS ARS-9.
1210, changed course to 120 degrees T to report to CTG 51.2 for duty.
2245, underway pursuant CTF 51 secret dispatch 190440 enroute Siapan, screening Task Unit 51.16.1 (amphibious ships and damaged ships in tow) on base course 211 degrees T.
[NOTE from official US Navy History: Marines land on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, supported by intensive naval gunfire and air attack. The operation is under the overall command of Adm. R. A. Spruance, Commander Fifth Fleet. Vice Adm. R. K. Turner is the Joint Expeditionary Force Commander and Lt. Gen. H. M. Smith, USMC, commands the Expeditionary Troops. Naval gunfire and air bombing continue to support the troops ashore during this difficult campaign.]
February 20, 1945
Underway pursuant CTF 51 secret dispatch 190440 enroute Siapan, Mariannas Islands, screening task unit 51.16.1 on base course 211 degrees T. OTC in LCI(G) 627, Screen Commander in USS ARDENT (AM-340). Patrolling on station on port flank of convoy. Base speed 4 knots.
February 24, 1945
0605, sighted Siapan Island bearing 110 degrees T, distance about 30 miles.
1049, passed through anti-torpedo net, Siapan Harbor.
1105, anchored in berth L-28, Siapan Harbor.
[NOTE — a violent storm strikes the Iwo Jima area and damages several vessels]
February 25, 1945
0938, moored port side to USS WABASH (AOG-4) for fueling, Siapan Harbor.
1600, Took aboard 12 members of Company "C", Fourth Tank Battalion, Fourth Marine Division from USS LSM-126 for transport to Iwo Jima pursuant to orders from Port Director, Siapan. The USS DEVASTATOR (AM-318) is transporting the other 11 men. Platoon Sergeant Andrew Apone is in charge of these men.
The other men are: Robert Barhan, ACk; Joseph Bruggeman, Sgt.; Petro Kalimos, Corp.; Louis Kohler, Corp.; Charles McGowan, Corp.; Robert Murray, Pvt.; Uberto Nunez, Pfc.; Earle Palmer, Pfc.; Orville Pfannkuch, Sgt.; Benjamin Staffer, Cpl.; Lyle Stanley, Corp.
1755, Landing barge came alongside and delivered approximately 246 sacks of US Mail for delivery to Fleet Post Office, Iwo Jima.
February 26, 1945
1737, Underway pursuant to Port Director, Siapan, orders dated 25 February, 1945, in company with the USS ARDENT (AM-340) and the USS DEVASTATOR (AM-318), with the OTC in the USS ARDENT.
1805, departed Siapan with Siapan harbor entrance control post bearing 097 degrees T, 5.5 miles distant. Base speed 13 knots.
[Roy’s note: Headed back to Iwo Jima]
February 28, 1945
Underway pursuant to Port Director, Siapan, orders dated 25 February, 1945, proceeding in company with USS ARDENT (AM-340) and USS DEVASTATOR (AM-318) on base course 345 degrees T, speed 10.5 knots.