G.Q. most of the morning. – We were on picket duty this morning, and when it got light, we went along side of the Black to give her some mail. – We had two lines over from us to her, when we spotted a Jap plane heading for us. – [We were out of sight of the main force.-] The plane was a Nell, - a large two motored twin tailed bomber. – The captain gave full left rudder, and the Black went sharply to the right. – I saw a large bomb leave the plane, and grabbed the nearest helmet. – It [the bomb] landed about 25 yards from us, on our starboard side. – Had we not turned so quickly, we would have been hit directly on the bridge, [where I was] or at No. I stack, - just aft of the bridge. – The gun crews were helping with the lines to the Black, and so by the time they were back in the guns, the plane was way off. – However, we got two shots [5 inch] near him. – We tracked him by radar, and he headed back towards us. – [The Black was not near us now] – The plane came in high, again, and No. I + II 5 inch fired at him. – He was hit by the 5^th or 6^th shot, and burst into flames in his port motor. – He dropped his bombs, and we went sharply to the left. They exploded just off of our starboard bow. – The fire spread to his left wing, and along the fuselage. – He rolled over to his left and tried to dive into us. – He almost did, but our AA guns racked him with a murderous fire, and probably killed the pilot. – He dove into the sea very close, at about 300 M.P.H. There was a terrific explosion, and fire and wreckage on the water. – As he dove into the sea, the Rising Sun, - one on each wing caught my eye. They were very prominent. – The plane [a "Nell"] carries seven men, a bomb load [or torpedo's] and has 5 7.7MM guns, plus a 20MM in the nose. – We all embraced each other, and had a lot of fun telling each other what we had noticed. – It was a narrow escape, and the Jap was a pretty good bomadier. –

Now we have officially 3 twin engine bombers, and 3 fighter bombers to our credit. It was a good day. – The invasion of this island here is scheduled for the first of next month, - I believe. – Hear Tokio Rose today. – She is still lying as much as ever. –

March . – 28 –

Fueled this morning. – Passed mail, - picked up a pilot who had his jaw broken in 3 places, and four downed fliers from other cans. – We delivered them to their respective carriers. – Kept buisy. – At night the "old man" passed the word over the speakers that we had just gotten word that we, T.F. #58, were going up north a bit and hunt up the Jap fleet. –

Task Force #58 is made up into three groups. –

March. – 29 –

On picket duty about 90 miles from Japan. – G.Q. most all day. – several planes have come in. – "We" got them, but perhaps not one. – He flew in, dove on a carrier loosed his bomb, and left in a hurry. – I don't know how he got through the flak, it was terrific. – The guy made a near miss on the carrier. –

March – 30 –

On picket duty, again. – The carrier planes made a strike at Kyushu. – The Jap fleet was spotted near Koushu, but went north, rather than fight. – No doubt, they won't really come out until they have a decided advantage, - one way or another. – Headed south-east at about noon, - to fuel. – The landing on Okinawa are to take place the first.

March 31

On picket duty. – Nothing unusual happened.

April – 1 –

Got mail today, - refueled from tanker very rough.– Took long time to get fuel hose over. –

April – 2 –

Still on picket. – Heard Japs claim that they have sunk or damaged 46 of task force 58. – What a laugh. –

April – 3 –

Invasion of Okinawa going O.K. – Still on picket duty. –

April – 4. –

On picket duty. – Went to G.Q. – Got attacked by a Jap dive bomber. – We were 3 "cans" in column. – "He" caught us by surprise. – Dropped his bomb and ran. – Got clean away, too. –

April - 5 –

Fueled this morning. – Got mail. – Got letters from Dad, Mim, and Carroll. – Carroll is an instructor now, - and is not comming out here. – Ferried planes belly tanks from a "ferry carrier," bringing replacements out to these. Also pilots, freight, and enlisted airmen. –

April – 6 –

Stayed with force since we were not finished delivering stuff. – Under a furious air attack today. – Jap suicide dived on a carrier, - he missed. – We got a near bomb hit. – We hit several planes. – Really knocked one down by ourselves. – A battlewagon claimed it, too. – The Essex, (Admiral Mitcher, commanding T.F. 58 aboard) is deciding who shall get credit. – We rate with the Essex, but after all, the battlewagon has an admiral on board and we have only a Leiut.-Commander. –

T.F. #58 bagged about 500 planes today. – Pretty good. – Naturally, most of the credit goes to the fighter pilots, but teamwork is what really does it. –

April 6, 1945 was a good day. – Oh yes, - we were ordered to get our torpedos ready. – May have to use them. – I hope not though. – We'd only use them in making a run on a Jap warship, of large size. – That is almost suicide. –

April 7 –

On picket duty again – [we join main group each night]

Headed north. – Our airmen found part of the Jap fleet. – Sunk their largest and best battlewagon, two light cruisers, three cans, and left two in flames. – Many Jap planes came after us, but our CAP got them. –

April – 8 –

Picket duty again. – G.Q. all day. – No planes came in. – Guess the Japs are getting disgusted. – [We] are going south to fuel tomorrow. – Also expect to provision. – We are very low on food. –

April – 9 –

Provisioned today and took on fuel. – Also, - got mail. - I didn't get any, – but we didn't get much. –

April – 10 –

Back up north, on picket as usual. –

April –11-

G.Q. most all day. – The CAP got all Jap planes. –

April – 12 –

G.Q. – all day. – Several Jap planes tried to suicide dive the division of us [4 cans] while we were on picket duty. – They just barely missed. – We were in the formation –

One Jap came in fast over the Black and strafed them, before they could get him. He then got between the Kidd and the Black, so that neither one could fire at him without hitting the other ship. – He dove right into the Kidd, and hit just aft of the bridge. There was an awful explosion, and the smoke and steam, and flames leaped high in the air. – She blew her out of control siren, and it sounded tragic, as well as looking so. –

We other three circled her, and gradually she got the fire out. – The plane went into the starboard side of the ship and left quite a hole, but oddly enough the port side was much worse off. – The explosion, ruined the forward fire room, tore off the port side of the signal bridge, smashed the boat on the port side, blew one man over board, hurt or wounded about two dozen, and killed 60 men. The doctor was seriously wounded, as also was the captain. – We knew those boys quite well. – Such is war. – I have acquired a hatred for the Japs now – after that affair. –

April – 13 –

G.Q. all day. – Few Jap planes around dropping flares at night. – Headed south to fuel. – Heard that our president has died. – It is sad news, and especially bad at this time. – He had so much planned. – I heard a Jap program talk about him. – They said that he was a great man. – This surprised me. – Of course they pointed out his faults, and said that it would be a serious loss to the Allies. – It will, of course. –

April – 14 –

Fueled today, and will go north tonight. –

April – 15 –

Had small air attack. –

April – 16 –

Had quite an air attack. - A Jap plane tried to suicideon us. – He didn't miss by much. – Our AA fire was so heavy, that he pulled away from us, and headed for the Black, who was in front of us. – We had him burning before they (the Black) even began to fire. He turned and twisted and tried to hit her, but missed. – He landed only 10 yds. – off her port bow. – The Bullard who was astern of us had a plane dive on her. – We set his starboard wing afire, and he crashed and missed her stern by only 2 yards, - they reported. – Both planes looked as though they would make good hits. – Luckily they missed. – They both can thank us for saving them, or at least helping an awful lot. –

April – 17 –

Another "heavy" air attack today. – Perhaps heavy isn't so much the correct word, as is ferocious, - or persistent. – I was indeed both. –

One plane dove down, passed over us, and let his bomb go at the ship next to us. – It missed. – He pulled out of his dive. We were supprised that he didn't crash on the ship. Usually they do. – He went out and started in for his strafing and suicide run, but one of our fighter planes got him. – When he went out, another Jap came in and dropped a bomb astern of us. – He dropped it at us, but he missed. –

Next, a Jap twin engined torpedo-bomber, dove on a ship (one of us pickets) about 3,000 yds. on our starboard side. – We thought sure that it was a suicide and stopped firing when the plan was almost on the ship. – However, he pulled out just in time, and headed for the can in front of the one he dove on. – He was directly between the two cans, then very low on the water. – He strafed the leading can. – Neither of the two cans could fire at the Jap without hitting each other. – We saved the day, by hitting the Jap with 40's, 20's + 5". He hit the water very near the leading can, and exploded. – It was plainly a suiciderun. – (His first and only, - naturally, - and he failed) The can that was strafed lost 4 killed, and 10 wounded. – Our shells burst quite close, but did not hit any one, apparently. – It was filthy with shrapnel there, though. – I thinkit's save to say that we saved them, too. –

The next plane came across the other cans, (I'm jumpy some one just opened a door behind me!) dropped his bomb, came around our bow, and started to suicide on us. – Our AA was so intense that he pulled out of his dive, at us, and went along our side. We knocked his tail off, when he was by the fantail, and he crashed into the ocean. – I was standing on the port side of the bridge, and he was diving right at the bridge. – Everyone was really scared! I was so scared, my legs shook, and my hand wouldn't stop shaking for long time. I was weak, after we shot him down. – It was not the first time we have had close calls, but that time, I was sure my time to go had come. – Every one else was sure that we would be crashed on. – If he had not pulled out of his dive, he couldn't have missed us. – Why he did, we cannot understand. Perhaps it was the natural urge to save his skin, if possible. ThankGod he did, though!

We were supposed to go back to Ulithi or some place for a rest, but so many cans have been hit or sunk, that we can't be spared. – How long we'll last, I don't know. – They (the Japs) can't miss all of the time. – We have been eating our emergency rations for two days now. – No more chow in a couple of days. –

A high flying Jap observation plane was shot down. – The pilot bailed out, and floated near us, on his rubber life raft. The Bullard stopped to pick him up. – When they came along side, he pulled out a pistol, and they had to shoot him. They killed him, and on his body, they found a diary, and six maps. He was about 23 yrs. old, and unhurt before they shot him.

April – 18 –29

The air action has let up. – Probably due to B-29 raids on Jap airfield on Kyushu. Then too, they are using a lot of their planes to hit Okinawa. –

We are still shy on food. – We get some every few days from the carriers and battlewagons. Have had no meat for four days, now. – Eat lots of canned salmon, dehydrated spuds, spagheti, and pan-cakes. – We still get attacked by Jap planes but most of the time our fighters take care of them. –

April – 30 –

Left T.F. 58.3 + joined T.F. 58.4 this morning. The two groups are near each other. – The reason for the change, is that T.F. 58.4 has lost so many cans, either sunk or damaged, that they are quite short of them; - so four of us came to join the force. –

We fueled from the Shangrila, and she gave us some fresh provisions, including oranges + lettuce. They alo had their band play for us. –

We are now out by ourselves, in between the two forces, acting as a relay for messages. – It can be a dangerous spot. – Well, we'll see. –

April 31 –

Rejoined T.F. 58.3 fueled – No mail

Got stores

May 1 – 7^th –

Still out here. – Got mail yesterday. – Letters from Mom, Mim, + Kris. –

They say that Carroll is coming out here again. – Haven't heard from him lately. –

Germany has surrendered, except for small pockets –

Our president Roosevelt is dead. – Quite a blow to the country, - and world. –

San Francisco Conference seems to be an awful muddle. – That is very bad!!

Russia broke her non-aggression pact with Japan. – I think that she will fight Japan + that the Navy will use Russian bases. – The situation of the war seems good. – The chances for an enduring peace seem slight, - to me. - I pray to God that I am wrong.

Am weary of this mess. – Undecided as to the future. – Disgusted with Navy life. – Guess we've been at sea too long everyone seems the same way. – Still don't know when we'll go into port. –

May – 8 –

Feel better today. – Still not doing much but hanging around.

May – 9 –

Sent our planes, as usual, over Okinawa. – Saw a B-29 comming back from Japan. –

May – 10 –

Fueled from tankers. Transfered 3 men to the States for school. – 1 to the U.S.S. Washington because he was sick, + needed xray's taken. –

Got mail today. – One letter from Bernice, + an application from the I.C.S. Spent the whole day delivering mail and freight to the battleships + cruisers. – Some of these ships sent over ice cream. – I had all that I could eat. –

May – 11 –

On picket duty. – Seven destroyers. – Everything was calm until the G.Q. alarm sounded. I went up on the bridge, and was only there about a minute when our C.A.P. shot down a very high flying Jap dive bomber. He spun around in his dive, caught fire, and his tail fell off, + then his wings. – He hit fairly close to us. – Another one was then shot down in the same spot, and then a Jap tried a "suicide" on the can astern of us. – He just missed her. It all happened in a couple of minutes. – I didn't even have time to get excited. Our C.A.P. then got two more Japs away from us, about 8 miles. –

May – 12 –

Stayed with the force and refueled, and headed north for Kyushu. –

May – 13 –

Hung around Kyushu all day with the force. – No enemy action to speak of. –

May – 14 –

Still close to Kyushu. – We were on picket duty, and did not get attacked. – The main force did. – The Bunker Hill got two suicide plane in her port side. – The Enterprise got one. – They were O.K. though. – Headed south at night to get to our fueling spot. –

May – 15 –

Fueled today. – Got little mail. –

May – 16 –

Topped off from tankers, and headed northward towards Okinawa. –

May – 17 –

Off of Okinawa. – No enemy action. –

May – 18 –

Still off of Okinawa, and still no enemy air action. – I'm not sorry. – I got some good rest yesterday, and today. –

We are heading south to fuel, - tomorrow. –

Suspect we will go to Leyte, in the Philippines about the first of next month, for repairs and a rest. – I hope so. –

May – 19 –

Fueled today, and got quite a bit of our mail. – I got five letters.

Headed north at night. –

May – 20 –

On picket today. – This morning a plane showing no I.F.F. on our radar came in towards us pickets. – We saw him, and he was heading right at us. – The Black fired first, just as the plane turned, and we saw that it was one of our Hell Cats. – Of course we did not fire then, and the Black stopped. The pilot radioed down that his plane had been hit. – It was not bad though. – He got to his carrier alright. – That pilot will learn to keep his I.F.F. radar on!

May – 21 –

On picket duty today. Nothing unusual occured. –

May – 22 –

With the force all day. – At sunset went on picket duty, so as to scout for our tankers. – We are heading south to fuel. –

May – 23 –

Fueled today and delivered mail, and pilots. – I slept all day, because I was up almost the whole night getting the mail ready to go out. – Headed nort at night.

May – 24 –

Stayed with the force all day. –

We picked up a dead Jap in the water. – We did this to see if he had any information on him that maybe useful to us. He had been in the water from 8 hrs to a day. – He was a pilot. – Probably a fighter pilot. – About 20 or 22 yrs old. He was a superior petty officer in the Jap navy. – (like our C.P.O.)

He had the following articles on his person:

1 crusafix!

345 Yen. [money] $125 our money

Scarf around neck, made from Jap flag. –

Cheap sunglasses

Stainless steel pocket knife. [made in U.S.A.]

Little cloth doll

Matches

Womens hand kerchief

Belt with Jap navy ensignia

Two rating badges. –

Papers – pictures

Little fancy bag. –

Mirror

Good luck belt [like our money belts]

Small tin of cold salve. –

Two profilaxis. –

He had two small wounds which he had bandaged. – He wore very good flight clothing, and had oxygen mask, and parachute. – He was not a suicide pilot. – We wrapped him in canvas, weighted it down, and dumped him back in the sea. –

May – 25 –

Routine operations off of Okinawa. – It was rainy and foggy today. – Jap search planes were all around us. – One Jap was 11 miles away. He radioed to base "Am low on gas but will continue to search for the enemy until I am out of gas."

May – 26 –

On picket. – Too bad weather for planes to be up, so we rejoined force. – Headed south for fueling area. –

May – 27 –

Fueled today, and in stead of heading for Leyte, as we expected to do, we headed north as usual. – Very disgusting. – It seems that the Japs were landing planes with troops on them on our airfields at Okinawa, and trying to destroy our planes there. – Guess we have to do some more bombing of Jap airfields. –

May – 28 –

Up north on picket duty. – Calm day, only a few far off Jap planes.

May – 29 –

Headed for Leyte. – We are now in Task Force 38.3 [Third Fleet]

May – 31 –

Still going to Leyte. –

June – 1 –

Entered Leyte. – It is good to be anchored. – We are alongside of a tender. – Movies every night.

June - 2 –

Made mail trip. – It is very hot here.

June – 3 –

Same as yesterday. –

June – 4 –

Am going to the hospital on the tender, to get my piles removed.

June 5 – 12

Went to tender and had my piles removed. – The operation was very pain-ful, but I got well soon. – Little trouble with "the end" yet. –

June 13 –

Had liberty today. Not very good. – Very few men allowed to go each time. – Takes a long time for your turn. –

June 14 – 15 – 16

Went out for firing practice. –

June – 17 –

In port – Movies on fantail. –

June 18 – 19 – 20 – 21

Firing practice and manuuvers. – 3 cans one carrier. – Carrier practiced landing planes. – New pilots I guess. –

June 22

In port movies and ammunition tonight. –

June 22 – 30

In port, readying for sea. – Ship looks pretty good. –

July 1, 1945

Left Leyte this morning, with 5 carriers, 4 battlewagons, 4 cruisers and about 20 cans. – Heading northeast all day. – We are going to Japan, Honshu Island, on which Tokio is. Then I don't know what. We are ready for cold weather. – maybe the Kuriles.

This should be another tough time. Hope everything goes well.

Firing practice today, and tonight. We did OK. –

July 2, 1945

Firing practice, Morning and in the afternoon. – Task force is split up into groups, - each group holding its one exercises. –

July 3, 1945

Firing practice this afternoon. – Manuuvers by our destroyer squadron, at sun down. –

Task force united into one group again. – We fueled from a battlewagon this morning. –

July 4

Firing again today. – Learned that we are going to Hokaido, north of Honshu , to bombard ferry installations that handle 16 percent of Jap traffic to Honshu, including train cars. –

July – 5 –

Still going north. Issued cold weather clothing to those that didn't have any. – I have one fur jacket, one cloth jacket, and a pair of heavy padded pants. – I also have a new Capox life jacket. –

July 6 + 7

Still enroute. –

July 8

Fueled from Tankers. –

July 9

Headed for Tokyo. –

July – 10 –

Off Tokyo. Our planes bombe and strafed them. – Japs refused to come out or up and fight. – We lost seven planes due to AA fire. – Four plane crews were picked up in Tokyo Bay by sea planes from our cruisers. – "We have hopes for two more crews." –

July 11

Went out and all cans fueled from ‘wagons. – Passed many floating mines all day + night. – Many Jap subs in this area. – Chased several contacts. – The force did.

July 12

Are pretty far north. It is quite cold. – Fueled from our tankers. – They met us this morning. –

July – 13 –

Rough, cold, and foggy. – Fueled from carrier. – Am 21 yrs. today. –

July – 14 –

Bombarded steel mills in Takashi, on northern Honshu. [Wagons did. – Us and other destroyers sank 3 small tankers. –

July 15 – 18

Cruising around. – Air strikes at Tokyo, and other bombardments by other groups. – A British task force is near us. –

July 18 – 22

Went south, fueled, provisioned, and got mail + ammunition; and headed north again. –

July 23, 24, 25

Traveled to Japan sent carrier plane strikes at it, and headed south again.

July – 26 –

Fueled, provisioned, and headed north to Japan again, - at slow speed with tankers with us. –

July 27

Topped off this morning. – Took an admiral to another task group, I saw Admiral Halsey. He is top commander of 3^rd Fleet, + British units working with us. –

July – 28 –

Went to bombard beach, but typhoon heading our way, so we went south to miss it. –

July 29

Fueled from wagon, and went in to shell the beach at night. 3 U.S. battleships, 4 cruisers (heavy) and about 12 destroyers. – 1 limey wagon 3 limey cans. –

July 30 –

Going south. –

July – 31 –

Fueled from tankers.

Aug 1 + 2

Strikes postphoned had firing practice.

Aug 3 + 4

Heading north. – Strike day tomorrow. –

Aug – 5 – 8

Weather will not allow air strikes. – Just hanging around Japan. – Waiting - - -

Aug 9

Air strike at Kamaishi, also we bombarded the steel works, and bridges there again. – Russia declared war on the Japs!! – Atomic bomb destroyed two Jap cities. – ONE BOMB EACH PLACE!! Air attack against us. –

Aug 10. –

Here the Japs want to surrender, but want their emperor too!

Aug – 11 –

Things coming to a head fast. – "We" have not excepted their terms yet. – I think we will except only unconditional surrender. – Should know later on tonight. – Fueled today. – Air strike scheduled for tomorrow. – Wonder if we will go ahead and do it. – In any event, Japan won't last much longer. – That is good. – I'm sure sick and tired of this life. – Perhaps in 6 or 8 months I can get out. –

Aug. 12 – 45

No news on "Jap surrender offer"

Aug. 13 – 45

Still no news fuel tomorrow, shot down 18 Jap planes near our force. – War goes on!

Aug. – 14 – 45

Fueled today. – Intercepted Jap program saying that they accept the Allies surrender terms. – No official word from Wash. – yet. – Maybe by tomorrow. – We are ready to go into Tokyo Bay, and are staying in these waters waiting for the word to go their and except the surrender. –

August 15, 1945

A. Japan surrendered

B. – We went to G.Q.- Carrier planes shot down 18 Jap planes. – [p.s. war is over [!?]

C. – Still off of Tokyo a couple of hundred miles. –

4. Flew our battle ensign. –

Aug – 16 – 45

Waiting for orders to sail into Tokyo Bay + occupy it. – Point system for discharge came out today. – I have 26 point out of 44 needed. – By this plan, I will have to stay in for 3 more years. – I am not worried. – It is only a temporary plan; - but I will be in from 6 mos. to a year longer. –

Aug – 17

Still waiting – Japs stalling on signing peace

Aug 18 –

Picket duty still waiting for orders. –

Aug –19 –

Same stuff. –

Aug 25

Black and us are nothern most "bird dogs." – "Cans" in pairs are lined up from Japan to Okinawa, or some place south, to guard our transport planes taking invasion troops to Japan. –

We hit a typhoon today!! Came close to losing both ships. – The waves were monstrous, and the wind was terrific. – I was on bridge, and looking out of the pilot house, dead ahead, I had to look up to see the waves comming at us. – We were pounded so that we thought the ship would break in-two. –

Aug 26

Our metal siding on the starboard side is wrecked, and part of it is gone. One 20MM gun was bent out of shape. – One shield on a 40MM gun is leveled with the deck. – Number one 5" (on for'asle), has about 3/8" armor plate. – It was pushed in and broken! – The forward part of our super structure is all stoved in. – Two large wooden life rafts washed away. – Most all metal boxes welded to the deck are gone. Most everything topside is gone, welded stuff too. – Two of our depth charges are gone. – We are pretty well banged up, but, - O.K. We can go all right. Our guns are fouled up. –

Our doc went over to the Black, (in a bag on a line) to take out a kids appendicts)

Aug 27. –

The kid on the Black is O.K. – Our doc did a good job. – It was pretty rough weather, - too!!

Aug 28

Returned to our T.G. – Were ordered to leave for Okinawa. – Due their tomorrow, - about noon. – The Bullard [DD660] also joined us today with one other can and a CV. – Passed some limeys going opposite direction. – Carroll is on Okinawa. – I sure want to see him! Maybe I can get permission; - I don't know. – Supposed to join, or at least report to the Seventh Fleet commander. – Probably convoy duty to China, Japan, and ect. – We'll see. –

Aug 30 – 31

In port. – Could not get to beach. –

We are going right out again! – "No rest for the weary." –

Sept 1, 1945

Left port. – Going over by China, and patrol. – Two CV's one CVL and five cans. –

Sept. – 2

Shallow water here 15 to 20 fathoms. – Nice weather. – Passed 3 Chinese "junks" this evening. –

Sept. – 3 – 10

Off of China, Manchuria and Korea. – Landings on Korea. – Very dull. – Lots of ships work to be done. –