batteries from, 140
bombardments by, 87–88
building in Bath, Maine, 15
in Cactus Striking Force, 94
Christmas celebrated on, 193
in column formation, 41–42, 45–47, 51, 145
crew of, 15, 16, 73, 91, 96
as cruiser support, 103
damages to, 161
desperate situation for, 24
on Desron 21 roster, 116
dive bombers charging, 131
division of, 117
dropping depth charges, 132–133
embarking for Pacific, 19–20
as escort, 34–37, 74, 76, 83, 86, 89–91, 99
exercises on, 20
at first attack site, 18
in Guadalcanal naval slugfest, 52–57
gunners of, 44, 52, 97
Halsey on, 5–6
heading home, 231
heroes of, 241
hunting submarines, 42–43
illumination of, 50
inexperience of, 40
in Kula Gulf confrontations, 138–139
on leave, 168
as legend, 170
as lucky ship, 190
MacDonald as commander, 94, 99–100
MacDonald as executive officer, 12
MacDonald on maneuverability, 14
meeting enemy, 38
as model, 134
Nashville crashed into, 191
new command, 94
at Okinawa, 212
on patrol, 82
preparing for service, 14–15
Presidential Unit Citation awarded to, 160, 172, 231
rescue attempt by, 88
on rest and recuperation trip, 82
as scourge of Japanese fleet, 168–172
supply runs by, 77
as target, 43
Time magazine on, 135
in Tokyo Bay, 230–231
Tokyo Express tangled with, 95
torpedo launch by, 51, 157
tossed into action, 25
total miles traveled by, 238
training on, 17
transfers off, 125–126
U-boats hunted by, 23
as vital to success, 108
at war’s end, 223, 226, 229
Ohmae, Toshikazu, 68
Okinawa
Desron 21 at, 213
Howorth at, 212, 215–218
kamikaze attacks at, 212–221
Raines, O., on, 215
O’Neill, Jack, 236–237
Ontani, Inaho, 228
Operation Watchtower, 23
Pacific Fleet, 19, 91
paratroopers, 203–204
Patch, Alexander M., 97
Patton, George S., 9
Pearl Harbor attack, 11–12, 15
as hit-and-run disaster, 33
Japanese carriers and escorts in, 39
losses, 24
Navy hit hard at, 31–32
Yamamoto planning, 102
Pensacola, 79
Peterson, George, 142
Peterson, Vernon A., 153
Pfeifer, Carl F., 142
on abandoning ship, 56
Black Gang and, 44, 52
on hope and work, 53
on playing for keeps, 43
Silver Star awarded to, 66
on Solomon Islands, 74
on tension, 139–140
Philip, George, Jr., 51, 54, 101, 171
Philippine landings
armada in, 190, 193
Baldwin on, 190
Corregidor assault as, 195–198, 202–203
Desron 21 in, 184, 188–189
as horrible experience, 198–205
kamikaze attacks in, 187–188, 191–192, 194
MacArthur and, 184, 188
miraculous survival in, 188–195
overview, 184–190
Phillips, H. I., 170–172
Phoenix, 222
Pitts, Melvin E., 171
Portland, 37, 41, 45
Powers, Frederick D. (“Pinky”), 8
POWs, 233–234
Presidential Unit Citation, 148, 160, 172, 231
Pridmore, James A., 227, 229, 231
PT boats, 114, 151–152, 184
Pullman, James, Jr., 194
Purdy, Frederick W., 141–143
radar
Chesnutt on, 58
Cole and, 238
of Fletcher, 79
night bombardment with, 87–89
SG, 41–42, 88
Wylie and, 87–88, 238
Radford, USS (DD-446), 90, 114, 129
in bombardments, 130
in Cactus Striking Force, 94
in column formation, 145
damages to, 202, 238
division of, 117
as escort, 99
explosion on, 199–200
fire support from, 177
at Gilbert Islands landing, 167
gunners of, 101
at home, 234
in Marshall Islands assault, 174
minesweepers screened by, 198
Presidential Unit Citation awarded to, 148, 160, 172
Radio Tokyo, 68
Raines, Orvill, 205
background, 206
Bramble on, 220
death of, 218–221
duties of, 217
goodnight kiss of, 206–207
kamikaze attacks encountered by, 208–209
memory of, 236
on Okinawa, 215
Raines, Ray Ellen, 206–209, 211–212, 215, 219–220, 236
Ralph Talbot, 144
Ransom, Dow H., Jr. (“Doc”)
background of, 165
on bombardments, 194
Bronze Star awarded to, 200
civilian career of, 235
on departure, 173
on dive bombers, 177
duties, 166
on Filipinos, 186
first aid training by, 178–179
homecoming of, 205
on horseplay, 174
humor of, 167, 178
on kamikaze attack, 189
on loss of patient, 173
on MacArthur, 175
on medical materials, 176
on New Guinea operations, 181
on news of leave, 168
on routine days, 183
on sinkings, 186
Thompson, W., on, 182
on transports, 184
wounded treated by, 200–202
Real Life Comics, 170
red tracers, 111, 131, 211
Redman, Robert H., 199
Regan, Donald A., 141–143
rescues
Ainsworth ordering, 147
Chesnutt on, 80
by Chevalier, 144
Dunkirk, 10
by Fletcher, 79–80, 197, 239–240
by Hopewell, 197
MacDonald on, 86, 146–147
by Nicholas, 226
O’Bannon attempting, 88
by Romoser, 146
by Taylor, 147
Rhyne, Willy, 54, 56
reunions attended by, 240–241
on Slot struggle, 122
Rivers, Rudolph, 120
Robards, Jason, Jr., 80
Rodrigos, Maurice, 143–144
Romoser, William K., 90, 129
minelaying missions of, 130
Navy Cross awarded to, 148
rescue mission by, 146
Roosevelt, Franklin D.
awarding four stars, 69
death of, 219
MacDonald as aide to, 9
optimism of, 84–85
professional killers of, 133–135
Ross, USS (DD-563), 185
Roth, Eli, 105
Roupe, R. H., 91, 103, 104
on comradeship, 134
on overwhelming odds, 157
Rowan, John J., 97, 108, 111–113
Ryan, Thomas P., 156
Salinas, USS (AO-19), 8–9
Samu
els, Lewis, 114
samurai, 37–39
San Francisco, 36, 41, 44, 45
as death chamber, 66
MacDonald on, 61–62
repairs needed on, 63
sinkings by, 57
Saufley, 140, 187
Scott, Norman, 40–41, 50
death of, 62
Vandegrift on, 69
Selfridge, 157
Setter, James F., 17–18, 46
Sexton, John T., 15
SG Radar. See Sugar George Radar
Shigure, 119–120, 156–157
Silver Star, 66, 148
sinkings
of Barton, 60
of Chevalier, 158, 238
of Chicago, 106
of De Haven, 111, 238
of Helena, 145–146
of Hiei, 57
of Northampton, 80, 239
Ransom on, 186
by San Francisco, 57
of Strong, 142–145, 238, 241
Sleepless Lagoon, 95, 96, 98
Slot
bombardments in, 84
destroyers in, 93
escorts in, 84
as hellhole, 123
patrols, 157
pursuits up, 114
risky waters of, 65
rushing down in, 76, 95
Slot, struggle for
air raids during, 129–133
death and destruction in, 127–129
destroyers as fightingest thing afloat in, 119–127
Hailey on, 123–124
MacDonald on, 120
overview, 116–118
Rhyne on, 122
Roosevelt’s professional killers in, 133–135
submarines in, 131
Time magazine on, 120
Smith, R. W., 181, 184
fishing trips arranged by, 192–193
Murray on, 207
Soete, G. W., 199
Solomon, Herbert, 112–113
Solomon Islands
advances up, 4
Baldwin on, 42
Desron 21 in, 158–159
diverting ships to, 33
foothold in, 21
Halsey focused on, 116
landings at, 3
Pfeifer on, 74
recapture plans for, 23
showdown in, 39–42
transports to, 26
victory in, 159
See also Guadalcanal; Guadalcanal, initiation at; Guadalcanal, naval slugfest at; Kula Gulf confrontations
Spruance, Raymond A., 212
St. Lo, USS (CVE-63), 187
St. Louis, 86, 99, 138–139, 140, 217
Stark, Harold R., 9
Starr, Douglas, 175, 179
on bombardment, 203
on food supply, 224
on hunger, 234
on Japan assault, 225
on prisoners, 233
on war record, 239
Sterett, USS (DD-407), 21, 45, 50, 51
blown out of water, 52
burying dead of, 63
crew of, 95
Strickland, D., 79
Strong, USS (DD-467), 90
dive bombers charging, 131
division of, 117
duels of, 136
in Kula Gulf confrontations, 138–139
on leave, 168
sinking of, 142–145, 238, 241
torpedo striking, 140–142
submarines
Desron 21 threatened by, 131–132
hunting for, 178
in Ironbottom Sound, 42
O’Bannon hunting, 42–43
in Slot struggle, 131
Wing on echoes, 132
See also U-boats
Sugar George Radar (SG Radar), 41–42, 88
Sullivan brothers, 63
supply runs, 77
surrender
Halsey on, 232
MacArthur at, 232
Nicholas at, 231–233
Taylor at, 231–233
Tachibana, Masao, 130
Takanami, 78–79
talk between ships (TBS), 19, 42, 50, 198, 216
Giffen using, 104
MacDonald using, 67, 140
Tanaka, Razio, 76–79, 81
Task Force 18, 103, 104
Task Force 67, 38, 86
Taylor, Robert L., 174
Taylor, USS (DD-468), 4, 90, 103, 123
aircraft repelled by, 186
cruise book of, 134
division of, 117
enemy captured by, 221–222
fire support from, 177
at Gilbert Islands landing, 167
in Japanese waters, 228
in Marshall Islands assault, 174
mines sunk by, 185
at Okinawa, 212
rescues by, 147
at surrender, 231–233
tangling with enemy, 102
in Tokyo Bay, 230–231
at war’s end, 223, 229
TBS. See talk between ships
Ten Go operation, 213, 216
Thomas, H. W., 79
Thompson, George, 227, 229
Thompson, Wells, 174, 189
alert to, 198
on kamikaze attacks, 192
mines evaded by, 194
natives reported by, 191
on Ransom, 182
Time magazine
on Desron 21, 135
on Halsey, 32, 68–69
on MacDonald, 172
on O’Bannon, 135
on Slot struggle, 120
tin-can navy, 102, 138, 148
Tojo, 107
Tokyo Bay
Halsey entering, 3, 230, 238
Nicholas in, 230–231
O’Bannon in, 230–231
retreat to, 108
Taylor in, 230–231
Tokyo Express, 6, 26
Ainsworth on, 85–89
in big leagues, 89–91
Chesnutt on, 82–85
Fletcher-class destroyers tangling with, 95
halting, 154
Hara, T., on, 76
interception of, 114
MacDonald on, 35, 82
Nimitz out to win war against, 77–82
O’Bannon tangling with, 95
overview, 73–77
searches for, 98
stopping, 169
Tokyo plains attack, 225–226
Tokyo Rose, 124, 134, 185
Tollberg, M. W., 105
Tolman, Charles E., 83, 102, 108–110
Torpedo Junction
christening of, 25
dangers in, 26
intensified efforts in, 28
voyages across, 34–35, 75, 77, 82, 133
torpedoes, 45
Amatsukaze launching, 59
Chevalier launching, 157
Chicago hit by, 104
Cole launching, 60, 79
depth performance errors of, 67
fired at Atlanta, 57
on Fletcher-class destroyers, 13
Hara, T., launching, 60–61, 156–157
Long Lance, 131–132, 137, 145, 155
Louisville hit by, 104
Norton-Taylor on, 132, 145
O’Bannon launching, 51, 157
oxygen propelled, 39
Strong struck by, 140–142
Wilkinson launching, 55
Wylie on, 60
Toyama, Yasumi, 76
Truman, Harry, 226, 235
Turner, James R., 152
Turner, Richmond K., 38, 40–41, 212
U-boats, 14, 103
Desron 21 seeking, 122
Fletcher and O’Bannon hunting, 23
Ugaki, Matome
on American Marines, 24
cohorts of, 37
on destroying enemy, 38
on scattered dreams, 82–83
on struggle at Guadalcanal, 28–29
United States Fleet, 3–4, 19
United States Naval Academy, 7–8
La Vallette, USS (DD-448), 90, 103
&nb
sp; Christmas celebrated on, 192
in column formation, 182
crew of, 126
damages to, 202, 238
division of, 117
explosion on, 198–199
as heading home, 204–205
heroes on, 105–106
kamikaze attack on, 189
on leave, 168, 172
library of, 181
in line of fire, 104–105
in Marshall Islands assault, 173–174
minesweepers screened by, 198
on patrols, 185
submarine hunting by, 178
tangling with enemy, 102
task force of, 186
towed to safety, 106–107
Vandegrift, Alexander A., 23
on battle, 54
depleted lines of, 51
forces of, 27, 64–65
help promised to, 33
on need for relief, 28
optimism of, 30–31
on Scott and Callaghan, 69
units of, 40
Vella Lavella, Battle of, 156–159
Vincennes, USS (CA-44), 108
Wainwright, J. W., 231
Waithman, Robert, 169
Wake Island, 23
Wake Island, USS, 216
Walker, E. G., 44
war’s end
Halsey on, 226–227
Missouri at, 228–229
Nicholas at, 223, 229
O’Bannon at, 223, 226, 229
Taylor at, 223, 229
Washing Machine Charlie, 98
Washington, 36
Wellings, Joseph H. (“Gus”), 90, 141–144
Werntz, Bobby, 7
West Virginia, USS (BB-48), 198
“What Comes Next in the South Pacific” (Norris), 85
Whisler, Robert, 43
on drills and watches, 35
on fatigue, 123
good luck charm of, 46, 55, 236
at Guadalcanal initiation, 34–37
at gun mount, 100
on Halsey, 227
on heading home, 231
on kamikaze attacks, 189
retirement of, 236
on Smith, 181
on tasks, 53
on youth, 40
White Plains, USS (CVE-66), 187
Wichita, 103
Wilkes, Jack, 105
Wilkinson, Edwin R., 14–15, 18
in command, 51
on crew, 66
departure of, 94
exercises conducted by, 20
navigation skills of, 43, 52, 56, 74–75
Navy Cross awarded to, 66
as pleased with men, 44
timing of, 27
torpedoes launched by, 55
Williams, Clem C., 100, 109–112
Wilson, George R., 157
Wing, Virgil N., 16
on drills, 21–22
on escorts, 25
on fortitude and bluster, 36–37
on submarine echoes, 132
Witten, Chuck, 103–107
Wolfert, Ira, 54–55
Worden, William L., 232
Wright, Carleton, 78–81
Wylie, Joseph C., 17, 33, 41–42
on bitterness, 75
in chart house, 62
Cole on, 66
as executive officer, 57–58
handbook compiled by, 89
on Hoover, 63
navigation skills of, 21
radar and, 87–88, 238
on shooting, 59
on torpedoes, 60
Yamamoto, Isoroku, 29, 37, 102
Yokota, Minoru, 62
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