Today was a very busy day. So much of our machinery is breaking down. All night long we pulled cylinders and etcetera. We just have a few days, even if it is all day and night.

By sun up, we were on our way into the anchorage. We refueled, and took on water. Done a few odd jobs, and anchored in all night. We had a movie (“The Lodger” [1944]). The campaign for [Okinawa] is closed now. Only 5,000 Japs remain in five groups controlling about nine square miles. 1,000 surrendered at one time—more than the total of the whole war with Japan. It should not be long now until the rest either surrender or are annihilated.

Quite a few mines were cut all day long. It was quite a heavily laid field. We are acting as demolition ship today, so got our share of the mines and firing. Jap planes were about most of the day. Having to wear our life jackets was very uncomfortable in the hot sun. Around sundown, our steering cable broke. ARS-22 towed us until we got it clamped together again. We are now heading back to anchorage.

About sundown, we started for [Sakishima] again. This time, PGM’s are taking the place of LCV’s. We will start sweeping early as possible in the morning.

We are ready for duty again. About 1500, five Jap planes came in low, unnoticed until they were right on us. Four of them each got a ship, and the fifth one crashed into the island. Late this evening, about two-dozen Jap snipers started firing on us from the beach. It didn’t take us long to quiet them down.

A typhoon has been reported. We are to head for coverage. A typhoon passed, and we are on our way to [Kerama Retto] for repairs, fuel, and water.

Dozens of mines were cut today, slowing us down to one sweep a day. So far we are one-day loosers[?]. Bogies were picked up off and on all day.

We really hit the jackpot today. Mines were popping up all day. Being so many cut today, and two AMs’ gear fowling up, we got one half day behind schedule. Summer is here—at least the heat is. It is between 110 and 120 degrees in the engine room all day. It is so hot you can hardly move. It may get hotter than 120, because that is as high as the thermometer goes, and it isn’t unusual to see it to the top. This is the first time in my life I ever could go out into the hot sun to cool off.

We refueled while underway from ARS-9. PGM-9 drew alongside and swapped us movies. Quite a few mines were cut today. Two more days ought to finish this field up. YMS-93 got her orders to go back to the States today. Our ship is the oldest ship in this operation, so maybe we will get a chance. I doubt it like Hell. We just aren’t that lucky. We have done so well on every assignment given us, I don’t think they want to give us up. Maybe we should have messed up a few times good and proper, then our chances would be greater.

Poker games have started again. Something to break the monotony. Bogies were close about during the day, but never bothered us. They finally broke into the minefield. Several mines were cut and destroyed today.

One mine was cut during the day. So far, there has been no air raids or casualties of any kind. We spot-patrolled today. Nothing unusual happened.

We reached our objective alright, and are off to an early start. Two AM’s lost their pigs, and we recovered them. They are so big, we have very little space left. Right after dinner, we started laying san buoys. We are quite alone now with all these subs and etcetera. Somehow, no one cares. We have seen as rugged a duty as you will ever see, and gotten through alright. So, why worry now. Now we are spotters. We race to a san buoy, and circle it until the convoy catches up. We race ahead to another one and etcetera. One sub was picked up 1,000 yards away. He finally dived away, so was forgotten about. This evening, as the preceding evenings, we will leave the mined area and patrol in formation, throughout the night, resuming our work early the next morning. So far, we have been very lucky as far as air raids and sub attacks and etcetera are concerned. It won’t hurt my feelings if we never do again. We could all use a good night’s rest.

We were told our new assignment and etcetera. We are to sweep a 40-mile area southwest of [Okinawa] about 70 miles. The objective is [Sakishima]. Twelve AM’s will sweep both sides, covering an area of two miles a sweep. They will make two 40-mile passes a day. Six YMS’s will lay san buoys, be buoy spotters and etcetera. PGM’s will be our air-supporters. They will keep circling close by. Four DM’s will protect us from surface craft and etcetera. In all, there will be about 40 ships. In addition there will be four Hellcats and four Avengers, which will help a lot. This minefield is right in a sub lane—70 some odd subs have been reported. In addition to this, there are four main airbases on [Sakishima], where a big share of suicide planes come from. We were told to expect the worse, and hope for the best. If everything goes well, we should be through in a week. At 2300 we are to start out on our objective, and be there by sunrise to get an early start.

We took on more anti-aircraft ammunition today. We were already loaded, but now we have it every place. This next assignment must be something. Or, they expect a lot.

The Mona Island [ARG-9] should finish us up today. We also flushed the evaporator today. There were two GQ’s throughout the day. The Japs must be getting soft. They are slacking off.