After the surrender and occupation of Japan, the veil of censorship was lifted and the soldiers were then allowed to write freely to their families. Early messages were filled with assurances that everything is fine and that morale is high, despite missing home. These letters tell a different story and express the need for venting after over half-a-year of daily battle.
Archive for category Timeline
Today we had general cleaning for inspection today. Everyone was busy doing something or the other. With such short notice, we were sort of caught off guard. Nevertheless, we passed everything with “excellent”.
We are preparing for another big push somewhere. There will be plenty of small craft. We heard we will probably see China. Just so it is the right part. We may receive plenty of opposition, and yet we may not. Anyway, we are preparing for it. There hasn’t been any real excitement for a few days. It does not seem natural at all. “Pistol Packin’ Mama” [1943], was the show tonight. No one cared much for it.
We can take it a little easier now. Just do odd jobs and look busy. We traded movies, so had a little entertainment.
Today was slightly easier. We work on the generator, as the oil seal was broke. By dark we were finished with the generator and done a little extra work on the main engines again. Well anyway, we had all night in, and we sure needed it.
We started work after four hours’ sleep. We are all pretty tired, and look forward to a good night’s rest. We have been working all night again, finishing up the main engines.
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.