May 4, 1943 Portsmouth Navy Yard, VA

Reveille 0430 and underway 0630 from NOB, Norfolk, VA. Tied up at 0700 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Virginia for a five day yard period. Turn to scrape paint and finally liberty at 1630 having a fairly good time in Portsmouth which is a nicer town than Norfolk.

Reveille 0600 and turn to all day on QM work for a change. Today was a mad house on work. Liberty followed at 1600 so I went ashore to get away from the ship.

Reveille 0600 and turn to all day to scrape and paint again. Worked on some QM work in the afternoon. Went ashore again and had a good time. The people of Portsmouth are more civil to the men than the people of Norfolk.

Reveille 0600 and went over to the yard optical shop. Had an easy day running all around the yard. Made another liberty in Portsmouth.

Reveille 0600 and turn to in the morning. Spent all afternoon in the yard running around again and was still running around the yard at 2300.

Watch 0400-0800 and exchanged 2200 rounds of ammo for new ammo. Turn to all day and gathered up our equipment from the optical shops and moved out to anchor off NOB at 1700. Norfolk harbor has 14 destroyers and quite a few carriers in it now and I believe we are about to go to work on the Nazis somewhere in the near future.

Reveille 0600 and making preparations for getting underway. Underway at 1000 for North African ports. Convoy consists of 12 ships (8 of them being transports) and the remainder are tankers and one mechanized anti-aircraft ship. The transports have Rangers on them. The escorts with this convoy are 13 cans and 1 cruiser Watch 0400-0800 and 1600-2000, speed 14-1/2 knots.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to on bridge all day. Watch 1600-2000 and school in the afternoon. Wrote some letters and hit the sack.

Watch 0400-0800. Set clocks ahead 1 hour at 0100. GQ at 0230 so I got a great night's sleep and I can see more in the near future. GQ and school in the afternoon, watch 1600-2000 and wrote some more letters.

Watch 0400-0800 and set clocks ahead 1 hour at 0100. Had school and a field day on charts and portfolios. GQ at 1305 and fired practice 20mm. GQ at 1615 and watch 1600-2000 and turned in at 2130 for awhile.

Watch 0400-0800 and fueled from the USS Chicopee at 1315 and then fixed up my instruments at secondary conn control station which is my GQ station for awhile. Watch 1600-2000 and turned in at 2000.

Watch 0400-0800 and set the clocks ahead 1 hour at 0100, field day and GQ and back on watch 1600-2000.

Watch 0000-0400 morning GQ and school followed by half holiday for Sunday. Watch 1200-1600 and relieved the watch for chow.

Watch 0000-0400 and set clocks ahead 1 hour at 0100. Lecture at 0900 on gas attacks and also found out our destination, Casablanca. Only 950 miles to go at 1200. From Casablanca we may go on the rest of the journey to invade Sicily or France, we don't know yet. The scuttlebutt is September 1st in New York. School and GQ in the afternoon and watch 1200-1600, relieved the watch for chow.

Watch 0000-0400 beautiful night out and the sea is like a lake and we are in a canoe. Turn to and school in the morning and GQ in the afternoon and watch 1200-1600, relieved the watch for chow.

Watch 0000-0400 and had GQ and depth charge attack at 1200. Sighted a black object ahead but it might have been a whale. Depth charges sounded again at 1900, again no contact. Watch 1200-1600.

Watch 0000-0400 turn to and school. Italian sub is reported in this vicinity with 14 more in the area southwest of here and 12 of these being German subs. Supposed to go to NOB Oran, Algeria or through to Algiers, Algeria with the convoy. Watch 1200-1600 and have a rendezvous tomorrow with stragglers from our convoy who are taking the short route in.

Watch 0000-0400 and up again to turn to at 0700. No more scraping of paint as the sound operators don't go for it in the Mediterranean area which is loaded with subs. We are going right on through to Oran, Algeria. Watch 1200-1600 and relieved the watch for chow.

Watch 0000-0400 and we are moving along the Spanish Morocco coast line toward Gibraltar. Proceeding through the straits between Spanish territory we contacted a small fishing vessel about 0330 and the Capt. called for a mess attendant who was to act as interpreter. We hollered back and forth and finally the captain. opened up with the Thompson sub-machine gun on the vessel by firing from in front of the flag bag. The Spic moved out of the way of the convoy which is what the Capt. wanted. We were at special sea detail for the trip through the Strait of Gibraltar. The Rock is really a big place in the daytime, though you can't see much. The east side of the rock has been concreted for a water cache and supplies the rock with what water they do use. Watch 1200-1600 and 2000-2400.

Up at 0630 and watch 0800-1200 and arrived in Oran, Algeria at 1000. We got the convoy in the harbor and finally forced our own way in at 1400 to find a place for ourselves to tie up. It isn't a bad looking place but it is dirty looking. It is on the top of a hill looking out to sea. There is a fort on the end of town on the highest peak overlooking the sea for protection of the town. Liberty for the third section from 2030-2200. Watch 2000-2400. Fellows say the town isn't too bad.

Up at 0630 and watch 0800-1200 and turn to on charts, painted overhead wiring on the bridge and the charthouse is now black too. 1st section has liberty. We went out and fueled from the Navy tanker USS Chicopee and returned to our quay to tie up again. Watch 1200-2000.

Up at 0630 and watch 0800-1200. Turn to on chart house to finish painting. Liberty for 2nd section at 1300 and I drew $24. for pay day. Went ashore and returned 2100. Had a fair time, lots of French girls around and the first division is back from Bizerte. Met a soldier from Hartford, Conn. who told me some stories, they must have had a swell scrap though he said he never fired his rifle as of then.

Up at 0630 and watch 0800-1200 and underway for outfield patrol off Oran harbor for two days. Watch 1200-1600 and relieved the watch for chow. Weather is beautiful here just like mid-summer at home, it stays warm up to about 2000 and then it cools right off and you can sleep with a blanket over you. GQ at 2100 and changed ammo in the handling rooms.

Watch 0000-0400 and GQ at 0350. Had strange surface contact and upon investigating found it ok. GQ at 0630 and changed ammo in handling rooms again. Turn to in the morning and watches are changed to five hours now instead of four hours. Watch 1230-1730 and GQ 2030-0000 for practice with PT boats on attack tactics.

Watch 0230-0730 so I found a place to sleep and slept all morning up in the base of the director. Relieved the coastal patrol at 1200, fueled from tanker in Mers El Kebir, a nearby harbor, and returned to Oran and tied up again. Watch 1600-2000 and turned in at 2100.

Woke up at 0700 as no one called me for the 0400-0800 watch so I got a full night's sleep for a change. Turn to all day and in the afternoon we cut each others hair short as it is cooler. The haircut is shorter now than when I was in boot camp but we don't care who sees us here so what is the difference. Watch 1600-2000 and saw movie with Abbott and Costello in "Pardon My Sarong."

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to all day on charts. We are making all new charts of our portfolios so I have a lot of work to do now. I rated liberty but we got underway for Gibraltar at 1600. Watch 1600-2000 and 2230-0230 and a nice calm trip was had. GQ at 2130 for dusk.

GQ at 0630 so I had a few minutes of sleep last night. Arrived in Gibraltar at 0930, fueled and tied up. Turn to and had liberty from 1600-2215. It isn't a bad place and there are plenty of planes, guns, and soldiers here, all Limeys. No Americans except us and no women on the rock at all except the Spics that come over during the day to work and go back to Spain at 1700. The harbor defense here at night is dropping depth charges every five minutes because of the human torpedoes and mines. Swimmers come in with them in tow, they come in from subs etc.

Watch 0200-0400 and up at 0600 and watch again 0800-1200. Turn to and this afternoon went on board a Navy tanker-transport that came in here. It sure is some difference in shops compared to ours. At 1900 we got underway with 12 Royal Navy sailors and 3 Limey officers bound for Oran. GQ at 2130 at dusk.

Watch 0230-0730. Met a convoy from the States and they gave us 116 ships to take on with us. Speed 7 knots and GQ at 0630 for dawn alert. Enroute to Algiers via Oran. Watch 1730-2230 and GQ at 2130.

Up at 0630 and turn to. Some of the ships went into Oran and the rest continued to Algiers. Watch 1230-1730 and GQ 2100. The Captain is really afraid of a raid, in fact he is more than a bit scared.

Watch 0230-0730, left the convoy at Algiers and returning to Oran. Had drills on the way back and arrived Oran at 1900, drew the 1600-2000 watch and saw the second movie.

Watch 0400-0800. Field day all morning and liberty at 1300, returned to the ship at 1700, ate chow and saw the movie. Brought two soldiers back with us so they could have some ice cream we had gotten from the tankers. They really enjoyed it and said our chow was good; too bad they missed our rice and beans session of a few months ago.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to scrub down. Wrote some letters. Seven merchant ships came in loaded with Italian and German prisoners. Some of them were Rommel's Africa Corp. men. Quite a few of the fellows on liberty picked up some souvenirs from the prisoners and came back with them. Saw a movie and had all night in the sack.

Up at 0630 and underway 0800. Watch 0730-1230. Practiced towing exercises with the Plunkett using our anchor chains to tow with. The Plunkett did well, but we almost rammed her when our turn came so she left us. We assumed outfield patrol off Oran at 1700. GQ at 2100 and watch 2230-0230. Chow is getting low again so we had beans and rice (chile it is called now).

GQ 0630 and back to the sack right after for some sleep. Up at 1000 and watch 1230-1730. The signal gang is restricted for a week as the commodore saw some "Irish" pennants hanging from the signal halyards. GQ at 2100 again.

Watch 0230-0730 and GQ 0630 and air raid alarm at 1000 we had GQ again. No sign of any planes though. Relieved of patrol by the Trippe. Towed the Niblack, fueled and returned to Oran. The Niblack tied up alongside and tore a hole in us near the whaleback on the starboard side in coming alongside too fast. Watch 2000-2400 and GQ 2230 for another air raid alert, the Germans are beginning to worry. Prepared to get underway and out of harbor but it wasn't necessary as there were no planes over the harbor.

Up at 0700 and underway 0800 for firing runs with Niblack, Gleaves, Mayrant, Bernadou. Pretty good shooting for the day, fueled and returned to Oran. Had liberty but stayed aboard. Changed uniform to whites today and have to dye some whites khaki now so they won't be so conspicuous at sea when we are in the uniform of the day.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to for field day. Executive officer's inspection of crews whites at quarters. Watch 1600-2000. Dyed one set of whites khaki colored today. Today we were notified that we were no longer a part of the Atlantic Fleet as we had been transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet. Pantelleria Island was taken today by the Allies.

Reveille 0600 and underway at 0730 for Algiers with 7 troopships and a bunch of landing barges. Watch 0400-0800. We wore our khaki uniforms today for the first time. Watch 2030-0230 and GQ at 2100.

Watch 2030-0230 and up at 0700. Had maneuvers and flag hoist drill and arrived back at Mers El Kebir harbor at 1000. Fueled and remained alongside the tanker. Liberty was granted for the second section. Watch 1200-1600 and saw a movie, hit the sack early.

Watch 0400-0800 turn to for field day. Had flag hoist drill in the morning and school in the afternoon. They restricted all the strikers on the bridge until they can send and receive light and semaphore messages. Saw the early movie and had the 2000-2400 watch.

Up at 0700 and turn to field day again. Watch 1200-1600 and painted the Captain's emergency cabin on the bridge in the afternoon, finished it at 2130. Rated liberty except that I am restricted along with the rest of the strikers. Had a swimming call in the afternoon but couldn't leave the ship for being restricted.

Up at 0700 and watch 0800-1200 and did some touching up in the Captain's cabin. Had our foot lockers fumigated in the afternoon and a swim off the forecastle for all hands which I took a part in. Swim call is three times a day now for all hands. Had fire drills in the afternoon and saw the movie at night and hit the sack.

Watch 0000-0400 and up at 0700 and turn to in the Captain's cabin again. Cleaned up the bridge and attended swimming call again at 1100. The water is very salty but as clear as I have ever seen and it is very refreshing. Quarters in undress whites and watch 1600-2000 with school in the afternoon for us strikers. Saw movie and hit the sack.

Watches 0000-0400 and 0800-1200 and got underway for training exercises with a French submarine. Fired one torpedo at us and missed. We returned to port after fueling ship.

Watch 0400-0800 and underway again at 1030. Flag hoist drill 0800-1200, school 1300-1400 and watch 1600-1800, 2000-2400. Relieved the Gleaves of outfield patrol for two days.

Reveille 0600 and watch 0730-1230 with GQ at 0530 for dawn alert. Convoys passing our patrol line to seaward are all large. School in the afternoon and filling out progress tests for QM3/c, the test is on the 27th of this month. GQ at 2100.

Watch 2230-0230 and GQ at 0530. Turn to and were relieved by the Ordronaux at 1200 of outfield patrol Tied up to the tanker Winooski and fueled. Large transports came in in the late afternoon. Watch 1600-2000.

Reveille 0630 and field day is again on the plan of the day. School in the morning. Two more transports came in today and two destroyer repair ships also came in, one of them is the Vulcan #5. The cruisers Brooklyn, Birmingham, and Boise moved to anchorages in Mers El Kebir today. There are 38 destroyers and three cruisers and a bunch of large transports here now and all are American. The men brought in on the transports are the Oklahoma Indians, called that as fifty percent of the men are Indians from Oklahoma. Saw the movie and turned in, and they called all hands out on stores at 2300.

Up at 0545 and special sea detail at 0615 getting underway for Bizerte, Tunisia with the repair ship USS Delta. Benson and Mayrant are escorts and speed is 16 knots. Watch 0400-0800 turn to and school again. Watch 1730-2230 and GQ at 2130.

Up at 0630 and watch 0730-1230. We picked up a surface contact at 0400 and the Mayrant investigated it and lost it immediately. Might have been a sub, because when it disappeared we picked it up on the sound machines but the Mayrant was in charge of the convoy so we could do nothing. GQ at 0530 and 0930. Arrived Bizerte, swept channel 1730 and turned back after seeing the Delta go on into the harbor.

Watch 2230-0230 and GQ 0530 for dawn alert. Up at 0630 and turn to. We passed the cruisers Boise and Birmingham today but don't know where they were going. Watch 1230-1730 and GQ 2130 for dusk alert. Arrived at Oran 1730 and fueled ship, watch 2000-2400.

Reveille 0600 and watch 1200-1600. We shifted berths from alongside the tanker and then held field day for executive officer's inspection of compartments. Saw movie and GQ for two hours from 2200-2400. Scrubbed my whites for Captain's inspection at 1300 tomorrow finishing this at 0045.

Up at 1130 and watch 1200-1600 turn to for Captain's inspection of personnel. Quarters for inspections at 1300 is in whites. I rate a liberty at long last. They must have lifted the restriction at last. I stayed aboard as I had the mid-watch coming up again. Took QM exam.

Reveille 0600, watch 0800-1200 and turn to. Today is the last day for the crew to mail their letters home, we are ready to move out and pay the Nazis a visit any time now. Shifted berths from alongside the cruiser Brooklyn to tie up to an old French cruiser hull that has been bombed out. School in the afternoon.

GQ 0000-0230 and watch 0400-0800. No one leaves the ship from now on without special permission. We received mail from the States this afternoon for the first time. Found out Ruth went to the hospital on May 12 for a pretty serious operation. The seagoing tug Redwing was torpedoed off Bizerte, Tunisia this afternoon by a sub. We heard the whole thing on the RDF radio receiver as it was on our frequency. They had quite a time of it but never did get the sub that did the job.

Watch 0000-0400 and GQ 0200-0400 then underway at 0700 for sleeve firing practice and towing exercises. We did all right on the sleeve. The Plunkett went out looking for a sub that is reported in this area. We stayed out all night and had tracking exercises about 40 miles off Oran. Had SG radar contact at 2300 and went to GQ. Got my QM 3/c rating certificate today. Watch 1230-1730.

Watch 0230-0730 with dawn GQ at 0545. Turn to and school in the afternoon. Returned to Mers El Kebir at 1900, fueled and remained alongside the tanker for the night. Saw a movie and hit the sack.

GQ 0200-0400 and watch 0400-0800. Quarters for muster and turn to. Pay day today and I now have $203 on the books. Was recommended by Lt. Bates our division officer for QM 3/c today. The signal gang were read off again today. Saw late movie and GQ 2200-2400.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to for field day. Went swimming today for the first time in quite awhile. GQ 0400-0550. Saw early movie and watch 2000-2400 and worked on charts. All the battleships, cruisers and cans left Mers El Kebir today. Reason unknown to us at this time.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to for field day again. We had ice cream for dinner today. All cans, 2 British battle cruisers and one carrier came and our own cruisers came back with them so there are three US cruisers, the British

battle-cruiser Rodney and the British carrier Formidable in Mers El Kebir now. GQ 1400-1600, 2000-2200 and 0000-0200. Saw movie and turned in.

Reveille 0700 and turn to for locker inspection. Air bedding for a change and it sure is about time. Quarters at 1300 to inspect life belts. All cans and cruisers left Mers El Kebir today and we are to leave tomorrow.

Reveille at 0600 and turn to for getting underway at 0700. The destroyers Gleaves, Plunkett, Niblack and the Benson are escorting ten ships. We are a part of an invasion force of 250,000 supposed to arrive in Sicily (German and Italian held at this time) the day after the invasion gets underway. We have food and medicine and troops with ammo for 21 days in the invasion area. The destroyer Strong was sunk today by a Jap torpedo bomber in the Pacific. Watch 1730-2230.

GQ 0445-0720, watch 0730-1230, went to sleep and had GQ 2100-2230 and watch again 2230-0230. We sleep and eat and stand our watches now and no turn to or anything with work attached to it for awhile.

GQ 0430-0700 washed our clothes and had an hour's sleep with GQ. Watch 1230-1730 and GQ 2130-2230. Entered Bizerte, swept channel which is sixty miles long, at 2000.

GQ 0415-0700 and 1035-1105 Bombers and fighter planes are passing overhead and going for Sicily to soften it up for the paratroopers. Watch 0230-0730 and 1730-2230. GQ 2045-2215. We are off Tunis at 0900 and headed for Tripoli Island. Over four hundred planes flew over us tonight headed for Sicily. There must be quite a show going on over there tonight

GQ 0415-0700. At 0640 this morning we picked up four US Army Air Corp. men from two floats. They were hit while over Sicily last night on a raid. They also say Sicily is in flames and the opposition is very weak. They were a troop transport crew, C-47. One fellow said he sure is glad he saw this ship. He worked on it while they were building it in Mass. in 1940. Had a sub contact at 1400 and dropped some charges with no results. We circled around all day to delay our arrival at Gela, Sicily invasion beach tomorrow. Watch 0730-1230 and GQ 2000-2230.

Watch 2230-0230. Passed the island of Malta. GQ 0400 to 0700 tomorrow morning. Arrived Gela, Sicily at 0700 on Sunday, July 11, 1943. Cruisers and cans are bombarding the beaches and bombers are flying over the harbor trying to get us all day. Laid the minefield around Gela all afternoon and was darned near blown to Hades by a JU88 at 1500. He was about twenty thousand

feet up and although he was identified as friendly by the Army pilots he sure did come close to the minelayers that were just crammed with mines. It would have blown up half the harbor had he made a hit. We fired back at him but couldn't reach him, that puts us in the invasion now! They blew up the USS Ancon and a Liberty Ship that was loaded with ammo. That one rocked the entire bay and it sure made some fourth of July celebration for the boys. Still at GQ at 0000 and cruisers are still bombarding the beaches.

There has been a continuous air raid on since 0000 and it is now 0330. We were lying too near the minelayers for the night and the planes came down on our starboard quarter and dropped a stick of bombs near a ship 500 yards away. The next time they came down they near missed us by about 50 feet. During the two dives, the entire harbor was firing except us, we were waiting for something or other, I still don't know why we waited until this day and never will I guess. The whole harbor was lit up with flares dropped from the planes and the minelayers on either side of us were cutting them loose from the parachutes with 20mm fire, which is really shooting. They formed a protected screen of fire over us and the planes must have thought they had something big down under this heavy fire so he came down again for his second try at us. He came just as close to us on the starboard side once again. We got underway after this and laid a smoke screen as other ships started to do also. The second time the plane came down, which was the first time he actually dove on us, five of us dove into a pile to get out of the way of shrapnel that was flying around. The three bottom men of the pile were hit by shrapnel and another fellow and I got up off the top of the pile without a scratch. The bombing started a fire in the emergency radio shack amidships and knocked out the starboard 20mm gun crew on the starboard quarter of the ship. Another fellow and I put our phones in our jackets and manned the gun to try and get a crack at the plane when he dived. The orders from the bridge were to wait until we could see the plane before firing but that wasn't possible as it was too dark. The bridge talker was trying to get in touch with me at my GQ station which was secondary conn, but I had the phones in my jacket and couldn't answer him because of being strapped in the 20mm machine gun saddle at the time. Half hour later I got around to answering him and the bridge wanted to know what had happened to me, so I told them I was too busy to answer at that time! The ship has 82 holes and 102 hits on it from these attacks and about 20 men were injured besides the fire in the radio shack. We were the only ship in the harbor that was hit so he was after us without a doubt. They sure did put up the shells though and when we finally started to fire we put up 500 rounds of five inch ammo by ourselves beside the 20mm firing. While this was going on we learned later that the C-47 transports were coming in over the harbor at a high altitude and were struck by the harbor fire and many were knocked down. Quite a few planes came down altogether and I guess we got our share of them, friendly and enemy planes. At 0415 a plane came in low over the end of the harbor where we had gone and we nearly fired on it before it finally showed its recognition lights to save itself. It took him a long time to identify himself and a few minutes after passing us he failed to turn on his recognition lights in time and was shot down by one of the destroyers in back of us. We never did see him because of the smoke all over the harbor. We secured from GQ at 0700 after 27 hours of GQ and only 1 hour and 15 minutes of sleep in three days. Sure is one helluva fight going on here. The soldiers are having their troubles too. They have been on the beaches for two days now and haven't moved a foot and we are planning on taking landing parties ashore to help them out. We can't take them off as the transports have gone back after more troops in Africa. The executive officer was supposed to be at secondary conn

with me for GQ but he came back after it was all over and asked how I was doing and then beat it again before anything else could happen back there. He was gone again before I knew it.

During the morning two dive bombers were shot down after making a couple of runs across the harbor and hitting nothing. We left the area at 1900 with ships for Bizerte and troops as the soldiers finally managed to get moving inland for the time being. One ship broke down and we had to stay with that one as protection. We could see the air raids going on again just over the horizon. I don't mind the daytime air raids when you can see them coming but at night it is not for me. You never know they are there until you hear them pull out of the dive and then it is too late to do anything about it but duck and pray. They seem to be after the supply and troop ships this time. The news of the day says the English did this and that, but we only saw one British monitor in here. That is half battleship and half cruiser, it is cut off at the stern and has a large gun forward for shore bombardment. GQ 2000-02200 and we went to GQ three other times during the day for raids.

Watch 0230-0730. Saw gunfire and bombs dropping over the horizon all night as we are standing by a transport that is broken down. She got underway at 0900 for Algiers and we are going with her, speed is 5 knots. She is cold turkey for a sub and we can do little for her at this speed. Today's reports over the radio report an allied battleship being bombed and hit in Gela, Sicily invasion. There weren't any allied battleships in the harbor so we figured they were referring to us as an allied battleship. We received a well done on the raid from the squadron commodore, General Eisenhower and Admiral Hewitt and for the safe arrival of our main convoy. Watch 1730-2230, GQ 0400-0600 and 2000-2200. We also expended 2000 rounds of 20mm ammo the other night.

Watch 0230-0730 and turn to for field day cleaning up the mess on the ship. We sighted Tunisia at 1100 and entered the Bizerte swept channel at 1800. At 2000 we met 30 LST's loaded with trucks, tanks and men headed for Sicily, watch 1730, 2230.

Watch 0230-0730 and turn to field day. Executive officers and 1st Lt. inspection of compartments for holes or trouble. Watch 1230-1730. Cruiser Philadelphia, Boise, and Savannah passed us with six destroyers as escorts headed for Algiers.

Watch 0230-0730, school 1300 and in the morning too. Watch 1730-2230. Gleaves joined us today as an additional escort now that the trip is just about over. COMDESRON 7 and 17 passed us today at 1800 bound for Sicily and some action bombarding the beaches.

Watch 0730-1230, school 0900 and 1300. 100 miles to go yet and we hope to be there by tomorrow morning, about 0700. Very small rain storm this morning,

the first in two months in the Mediterranean. One year in the Navy this morning at 1100.

Watch 2230-0230 special sea detail at 0800 tied up and fueled in Algiers, Algeria. Shifted berths moving alongside the supply ship USS Earl. C. Stanton for stores and ammunition, this took up the remainder of the day. Liberty was granted for 5% of the crew and they were the leading Petty Officers of each gang. Saw movie and turned in at 2145.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to. Repair parties from the destroyer tender USS Vulcan came aboard and patched up some of the holes in the ship. Carried more stores aboard today and liberty was granted to 20% of the crew, which still leaves me aboard. The destroyer Maddox was sunk off Sicily today with 42 survivors out of approximately 320 men. Had some ice cream today from the transport Samuel B. Chase. We went over to the ship that we waited for and escorted here from Sicily. They wouldn't even let us aboard no less, that is gratitude for you. Watch 2000-2400 and turn in.

Special sea detail 0630 and underway at 0800 with the cruiser Brooklyn and the Gleaves to operate off Licata, Sicily. Speed 18 knots. Watch 0730-1230 and turn to for field day. GQ 2030-2150.

Watch 2230-0230. Stopped at Bizerte at 0900 as the 2 star admiral on the Brooklyn had to attend a conference there. Underway 1545 at a speed of 15 knots passing the Plunkett in charge of an LST convoy of three large groups headed for Sicily. GQ 0600-0800. Watch 1230-1730.

Watch 0230-0730 arriving in Licata, Sicily at 0800. GQ 0530. Passed through the Gela minefield that we laid a few days ago turned about, returning to Algiers. Watch 1730-2230 and school twice a day is once again with us.

GQ 0500-0600 and watch 0730-1230. Turn to for field day again. Arrived in Algiers 1800 and fueled from tanker Empire Salvage and anchored out in outer harbor. Saw movie and hit the sack.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to for field day. Painted all our helmets and put our rated men's insignia on them. Inspection of personnel, storerooms, compartments and lockers. Watch 2000-2400 and saw a movie. No liberty for me yet. Today we found out we weren't to return to the States for three months yet.

Watch 0400-0800 with swimming 0630-0700. Turn to for field day. The ship is just three years old today. Watch 1600-2000 and no liberty for me yet, so I saw the movie and turned in.

Watch 0800-1200, quarters for muster 1300 and underway at 1600, possibly for Oran. Inspection of holds and storerooms by the Exec. The Brooklyn, Birmingham and six destroyers went with us today.

Watch 230-0730 and turn to. Arrived Mers El Kebir 0800 fueled and tied up. Mail from the States came aboard and I got two letters. Watch 1200-1600 and I made a liberty in dungarees.

Watch 0000-0400 and special sea detail at 0530 getting underway at 0645. Stayed on watch until 0730 then. On our way with a supply convoy to Palermo, Sicily on the northwestern coast. Watch 1730-2230 with school in the morning and afternoon.

Watch 0730-1230 with school and turn to. Passed Algiers today. GQ 2100-2215.

Watch 2230-0230, GQ 0500, watch 0900-1015, 1230-1730 and school and instruction period in the afternoon, turn to but not for me as I was on watch most of the day and I couldn't do too many things at once. GQ 2030-2200.

Watch 0230-0730, GQ 0440-0630. Arrived in Palermo, Sicily at 1500 and received patrol duty from Cape Zaffarno to Termini Imerese nearest to the front lines of the Army. Watch 1500-1615, 1730-2230 with GQ 2030-2200. Sicily looks nice over there now but just wait a few days.

GQ 0415 for an air raid over Palermo, they bombed cruisers and destroyers near and around us this time, no hits but close again. No casualties this time for the Benson. Expended 114 rounds of five inch ammo, claim one plane to our credit and confirmed by the cruiser Brooklyn. See what I meant when I said Sicily looks nice over there but to wait and see what happened. The destroyer Mayrant was hit three times with seven men killed. Four planes shot down in this raid and we hit one of them. We went to GQ 5 times this morning alone. Watch 1845-2000 and more shows to start soon, continuous performance now.

Watch 2230-0230, GQ 0430, no raid yet. Relieved of patrol duty at 1500 and went to Palermo harbor and anchored. Watch 0900-1015, 1230-1730. Things are too quiet here now for our own good, wondering what is coming next. We had quarters for inspection. Of all the foolish things to pull in here, what a Navy this turned out to be!

Watch 0230-0730 and turn to for field day. Fueled from the tanker Amardo in the inner harbor. Took farthest patrol sector which was about 18 miles from Stephano the front lines, to Cape Cefalu. We were officially given credit for the plane we shot down the other morning. We had surprise practice drills tonight in the way of anti-aircraft fire. We thought it was real as they dropped flares all around the ship. Some more foolish ideas as some one might have been up above just looking for something to unload a few onto. The Germans have our SC radar frequency, our method of picking up their planes by radar. They came in on the frequency band today and blacked out the whole screen so we couldn't see a thing on it. Watch 1345-1500, 1730-2230. Entered Palermo harbor to anchor for the night. Palermo is a mass of ruins what with our bombing and now the Germans bombing us. At least every building has been hit once by a shell or a bomb and the Sicilian people have all gone back into the hills where there is less fighting going on. No one is allowed ashore and anyone caught looting is to be shot on the spot. No one but a combatant could imagine how all this could happen and it would do the people of other countries good to see what war is like for themselves. GQ three times before midnight.

Watch 0230-0730 and turn to for field day again. The destroyer Shubrick was dive bombed this morning during an air raid while screening the cruiser Philadelphia. Fifteen men were killed outright and seven men died on the way to the hospital, many were severe casualties. It was really quite a raid for everyone. Watch 1400-1515, 1730-2230 and school in the afternoon.

Watch 0730-1230 and turn to for field day. Had an enemy E boat, like our PT boats, during the night when the Gleaves, on outfield patrol, drove them off with 5" and 20mm guns. They tried to sneak right through the screen at two knots, but the Gleaves let them come on in until she could open up the 20mm guns. They came in really close to do that. They left the area at 35 knots. Planes came over the harbor too during the night and dropped some flares but the visibility was too bad and they left us alone for the night. Watch 1900-2015.

Watch 2230-0230 and GQ 0530. No raid and we were relieved of patrol at 0900 and we entered the harbor again. Our convoy left last night with new escorts and now another one has come in this morning. Fueled ship and anchored out, GQ five times today. Watch 1230-1730 and school in PM.

Watch 0730-1230 and turn to for field day. GQ 0500 and twice during the day. Cruisers and destroyers left today going up to the front lines to do some shore bombarding for the Army. The two squadrons of PT boats leave the harbor at 1900 every night and return at 0600 in the morning.

Watch 2230-0230 and GQ 0015 getting underway to double the patrol line. Cruisers radioed us to tell us that enemy cruisers and E boats were headed this way, so everyone in the harbor got underway and ready for the fireworks. They never did arrive in this port though. GQ 0430 for dawn alert. Underway again to Malta with the tug USS Nauset towing the destroyer Shubrick. We dropped the motor whaleboat over the side while hoisting it aboard and one man went into the water in the bargain, all was well, however, afterward. Watch 1230-1730 and GQ 2030.

Watch 0230-0730 and GQ 0500. Turn to, school. Tug's speed is 8 knots. Watch 1730-2230. The tow line broke loose at 2000 so we had GQ from 2000-2030.

GQ 1215. Had a radar contact and we challenged target with small lights and received no answer. Then we fired star shells to illuminate the target and visibility wasn't too good even then. Some of the older men on the bridge told the Captain it was a minesweep or a PC boat. He wouldn't take their word for it and gave the order to open fire on the target if she didn't answer our challenge once more. This was done and we expended 21 rounds of five inch ammo and hit the target 20 times. She went afire immediately and then we could make her out to be a tug-salvage vessel of the US Navy, USS Brandt L502. They put out the fire in short order as they were professional fire fighters in civilian life, now in the Navy. Four men were killed and 20 wounded. The Brandt continued to Malta, arriving at 1000. We fueled in Valletta Bay, Grand Harbour, Malta, and then moored to the docks. For provision we got whole pigs with the heads included. Watch 2000-2400.

Watch 1230 and underway for Palermo again at 1600. School in the afternoon and turn to. GQ 2000-2200.

Watch 0230-0730 arriving in Palermo at 0700. SQ 0430. Underway for Patti, Sicily near the straits of Messina. Supposed to knock out all surface craft contacted and then bombard the city of Patti, Sicily. The Army had no opposition in taking the town so we returned, searching at 30 knots for targets, arriving in Palermo without firing a shot.

GQ from 2145-0200, last night to this morning. GQ 0415 and special sea detail 0700. Anchored in the outer harbor fueling from the liberty ship Coles at 1300. Returned to the anchorage. Watch 1230-1730. Sub sighted surfacing at Cape Cefalu at 1300 today.

Special sea detail at 0200 and underway 0230. Watch 0230-0730. Speed 30 knots with the destroyer Rowan and the cruiser Boise with us. Going up near Patti again to land troops in landing barges. At 0600 the troops went ashore with us standing by to help and not a round was fired on the beach. GQ 0445-0745. We went half way back to Palermo and the Army started to holler for help on the beach and we turned back to help them. We got the word the Germans were evacuating the city of Milazzo by small boat so we were to stop that. No small boats were sighted so we proceeded to bombard Milazzo and a fort on the tip of the peninsula at the same time. We continued at this for four hours and returned to Palermo at 2200. Watch 1730-2230. Anchored in Palermo Bay.

Watch 0730-1230 turn to and school and got underway for outfield patrol, relieved the patrol at 0930. We are on the watch for a sub reported in this area for two days now, sighted by the Army at night on the surface. GQ 2015-2130.

Watch 2230-0230, GQ 0300 for Philadelphia and two destroyers that were returning to Palermo and again at 0345 for Boise and two destroyers returning to Palermo also. Mail came in with the destroyer Niblack from Licata and Gela. The whole squadron is together again for the first time in six weeks. Watch 1230-1730.

Watch 0230-0730 and commenced field day at 0700. Relieved of patrol of 0900 and anchored 1030. Underway for Palmi, Italy at 1945 with three other cans and two cruisers to bombard the Italian mainland. Watch 1730-2230, GQ 2225. We got mail again today and I got two letters.

Arrived Palmi, Italy 0125 and GQ 0100. It is located 15 miles up the western coast from the Straits of Messina. The destroyers Plunkett, Gleaves, Niblack and Benson and the cruisers Boise and Philadelphia fired 125 rounds each in bombarding Palmi, a railroad bridge and a road bridge which was an aid to the Germans in evacuating the island of Sicily after crossing the Straits of Messina and moving up the Italian mainland. We had completed firing and were turning around to leave the area when a 36 inch search light came on and trained right out on the Benson, they held us in the beam but guess they had no guns on the beach big enough to reach out to us, so there weren't any shots fired our way. We returned to Palermo and assumed patrol at 0700. During the day we sub hunted in our sector as a plane reported another sub in the area. We looked for it with the aid of the destroyer Knight. No contact was made. Watch 0730-1230. They had an air raid at Oran tonight. First fire on European mainland was on this day at Palmi.

Watch 2230-0230. Moored alongside the Trippe in the outer harbor at 0800. Transferred ammo and other supplies. Field day all day again. Watch 1230-1730. Underway at 2000 and had GQ 2300 for small fishing vessel. We must be at GQ now before we challenge any targets as it is too late otherwise. The other cans have found this to be true, so it is now compulsory.

Watch 0230-0730, school and instruction period. GQ 0515-0620. Arrived in Bizerte at 1700 and continued on to Oran with the Plunkett. Watch 1730-2230, GQ 2000.

GQ 0515, watch 0730-1230, school and instruction period. Saw a large brush fire on the beach east of Algiers about 70 miles. We figure the spies do this to let the subs know when the Navy is coming along so they can make good their escape. Arrived Mers El Kebir 1700 and moored to the tanker Cardium and brought some vino (wine) aboard. Watch 2000-2400.

Reveille 0600 and shifted berths at 0700 alongside the outer breakwater. Turn to for field day. Worked on chart corrections and notices to mariners all day. Brought 1000 rounds of ammo and stores aboard today also. Watch 1200-1600 and saw the movie on the Plunkett. Went swimming today instead of going on liberty, first liberty in over a month.

Reveille 0600 and underway at 0830 for Algiers. Watch 0730-1230. Two men jumped ship last night and yesterday, so they wouldn't have to return to Sicily. Loaded ammo in handling rooms. Arrived in Algiers 1800 and anchored out in the outer harbor. Saw a movie and hit the sack.

Special sea detail and underway with two cruisers and three cans for Mers El Kebir, arriving at 1630, fueled ship and tied up. Turn to, school and instruction period during the day.

Watch 0000-0400 and turn to painting the ship at 0700. Underway 0830 with the cruiser Boise and Savannah. Went east about 60 miles to practice shore bombardment as a team. Returned to Mers El Kebir and fueled ship then carried chow and more ammo aboard. Watch 1230-1730.

Received mail from the States today and all is well at home. Turn to painting ship until sunset today. Watch 12000-1600 and shifted berths to alongside the cruiser Savannah.

Special sea detail at 0700 and underway 0800. Patrolled and swept the channel all morning. Large convoy of 12 transports went toward Gibraltar this morning and our convoy of 15 transports, 2 cruisers, 11 cans is to make a mock invasion of the coast near Arzeu just east of Oran. Watch 0730-1230. Had some candy today, the first in over a month. We had a fire in the emergency radio shack but no bad damage from it.

Watch 2230-0230 and arrived off Arzeu at 0100 to make our practice invasion until 1000. Ran over a minesweeper's sweep in the course of the night, but no damage from this. GQ 0530-0730 and returned to Mers El Kebir at 1300 and drew outfield patrol again. Watch 1230-1730 and turn to painting the ship.

Watch 0230-0730 and continued to paint. Relieved of patrol at 0800 and tied up in Mers El Kebir. Watch 1230-1730. Mail again today. GQ 2050 for enemy plane on reconnaissance. We are almost ready to invade somewhere again, and they want to see what we have to do it with. No word got back from that plane though, we saw it go down by fighter fire.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to for field day, scrape all the hatches and doorways for excess paint on them. This will keep them from being watertight. Cleaned all the instruments for Commodore's inspection tomorrow. Rated liberty today, but stayed aboard. I am so used to being aboard this ship that I don't care for liberty anymore over here. Beginning to wish we were on the way home about now.

Watch 0400-0800 with 0500 reveille to prepare for inspection. Liberty call at 1600 and I went swimming at 1400. Saw a movie and turned in. They are rushing the loading of the transports now.

Watch 0000-0400. Up at 0630 and turn to. Underway to relieve the outfield patrol. Passed two Polish destroyers on the way into Mers El Kebir. Watch 1730-2230. Steak pie and ice cream for supper tonight, but there must be some reason behind that, rice and beans are still on the menu twice a week. GQ 1630 for hostile planes 35 miles away (see press news this date).

Watch 0730-1230 with instruction period and turn to in the afternoon. Very large convoy of transports, cruisers, carriers and destroyers arrived today. Some of them went into Oran and some continued on to Algiers. At 2220, Algiers bound convoy was attacked by planes and called for help. The destroyer Kendrick was torpedoed losing her fantail. We went up to escort her back to Oran, heavy fog set in for the night.

Watch 2230-0230 with GQ 0600-0800. Arrived at the Kendrick at 0300 and escorted her to Oran at 7 knots. She had no steering control so she had to steer with the aid of her engines. Her fantail is right up out of the water from the explosion of the torpedo, and she is still lucky. Watch 1230-1730, arrived in Mers El Kebir and fueled the ship. Mail came aboard again. Some of our wounded men returned from Casablanca hospital today.

Watch 0000-0400 reveille 0600 and turn to on chart conversion all day. Stores and mail came aboard today. Took at QM test on signalling. Watch 2000-2400 with GQ 1500, and 2100 for alerts that were caused by observation planes coming over the area.

Reveille 0600 and turn to, air bedding. Had a yellow alert today, this is a caution alert as planes are not too far away. Underway for the invasion of Salerno, Italy at 1300. The task force consists of 16 destroyers, 3 cruisers, 9 transports, 6 landing craft infantry, 12 LST's, 9 minesweepers, 2 salvage tugs, 12 yard mine sweeps, 8 patrol boats, 4 supply ships and 11 British ships. The landing beaches are as follows: Gulf of Salerno, Salerno south, Mercantello, Magazzino, Pasto, Fasanarella, Compolungo, Casole, Greco, and Agropoli. Watch 0230-0730.

Watch 0230-0730 with GQ 0630 and turn to in the morning. Watch 1730-2230 and GQ 2015-2130. Speed of advance is 13 knots which is good for such an assortment of ships.

Watch 0730-1230. The three cruisers left the convoy at 0700 and returned at 1900 with four British cruisers. Our part in this invasion will be the landing of the troops. We now have 17 transports and 25 cans, and are expecting an enemy task force to show up soon to try to stop this. GQ 0600-0800 and 0730-0900 and 1930-2100.

Watch 2230-0230 and a plane dropped a flare at 0025. The plane was shot down at 0027, which is quick work for a night raider. Passed two LCT and LST convoys and one cargo convoy during the night. Watch 1230-1730, GQ 0530-0700 and tomorrow morning starts the big day. The Captain told all of us to get our sleep now as we wouldn't get it for the next few days. Today at 1800 the Italians announced from Rome that they were no longer on the side of the Germans and were now to be considered our allies, so this is going to be some invasion.

Watch 0230-0730 and GQ 0400 arriving at Salerno, Italy at 0000 to find it all quiet. The minesweeps messed up the minefield and we had to wait until daylight to start the operation. Air raids came at 0530, 0900, 1100, 1600, 2100

and we had trouble landing 2 beach heads out of the four assigned to us because the Germans were waiting there with tanks for the landing barges to come in. Then they blew them up and moved back behind the hills for protection from the Navy shore bombardment, it was effective for them. The cruisers are bombarding the beaches and the resistance is just about all from the 88mm tanks of the Germans. We only had landed on three beaches out of the four by dark tonight and GQ again at 2230, watch 1730-2230.

GQ 0415 for an intensive air raid this time. They dropped 1000 lb. bombs this time and they meant every ounce of them. Sure did make some racket with all the fireworks going on too. See the press clips for dope on landing and air raids 0730-1000-1100-1500-1600 for the big ones.

An American citizen in Italian clothes and dialect came out to us today and told us the enemy had withdrawn during the night and now the people of the town want us to enter and take over the town as everyone is looting the buildings. He gave us a lot of valuable information. One destroyer picked up three British airmens' bodies today at 1500. GQ at 2215 last night and the night fighters shot down 3 enemy bombers. Watch 2230-0230 and an air raid at 2230 with a plane diving right on us to start if off right. We turned to port quickly and the bomb dropped down astern of us about 300 feet, shrapnel came on the fantail just the same. At the end of the raid, a plane came in from dead astern of us and went right over the ship at a height of about 50 feet. He dropped one bomb but it was a dud and landed about 50 feet astern of us. He was showing a red light all the time we observed him and no one knew what this meant for. We held our fire and no one shot at him until he passed clear and to port of us. We could have hit him with spuds. The radarman tracked him in and reported him to the Captain as enemy as he failed to answer our RDF challenge, but the skipper said nothing so we didn't fire. As he went over us, we made a turn to starboard and fired 32 rounds of five inch ammo at him, but he kept on going just the same. At 0200 the destroyer Rowan reported a torpedo crossing her bow which she believed was launched from E boats though no E boats were sighted on the radar screens. The transports left for North African ports at 0300 and another raid came at 0415, no damage this time though four ships were hit in the earlier raid. Another raid was at 0915 and the cruiser Savannah was hit just forward of the bridge by a radio controlled bomb, weighing 2860 pounds. The Admiral on the Philadelphia told the Admiral on the Savannah it was coming and he could see it for himself, but could do nothing to avoid it. 17% of the crew, about 120 men, were killed and the wounded were sent to hospital ships nearby while the remainder of the crew threw everything movable over the fantail to lighten ship forward. These bombs are dropped at about 20,000 feet and can be steered by the pilot of the bomber until it hits the water or a target. They cannot be avoided so easily. All ships in the harbor were ordered to send spare submersible pumps over to the cruiser so we started to lower the motor whaleboat with three pumps when the Captain made a sharp turn just as the OOD told the Bos'n to lower away. The whaleboat was caught on the after davit and twisted sideways in the water, filling and sinking with the pumps going over the side. Lost one whaleboat and three pumps, and the Captain sure looks bad in the light of that. The Captain and the Exec. were more worried about the boat than the men in the water. Air raids at 1030, 1145, 1400, 1500, and 1815. Benson, Niblack, Plunkett, Mayo and cruisers Philadelphia and Savannah left Salerno after fueling. Plunkett dropped charges at 1930. Watch 1230-1730 and

GQ air raid at 1815 lasting until 2000 and we were about 20 miles at sea. The Benson and Niblack are escorting the Savannah to Malta for repairs.

Watch 0230-0730 and turn to. At 1500 the Philadelphia, Mayo and the Plunkett left the convoy. Arrived at the Straits of Messina 0700 and it looks like an nice place though it was a terrible place for the Americans to have to cross and chase the Germans. It is cliffs on both sides and there are several wrecked landing barges along the shores now from the crossing, the Germans probably caught it heavy here too in retreating. GQ 0535-0700 and we expect to arrive in Malta by 2000. We had to remain outside of Malta as the Italian fleet was moving around and coming out of the harbors. Some came out of Valletta Harbor and St. Angela to the south of us. We anchored out and I had the anchor watch 1730-2230. See press news.

Watch 0800-1200 and fueled ship from the Empire Dolphius. We talked with some of the Shubrick sailors, they have to buy American cigarettes from the British who have been to the States. The English charge them $5.00 for a 55 cent carton of cigarettes. Their executive officer, and the executive officer of the Mayrant who happens to be Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., the president of the United States' son, had to fly to Africa and have a Navy supply ship sent to Malta for food for the two ships there. That is how the British were treating the Americans in this theater of operations. Now you can see why we fight with the British sailors all the time, We got underway for Salerno at 1600 at 25 knots.

Watch 2230-0230. Entered the Straits of Messina at 0200 and doing 20 knots at sunrise. Arrived in Salerno assault area at 1200. Saw soldiers on the beach for the first time. Wrecked planes, guns, tanks, bulldozers, cranes and many other landing barges with more equipment. The Germans are running regular shuttle bombing missions now from improved airports behind the lines. Four dive bombers came out of the sun at 1420 and our forecastle was straffed by fifty caliber slugs. They dropped a bomb which we watched go right into a liberty ship on our port quarter and blow up below decks setting the ship afire. They were the closest we had an enemy plane yet. One of the fellows (H. Little) shot one of them down with 20mm fire. He had been wounded in Gela and always waited on one of the 20mm for a crack back at the dive bombers; he got even for himself anyway. GQ at 1400, 1422, 1450, 1530, 1645, 1730 and watch 1230-1730 with another air raid at 2125.

Watch 2230-0230 and GQ 0930 for another air raid which was a beauty. We left the area for Palermo, Sicily. Passed wreckage of a hospital ship which the Plunkett had sunk with gunfire as she had an epidemic aboard and they decided to abandon it. We arrived in Palermo at 1500. 15 Italian cans, 17 E boats, 3 subs, and the Abercrombe, a British monitor bombed in Salerno are in the harbor. We took on 375 rounds of powder and 375 rounds of ammo for the Philadelphia as she expended 750 rounds of ammo yesterday at Salerno and needed the ammo to continue bombarding. We were the ammo ship for her. This is the first time a destroyer had ever been used as such as ship in the history of the Navy. The Gleaves did the same getting her ammo from the

damaged Savannah in Malta. We are returning to Salerno with the Ancon. GQ at 2230. See press news.

GQ 0130 and arrived in Salerno at 0730 in the middle of an air raid and tried to transfer the ammo directly to the Philadelphia but the Admiral chased us away for safety of the two ships and had the ammo transferred to the LCT first. Had an air raid at 0730 with four ME 109's coming in on the cruiser's starboard bow, we shot one down with 20mm fire again. We went on outfield patrol at 1300 and had an air raid at 1330. British cruiser and battleship Warspite were hit in the raid. The battleship had only been in the area for three hours and she was bombed and towed out of the area in eight hours, so they got rid of that menace in a hurry. See press news.

Watch 2230-0230 and GQ 0730 having a collision with a sea-going minesweep. We had been out for the night with the cruiser Philadelphia and the Plunkett and were returning to the area in a heavy fog when the minesweep hove up out of the fog directly in front of us and we sideswiped each other, not doing too much damage to either of us. The British 8th and the American 5th Army met today. The cruiser Boise came in today so we are to operate with her for awhile in shore bombardment. GQ six times today and we left the area for our night sweep with the Boise at 1900. Watch 1730-2230, two German subs are reported in the area tonight.

GQ 0000, 0510 and 0735 and all heavy raids too. They tried to bomb our hospital ship last night and missed it. General Clark made a big attack on the Nazis today -- see press news. GQ nine times and all less than an hour apart. Left the harbor with cruisers on sweep at night.

Watch 0730-1230 and turn to square ship away for a change. Out on sweep with the Boise again today. Tried twice to enter Salerno but the Nazis had mined the channel during the night and we couldn't get into the area until about 1500. Left again at 1700 and moved in circles until the Ancon came out at 2130 and we left to take her to Palermo, Sicily. GQ 1000, 1300, 2000.

Watch 2230-0230 and turn to. Entered Palermo at 0700 then held a field day, worked on charts and underway after fueling ship at 1800 for outfield patrol. Boise and Ancon and two cans in the harbor now. Expecting to be relieved from Mediterranean duty soon now. Watch 1230-1730.

Watch 0230-0730. The Philadelphia was supposed to arrive here at 0500, but she never did show up. Entered harbor at 0800 and fueled ship then we anchored in outer harbor and went for a swim. Wish some mail would come in.

Turn to all day and swimming at 1600 for all hands. Shifted to another mooring. Saw a movie and watch 1600-2000.

Relieved the outfield patrol at 0800 after carrying ammo aboard earlier in the morning. Watch 1230-1730. Expect the Brooklyn back in by September 26, maybe our reliefs will be with her.

Watch 0230-0730. I lost my bunk last night to another fellow that had more time in the Navy that I, so he claimed it by right of seniority. Watch 1730-2230 and had locker and seabag inspection during the day.

Watch 0730-1230 and did some explaining about my intentions for going to school as an aviation cadet. Relieved of patrol at 1900 and the Plunkett came in with the Brooklyn at 1800. Fueled ship and tied up to breakwater in inner harbor so we got a good look at the town today. It sure is blown up pretty bad. Started 48 hour availability to fix the high power thrust shaft on our port engine as the clearance has closed up and it must be lengthened or it would bind instead of turning.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to with second section liberty. I went ashore and it sure was a riot of a liberty. Had a bad wind storm during the night and we were supposed to get underway with one engine and 90 fathoms of chain out to keep us on our course when the word was delayed at the last minute. We even had sand in the air as the storm was supposed to have come from the Sahara desert across the Mediterranean. That is really travelling.

Watch 0800-1200 and turn to for field day. Philadelphia left today. We are the ready duty ship, swimming party off the forecastle in the afternoon. Hope to be relieved here soon now. Still hoping anyway.

Up at 0700 and watch 0800-1200. Saw a movie in the afternoon and got underway for Ustica patrol off Palermo for the night. Watch 1730-2230.

Reveille 0600 and watch 0730-1230. Entered Palermo harbor at 1030 and fueled ship. Anchored in outer harbor in the afternoon and went for a swim. Underway for outfield patrol again at 1700 and watch 2230-0230.

Returned to Palermo and fueled ship at 1100 and then anchored in the outer harbor. Quarters for muster at 1300 and then swimming for awhile and underway for outfield patrol at 1700. Had radar contact at 2130 and illuminated the target and fired 20mm across its bow to stop her. It was small boat and we let it proceed on its way.

Returned to Palermo harbor and fueled ship and anchored for a swimming party. The Brooklyn came back from the States today and they say they had a swell time in Brooklyn. We hope to go to Oran in the morning. Watches 0000-0400 and 0600-0800.

Turn to for field day and at 1301 we picked up five survivors of a Wellington bomber, HZ 424. The crew were Flight Lt. George B. Leddy RCAF 331st Wing BNAF, the pilot was injured in the crash, he broke his nose and the rest of the crew were all right. Their motors quit on a flight to Italy and they had to jettison 400 gallons of gas and their full bomb load to crash at sea at 2230 on October 1, 1943. We entered the Tunisian war channel at 1500. The minesweep Skill was sunk in Salerno. One of our crew had a brother on it who was killed in the explosion of the bomb, Thomas Burke MM1/c. Watch 1730-2230.

Reveille 0600 and watch 0730-1230. Abandon ship drills and school in the afternoon. Left the Tunisian war channel at 0000, arrived off Algiers at 1800 dropped off the Ancon and proceeded to Oran at 22 knots with the Nicholson, another destroyer. I may get my rate this month yet.

Watch 2230-0230. Arrived in Oran at 0800. Stateside mail came aboard, turn to paint the decks. I got a good dose today from some eggs that the cook gave me for breakfast today, which I missed due to special sea detail. It sure tied me up in a knot. Watch 1200-1600 and saw a movie and hit the sack.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to. Underway at 1100 to relieve the outfield patrol. Watch 1730-2230 and no dope on our returning to the States at this time.

Relieved of outfield patrol at 1200 and watch 1230-1730. No liberty for the crew and we shifted ammunition, 500 rounds of it, then we had some stores come aboard that we had ordered way back in Norfolk. Saw movie and watch 2000-2400.

Watch 0800-1200 and underway at 1100 for patrolling of the Bay area. Nine transports stood out of Oran and the convoy got underway at 1700 for the Salerno assault area at 14 knots. Ensign Donald S. Lindberg came aboard for

duty. He was graduated in June of '43 though he is class of '44. Watch 1730-2230 and GQ 1900-2045.

Watch 0230-0730. Turn to for field day and torpedo director instructions by Ens. Belden. Went through the Tunisian war channel and met some convoys headed for Oran. We are expected to be in New York at the latest November 15th. This is the latest scuttlebutt. GQ 1730 and watch 1730-2230.

GQ 0500 for dawn alert and watch 0730-1230. School and instruction period on torpedo directory. GQ 1930-2100 and the news of the sinking of the destroyer Buck came in today. She got hit in the area of Naples by a German sub leaving a buoy in the water. See October 12th.

Watch 2230 and GQ 0530. Turn to school and instruction period on torpedo directors again, we will never get the chance to fire them anyway, so it is just a waste of time for us. Arrived in Naples at 1145. Saw the Isle of Capri and the people on this island don't know there is a war. They needed food, but the Germans never touched land on that island. We sent a PT full of food and supplies and that was the first boat to land there. Anchored in Pozzuoli Bay 12 miles above Naples and about 15 miles from the front lines. The transports took all day to unload the troops. Saw an early movie and at 2015 two enemy planes came in and bombed, strafed the beach where the transports had unloaded the soldiers. They didn't bother us any, though we went to GQ for it.

Watch 0230-0730 and turn to paint the ship's sides. School and instruction period. The transports moved down to Naples harbor at 0530. We got underway at 1100 for Oran with six Navy transports. Watch 1730-2230 and GQ 1800-1920.

GQ 0500-0620 and watch 0730-1230, school instruction periods and turn to in the afternoon. We got the dope on the new torpedo attack the Germans are using on us and which they used on the Buck three days ago. They launch a small metallic buoy just before they submerge, so we keep our radar contact and then sneak away a few thousand yards to form a geometric triangle by using our radar beams and launch their torpedo for a perfect hit. We cannot stop the radar on contact now, so that eliminates that menace. About 100 men on the Buck were lost. Entered Tunisian war channel at 1300 and spotted floating mine at 1225 which the Trippe blew up with 20mm.

Watch 2230-0230 and the destroyer Bristol was torpedoed off Cape Teddles at 0428. GQ 0428-0730. The Bristol was patrolling station on our port quarter and astern of us in the screen. We figured that the sub had us in her sights and the Bristol coming along behind us made her wait and get her instead. She was only 2000 yards astern and on our port quarter when she was hit. The radar man on watch saw her go down on our radar by watching the scope. She went down in about three minutes. They were lucky as they only lost 5 officers and 47 men, and the escorts of the convoy rescued 17 officers and 223 men. Turn to and school, watch 1230-1730.

Watch 2230-0230 and arrived at Mers El Kebir, Algeria at 1030 then patrolled until the convoy entered the harbor. Turn to school and instruction period, watch 1230-1730.

Loaded on 800 rounds of ammo for the cruiser Boise in Algiers. Underway at 1000 and returned to harbor, underway again at 1900 for Algiers. Watches 0230-0730, 1730-2230.

Arrived in Algiers at 0630 and unloaded the ammo for the Boise and then reloaded 800 rounds back on again. Underway at 1300 for Mers El Kebir at 34 knots and it sure was a fast ride with that load on. Arrived in Mers El Kebir at 2130 and tied up to the ammunition ship Mount Baker at 2300. Watch 0730-1230. Received another commendation today -- see press news.

Unloaded 800 rounds of ammunition for the Boise and five hundred of our own and then took on 1100 rounds of 5" 38 caliber. Fueled ship and laid around harbor before anchoring. Liberty for the second section. Watch 1200-1600.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to for the day. Watch 0800-1200 school, instruction period and shifted berths.

Turn to and underway at 1200. School and instruction period in the morning. We went out on outfield patrol. Two large German transports and two German hospital shops approached us today while we were on patrol and went on into the harbor to exchange prisoners of war. It sure looked strange to see the four ships come in over the horizon with the large Swastikas flying on the stern and painted on all sides and we weren't to do anything about them at the time.

Underway at 1100 with the refrigeration ship USS Merak for Palermo. Speed 16.5 knots and due to arrive on the 22nd at 0630. Turn to school and instruction period. Watch 0230-0730, 1730-2230.

Watch 0730-1230 and turn to school and instruction period. Arrived in Tunisian war channel 1500 and due to arrive at Palermo in the morning at 0630. Don't expect to get to the States until March now.

Watch 2230-0230 and turn to shifting the ammo from us to the rest of the destroyers in our squadron. Took my last exam for QM 3/c today. No more exams after this, they are going to have to give it to me now or I'll stay seaman. School and instruction period and anchored in Palermo at 0800. The Brooklyn is still here. Underway at 2200 for Naples with the Niblack and Boise. Speed is 19 knots. Watch 1730-2230.

GQ 0500 and watch 0730-1230 arriving in Naples at 1100. Fueled and anchored in outer harbor. Naples is really a mess too. I counted nine large ships sunk at the docks by internal explosions set off by the Germans and the docks are stripped and blown up. The big piers are knocked down and all along the waterfront the town is all blown up. This much I could see from the ship by just using the long glass. Tonight in the movie we had quite a mess. The movies are for the men and officers are supposed to be asked to come if the men wish to have them. They come regardless of this. This time there were only half of them coming, then they all wanted to come and some friends of theirs too. Finally the men had to squeeze in closer for the chairs of the officers. Some men had to leave because there wasn't any room for them. The Captain and the Exec came down and some more had to go so that the big shots could stretch their feet out. At the end of the first reel, when they turned on the lights to change the reels, there were only the officers and two colored mess attendants left in the mess hall. This the officers didn't like and the press news said it was a deliberate discourtesy to officers placed above men under their command. We just didn't like the movie, we told them. They sure are a worried bunch of gold braid now. At 1828 tonight we had a very heavy air raid. There were planes all over the place. One large bomb fell 400 yards astern of the Brooklyn on our stb'd side. The Army has established an anti-aircraft battery pattern all over the harbor and we aren't to fire unless asked to. They fire in areas that are zoned off and follow the planes from one area to another. Two planes were shot down early in the raid and in the middle of the raid a bomb hit the SS James Irequill, a merchant tanker loaded with high test gas. The crew of 40 were refused aboard a British ship and they came over to us. We took them aboard, transferring them to the beach at 0330. The raid lasted about an hour. The Merchant Marine is doing all right for themselves in this war. They told us what they made for this night's work and it floored us. $150 for an air raid, $5 for every day they are east of Gibraltar, $300 for the loss of the ship, so we figured they made $450 for this night's work. The Navy gun crews on the same ship got $96 and $78 a month. Then they say the merchant marine is doing all the work and winning the war, see why we fight with them as we do? Watch 2230-0230.

Spun yarn Sunday and no work if you haven't anything that needs mending.

Turn to all day. Bought an Italian rifle from some of the British on the tanker and may give to Don for Christmas. Underway at 1730 for nightly sweep and had radar contact at 2100. Picked it up at 3000 yards and no sound contact as we were doing twenty knots. Investigated after going to GQ closing to 800 yards and finding nothing there. Must surely have been a German sub and one of

those decoy buoys, though we never found the sub or the buoy. Watches 0230-0730, 1730-2230.

Returned to Naples harbor at 0930. Had to sneak through the swept channel as small boats were in the channel last night and were believed to have mined it. We went in at 5 knots and pinged with the sound gear for mines that our own ships laid to keep the small boats from entering the harbor. Fueled ship and had school and a lecture of discipline and military courtesy. Watch 0730-1230 and making preparations for annual military inspection by the commodore. Underway at 1200 for bombardment of the beach at Formia, Bonaventura, Elena and Gaeta with the Brooklyn and the Niblack, and then back to Palermo.

Watch 0230-0730 and arrived in Palermo at 0715. Had an inspection in undress blues. Sixteen men received the Purple Heart medal and the Captain and Doctor who were never even hit at all got their Purple Hearts too. Watch 2000-2400 and saw a movie.

Underway 0003 for Oran. Met convoy of nine transports and 4 DD's of CDS 7, 3 DD's of Div 13 and joined them north of Ustica Island. GQ at 0100 to set the watch as the boys were slow in getting Special Sea Detail relieved. The skipper got mad and got everyone up by sounding GQ and then told them to set the watch. Watch 0730-1230 and arrived Tunisian War Channel at 1300, the Gleaves spotted a mine at 1215 and blew it up. Turn to field day in preparation for the inspection that will come up soon. Inspection of holds, storerooms, shops, laundry, pantry, and galley.

Watch 2230-0230 and turn to preparing for the inspection. School, instruction and battle problem drill at 1030. Watch 1230-1730.

Watch 0230-0730 turn to field day with formal inspection of holds, storerooms, shops, etc., by the Exec. All hands haircuts. Arrived in MEK at 1800 and patrolled outside the harbor until the transports entered Oran.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to with Captain's formal inspection of the crew. Watch 1200-1600 and underway at 1800 for outfield patrol. We hope to get to England and then home by December 15, but that is getting to be a joke these days.

Watch 2230-0230 and entered Mers El Kebir harbor at 0830 tying up alongside our first Destroyer Escort. They are nearly the same as we, just on a smaller scale, though they are flimsy. Went ashore on liberty for a change and had a pretty good time, returned to the ship at 2030 for the second movie.

Watch 0000-0400 and turn to on charts, light lists and notices to mariners. Watch 1200-1600 and saw a movie. Stayed aboard all day.

Watch 0400-0800 and turn to working on charts all day. Made 3/c Quartermaster today. Watch 1600-2000 and received my Christmas present from Elvira in the mail today.

Turn to, raining today for a change. Watch 0400-0800. Prepared to shift berths as there is a storm brewing. I rated liberty from 1700 to 2200 but I stayed aboard and saw a movie.

Turn to and prepare to get underway at 1500. Underway for outfield patrol. Convoy standing out and forming around the cruiser and DE boats are finally showing up around here. Watch 1730-2230.

Left outfield patrol area and went to Gibraltar with 3 transports, cruiser and five cans as escorts. Arrived in Gibraltar at 1700 and were relieved by COMDESRON 61 and returning to Oran. Watch 0730-1230. A convoy that had come through the Straits of Gibraltar was attacked by torpedo bombers off Phillipville. Almost every convoy that comes through the Straits of Gibraltar is attacked by planes and the ones that leave from Oran and Algiers get through all right. The Spanish must be in close touch with the Germans from what we have seen. In this attack, they got 3 transports and 1 destroyer, losing 15 men.

Arrived in MEK 1100 and watch 1200-1600, 2230-0230 turn to school for my section liberty. Saw a movie and hit the sack.

Watch 0000-0400 and underway for outfield patrol at 1700. Signalmen and Quartermasters had a turn to today.

Watch 0230-0730 and Special sea detail at 1730 mooring to Epervier at 0800. Turn to stowing the new charts, instruction period and movie, then hit the sack.

Turn to for field day and drills. Liberty at 1400 and had a pretty good time, returned at 2100. See press news of this date.

Turn to continue field day. Quarters for muster and fire and rescue drills at 1300. About time for a big batch of mail to come in.

Turn to with inspection of holds and storerooms and chart stowage. Saw movie and watch 0000-0400 and 1200-1600.

Moved to berth alongside the Vulcan for repairs. Rated liberty and stayed aboard again. We now have a jeep for the ships use while in port and the bridge gang drives it during the day and the gunners mates have the duty at night. Sure is a good liberty to go for a ride in the thing.

Turn to fixing the ship up and driving the jeep for the skipper. Got some mail for a change and we are preparing for another inspection.

Watch on the jeep all night and watch at 0400-0800 after returning to the ship at 1215. I didn't stand the watch though, as I thought it was rubbing it in to have a watch and the night duty on the jeep too. I got away with it too.

0900 pay day and I sent $450 home. Turn to for field day and I rate liberty, but stayed aboard. The ship had a party in Oran tonight for the recreation of the crew and the officers sure did enjoy themselves with the French women that were dug up from somewhere. The officers didn't have to be back aboard ship at 0000 as the enlisted men did.

Turn to field day again. The Iowa came in to MEK today with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Admirals Hewitt and King, General Marshall, and Senator Knox aboard, tying up to the jetty at 1000. A buddy of mine named Sirigos from Mass. had a brother on board the Iowa that was in the Ships Service Dept. so we proceeded on over to the Iowa and tried to get aboard. The Officer of the Deck ran us off for not being in the uniform of the day, so we went back and put our undress blues on and went back again. When we did find Sirigos’ brother, we went into the canteen and locked the door and ate ice cream till it came out of our ears, sodas and sundaes too. The Iowa left for Dakar with the whole slew of big shots at 1730. We shifted berths three times during the day, but still remain alongside the Vulcan.

Turn to for field day. Worked on charts all day. Watch 1200-1600. Saw a good movie called Coney Island and hit the sack. Formal inspection in the morning in undress blues. Left the Vulcan and moored alongside the Epervier, our tender time is over and we go back to work.

Watch 0000-0400 and formal inspection at 0900. Watch 1200-1600 and turn to on charts. Mail came aboard for me. Saw a movie and hit the sack.

Turn to with inspection of holds and storerooms, passageways, etc. The Exec got eager. Rated liberty and stayed aboard. Received letters from Doris, Ken, Ruth. Saw a movie and turned in for the night. The harbor is full of ships now as cans and transports came in today.

Turn to on the new charts getting ready for the Commodore's inspection. Soon I hope, so he won't bother us again for another six months. We are expecting to go to England any day now.

Turn to and inspection, landing party left the ship for practice. German officials are rumored in Algiers for peace terms though there is nothing official on this yet, just scuttlebutt. Watch 1200-1600 and 0000-0400. Turkey dinner today as it was Thanksgiving Day.

Turn to on charts all day. Torpedo firing practice for today has been called off due to the weather. Quarters at 1300 and I rated liberty but stayed aboard.

Turn to and underway to fire practice torpedoes for the Commodore. He sure is a pest. Worked on charts all day. Watch 0800-1200 and 2000-2400.

Underway at 0630 with four cans, six sea going minesweeps, and five transports for Naples. Watch 1230-1730. Supposed to return to Oran and MEK with the empty transports and no further dope on going to England.

Watch 0230-0730 and turn to. We had evening chow at 1545 as we were going through Phillipville where all the convoys have been attacked so the skipper wanted to be on the ball. For this we were at GQ for three and a half hours, nothing happened as we came from Oran. Watch 1730-2230.

GQ 0600 and watch 0730-1230 turn to and school in the afternoon. GQ 1630-1800 and chow at 1800. Had GQ 1845 for air contacts on SC radar. They were all just off Palermo, Sicily and making fairly good time.