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April 1945 came in like a lion aboard the USS Montrose APA-212, which like many
other ships were in and around Okinawa for amphibious landings. All were loaded with
troops and equipment. The voice radio crackled to life. The man on watch in the C.I.C.
room jerked to attention. He took rapid notes, marked the time on the dispatch blank; it
was 0140 in the morning and clicked the buttons marked "Conn" and "Captain" on the
intercommunications speaker. "Conn, this is C.I.C. Message from officer in tactical
command follows: 'Red Alert, Red Alert All ships General Quarters. Make smoke.
Make smoke...' " The clang of the general alarm sent the crews racing to their guns in
the dark. Within minutes smoke was pouring from the special generators on the ship
and from the pots in the boats. A comforting screen of haze enveloped the Montrose
and her sister ships. Planes droned distantly overhead but then they were gone. The
crew secured and wearily returned to its sleep.
At 0355 once more the radio crackled to life and once more the man on watch took the
message "Red Alert, Red Alert" and once more the crew of the Montrose and its sister
ships sprang to life. They were trying times for ships like the "Rose" and her sisters,
for nights like this were the norm rather than the exception.
The great movement of naval and military forces which captured Okinawa and its
adjacent islands is too complex a matter to be given a just review here; yet the actions
in which the Montrose participated do indicate something of the master strategy
involved.
The first was to occupy Kerama Retto, that cluster of islets which spread some twenty
five miles southwest of the main island of Okinawa and there establish a refuge and
springboard for the ships, which would in phase two assault the main island. It was a
good plan but the irony of it was in the details; for the first assault ships, not yet ready
to invade Okinawa with its airfields, would be in continuous reach of its aircraft - the
most dangerous land based aircraft.
After refueling on the night of 1 April the Montrose went to battle stations once more
before retiring for the night and reaching the haven of the open sea and the pleasant
oblivion of being able to sleep for awhile; at a time when the only hazards to concern
those on watch were drifting mines, storms and submarines.
Roused by the capture of Retto, stung by the assumed landings on Okinawa, and
frightened by the bombings of their home islands the Japanese launched a terrific
counterattacking barrage of suicide planes. Their onslaught smashed against the
invasion forces the length of the Nansci, Shoto from the Hagushi beaches of Okinawa to
the tip of Yakabi Shima in the Keramas to the destroyer patrol squadrons all around the
entire mass of islands.
Five times during the night and day the crew of the Montrose were called to battle
stations. All day the crew lingered by the guns taking turns napping while anti-aircraft
gunners of the passenger artillerymen supplemented the men on watch. The
passengers for the Montrose were not scheduled to land until Phase Two, second
wave, being backup artillerymen. On 2 April at dusk the squadron reformed and began
its retirement for the night while the crew off watch sat down to supper. Then suddenly
out of the clouds the Japanese planes dived on the ship.
The Montrose was the fifth ship in the right hand of three columns and it was from her
starboard that the attack came. By the time that the alarm sounded the ship had
already gone to battle stations and the gunners on watch had already opened up with
every gun which could be brought to bear on the targets. The evening sky was full of
tracers (reds ones from the twenties and white ones from the heavier forties) which
streaked high into the cloud banks and funneled into vast cones upon the suiciders.
There were four twin engine dive bombers - Betty-s - in the first wave. With an
explosion that rocked the convoy, the first crashed into the bridge of the Hernrico
(APA-45) at the lead of the middle column. The bombs smashed through the deck
below and detonated deep inside the ship causing over two hundred casualties. Lying
dead upon the wrecked bridge were the captain and the troop regimental commander.
The second plane ran squarely into the concentration of fire from the whole starboard
column; tracers from the Montrose's forward forties were observed tearing into the
craft which shortly crash dived on the port bow of the Telfare (APA-210). A carrier
fighter slid out of a cloud bank and engaged the third plane thus pulling if far out of the
fight.
The last plane which moved almost parallel to the right hand column of ships was under
heavy fire from the Montrose and all the other ships in her column. Tracers from the
Montrose were seen by observers on the bridge to smash into the planes cockpit and a
moment later smoke streamed from the Betty while gunfire followed her to the water's
white caps, the plane wobbled and fell crashing into the water on the starboard side of
the formation. She was chalked up as an "assist" for the Montrose.
More Japanese planes were appearing. At this point the Montrose lost her ability to
summarize the situation as planes began appearing from everywhere. She became
engage with two twin engine bombers who attacked her from her starboard side, both
from the cover of a dark cloud bank. They came in one after the other about twenty
seconds apart.
The Montrose's lookouts were the first to spot the planes and concentrated fire was
opened up from every starboard battery at 4500 yards. The planes, another Betty,
closed to approximately 1500 yards squarely into the fire from the Montrose and she
turned and banked. At this maneuver tracers from the starboard batteries ate into the
planes, swept its fuselage and streamed into its engine block. As the turn was
completed the tail of the attacker fell away. The plane flipped heavily once and then
plummeted topside down into the water.
The second Betty began to roar on the Montrose's starboard side so the gunners
switched their sights to the new target. Fire was opened with the 40mm and the after
five incher at 4500 yards. At 4000 yards a shell from the big fantail rifle struck the
diving plane squarely midship and it burst into flames but continued falling in a long and
steep glide directly toward the Montrose. All of their guns now followed the strickened
Betty riddling the fuselage and wings until she flew apart and smashed with a geyser of
spray into the water two hundred yards off the stern off the Montrose.
All guns swung toward the cloud banks expecting a third run but no planes followed.
there was a long moment of silence then a great cheer went up all over the sip. Troops
roared and shouted. Gun crews hugged the hot barrels of their guns and patted the
mounts. Ah, the rose of Okinawa -the USS Montrose was of age-she was a fighting
ship.
While the Montrose had been shooting down the Bettys, other ships had been engaged
also. five suiciders had completed their runs and flames over the now dark sea were
rising from a destroyer - the Dickerson which was subsequently scuttled and from four
of the transports: Henrico (APA-45), Telfair (APA-210)), Goodhue (APA-107) and
Chilton (APA-38). The squadron continued its retirement after it had reformed,
shepherding the four wounded transports and sinking destroyer while praying for their
dead. Somewhere, perhaps, obeisances were made for the lost Japanese pilots but
not by the Montrose and her sisters.
Not having had use for its boats since landings from the Montrose were scheduled later,
they had been lent to the Eastland (APA-163) whose troops were to land on Kerama
Retto. The next day the Montrose had no special duty but she serviced with water, fuel
and provisions the larger landing craft, LCI's and LSM's which came to her side. As the
twilight deepened anxious eyes from the Montrose were relieved to see her landing
craft streaking homeward as lookouts fearfully counted their number as they hove into
sight. All present and accounted for! They came alongside and were hoisted aboard
and the squadron retired to the open sea for the night. How dangerous those waters
were off Kerama Retto actually were is evidenced by the scores of mines swept up in
the area the next day and by the four hundred suicide speedboats each loaded by
collision torpedoes, later located in hidden coves about the islets.
The Japanese garrisons on the islets offered little opposition on most of the beach
heads. True, there were brief spasms of bitter fighting but in general the lack of
resistance perplexed all hands. It was revealed much later, that the assaults had taken
the defenders by surprise and though the islet defenders were overrun, their planes
were not and had to be eliminated one by one. On the second ay after the landings
eight raids were made upon the warships marking the beginnings of suicide attacks
which reached tremendous proportions at Okinawa later. While the islets had been
easily overrun Okinawa itself proved to give the U.S. fighting men some of their greatest
losses of life in the war in the Pacific. It was however, a land war and the USS
Montrose "The Rose of Okinawa" was finally able to rest for at least a little while. She
and her sisters were like the land troops, dreading known horrors of the invasion of
Japan proper. Okinawa had only been a blip on the screen.
other ships were in and around Okinawa for amphibious landings. All were loaded with
troops and equipment. The voice radio crackled to life. The man on watch in the C.I.C.
room jerked to attention. He took rapid notes, marked the time on the dispatch blank; it
was 0140 in the morning and clicked the buttons marked "Conn" and "Captain" on the
intercommunications speaker. "Conn, this is C.I.C. Message from officer in tactical
command follows: 'Red Alert, Red Alert All ships General Quarters. Make smoke.
Make smoke...' " The clang of the general alarm sent the crews racing to their guns in
the dark. Within minutes smoke was pouring from the special generators on the ship
and from the pots in the boats. A comforting screen of haze enveloped the Montrose
and her sister ships. Planes droned distantly overhead but then they were gone. The
crew secured and wearily returned to its sleep.
At 0355 once more the radio crackled to life and once more the man on watch took the
message "Red Alert, Red Alert" and once more the crew of the Montrose and its sister
ships sprang to life. They were trying times for ships like the "Rose" and her sisters,
for nights like this were the norm rather than the exception.
The great movement of naval and military forces which captured Okinawa and its
adjacent islands is too complex a matter to be given a just review here; yet the actions
in which the Montrose participated do indicate something of the master strategy
involved.
The first was to occupy Kerama Retto, that cluster of islets which spread some twenty
five miles southwest of the main island of Okinawa and there establish a refuge and
springboard for the ships, which would in phase two assault the main island. It was a
good plan but the irony of it was in the details; for the first assault ships, not yet ready
to invade Okinawa with its airfields, would be in continuous reach of its aircraft - the
most dangerous land based aircraft.
After refueling on the night of 1 April the Montrose went to battle stations once more
before retiring for the night and reaching the haven of the open sea and the pleasant
oblivion of being able to sleep for awhile; at a time when the only hazards to concern
those on watch were drifting mines, storms and submarines.
Roused by the capture of Retto, stung by the assumed landings on Okinawa, and
frightened by the bombings of their home islands the Japanese launched a terrific
counterattacking barrage of suicide planes. Their onslaught smashed against the
invasion forces the length of the Nansci, Shoto from the Hagushi beaches of Okinawa to
the tip of Yakabi Shima in the Keramas to the destroyer patrol squadrons all around the
entire mass of islands.
Five times during the night and day the crew of the Montrose were called to battle
stations. All day the crew lingered by the guns taking turns napping while anti-aircraft
gunners of the passenger artillerymen supplemented the men on watch. The
passengers for the Montrose were not scheduled to land until Phase Two, second
wave, being backup artillerymen. On 2 April at dusk the squadron reformed and began
its retirement for the night while the crew off watch sat down to supper. Then suddenly
out of the clouds the Japanese planes dived on the ship.
The Montrose was the fifth ship in the right hand of three columns and it was from her
starboard that the attack came. By the time that the alarm sounded the ship had
already gone to battle stations and the gunners on watch had already opened up with
every gun which could be brought to bear on the targets. The evening sky was full of
tracers (reds ones from the twenties and white ones from the heavier forties) which
streaked high into the cloud banks and funneled into vast cones upon the suiciders.
There were four twin engine dive bombers - Betty-s - in the first wave. With an
explosion that rocked the convoy, the first crashed into the bridge of the Hernrico
(APA-45) at the lead of the middle column. The bombs smashed through the deck
below and detonated deep inside the ship causing over two hundred casualties. Lying
dead upon the wrecked bridge were the captain and the troop regimental commander.
The second plane ran squarely into the concentration of fire from the whole starboard
column; tracers from the Montrose's forward forties were observed tearing into the
craft which shortly crash dived on the port bow of the Telfare (APA-210). A carrier
fighter slid out of a cloud bank and engaged the third plane thus pulling if far out of the
fight.
The last plane which moved almost parallel to the right hand column of ships was under
heavy fire from the Montrose and all the other ships in her column. Tracers from the
Montrose were seen by observers on the bridge to smash into the planes cockpit and a
moment later smoke streamed from the Betty while gunfire followed her to the water's
white caps, the plane wobbled and fell crashing into the water on the starboard side of
the formation. She was chalked up as an "assist" for the Montrose.
More Japanese planes were appearing. At this point the Montrose lost her ability to
summarize the situation as planes began appearing from everywhere. She became
engage with two twin engine bombers who attacked her from her starboard side, both
from the cover of a dark cloud bank. They came in one after the other about twenty
seconds apart.
The Montrose's lookouts were the first to spot the planes and concentrated fire was
opened up from every starboard battery at 4500 yards. The planes, another Betty,
closed to approximately 1500 yards squarely into the fire from the Montrose and she
turned and banked. At this maneuver tracers from the starboard batteries ate into the
planes, swept its fuselage and streamed into its engine block. As the turn was
completed the tail of the attacker fell away. The plane flipped heavily once and then
plummeted topside down into the water.
The second Betty began to roar on the Montrose's starboard side so the gunners
switched their sights to the new target. Fire was opened with the 40mm and the after
five incher at 4500 yards. At 4000 yards a shell from the big fantail rifle struck the
diving plane squarely midship and it burst into flames but continued falling in a long and
steep glide directly toward the Montrose. All of their guns now followed the strickened
Betty riddling the fuselage and wings until she flew apart and smashed with a geyser of
spray into the water two hundred yards off the stern off the Montrose.
All guns swung toward the cloud banks expecting a third run but no planes followed.
there was a long moment of silence then a great cheer went up all over the sip. Troops
roared and shouted. Gun crews hugged the hot barrels of their guns and patted the
mounts. Ah, the rose of Okinawa -the USS Montrose was of age-she was a fighting
ship.
While the Montrose had been shooting down the Bettys, other ships had been engaged
also. five suiciders had completed their runs and flames over the now dark sea were
rising from a destroyer - the Dickerson which was subsequently scuttled and from four
of the transports: Henrico (APA-45), Telfair (APA-210)), Goodhue (APA-107) and
Chilton (APA-38). The squadron continued its retirement after it had reformed,
shepherding the four wounded transports and sinking destroyer while praying for their
dead. Somewhere, perhaps, obeisances were made for the lost Japanese pilots but
not by the Montrose and her sisters.
Not having had use for its boats since landings from the Montrose were scheduled later,
they had been lent to the Eastland (APA-163) whose troops were to land on Kerama
Retto. The next day the Montrose had no special duty but she serviced with water, fuel
and provisions the larger landing craft, LCI's and LSM's which came to her side. As the
twilight deepened anxious eyes from the Montrose were relieved to see her landing
craft streaking homeward as lookouts fearfully counted their number as they hove into
sight. All present and accounted for! They came alongside and were hoisted aboard
and the squadron retired to the open sea for the night. How dangerous those waters
were off Kerama Retto actually were is evidenced by the scores of mines swept up in
the area the next day and by the four hundred suicide speedboats each loaded by
collision torpedoes, later located in hidden coves about the islets.
The Japanese garrisons on the islets offered little opposition on most of the beach
heads. True, there were brief spasms of bitter fighting but in general the lack of
resistance perplexed all hands. It was revealed much later, that the assaults had taken
the defenders by surprise and though the islet defenders were overrun, their planes
were not and had to be eliminated one by one. On the second ay after the landings
eight raids were made upon the warships marking the beginnings of suicide attacks
which reached tremendous proportions at Okinawa later. While the islets had been
easily overrun Okinawa itself proved to give the U.S. fighting men some of their greatest
losses of life in the war in the Pacific. It was however, a land war and the USS
Montrose "The Rose of Okinawa" was finally able to rest for at least a little while. She
and her sisters were like the land troops, dreading known horrors of the invasion of
Japan proper. Okinawa had only been a blip on the screen.
Dental Officer Dr.
Robert Smithwick
Robert Smithwick
| BY JOHN MEENAN |
On 12 January 1945 the Montrose left Seattle on its first crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
The beauty of the Strait of Juan de Fuca was enjoyed by the crew as well as the troops
as we headed out to join the great war. The smooth waters of the strait rapidly
changed to pounding waves. the small craft storm warnings soon changed to a full
storm warning and our course was to keep us in the storm for four full days. The ship's
bow rose and sank with a wall of water coming over the fo'c'sle and the spray reaching
the signal bridge. The stern would rise letting the screw come out of the water and the
whole ship would vibrate. Most of the crew and all of the troops were sea sick. Every
man had his own story to tell of how he survived. One sailor who would get sick easily
had to take his turn of watch in the crows nest. Up to this time others would trade
places with him to give him a break. This time he had to take his turn so lines were
secured around him to make sure he would get there. When it was time to relieve him
he said not to bother. In trying to convince him they told him that they would make sure
he would be returned safely to the deck but he answered that he never felt so good
since he went to sea. He never was sea sick after that.
To make matters worse, one of the soldiers became sick and it was determined he
needed an appendectomy operation. Elaborate plans were made to head the ship into
the wind and reduce speed during the surgery. Doctor H.H. Greene was to do the
surgery. He leaned against the table and had men lean against him on either side and
one behind him to be sure he would be as stable as possible. After a quick rehearsal
Dr. Greene was ready to go. The operation lasted a total of twenty minutes and was a
success. All hands gave a big cheer when the word was passed that the operation was
a success. At least it took the men's minds off their sea sickness.
The beauty of the Strait of Juan de Fuca was enjoyed by the crew as well as the troops
as we headed out to join the great war. The smooth waters of the strait rapidly
changed to pounding waves. the small craft storm warnings soon changed to a full
storm warning and our course was to keep us in the storm for four full days. The ship's
bow rose and sank with a wall of water coming over the fo'c'sle and the spray reaching
the signal bridge. The stern would rise letting the screw come out of the water and the
whole ship would vibrate. Most of the crew and all of the troops were sea sick. Every
man had his own story to tell of how he survived. One sailor who would get sick easily
had to take his turn of watch in the crows nest. Up to this time others would trade
places with him to give him a break. This time he had to take his turn so lines were
secured around him to make sure he would get there. When it was time to relieve him
he said not to bother. In trying to convince him they told him that they would make sure
he would be returned safely to the deck but he answered that he never felt so good
since he went to sea. He never was sea sick after that.
To make matters worse, one of the soldiers became sick and it was determined he
needed an appendectomy operation. Elaborate plans were made to head the ship into
the wind and reduce speed during the surgery. Doctor H.H. Greene was to do the
surgery. He leaned against the table and had men lean against him on either side and
one behind him to be sure he would be as stable as possible. After a quick rehearsal
Dr. Greene was ready to go. The operation lasted a total of twenty minutes and was a
success. All hands gave a big cheer when the word was passed that the operation was
a success. At least it took the men's minds off their sea sickness.
 |
Commander Hallock G. Davis U.S.N. was assigned as the first skipper of the U.S.S.
Montrose. He was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and his last
previous sea command before being named to the Montrose was Skipper of a
destroyer. He held the rank of Commander for about seventeen years and worked at
the naval District Headquarters in San Francisco. He lived in Palo Alto, California and
shared a back yard fence with former President Herbert Hoover. In order to be
promoted he had to have command of a ship at sea for at least a year to qualify for
the rank of Captain.
On 29 October 1945 the Montrose sailed from Saipan non stop to San Francisco
arriving 14 November 1945. Upon docking a friend of the Skipper, a full captain came
aboard to congratulate Commander Davis on his promotion to full Captain. This was
news to the new Captain Davis. He was told he was promoted a month ago - it was in
a message to all ships. A quick check of our radio traffic did not show such a
message. A check with another ship proved the message was sent a month before.
It was determined we missed the message because we switched from radio Honolulu
to radio San Francisco after Frisco sent the message and before Honolulu sent the
message. Captain H.G. Davis was happy with the promotion and did not complain.
Montrose. He was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and his last
previous sea command before being named to the Montrose was Skipper of a
destroyer. He held the rank of Commander for about seventeen years and worked at
the naval District Headquarters in San Francisco. He lived in Palo Alto, California and
shared a back yard fence with former President Herbert Hoover. In order to be
promoted he had to have command of a ship at sea for at least a year to qualify for
the rank of Captain.
On 29 October 1945 the Montrose sailed from Saipan non stop to San Francisco
arriving 14 November 1945. Upon docking a friend of the Skipper, a full captain came
aboard to congratulate Commander Davis on his promotion to full Captain. This was
news to the new Captain Davis. He was told he was promoted a month ago - it was in
a message to all ships. A quick check of our radio traffic did not show such a
message. A check with another ship proved the message was sent a month before.
It was determined we missed the message because we switched from radio Honolulu
to radio San Francisco after Frisco sent the message and before Honolulu sent the
message. Captain H.G. Davis was happy with the promotion and did not complain.
 |
But let it not be said that we didn't wake up old Davy Jones and make him take notice
out here in the middle of the Pacific.
It was not until the day of victory that our gunnery officer finally got his guns manned
as fast as he wanted. One might have thought all hell had broken loose - everything
was blazing away from the five incher to the carbines.....every noise making instrument
from the General Alarm to the Officers dinner gong was in play to say nothing of the
vocal cords that strained themselves hoarse. the ship itself seemed to add swing to
its pitch and roll.
The USS Montrose had gone to General Quarters many times in her ten months of
sea duty but never in the hilarious mood she went this day of victory. No one worried
about life belts or helmets; no one heard the word to commence fire and the cease
firing gong only added to the din. The ship was covered in a mass of smoke as tracer
fire streamed from her guns. Victory at last! Final victory! We didn't stop to question
it.....Lord.....we felt it to the very depths of our souls. Victory! The awakening from a
dream.....a dream that had been a nightmare to some had passed.
Silence fell about the decks as the Captain spoke. His was not the calm stern voice
we had heard before.....there seemed to be a lump in his throat while he thanked the
men for the job they had done and proclaimed a two day holiday routine for the
celebration-"There will be no reveille", he said and we whooped and he added that all
aboard were to receive the finest feed our provisions could afford.
The signal gang may have moaned a bit when they had to air bunting before but not
this day! There was no order necessary. In a few minutes the ship was in full dress.
Flags flew from every yardarm, every masthead, every boom.
Swabs, shirts, pants, pajamas, underwear.....oh, the Irish Pennant had its day!
At 1730 the enlisted men had their day. The regular Navy boys took over the ship with
the Chiefs at the Conn. The ship officers were made telephone talkers, messengers
and lookouts. Army officers whom were aboard were ordered to sweep down the
decks. The Exec was taken from his chow to man the helm.....and did it. And two
officers were put in the brig for failure to carry out their orders!
That night the pyrotechnic locker was raided and fireworks brightened skies for miles
around for an hour while our searchlights were streaming skyward in a "V" against the
clouds.
This then was the victory celebration we shared on the USS Montrose as she plowed
onward across the wide blue Pacific.
And when we turned in I was not the only one who also looked skyward.
out here in the middle of the Pacific.
It was not until the day of victory that our gunnery officer finally got his guns manned
as fast as he wanted. One might have thought all hell had broken loose - everything
was blazing away from the five incher to the carbines.....every noise making instrument
from the General Alarm to the Officers dinner gong was in play to say nothing of the
vocal cords that strained themselves hoarse. the ship itself seemed to add swing to
its pitch and roll.
The USS Montrose had gone to General Quarters many times in her ten months of
sea duty but never in the hilarious mood she went this day of victory. No one worried
about life belts or helmets; no one heard the word to commence fire and the cease
firing gong only added to the din. The ship was covered in a mass of smoke as tracer
fire streamed from her guns. Victory at last! Final victory! We didn't stop to question
it.....Lord.....we felt it to the very depths of our souls. Victory! The awakening from a
dream.....a dream that had been a nightmare to some had passed.
Silence fell about the decks as the Captain spoke. His was not the calm stern voice
we had heard before.....there seemed to be a lump in his throat while he thanked the
men for the job they had done and proclaimed a two day holiday routine for the
celebration-"There will be no reveille", he said and we whooped and he added that all
aboard were to receive the finest feed our provisions could afford.
The signal gang may have moaned a bit when they had to air bunting before but not
this day! There was no order necessary. In a few minutes the ship was in full dress.
Flags flew from every yardarm, every masthead, every boom.
Swabs, shirts, pants, pajamas, underwear.....oh, the Irish Pennant had its day!
At 1730 the enlisted men had their day. The regular Navy boys took over the ship with
the Chiefs at the Conn. The ship officers were made telephone talkers, messengers
and lookouts. Army officers whom were aboard were ordered to sweep down the
decks. The Exec was taken from his chow to man the helm.....and did it. And two
officers were put in the brig for failure to carry out their orders!
That night the pyrotechnic locker was raided and fireworks brightened skies for miles
around for an hour while our searchlights were streaming skyward in a "V" against the
clouds.
This then was the victory celebration we shared on the USS Montrose as she plowed
onward across the wide blue Pacific.
And when we turned in I was not the only one who also looked skyward.
VJ party continues
Ships Band
V J party
Montrose crew
bury Japan
bury Japan
