That we were victorious in this action there can be no question for
not one of the Jap planes got away that night...all hit the Bast China sea in
flames. ‘We had seen the enemy at close hand and had been in our first action.
“wg felt then we could cope with-any situation that might arise. Our gunners
really demonstrated their ability to handle their guns. The TELFAIR crew wes
now a tested fighting unit. :

Cur Reach Party while on the beaches at I SHIMA had all the thrills
they could wish for from living in fox holes to being constantly subjected to
Jap sniper fire. Among the many hair-raising experiences they encountered was
the one on the day one of our boats brought needed supplics to the beach, Jap
snipers covering the besch tried their best to hit the men unloading supplies
as well as the boat crew. Outside of a couple of holes in the side of the boat-:,
the Jap marksmen were unable to score any hits. Not far from where the Beach
‘arty bivouacked was where Ernie Pyle was killed. All members of the Beach
Party visited his grave and read the marker that says, "Here Lies the 77th Div-
ision Buddy, ERNIE PYLE". 7

"le were all shocked as we know you were over the death of President
Roosevelt which was announced to us over the speaker system by the Captain who
directed that the colors be half masted for thirty days and that Sunday April
15th be the date of a memorial service to be conducted by the Chaplain for our
. departed Commoander-—in-Cnief,

well, to get along, our assigned tasks having been accomplished it
wasntt long before we received orders to move out, It was quite a relief to
put Okinawa behind us for we had been living under tremendous tension for more
then a month. Sleep was something you caught by the wink rather than by the
hour and we were several winks behind. After we were at sea the Captain an-
nounced our destination as Ulithi, some 1200 miles sout: and east of the Okinawa
Cunto and another of those Atols which have proved so valuable to us. Maybe
your short wave radios have picked up that stetion “VTY, whose announcer always
signs off with, "This is Ulithi, “WTY on the Facific Ocean Network, presenting
the finest in music and entertainment for you the listeners on this, THE ROAD
TO TORLONS | |

Maybe you heard the NAVY-HOUR broadcast not long ago with Lieutenant
Robert Taylor as Master of Ceremonies in which was presented "The Fleet That
Came To Stay" a-dramatic story of the KAMIKAZE attacks on Okinawa. We, are proud
-. +49 have been a part of that fleet. '

Our stay at Ulithi was pleasant because of the foresight and planning ©
by our Navy leaders who had established a Fleet Recreation Area here where ships
could send their personnel for relaxation, of the he-man type, You should have
seen us in our what-nots, playing baseball, basketball, volley ball, handball,

_ pitching horseshoes, and ‘swimming, with movies at night.

Through the instrumentality of radio, we probably heard as soon as
‘you of the Un-Conditional surrender of Germany which brought V-E Day. The
Captain published to all hands Fresident Truman's message of Un-Conditional
surrender and designated Sunday 13 May for the holding of a memorial service
as a fitting manner in which to commemorate this event.

We will be blossoming out with a new campaign ribbon, and you will be
interested to learn that the officers and men of the TELFAIR have been autnor-
4zed to wear the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, with bronze star. :

More honors came our way when the Captain called all hands to quarters
one day (after we left Ulithi) and at an Honors Ceremony made the following .
presentations:

fe

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