The Seaweed

USS Champlin DD-601  

Summer 2000 - Page 3

(continued from page 2)

other day I spotted Teddy Gold's ship among a convoy of LSTs. Would have sure liked to see him.

Wednesday August 15: At sea - still on picket line patrolling. At 1930 went to GQ for another raid. Secured at 2100. Going in tomorrow.

Thursday, August 16: At sea - entered Buckner Bay about 0900, fueled from tanker. Underway at 1100, went outside nets and then came back in and anchored. Underway at 1800 back to patrol area.

Friday, August 17: At sea - reentered Buckner Bay. 0930 Fueled from a tanker. Anchored at 1030. Stores came aboard. Underway again at 1930. Since the Pennsylvania has been hit the rest of the fleet has been moving out to sea in the evening and coming back in at daylight.

Saturday, August 18: At sea - entered Buckner Bay at 0700, refueled from tanker. Went to other side of island and anchored about 1300. Got mail today. Underway again about 1800 to patrol again.

Sunday, August 19: At sea - mail barge brought mail out to us, go one letter from Reneé. Holiday routine. Sea a little choppy at night, some spray.

Monday, August 20: At sea - still on patrol. This is really getting boring now, and certainly totally useless. Sunny and calm as usual. GQ at 1500 for drills. Received mail in the morning.

Tuesday, August 21: At sea - about 0900 refueled from a tanker in the bay. Got our mail and went back on patrol about 1130. Went alongside two ships to transfer mail. No GQ today.

Wednesday, August 22: At sea - still patrolling on the picket line. About 1330 we were ordered in to escort two ships out to sea. While waiting we saw a plane crash. It burst into flame and sank. The pilot was rescued and died shortly after. We escorted the two ships a little way and a DE and DD406 took over. We returned to Okinawa to patrol again. Received mail again this morning brought out by another ship.

Thursday, August 23: At sea - patrolling our sector off the island of Ie Shima where Ernie Pyle is buried. This morning there were hundreds of planes flying around of all types. Received mail again this afternoon brought out by an LCM, got one letter.

Friday, August 24: At sea - this patrol is getting on my nerves. Something better happen soon. Mail barge came alongside again. We've received warnings of a storm approaching our area, everything is being lashed down.

Saturday, August 25: At sea - we're the only ship on patrol now, the others come out at night and go in at morning while we stay out all the time. At 1125 we proceeded to Buckner Bay, arrived at 1330, refueled from a tanker. Anchored about 1500. Spending the whole night at anchor for a change. Today it was released that the major vessel hit August 12 was the Pennsylvania. Received mail today, one from Reneé and one from home.

We interrupt Berman's narrative to bring you two clippings believed to have come from The Seaweed at that time:

"During early evening of 12 August a major U.S. war vessel anchored in Buckner Bay Okinawa was struck by an aerial torpedo from an enemy aircraft. The extent of the damage has not yet been determined."

Also, "Guam: The United States Battleship Pennsylvania which was a victim of the Japanese sneak attack at Pearl Harbor is victom (sic) once again on the night of August twelfth at a time when surrender negotiations were in progress the navy revealed. An aerial torpedo from the enemy plane easily damaged the Pennsylvania. Toll: 20 men killed or missing."

Continuing with Berman's diary after this brief interruption to bring you late breaking news. . .

Sunday, August 26: Buckner Bay, Okinawa - still here until 1315. We got underway to escort PA124 on her sea trials. She was hit by a suicide plane during the air raid of Aug. 13 at Buckner Bay. Returned to anchorage in the Bay at 1700. Staying in again tonight. The Captain made Commander today. Holiday routine.

Monday, August 27: Buckner Bay, Okinawa - we stayed in all day today. Tom and I went swimming over the side. No mail today.

Tuesday, August 28: Buckner Bay, Okinawa - at anchor yet. Very surprising that we've been in for three days now. There were some Limey cruisers and destroyers (that) came in today. Today we did some work for the first time in weeks.

Wednesday, August 29: Buckner Bay, Okinawa - at anchor. Underway 1000 for Hagushi Bay, escorting 5 merchant vessels. Arrived 1600, anchored. Had a movie on the focsle. The first time we had a topside movie since Pearl Harbor. Received mail in the afternoon.

Thursday, August 30: Hagushi, Okinawa Shima - got underway at 1000 to escort five LSTs to Buckner Bay, arrived about 1730, anchored and remained in. Movie on the focsle.

Friday, August 31: Buckner Bay, Okinawa - at anchor. We went swimming off the fantail again. We almost got caught by the Captain.

(continued page 4)