United States Navy USS John Rodgers (DD-574)

1 united states navy

1.1 1943
1.2 1944
1.3 1945

united states navy
1943

after shakedown in caribbean, john rodgers departed norfolk, virginia on 13 may escorting convoy through panama canal pearl harbor. following short training period there, destroyer joined screen of fast carrier task force in august during damaging raids on marcus island, tarawa, , wake island gathered invaluable information future landings.

then, in joint cruiser-destroyer force, sailed empress augusta bay support landings on bougainville on 1 november. while screening transports there week later, assisted santa fe in splashing japanese torpedo plane.

from action joined destroyer screen of southern attack force invasion of gilbert islands. protected transports during landings on betio island on 20 november , remained in area supporting marines ashore until tarawa atoll secure.

1944

late in december destroyers sailed pearl harbor prepare next major offensive. john rodgers departed pearl harbor on 22 january 1944, headed marshall islands. profiting experience gained in previous engagements, navy launched well-coordinated attack on kwajalein atoll on 31 january. in addition providing antiaircraft , antisubmarine protection, john rodgers supported landing forces gunfire knocked out enemy troop concentrations , pill boxes. after last resistance disappeared on 7 february, destroyer patrolled marshall island area until late march.

during april, acted escort ships bringing men , weapons american forces surprised enemy @ hollandia. naval fire support helped ground troops secure airfields giving united states closer base future attacks on remaining japanese-held islands.

in may, john rodgers operated out of guadalcanal screening convoys , bombarding enemy positions. in june sailed marshall islands prepare marianas campaign , departed eniwetok on 17 july guam invasion force. beginning on 21 july, john rodgers fired more 3,600 rounds @ targets on guam helping knock out enemy troop concentrations , defensive works. destroyer remained in mariana islands until 4 august , provided antisubmarine screen transports bringing reinforcements.

in august, john rodgers began preparations morotai invasion , departed humboldt bay on 14 september support , screen landings there. after operation, provided allied base stage short-range fighters , bombers leyte, remained on patrol duty in area.

john rodgers returned hollandia on 2 october prepare long-awaited invasion of philippines. got under way leyte on 13 october , arrived support landings 7 days later. commanded commander j. g. franklin, screened ships carrying general douglas macarthur , troops philippines. american fighting men moved inland , took 2 important airfields, destroyer provided fire support , patrolled area.

meanwhile, risking save philippines, japan committed entire remaining naval force battle. u.s. navy met challenge routing japanese in decisive battle leyte gulf, , reducing once powerful navy mere shadow of former strength.

1945

following historic action, john rodgers departed philippines 30 october mare island naval shipyard, california, , badly needed overhaul. rejuvenated january 1945, destroyer sailed west join admiral raymond spruance s task force 58 (tf 58) on 7 february final offensive operations against enemy. carrier strikes on japanese homeland began 16 february and, in 2 days of relentless air attacks, destroyed 800 enemy planes.

john rodgers turned toward bonin islands screen fast carrier task force covering invasion of iwo jima on 19 february. although air raids , heavy guns knocked out many enemy defensive works, island enough fortified make navy pay high price in lives , weapons vital stopover b-29 superfortresses raiding tokyo.

following iwo jima, john rodgers resumed duty fast carrier task force raiding japan while awaiting invasion of okinawa, last , greatest amphibious operation of pacific war. john rodgers operated carriers continued bomb both japan , okinawa. began screening operations first assault wave hit beach on 1 april. stood protecting carriers , splashed 2 kamikazes dived toward flattops. remained in area supporting operations until okinawa secure on 21 june.

as war closed, john rodgers screened 3rd fleet during continuous raids on japan. flagship of destroyer squadron 25 (desron 25) since september 1943, uss john rodgers lead desron 25 in late july on suruga wan antishipping sweep , penetrated within 1½ miles of japanese shoreline, closest approach made allied surface ships during entire war. admiral william halsey congratulated division commander had led sweep on board john rodgers: loud applause , boys planned sweep conducted in best destroyer tradition. have been enrolled on emperor s blacklist.

following atomic bombing of hiroshima , nagasaki , subsequent collapse of japan, indefatigable destroyer screened transports carrying occupation troops tokyo bay on 6 september. triumphant entry tokyo fitting , well-deserved climax john rodgers had fought in every major offensive campaign of pacific war without losing single man.

her stay brief, however, sailed home , arrived boston, massachusetts on 17 october. moved charleston, south carolina on 3 november, decommissioned there on 25 may 1946, , entered atlantic reserve fleet. moved philadelphia in 1954, , orange, tx, in 1968.