Attack Transport

It is the dark of the moon and an overcast sky. We steamed across the upper part of the Coral Sea to the northwest corner of Guadalcanal Island, through Sealark Channel. All ships formed a single line and followed each other at about one-third speed between Savo and Guadalcanal islands. It was reported that the enemy had shore batteries but none fired. We all got through and aligned ships to the assigned positions. All attack transports were closest to the beach, followed by the destroyers a little farther out and the cruisers behind them. The first salvo was at 0600 then a continuous barrage exploded a fuel dump and set it on fire. The shelling was to scatter the enemy and destroy as much as possible. The Douglas Dive Bombers and Grumman Wild Cat Fighters were straffing and dropping their bombs on the beach area. The cruisers and destroyers are patrolling out farther and firing six and eight inch shells over us and hitting the enemies camp area. It is about dawn now and orders are to lower all boats. Each davit holds three landing boats. This being the first invasion all davits had the regular operating crew plus a machinist mate and an electricians mate in case needed. I was one of the machinist mates. The boats in water, the marines climbed down the nets and into the bobbing boats. The all wood landing boats pulled out to a designated area and circle until the signal is given to head for the beach. Ours is Red Beach. When the boats hit the beach, the marines roll over the side and drop into the water, and wade to the beach. Then the boats return to the ship for more marines. Boats also carry crates of food, ammunition, trucks, medical supplies and tanks. When the bridge gave the word that we have retaken Guadalcanal, the engine room was to secure main engines and they dropped the anchor. We did not kick in he jacking engine to slowly rotate the turbine rotors, the throttleman used the throttles forward and reverse to keep the rotors hot. No turns was put on the screw. At top speed of fourty-five hundred the screw turned about eighty-five. Firing at Tulagi is very heavy. This is across the bay. Destroyers are leveling all growth. The enemy is well into hiding in caves. Then a little before 1100, stand by to repel air attack. Here they come overhead and start dropping their 550 pound bombs. Two straddled our ship, exploding in the water, oily dark water boils up on our port and starboard sides. Water was thrown all over the stern part of our ship. The planes continued dropping bombs on and near the beach, then turned north. We heard that our Grumman Wild Cats downed most of them. My buddie Sprock was on a 20mm gun as a loader and passed out when the bomb went off on the port side and soaked him good. The doctors said this could happen. They took him to the sick bay and got a shot of rum down him, to speed up his heart and he got O.K. During the attack, one of our own planes a Douglas Dive Bomber developed engine trouble, his engine was smoking, he radioed Guadalcanal for permission to land, they O.K.'d to come in. As he flew over the cruiser Helena they fired on him, he continued across the stern, flipping his wings left and right to show his insignia. At this time our boats started firing and the plane plunged into the ocean.