RECOLLECTION

Charles F. Reynolds 1989

“Form Battle Lines”

In late October 1944, the Swanson was with Task Force 38, off the Philippines, as part of the destroyer screen for Task Group 38.4, with CV’s Enterprise, Franklin and CVL San Jacinto. I believe that for this occasion Task Force 38 was all present except for Task Group 38.1 which had been sent away to fuel. I recall that we were steaming north that afternoon to the east of Samar, that our Task passed a group of Escort Carriers with Destroyer Escort screen. I was sitting on a ready box at the Quad 40’s talking with I believe Captain Ratliff and Bill Jackson and we remarked what sitting ducks they were – night or so later, this became a fateful prophesy.

The Force 38 continued to steam northward to intercept a reported Japanese carrier force heavily escorted by battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. As I recall, we remained at General Quarters all night, and with dawn approaching, the Task Force received an order “Form Battle Line”. A Naval History that I read somewhere states that this was undoubtedly the last time a fleet will receive the order to perform this classical tactic – “Form battle lines”. In my opinion, it was the crowning achievement of the Swanson and its men, to be a part of the largest assemblage of a Naval Force in history and to have that order, the last of its kind. Naval history has not been kind to Admiral Halsey for his decision to move the Third Fleet north of Luzon, considering the Naval battle that ensued in the Central Philippines. I have never agreed with this criticism.

I returned to the University of Virginia and received my degree. A part of the graduation exercise is a long academic parade of the faculty, staff and graduates down the long Jefferson lawn, and in the forefront of the parade was Admiral Halsey. Old fellow fighters reunited one last time.

“Christmas Day at Saipan”.

The USS Swanson was anchored in Saipan Harbor and I was returning from ashore in the motor whale boat with a small work party on Christmas Day 1944/

We became aware that considerable air activity was developing at a high altitude above the harbor. At first we thought our Air Force Fighters were practicing fighter tactics – we could hear no gunfire. Then we noticed that one of the planes was apparently hit. I vividly remember as the plane, a Japanese fighter, very slowly fell in a fallen leaf pattern into the water well off shore west of Saipan. Then later that night the Japanese made an aerial attack on Saipan and theSwanson fired upon the planes.