MYSTERY HISTORY OF THE U.S.S GILLETTE DE-681:
NAMED IN HONOR OF DOUGLAS WILEY GILLETTE, LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE), USNR, OF BOSTON MASSACHUSETTES, WHO DIED IN ACTION ABOARD THE U.S.S HORNET ON 26 OCTOBER 1942. THE U.S.S GILLETTE, DE-681, WAS COMMISSIONED AT BETHLEHEM SHIPBUILDING CORPORATION, FORE RIVER, MASSACHUSETTES. AT THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY, 27 OCTOBER, 1943, T.G. MURRELL, COMMANDER, USNR OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE SHIP, AND J.W. DANIEL JR., LIEUTENANT COMMANDER, USNR, OF CLAXTON, GEORGIA, COMMENCED DUTY AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
FOLLOWING HER COMMISSIONING, THE GILLETTE REMAINED AT THE BOSTON NAVY YARD FOR CONTINUED WORK AND TESTS UNTIL 21 NOVEMBER 1943, WHEN SHE GOT UNDERWAY FOR BERMUDA, BRITISH WEST INDIES, DESTROYER SHAKEDOWN AREA FOR THE ATLANTIC FLEET. THE SHIP’S FIRST WAR ASSIGNMENT INTERRUPTED THE NORMAL ROUTINE OF A NEWLY COMMISSIONED SHIP. HALFWAY TO HER DESTINATION, THE GILLETTE WAS URGENTLY ORDERED TO RENDEZVOUS WITH A MERCHANTMAN, DISABLED DUE TO ENGINEERING CASUALTY AND LEFT IN A SEVERE STORM BY HER CONVOY. THE GILLETTE MADE CONTACT AND STOOD BY UNTIL TUG ARRIVED, THEN ESCORTED TUG AND TOW BACK TO NEW YORK. RESUMING HER WAY, SHE ARRIVED AT BERMUDA, 27 NOVEMBER, FOR THE EXTENSIVE SHAKEDOWN EXERCISES AND INSPECTIONS WHICH WERE COMPLETED ON 19 DECEMBER, WHEN SHE LEFT TO RETURN TO BOSTON NAVY YARD FOR POST-SHAKEDOWN AVAILABILITY.
ARRIVING 21 DECEMBER, THE GILLETTE REMAINED AT THE YARD UNTIL 2 JANUARY 1944, WHEN SHE WAS ORDERED TO BALBOA, CANAL ZONE, FOR DUTY IN EXERCISING SUBMARINES. FOR NEARLY TWO MONTHS, THE SHIP CARRIED ON EXERCISES AS TARGET OR ATTACKER, DROPPING CHARGES OR RETRIEVING TORPEDOES, UNTIL ORDERED TO ACT AS SENIOR ESCORT OF TASK GROUP 20.60 FOR CONVOY ZG 60 FROM COCO SOLO, CANAL ZONE, TO GUANTANAMO, CUBA, DEPARTING 28 FEBRUARY. THE NINETEEN-SHIP CONVOY ARRIVED 3 MARCH, AND AFTER AN OVERNIGHT RUN TO SANTIAGO, CUBA, FOR RECREATION PURPOSES, THE GILLETTE GOT UNDERWAY WITH THE TASK GROUP AGAIN TO CONVOY SEVEN SHIPS OF ZG 61 BACK TO COCO SOLO. ON 9 MARCH 1944, THE GILLETTE RESUMED DUTIES IN TRAINING SUBMARINES AT BALBOA, CANAL ZONE.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DANIEL WAS RELIEVED AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER ON 14 APRIL, BY LIEUTENANT F.H. BROOKE, JR., USNR, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, WHO WAS FORMERLY THE SHIP’S FIRST LIEUTENANT; LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DANIEL THEN RELIEVED COMMANDER MURRELL AS COMMANDING OFFICER. THE GILLETTE CONTINUED HER DUTY UNTIL 9 MAY, WHEN SHE WAS ORDERED TO PROCEED TO PUERTO LIMON, COSTA RICA, ON SEMI-OFFICIAL GOOD WILL TOUR. SHE ARRIVED DURING THE COSTA RICAN PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION TO DEPART SHORTLY FOR BARRANQUILLA, COLUMBIA ON CONTINUATION OF THE TOUR.
ARRIVING AT COCO SOLO, 19 MAY, THE GILLETTE WAS OVERHAULED AND PROVISIONED FOR HER RETURN TRIP TO BOSTON. ON 2 JUNE, THE SHIP ENTERED THE HARBOR AND ON 9 JUNE, W.A.P. MARTIN JR., COMMANDER, USN, OF ANNAPOLIS, NARYLAND, HOISTED HIS PENNANT ABOARD AS COMMANDER ESCORT DIVISION FIFTY-SIX, PREVIOUSLY ABOARD THE U.S.S. UNDERHILL, DE-682. ON 21 JUNE, ESCORT DIVISION 56, USS-GILLETTE, DE-681; U.S.S. UNDERHILL, DE-682; U.S.S. KENYON, DE-683; U.S.S GUNASON, DE-795; U.S.S. MAJOR, DE-796; AND U.S.S. WEEDEN, DE-797,ASSEMBLED FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A COMPLETE DIVISION, STEAMED TO CASCO BAY MAINE. DRILLS AND INSPECTIONS WERE HELD BY MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OF COMMANDER DESTROYERS, ATLANTIC FLEET, LASTING UNTIL 30 JUNE. ARRIVING AT HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA, THE GILLETTE IN COMPANY WITH ESCORT DIVISION 56, ASSEMBLED TO FORM TASK FORCE 61, COMPOSED OF U.S.C.G.C. CAMPBELL (FLAGSHIP), ESCORT DIVISION 5, AND ESCORT DIVISION 56, PLUS 12 PATROL CRAFT AND 2 OILERS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESCORTING CONVOY UGS 47 TO BIZERTE, TUNISIA. ON THE 4 JULY, THE CONVOY DEPARTED LYNNHAVEN ROADS, VIRGINIA, AND ARRIVED IN BIZERTE, 23 JULY. WHILE WITHIN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, THE FORCE LAID HEAVY SMOKE-SCREENS EACH EVENING AT SUNSET TO COVER THE CONVOY FROM ENEMY SHADOWERS EVER PRESENT.
JULY 30, THE TASK FORCE LESS 12 PATROL CRAFT AND ONE OILER, DEPARTED BIZERTE TO ESCORT CONVOY GUS 47 TO THE UNITED STATES. ON THE RETURN TRIP, THE FORCE WAS ADVISED BY INTELLIGENCE THAT AIR ATTACK WAS IMINENT, AND 2 DAYS OUT OF BIZERTE, WHEN GUS 47 HAD JUST CLEARED AN EAST BOUND CONVOY, THE ATTACK CAME SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. A HEAVY BLANKET OF SMOKE WAS LAID AND ALL HANDS WERE AT BATTLE STATIONS. THE ATTACK WAS NOT LAUNCHED AT GUS 47, HOWEVER, BUT WAS CONCENTRATED UPON THE CONVOY JUST PASSED, AND THROUGH THE SMOKE, PLANES AND GUNFIRE COULD BE SEEN AS WELL AS BATTLE ORDERS HEARD OVER THE TACTICAL RADIO CIRCUIT.
THE GILLETTE CONTINUED HER TRIP TO BOSTON ON 18 AUGUST, AND THE FOLLOWING DAY, COMNANDER MARTIN, COMMANDER ESCORT DIVISION 56, WAS RELIEVED OF HIS DUTIES BY W.L. HARMON, COMMANDER, USN, OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTES. AFTER ROUTINE OVERHAUL, THE GILLETTE IN COMPANY WITH THE U.S.S. KENYON, AND THE U.S.S. GUNASON, PROCEEDED TO CASCO BAY, WHERE SHE WAS JOINED BY THE REMAINDER OF ESCORT DIVISION 56 FOR FURTHER TRAINING AND INSPECTIONS BY COMMANDER DESTROYERS, ATLANTIC FLEET. ON 8 SEPTEMBER, ESCORT DIVISION 56 GOT UNDERWAY FOR HAMPTON ROADS TO JOIN TASK FORCE 61, NOW COMPOSED OF THE U.S.S CAMPBELL, ESCORT DIVISION 5 AND 56, AND THE U.S.S. ESCALANTE, AO.
THE U.S.S. BROWN IN COMPANY WITH THE GILLETTE, MAKING A SONAR SEARCH PRIOR TO THE FORMING OF THE CONVOY UGS 54 ON 11 SEPTEMBER, MADE SONAR CONTACT AND ATTACKED. THE GILLETTE ASSISTED IN THE ANTI-SUBMARINE OPERATION FOR TWO HOURS UNTIL THE TWO SHIPS WERE RECALLED TO FORM IN THE SCREEN. RESULTS OF THE SEARCH WERE NEGATIVE.
WHILE ENROUTE TO GIBRALTER WITH TASK GROUP 61, ESCORT DIVISION 56 WAS ORDERED TO DETACH AND FORM TASK GROUP 61.9 TO PROCEED TO PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND, ARRIVING 29 SEPTEMBER. THIS TASK GROUP, ESCORTING CONVOY TASK UNIT 123.1.1, DEPARTED 5 OCTOBER, THE SIX ESCORTS FUELED AT HORTA, AZORES ISLANDS, AND CONTINUED IN COMPANY UNTIL 20 OCTOBER, WHEN COMMANDER ESCORT DIVISION 56 SHIFTED HIS PENNANT TO THE KENYON WHILE AT SEA, DETACHING THE GILLETTE AND GUNASON WITH THE CHARLESTON SECTION OF THE CONVOY. WHILE PROCEEDING TO CHARLESTON, THE GILLETTE RECEIVED ORDERS ON 22 OCTOBER, TO RENDEZVOUS WITH THE U.S.C.G.C. INGRAM AND THE U.S.C.G.P.F. LORAIN IN SEARCH OF SURVIVORS FROM THE COLLISION AND SINKING OF THE MEXICAN TANKER JUAN CASIANO. THE RENDEZVOUS AND SEARCH YIELDED ONLY DESERTED LIFE RAFTS, AND THE GILLETTE WAS ORDERED TO REJOIN HER CONVOY ON 23 OCTOBER, ARRIVING IN CHARLESTON THE 24TH. ON THE 25 OCTOBER, THE GILLETTE AND GUNASON DEPARTED FOR BOSTON. UPON THE GILLETTE'S ARRIVAL IN BOSTON COMMANDER ESCORT DIVISION 56, COMMANDER HARMON, AGAIN HOISTED HIS PENNANT ABOARD.
WHILE UNDERGOING OVERHAUL IN THE BOSTON YARD, A FIRE BROKE OUT IN COMPARTMENT A-304-AE OF THE SHIP ON 5 NOVEMBER 1944. IT WAS EXTINGUISHED SHORTLY AND THE DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED NOT TO EXCEED $2500. THE CAUSE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO WELDING IN THE VICINITY OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS. NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION WAS TAKEN.
THE FIRE DID NOT PREVENT THE SHIP FROM SAILING WITH THE FIRST SECTION OF ESCORT DIVISION 56, GILLETTE, UNDERHILL, AND KENYON, WHICH PROCEEDED TO HAMPTON ROADS ON 8 NOVEMBER, TO JOIN TASK FORCE 60, COMPOSED OF U.S.S. PHELPS DD-360 (FLAGSHIP), ESCORT DIVISION 45, AND THE FIRST SECTION OF ESCORT DIVISION 56. THIS FORCE ESCORTED CONVOY UGS 60, DEPARTING 10 NOVEMBER, FOR ORAN, ALGERIA, WHERE IT ARRIVED 27 NOVEMBER, WITHOUT ENCOUNTERING ENEMY FORCES. FOLLOWING A WEEK OF TRAINING AND EXERCISING, THE TASK FORCE DEPARTED FOR THE UNITED STATES ON 3 DECEMBER, THE GILLETTE ARRIVING AT NEW YORK YARD ON 22 DECEMBER 1944, FOR ROUTINE OVERHAUL.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER BROOKE, EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE GILLETTE, WAS RELIEVED ON 5 JANUARY 1945, BY R.S. BRUNS, JR., LIEUTENANT, USNR OF HACKENSACK NEW JERSEY. THREE DAYS LATER ON THE 8 JANUARY, THE GILLETTE IN COMPANY WITH THE KENYON, TOOK DEPARTURE FOR PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND. WHILE ENROUTE, THE DESTINATION WAS CHANGED TO GREENOCH, SCOTLAND, BUT FUEL SHORTAGE REQUIRED THAT THE SHIPS PUT IN AT MILFORD HAVEN, SOUTH WALES, ON 17 JANUARY. WITHIN THE IRISH SEA, GERMAN SUBMARINES AND A HEAVY STORM WITH HIGH WINDS WERE A CONSTANT THREAT, ALTHOUGH NO DEFINITE SONAR CONTACTS WERE MADE. JANUARY 19, THE GILLETTE AND THE KENYON ENTERED THE FIRTH OF CLYDE, GREENOCH, SCOTLAND, AFTER MISERABLE PASSAGE, TO ESCORT THE NORWEGIAN TANKER, CHRIS. H. BOE, TO PLYMOUTH. ON ROUNDING LIZARDS HEAD, SOUTH WEST ENGLAND, 22 JANUARY, THE GILLETTE MADE SONAR CONTACT AND ENGAGED IN TWO ATTACKS. THE CONTACT WAS FINALLY CLASSIFIED AS NON- SUBMARINE AND THE SHIP REJOINED TO PROCEED TO PLYMOUTH. ON 26, JANUARY, THE GILLETTE AND KENYON DEPARTED AS ESCORTS FOR TASK GROUP 21.10 FOR THE UNITED STATES, ARRIVING AT NEW YORK NAVY YARD, 18 FEBRUARY. ON THIS 23 DAY PASSAGE, WIND AND SEA WERE OF SUCH A NATURE AS TO ALLOW WEATHER DECK STATIONS TO BE MANNED FOR ONLY ONE PERIOD OF ABOUT 48 HOURS.
THE GILLETTE WAS THEN ASSIGNED AS A SUBMARINE TRAINING SHIP ONCE AGAIN, AND PROCEEDED TO NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, ON 28 FEBRUARY, WHERE SHE SERVED UNTIL 14 APRIL, AS TARGET AND SCREENING UNIT. W, DEF. DAY, COMMANDER, USNR, OF JAMESVILLE, VIRGINIA, ASSUMED DUTIES AS COMMANDER ESCORT DIVISION 56, ON 4 APRIL, RELIEVING COMMANDER HARMON. ON 14 APRIL, THE GILLETTE GOT UNDER WAY AS ESCORT FOR TASK UNIT 25.2.18, COMPOSED OF THE U.S.S. MORAY, SS-300 AND U.S.S. CARP, SS-338,ENROUTE PANAMA, CANAL ZONE. THE CARP WAS DETACHED TO PROCEED INDEPENDENTLY ON 24 APRIL, WHILE THE GILLETTE AND MORAY CONTINUED TO PANAMA, ARRIVING 25 APRIL.
FOLLOWING AN EMERGENCY AVAILIBILITY AT BALBOA, CANAL ZONE, FOR ENGINEERING REPAIRS, THE GILLETTE PROCEEDED INDEPENDENTLY ON 1 MAY, TO HER FIRST PORT OF CALL ON THE TRIP TO THE PHILLIPINES, BEING ASSIGNED TO COMMANDER PHILLIPINE SEA FRONTIER FOR DUTY. ARRIVING AT AEOLIAN BAY, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, ON 4 MAY, THE SHIP STOPPED ONLY LONG ENOUGH TO FUEL AND TOOK DEPARTURE FOR BORABORA, SOCIETY ISLANDS, ARRIVING THERE ON THE 16TH. UPON FUELING AND PROVISIONING AT BORABORA, THE GILLETTE STEAMED FOR MANUS, ADMIRALTY ISLANDS, ON 17 MAY. AFTER A SMOOTH PASSAGE OF TWO WEEKS, THE SHIP ANCHORED IN SEADLER BAY, MANUS, FOR OVERHAUL, FUELING, AND PROVISIONING. JUNE 5, THE SHIP WAS UNDERWAY AGAIN FOR HOLLANDIA, NEW GUINEA, FOR WHICH POINT SHE WAS TO ACT AS ESCORT FOR A CONVOY TO MANILA, PHILLIPINE ISLANDS. SOME EIGHT HOURS AFTER ARRIVAL AT HOLLANDIA ON THE MORNING OF THE 6TH, ORDERS WERE RECEIVED TO GET UNDERWAY INMEDIATELY FOR RENDEZVOUS WITH THE U.S.S. MACK, DE-358, TO SEARCH FOR TWO SUBMARINES REPORTED OFF THE MOUTH OF HUMBOLDT BAY, NEW GUINEA. OWING TO RADIO DIFFICULTY, THE RENDEZVOUS WAS NOT EFFECTED, BUT THE TWO SHIPS CARRIED OUT INDEPENDENT SEARCHES AND ENCOUNTERED TWO LANDING CRAFT WHICH CORRESPONDED IN POSITION AND COURSE TO THE REPORTED SUBMARINES. FURTHER SEARCH PRODUCED NEGATIVE RESULTS AFTER 24 HOURS AND THE GILLETTE WAS ORDERED TO RETURN TO HOLLANDIA.
THE HOLLANDIA-MANILA CONVOY T-3 TOOK DEPARTURE ON 9 JUNE, WITH THE U.S.S. PARLE, DE-708, ACTING AS ESCORTS. THE TRIP WAS MADE WITHOUT ENCOUNTER WITH THE ENEMY AND THE DESTINATION WAS REACHED 17 JUNE. THE GILLETTE THEN PROCEEDED INDEPENDENTLY TO LEYTE GULF, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, ARRIVING TO REPORT TO COMMANDER PHILIPPINE SEA FRONTIER, 19 JUNE. ON 24 JUNE, THE SHIP WAS ASSIGNED PATROL DUTY IN COMPANY WITH THE USS PC-476 AND THE USS PC-491 AT THE ENTRANCE TO SURIAGAO STRAIT, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, WHERE SHE REMAINED UNTIL 28 JUNE. THE GILLETTE WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO DELIVER U.S. MAIL TO PHILIPPINE PORTS, LEAVING 1 JULY, FOR CEBU, ZAMBOANGA, PUERTO PRINCESA, ILOILO, AND RETURN.
IN COMPANY WITH THE U.S.S. BULL, DE-402, THE GILLETTE DEPARTED LEYTE FOR MOROTAI, 6 JULY, AND ARRIVED 8 JULY. ORDERS WERE THEN CHANGED AND THE GILLETTE AND BULL PROCEEDED TOGETHER UNTIL 10 JULY, WHEN THE GILLETTE WAS DETACHED FOR BIAK TO CONTACT THE U.S.S. OKALOOSA, APA-219, AND ESCORT HER TO THE PHILIPPINES. JULY 13, THE TWO SHIPS ANCHORED FOR THE NIGHT IN POLLOC HARBOR, MINDANAO, AND PROCEEDED THE FOLLOWING DAY TO MACAJALAR BAY, MINDANAO. THE GILLETTE RETURNED TO LEYTE GULF, 16 JULY.
JULY 24, THE GILLETTE, ESCORTING U.S.S. THURSTON, AP-77, GOT UNDERWAY FOR ULITHI, CAROLINE ISLANDS, ARRIVING 27 JULY. SHE THEN ESCORTED U.S.S. STARLIGHT, APA-175, DEPARTING ULITHI FOR MANILA, 30 JULY. DURING THE FORENOON OF 31 JULY, THE GILLETTE NADE SONAR CONTACT FOLLOWING THE SHELLING OF A FLOATING MINE. THE STARLIGHT REPORTED SIGHTING A PERISCOPE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CONTACT REPORT. THE GILLETTE MADE AN EMBARRASSING ATTACK, CLOSING IN IMMEDIATELY FOR A DELIBERATE ATTACK. NO DEFINITE RESULTS WERE OBSERVED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS CLASSIFIED AS SUBMARINE AND AFTER MAKING A SEARCH THE GILLETTE RESUMED HER PRIMARY DUTY OF SCREENING THE TRANSPORT. ARRIVING IN MANILA, 3 AUGUST, THE GILLETTE DEPARTED IMMEDIATELY FOR SUBIC BAY, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, ARRIVING THE SAME DAY.
ON 6 AUGUST, AS SENIOR ESCORT OF TASK UNIT 72.10.8, THE GILLETTE GOT UNDERWAY WITH THE CONVOY FOR OKINAWA JIMA, NANSEI SHOTO, JAPAN. A LIFE RAFT WAS SIGHTED BY THE GILLETTE ON 7 AUGUST, AND ITS SINGLE OCCUPANT WAS TAKEN ABOARD. THE MAN GAVE HIS NAME AS DELFIN A. COLLADO, A FILIPINO, FROM AN ENGINEERING BATTALION, WHO HAD FALLEN OVERBOARD FROM A STEAMER DURING HEAVY WEATHER. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO SHORE VIA RENDEZVOUS WITH A PATROL CRAFT OUT OF LINGAYEN GULF, LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. THE CONVOY ARRIVED AT HAGUSHI ANCHORAGE, OKINAWA, ON 11 AUGUST, AND THE GILLETTE THEN JOINED TASK UNIT 95.5.26 AS SENIOR ESCORT TO LEAVE FOR SUBIC BAY, 12 AUGUST. THE CONVOY WAS SHADOWED BY A JAPANESE AIRCRAFT IDENTIFIED AS A 'DINAH', ON 14 AUGUST, AND WHEN IT DISAPPEARED AFTER AN HOUR THE FORCE CHANGED COURSE. NO FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS OCCURRED AND THE CONVOY ARRIVED AT SUBIC BAY, 17 AUGUST.
THE GILLETTE, WITH A SUBMARINE BOARDING PARTY, WAS ORDERED TO PATROL THE MOUTH OF SUBIC BAY TO RENDEZVOUS POINT TO ACCEPT SURRENDER OF JAPANESE SUBNARINES ON 20 AUGUST. NO CONTACT WAS MADE AND THE SHIP RETURNED TO PORT THE FOLLOWING DAY. ON 22 AUGUST, THE GILLETTE STEAMED FOR LEYTE GULF, ARRIVING 24 AUGUST, FOR ROUTINE REPAIRS.
AS SINGLE ESCORT FOR TASK UNIT 95.4.53, THE SHIP THEN DEPARTED ON 3 SEPTEMBER, FOR TOKYO, JAPAN. WHEN ONE OF THE LANDING CRAFT OF THE CONVOY SUFFERED ENGINEERING CASUALTY, THE GILLETTE WAS REQUIRED TO TAKE HER IN TOW ON 7 SEPTEMBER, AND THE REMAINDER OF THE DISTANCE WAS COMPLETED IN SUCH A MANNER. THE CONVOY ARRIVED 11 SEPTEMBER, AND THE GILLETTE JOINED TASK UNIT 32.6.3, RETURNING TO SUBIC BAY. AFTER A SIX-DAY TRIP AS SENIOR ESCORT OF THE FORCE, THE GILLETTE ARRIVED SUBIC BAY, FOR ROUTINE OVERHAUL AND PROVISIONING. ON 10 OCTOBER, COMMANDER ESCORT DIVISION 56 WAS DETACHED FROM DUTY WITHOUT RELIEF.
THE GILLETTE REMAINED AT ANCHOR IN SUBIC BAY, UNTIL 16 OCTOBER, WHEN SHE STEAMED TO MANILA FOR RECREATION AND ORDERS. RETURNING TO SUBIC BAY ON 19 OCTOBER, THE SHIP WAS FUELED AND PROVISIONED IN PREPARATION FOR DUTY AS RELIEF FOR U.S.S. THOMAS, DE-420, THEN ACTING AS COMMUNICATIONS, MEDICAL, AND LOGISTICS SHIP FOR TASK UNIT 93.4.42, A MINESWEEPER UNIT OPERATING OUT OF PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, SWEEPING BALABAC STRAITS. DEPARTING SUBIC BAY, 21 OCTOBER, ENROUTE PUERTO PRINCESA, THE GILLETTE WAS DIRECTED TO RENDEZVOUS WITH THE THOMAS, WHO WAS STANDING BY YMS-340 HARD AGROUND ON TUBBATAHA REEF, LATITUDE 08*50’N, LONGITUDE 119*56’E, IN THE SULU SEA. THE GILLETTE EFFECTED THE RENDEZVOUS AT 1030, 22 OCTOBER, AND MADE INVESTIGATIONS IMMEDIATELY, IN VIEW OF THE POSSIBILITY OF REFLOATING THE SHIP. OPERATIONS WERE CAREFULLY PLANNED TO MINIMIZE THE DANGER TO THE GILLETTE AND TWO ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO TOW THE SHIP FREE, COMMENCING AT HIGH TIDE, 2200, 22 OCTOBER. ALL AVAILABLE LINES WERE PARTED IN THE ATTEMPT AND OPERATIONS DISCONTINUED TO AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF NAVY TUG VIREO, ATD-144. AT 1310, 23 OCTOBER, THE VIREO PULLED THE YMS-340 FREE AND THESE SHIPS DEPARTED IN COMPANY FOR MANILA, THE GILLETTE PROCEEDING TO PUERTO PRINCESA, WHERE SHE ARRIVED 24 OCTOBER. OCTOBER 25, THE GILLETTE GOT UNDERWAY IN COMPANY WITH TASK UNIT 93.4.42, ENROUTE TO DALAWAN BAY, BALABAC, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, WHERE SHE ASSUMED ANCHORAGE IN CONNECTION WITH HER DUTIES.
DEPARTING 30 OCTOBER, THE GILLETTE STEAMED TO ZAMBOANGA, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, TO OBTAIN NECESSARY SUPPLIES FOR THE TASK UNIT AND FUEL OIL TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS. ARRIVING AT ZAMBOANGA, 31 OCTOBER, SHE DEPARTED THE SAME FOR PUERTO PRINCESA, ARRIVING 1 NOVEMBER. AGAIN ON 2 NOVEMBER, THE GILLETTE STEAMED IN COMPANY WITH TASK UNIT 93.4.42 FOR DALAWAN BAY, WHERE SHE NOW LIES AT ANCHOR.
IN THE TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS SINCE HER COMMISSIONING, THE GILLETTE HAS STEAMED 115,000 MILES WITHOUT LOSS OF LIFE ABOARD. NO SHIP IN ANY OF HER CONVOYS HAS BEEN LOST OR DAMAGED DUE TO ENEMY ACTION. SHE HAS MADE SEVEN PASSAGES THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL, CROSSED THE ATLANTIC EIGHT TIMES AND THE PACIFIC ONCE.
(A) SINCE HER COMMISSIONING, TWO COMMANDING OFFICERS HAVE SERVED THE GILLETTE. FROM 27 OCTOBER 1943, TO 14 APRIL 1944, SHE NAS COMMANDED BY T.G. MURRELL, CAPTAIN, USNR, OF 2346 SOUTH MEADE STREET, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA. SINCE 14 APRIL 1944, J.W. DANIEL, JR., COMMANDER, USNR, OF 17 TRADD STREET, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.
(B) NO AWARDS HAVE BEEN MADE TO PERSONNEL IN SERVICE ABOARD THE GILLETTE.
(PREPARED 5 NOVEMBER 1945)
*Retyped without editing by Warren F. Szczypiorski and Scott Szczypiorski on 10 April 1998 |
