USS EVERSOLE DE 404
Serial 02496 - 7 November 1944
Action of:

Covers activity in screen of Task
Unit 77.4.1 During Battle Off Samar
& Sinking of EVERSOLE on 29 October

USS EVERSOLE DE 404

7 November 1944

Secret

From: Commanding Officer
To: Commander in Chief, United States Fleet
Via: Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Subject: Action - Report of.



1. This action report covers the period 0000 - 25 October to 0450 29 October. At about 0750, 25 October our Task Group 77.4.1 came under attack of land based planes. The first indication that we had of the attack was the straffing of the USS SANTEE. A single plane came in from high altitude, 20,000 to 25,000 feet in a suicide dive. He first straffed the SANTEE and then leveled off just above deck level and cleared the deck of the SANTEE going stern to bow in a blazing piller of flame.

2. About five minutes later torpedo tracks crossed our stern, distance 2,500 yards. One torpedo hit the SANTEE on the port quarter. Within twenty minutes the SANTEE was launching and recovering planes. She slowed down to 17 knots for about 10 minutes and then kept formation speed, 18 knots. At about this time we were subjected to many more " Suicide Dives ". One got home on the SUWANEE. She was hit by number two elevator and the bomb exploded on the hanger deck. I was about 1,000 yards from her when this occured and flames, to the height of 300 feet belched from all sides. I thought she was gone. Within twenty minutes all fires were out and the SUWANEE was launching planes. Some of the men blown off the flight deck were picked up by escorts and many died aboard. Within fifteen minutes the Japs came at us twice, but did not succeed for our C.A.P. was alert and shot them down before they could reach us.

3. Later on in the afternoon of the twenty-fifth I was ordered to take charge of the USS BULL ( DE 402 ) and proceed to the area of the morning engagement off Samar. The two ships searched, unsuccessfully for thirty-six hours. We picked up several pilots from the planes of 77.4.1, but no survivors from the action. After a thirty-six hour search I requested orders and was told to rejoin Task Unit 77.4.1.

4. Upon rejoining at daylight on 27 October, 1944, we, the EVERSOLE and the BULL were ordered to escort the USS SANTEE until midday and then rejoin. This we did, picking up two pilots who fell in the water due to lack of gas.


5. After being released from the SANTEE the EVERSOLE and the BULL. DE, 404, and 402 were ordered to LEYTE GULF to refuel. We went in at twenty knots and were assigned to LIBERTY SHIPS to fuel. The connections didn't fit. I sent my Chief Engineer over to the nearest Navy Tanker to get the necessary fueling connections. As a result we finished fueling at 1650. The BULL, DE 402 was still looking for fuel. At 1600 she was ordered alongside the WASATCH the Communication Flag, and fueled. At about 1710 the Red Air Alert went and I got underway at 23 knots. I told the Bull to join me the next morning at a rendzevous with CTF 77.4.1, Rear Admiral T.L. Sprague.

6. I cleared the Gulf at 20 knots with the air raid just about a mile behind me. I had orders to rejoin 77.4.1 at daylight. I set course, which boiled down at the time we were hit to 117degrees T at 0210 I was called by my CIC Officer and told that we had picked up a surface target bearing 100 degrees T distance 5 and one half mile. I immediately went to CIC and watched the scope for fifteen minutes. The single sweep at 0210 was our only indication. To be on the safe side, in case there might be something ahead, I changed course 15 degrees to the right and increased speed to 17 knots.

7. At 0228.5 I was informed that we had a sonar contact bearing 042 degrees T distance 2,800 yards, I immediately started for the bridge, but at 0229 we were hit by the first torpedo. The ship immediately took a 15 degree list. At 0229.5 we were hit by a second torpedo in the same spot. The ship took a 30 degree list and I ordered " Abandon Ship " at 0240.


7. The officers and men carried out the "Abandon Ship Procedure", perfectly. There was no panic. At 0250 I made a personal inspection of the ship as far as I could. I found three men who were frozen on the rail too scared to move. I beat their fingers until they dropped into the water. On my final check I found a man who had a broken leg, I lowered him into the water by line and then followed him for at this time the ship was flat on her side and I thought it was time to leave. After stepping into the water I towed the man with the broken leg to a floater net about a hundred yards away. On the way to the net I managed to pick up a life preserver as I had given mine to the injured man. There was another floater net some fifty yards away. I ordered them lashed together so as to concentrate the men. I placed my officers around the nets about ten yards out to pick up any men who might slip off and drift away. They all did a wonderful job.

9. At about 0300 the submarine surfaced near a group of men hanging on to the punt some two hundred yards from us. They thinking it was a rescue ship, hollered. The sub opened fire with 20mm and straffed the area. It was so dark and rainy that he couldn't see us and no one was hit. I ordered the men to keep quiet and the sub circled us twice about 150 yards away. At about 0320 the sub submerged. Five minutes later there was a terrific underwater explosion which killed or wounded everyone in the water. My communication officer was instantly killed about five feet from me. I was seized with very bad cramps and lost all control of my bowels. Unconcious men began drifting from the floater net and my officers aided by some slightly injured men, and I, swam them back to the net and placed them aboard. I wish to commend all my officers and men for the fine work they did at this time in spite of their own injuries. I estimate that the explosion killed anout 30 men. I believe that the explosion was caused by some sort of anti-personnel bomb dropped by the sub. It was not caused by depth charges on the ship, which were all set on safe, for the ship had gone down some thirty minutes before.

10. At about 0400 we sighted the USS Bull ( DE 402 ) and attracted her attention by means of flashlights which some of the men had. The BULL circled us for an hour until the USS Whitehurst arrived on the scene to act as a covering ship. While she circled the area the BULL picked up the people in the water. By 0630 all survivors had been taken aboard and were under treatment. About this time the WHITEHURST got a sonar contact and made four "hedgehog" attacks. On the fourth attack two very heavy underwater explosions were heard and oil and debris came to the surface. At the time of these explosions the BULL was three miles from the WHITEHURST and we could feel the explosions very plainly.


11. The work of the officers and men of the BULL in rescuing and caring for my crew was wonderful. The docter on board Lieutenant Hartley of the SANGAMON, undoubtedly saved the lives of some thirty to forty men by his untiring efforts and skill. He worked without rest for thirty-six hours treating critically wounded and the senior doctor of the USS BOUNTIFUL told me that without his care many of the men would have died.


12. In conclusion I wish to state that I believe that the submarine used Radar control to make the shot and that she fired from a range of about 3,500 to 4,000 yards. The submarine deliberately straffed the men in the water and then set off some type of anti-personnel bomb to kill the survivors. The conduct of the men and officers of the EVERSOLE was in accordance with the best traditions of the service and I am very proud of them. About 50% of the rubber life perservers ruptured when the underwater explosion occured undoubtedly causing some deaths. Recommendations for individual awards will be made by me in a separate letter.

Copy to:
Cominch ( Advance)
ComDesPac


Geo E. Marix
Formerly Commanding Officer - USS Eversole