January 1, 1946 - Saturday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner 

The St. Croix entered San Francisco Bay on December 16th with returning veterans.   John Skinner made his way to Chicago where he would be discharged from the service on New Year's Eve, December 31st, 1945 after 6 years and 18 days in the Navy.  His discharge was issued at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago, and he received $100 in mustering out pay.  

It was no doubt a Happy New Year, and as John waited for the train back to Indiana, we can picture him thinking about all that had happened since he left.  Initial training was followed by a posting to the new destroyer O'Brien, and the shakedown cruise went all the way to Argentina and back with many stop in South America.  Several months in the Caribbean, then back to the States and then escorting Wasp in the occupation of Iceland.   Next was training for anti-submarine warfare and escorting transports to the Mid-Ocean Meeting Point.

While refurbishing in Norfolk, the news of the Pearl Harbor attacks meant a trip through the Panama Canal and redeployment to the Pacific.  Several months of escort duty, much of it near Pago Pago, then preparation for going to the Solomon Islands.  O'Brien was torpedoed just after Wasp, and wandered the South Pacific for a few weeks  looking for repairs, after which it sank on the way back to the States.

A month at home, and then to Boston for a few months waiting for a new destroyer.   Fullam was the new ship but John soon moved to Daly and was back to the Pacific.  An attack by airplanes during the invasion of New Britain sank a ship just in front of Daly; a ship that may have actually been in Daly's place that day.

Long months followed hopping across the north side of New Guinea, supporting invasions, shelling the shore, and looking for attacking planes.  Daly was part of the Battle of the Surigao Strait, the last surface battle featuring battleships fighting each other. 

A return to San Francisco, and then to the Pacific Northwest to pick up a new ship, St. Croix.  The troop transport made many trips around the Pacific, and there was relief that there would be no invasion of Japan.  Returning to the States for the final time led to Chicago on New Year's Eve.

John had some plans already; the GI bill would help pay for college at the local university, Purdue.  John's parents had bought another farm, partly with money he had sent home from the service.  He would need to find a car to drive into town for classes.  Good things were in the future.

But with all that, was there still a question in his mind, something unresolved?....... 

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• USS_Saint_Croix
• Events of December, 1945

 

NEXT POST: 1946

 

 

 

 

 

December 1, 1945 - Saturday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS St. Croix

The St. Croix returned to Manila after finishing its operations in China, arriving on November 21st.  The ship then boarded US troops returning to the states, and headed for San Francisco.

John would by now have known that given his long service of 6 years, and his enlistment being up, he would be discharged on his return to the States. 

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 More Information:

• USS_Saint_Croix
• Events of November, 1945

 

NEXT POST: JANUARY 1ST

November 1, 1945 - Thursday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS St. Croix

The St. Croix carried Marines to Tsingtao, China and arrived on October 11th.  The Marines were part of Operation Beleaguer, an occupation of part of north eastern China, where as part of their tasks, they assisted in repatriation of people to their homelands in the postwar era.

The St. Croix  then proceeded to Hai Phong harbor in Vietnam (then known as Indochina), to retrieve Chinese troops destined for Taiwan.  War continued between the Nationalist Chinese government and the People's Liberation Army until 1949, ending with the victory of the PLA and the Nationalist forces moving to Taiwan. 

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 More Information:

• USS_Saint_Croix
• Events of October, 1945

 

NEXT POST: DECEMBER 1ST

October 1, 1945 - Monday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS St. Croix

The St. Croix boarded Army troops in the Philippines and brought them to Yokohama as part of the occupation of Japan. Moving on to Guam, St. Croix loaded marines destined for China, and was en route there on October 1st.

October 1st was also John's 24th birthday, and his 6th in the Navy.  With the war now over, he was no doubt hoping for an early return to the States.  Operation Magic Carpet was the planned operation for returning the deployed service people to the US.  With his long service, John would have been hoping that he would be among the first to return. 

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 More Information:

• USS_Saint_Croix
• Events of September, 1945

 

NEXT POST: NOVEMBER 1ST

September 1, 1945 - Saturday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS St. Croix

The St. Croix delivered troops to the Philippines and remained there throughout August.  

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On August 30th, the major naval base at Yokosuka is surrendered to the allies, and becomes US Third Fleet Headquarters.  Much of the US Fleet in the Pacific still uses the Yokosuka base today.

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 More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 734-738.
• The Liberation of the Philippines, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 228-302. 
  
• Victory in the Pacific, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 344-370.
• USS_Saint_Croix
• Events of July, 1945

 

NEXT POST: OCTOBER 1ST

August 15, 1945 - Wednesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS St. Croix

The St. Croix delivered troops to the Philippines and remained there throughout August.  

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There having been no word from the government of Japan regarding the terms of the Potsdam Declaration, the go-ahead for the bombing of Hiroshima was given.  Airplane Enola Gay, with its specialized bombing crew, dropped the weapon on August 6th.  The bomb is estimated to have killed over 60,000 people on the day of the bombing, and further casualties from radiation, etc. in some estimates made the death toll over 100,000 by the end of the year.

After the first bomb, the Japanese government still had infighting and did not make formal moves to surrender.  President Truman had threatened a series of bombs would be dropped, and on the 9th, another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, resulting in a similar death count.  On this same day the Soviet Union entered the war against Japan.

On August 14th, Emperor Hirohito's message to the Japanese people was recorded and Japan surrendered to the Allies.   The broadcast in Japan was on the 15th.  August 15th was celebrated as VJ (Victory over Japan) Day.

 

Mary McLaughlin:

In 1945 in the Pacific the Japanese had begun to use Kamikaze pilots.  They would fly their planes directly toward the powder magazines of ships and blow them up.  They were especially bad at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Everyone was getting tired and depressed when in August 1945 Japan was given an ultimatum to surrender or we would use our new terrible secret weapon.  They refused so the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and a few days later Nagasaki.  This brought about the surrender.

 We were horrified at the power and destructiveness of the atomic bomb.  I remember how I felt - as if I were frozen.  I hoped and prayed it would never be used again.

 When the news of the surrender came, I was standing at the corner with a group of people.  We felt that we had to celebrate somehow, so when the trolley came by, we ran and jumped on.  I didn't have any money, or my purse with me but it didn't matter because all the rides were free.  We got to Boston and everyone was dancing and singing.  We kissed all the sailors and joined in the fun.  Sometime late that night we got back home.

 The next day was the Feast of the Assumption, a holy day so we had to go to mass.  After the mass, Father Knapp said he thought we should sing The Star Spangled Banner.  We tried to, but we couldn't because we were all in tears.

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The crew of St. Croix was no doubt excited and relieved to hear of the Japanese surrender on the 15th.  

All dreaded having to take part in Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of Japan.  Troop requirements were so large that once St. Croix and other transports had delivered the troops, at some point the men of the ship might well have had to join in the ground fighting in mainland Japan.

 More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 725-734.
• The Liberation of the Philippines, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 228-302. 
  
• Victory in the Pacific, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 317-344.
• USS_Saint_Croix
• Events of July, 1945

 

NEXT POST: SEPTEMBER 1ST

August 1, 1945 - Wednesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS St. Croix

The St. Croix had again boarded troops in New Guinea and was carrying them to the Philippines.

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On July 16th, the first nuclear weapon was detonated in New Mexico in the test codenamed Trinity.  Word of the successful test was passed to President Truman, who was just about to begin the Potsdam Conference.  Truman informed Stalin of a large new weapon (not mentioning further details), but Stalin showed little reaction.  

On the 26th, the Potsdam Declaration, demanding Japan's unconditional surrender, was issued.

Heavy Cruiser USS Indianapolis left San Francisco on the 16th with all the components of the first atomic bomb.  These were delivered to the US base on Tinian Island in the Marianas on the 26th.  The bomb was fully assembled by the end of the month.

On the return voyage, Indianapolis was torpedoed on the 30th; most of the crew was left adrift for days, and dozens are believed to have been killed by sharks.

 More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 714-725.
• The Liberation of the Philippines, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 228-302. 
  
• Victory in the Pacific, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 317-344.
• USS_Saint_Croix
• Events of July, 1945

 

NEXT POST: AUGUST 15TH

July 15, 1945 - Sunday - 80 years ago today

 Status - John Skinner - USS St. Croix

The St. Croix had offloaded troops at Manila, and returned to New Guinea for another contingent bound for the Philippines.

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On the 5th, General MacArthur announced the liberation of the Philippines.  Fighting continued elsewhere, including Borneo.

Organization of the new United Nations continued in San Francisco.  Forces continued to move in Germany, implementing its division into four occupied zones.

Preparations continued in New Mexico for the first detonation test of the atomic bomb.

 More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 707-714.
• The Liberation of the Philippines, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 228-302. 
  
• Victory in the Pacific, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 272-316.
• USS_Saint_Croix
• Events of July, 1945

 

NEXT POST: AUGUST 1ST

July 1, 1945 - Sunday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS St. Croix

The St. Croix offloaded troops at Manila and began its return to New Guinea to continue its transportation to the Philippines..

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Fighting continues on Okinawa, in the Philippines and in New Guinea.  Many ships continue to be damaged or sunk by kamikaze aircraft near Okinawa.  Japanese resistance on Okinawa ended on June 21st.

General Eisenhower was celebrated at a ticker-tape parade in New York on June 19th. 

Organization of the new United Nations continued in San Francisco.

Plans for Operation Downfall, the invasion of Japan, were approved by President Truman on the 29th.  The invasion was slated to start in November, and required 5 million troops.

 More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 697-707.
• The Liberation of the Philippines, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 228-302. 
  
• Victory in the Pacific, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 272-312.
• USS_Saint_Croix
• Events of June, 1945

 

NEXT POST: JULY 15TH

June 15, 1945 - Friday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS St. Croix

The St. Croix had boarded more troops in New Guinea and was now approaching the Philippines to deliver them, this time to Manila.

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Fighting continues on Okinawa, in the Philippines and in New Guinea.  Many ships continue to be damaged or sunk by kamikaze aircraft near Okinawa.  A typhoon at Okinawa also damaged a number of ships, including battleships and carriers, on June 5th.

The Berlin Declaration ended Nazi rule in Germany and divided the country into four occupied zones, one each administered by Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union.  These zones would form the basis for East and West Germany.  The Potsdam Conference was scheduled for mid-July.  

Organization of the new United Nations continued in San Francisco.

 More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 687-697.
• The Liberation of the Philippines, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 228-302. 
  
• Victory in the Pacific, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 272-309.
• USS_Saint_Croix
• Events of June, 1945

 

NEXT POST: JULY 1ST

June 1, 1945 - Friday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS St. Croix

The St. Croix landed its complement of forces at Tarragona on the east side on Mindanao, Philippines for mop up operations.  St. Croix next made for New Guinea to embark more troops, these also destined for the Philippines.

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Fighting continues on Okinawa, in the Philippines and in New Guinea.  Many ships continue to be damaged or sunk by kamikaze aircraft near Okinawa.

The Churchill government in Britain fell on May 23rd.  New elections were scheduled for July.

Tokyo was firebombed on the 24th, and Yokohama on the 29th.

 More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 679-687.
• The Liberation of the Philippines, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 228-302. 
  
• Victory in the Pacific, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 250-272.
• USS_Saint_Croix
• Events of May, 1945

 

NEXT POST: JUNE 15TH

May 15, 1945 - Tuesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS St. Croix

The St. Croix left New Caledonia on the 3rd with a complement of troops for the Philippines.  The forces would be landed at Tarragona on the east side on Mindanao, for mop up operations.

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Fighting continues on Okinawa, in the Philippines and in New Guinea.  Many ships continue to be damaged or sunk by kamikaze aircraft near Okinawa.

V-E Day

On the 8th, the formal surrender documents were signed by Nazi representatives in Berlin; May 8th became Victory in Europe Day.  There were celebrations, but many of them were muted as the path to, and cost of, victory in the Pacific was still unclear. Prime Minister Churchill and President Truman gave speeches, and Truman declared a national day of prayer for the 13th.

Mary McLaughlin:

Finally, in the spring, the war ended in Europe.  Everyone was happy about it but we really couldn't rejoice too much because everyone thought that defeating Japan would take forever.  The Japanese were fierce fighters and would fight to the bitter end.  It appeared that Japan would have to be invaded and the casualties didn't bear thinking about.  John was training on an attack ship at the time.

 In 1945 in the Pacific the Japanese had begun to use Kamikaze pilots.  They would fly their planes directly toward the powder magazines of ships and blow them up.  They were especially bad at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

 

 More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 671-678.
• The Liberation of the Philippines, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 228-302. 
  
• Victory in the Pacific, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 250-272.
• USS_Saint_Croix
• Events of May, 1945

 

NEXT POST: JUNE 1ST