Two destroyers named in honor of Rear Admiral Daniel Ammen, USN, have seen service with the U.S. Fleet.  The distinguished naval career of Ohio-born (in l820) Admiral Ammen commenced with his appointment as a midshipman in 1836.  During the Civil War he skippered three Federal vessels engaged in. blockading, also hoisted the flag over captured Fort Beauregard and formally delivered the rebel stronghold into array hands.  Rear Admiral Ammen served as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, fron'3-871-78.

    First of the AMMEN’s was DD-35, an 883-ton, four stacker built in 1910 and commissioned in May 1911.  She was based at Queenstown, Ireland throughout the first World War, performing routine convoy escort and patrol duty.  In 1924 the old AMMEN was turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard and remained in service with that agency until returned to the Navy in 1931 by that time she was ready for retirement.

    USS AMMEN (DD-527) was launched at Bethlehem Steel's San Francisco shipyards on 17 September 1942, christened by Miss Ewa Ammen, daughter of the late rear admiral whose name was to be carried into naval warfare for a second time.  Destroyer AMMEN was placed in. commission. On 12 March 1943 Commander J. C.  Daniels embarking as her first commanding officer.
Subsequent to fitting out and dock trials, on 30 March, the new FLETCHER Class seafighter set sail for San Diego and shakedown. She mowed to nearby San Pedro 20 April to join other units assembling for a full scale operation.
Commander Daniels was relieved as AMMEN’s skipper by Lt. Commander Henry Williams Jr., at San Pedro on 22 April 1943.

    Ever since the Japanese snatched Attu, Kiska and Agattu, craggy studs in the fog-swept Aleutian, chain, U.S. Pacific plotters stood ready to erase this aiming threat to the northwestern United States whenever sufficient forces became available.  Spring of 1943 saw the enemy relaxing his grip on the New Guinea - New Britain  - Solomon Islands arc, warranting the allocation, of enough ships, planes and troops for a major effort in the North Pacific.

    Task Force 51, composed of the battleship PENNSYLWANIA, escort carrier NASSAU, a fleet oiler, two destroyer escorts, AMMEN and three other DDs, set course for desolate Cold Bay on the Alaska Peninsula on 23 April 1943.  AMMENS "shakedown." would come on the battle line.

    Into Cold Bay the task force' sailed on the 1st of May; ten days later, on 11 May, elements of the 4th and 7th Infantry Divisions were slugging their way into Attu Island from two points, i.e., Holtz Bay in the north and Massacre Bay about five miles across the island to the south.  Dodging mortar shells in foxholes filled with icy water, plodding through molasses-like mud their bodies numb from cold, the U.S. troops butted and bayoneted their way to Chichagof Harbor.

    While the fight for Attu was in progress the AMMEN acted as plane guard and screening ship for USS NASSAU (CVE-16).  She lurked with her charge in the fog banks near Attu, constantly on guard against Jap submarines, as the small flat-top launched mission after mission, in response to requests from Army ground troops.  Once AMMEN dropped depth charges when her sonar picked up loud screw noises, this action constituting her only real brush with the enemy.

    Upon completion of her assignment destroyer AMMEN went back to San Diego, arriving 31 May.  She spent the first two weeks of June effecting minor repairs, performing gunnery and torpedo-exercises;  she was also paid a surprise visit by Fleet Admiral Ernest T. King. On 14 June AMMEN moved to San Francisco for post shakedown overhaul and further training.

    July 11th saw the destroyer returning to active duty; on that day she departed San Francisco in the anti-submarine screen of a merchant convoy, bound for Adak Island in the Aleutians.  AMMEN and the other escorts were relieved some 900 miles out of San Francisco, and they returned to port 21 July.  On 29 July AMMEN again sailed as an anti-submarine unit, this time shepherding the transports of Adak-bound Task Group 51.2.  Destination was reached on 5 August.

    American reoccupation of Kiska, 175 miles east of captured Attu, was about to be realized as the strongest force ever mounted in the North Pacific readied for the onset.  Teamed with battleships and troop carriers the AMMEN sailed from Adak 13 August 1943.

    U.S. troops which broke into Quisling Cove on 15 August 1943 and began probing camouflaged enemy positions found Kiska as void of Japs as Times Square after Pearl Harbor.  (Two light cruisers and ten destroyers had sneaked off in zero visibility with Kiska's 5100 defenders on 29 July.)  AMMEN's part in the initial Kiska landings and subsequent consolidation of the island consisted entirely of anti-submarine work, screening the PENNSYLVANIA and various cruisers in the big naval support group.

    From 12 to 24 September the AMMEN remained at Adak, departing Kiska on the 25th for a quick trip to Pearl Harbor.  In the week following her 2 October arrival at Pearl Harbor she exercised her gunnery, torpedo and anti-submarine facilities.  Temporary respite from ice, fog and rough seas terminated 11 October 1943, when AMMEN shoved off with sister destroyer BUSH.  The twin travelers made Adak in five days.

    Next AMMEN participated in. Task Force 94's sweep of the Pribilof Island area 28-29 October.  From Dutch Harbor the task force went out again. 4 November, stayed at Adak 8-17 November and embarked from Attu the 19th on a hunt for enemy shipping around Komandorski Islands, They returned to Attu 24 November, left the same day and arrived Adak' the 26th.

    Accompanied by sisters BUSH and BACHE plus eight small patrol-craft, AMMEN churned out of the Aleutian battle zone for the last time on 26 November.  Enroute Pearl Harbor, on 1 December, the ships encountered a stiff gale which cost an AMMEN sailor his life - swept overboard, he went under before help could reach him.  AMMEN put in at Pearl Harbor on 4 December 1943.

    Slated for many months service in the Southwest Pacific theater, AMMEN stood out of Pearl Harbor 9 December and, with her squadron of  "cans" (fleet slang for destroyers), began the long haul to Milne Bay, New Guinea.  Via Funa Futi in the Ellice Islands, and Espiritu Santo in the Now Hebrides, crossing the Equator the 12th, the destroyer group made Milne Bay on l8 December 1943.  AMMEN and the others were promptly assigned to the Seventh Fleet's Task Force 74, commanded by British Rear Admiral .V.A. Crutchley in HMAS AUSTRALIA.

    From 24 December 1943 to 19 January 1944 the AMMEN was engaged in. the assault on Borgen Bay, in the Cape Gloucester area of strategic New Britain.   In addition to numerous anti-aircraft and submarine patrols made in connection with the invasion, AMMEN acted as a high-speed transport for wounded Marines.  On the night of 17-l8 January 1944 AMMEN and MULLANY, both 2050-ton FLETCHERs, swept the vicinity of Gali Point, New Guinea but failed to find either the submarine they were looking for or any other moving target.  Both bombarded the barge hideout at Gali Point - results unknown.

    AMMEN, BUSH, MULLANY and the light cruisers PHOENIX and BOISE blasted the New Guinea stronghold of Madang 26 January.  On 30 January AMMEN was enroute Borgen Bay with BUSH and MULLANY when a Jap plane approached, dropped a bomb 1000 yards off her starboard quarter; no damage resulted.

    A temporary breather came for USS AMMEN when, on 5 February 1944, she went with four sisters (DALY, BEALE, BACHE, MULLANY) to Sydney, Australia.  Her sea-wobbly sailors libertied for approximately two weeks in the hospitable port.  Up from down under came the can squadron, reporting for duty at Milne Bay 22 February.

    A week later AMMEN sailed with a flock of troop-packed LSTs to Los Negros Island in the Admiralties.  Naval gunfire was the critical factor in the  invasion's success since weather delayed the scheduled army air support.  AMMEN fired a total of 1088 rounds of 5-inch ammunition, plus l648 rounds of 40- and 20mm, in support of the Los Negros assault.  (An article on USS AMMEN at Los Negros appeared in the 14 October 1944 issue of the Saturday Evening Post.) Seventeen missions in all were fired  ten at troop concentrations and seven at shore batteries - at ranges averaging 3000 to 4000 yards (One as close as 1800 yards).

    On 3 March the ship started hammering Hauwei Island, at the entrance to Manus' Seeadler Harbor, blowing up an ammunition dump on her first run in.  A 5-gun Nip battery found AMMEN's range on the second run, cut loose at 4000 yards and bracketed the swift destroyer with shots ahead, astern and on each beam.  Acting under orders not to endanger his ship Captain Williams withdrew.

    Fire from ashore remained accurate; missiles fell 100 to 300 yards away. Thirty-two knots was rung up as AMMEN stuck to the principle of chasing salvo splashes, making chemical and funnel smoke all the while. At 10,000 yards the shore battery quit shooting.  At 11,000 yards AMMEN quit running.  She turned and reopened fire and, joined by MULLANY, made two more runs.
That night AMMEN experienced an air raid, one plane laying a stick of bombs 150 yards on her starboard beam.  Outside of being considerably shaken the ship incurred only a couple of dimples in her hull.  A strafing foray followed the bombing but here were no hits.

    Five FLETCHERs, including AMMEN, hunted Nip shipping in the Wewak area 17-19 March - results negative.  All ships bombarded the beach and drew return fire.  For the next few weeks destroyer AMMEN remained based at Milne Bay, undergoing limited upkeep and prepping for her next assignment.
Slowly the noose had tightened on Japan's harassed New Guinea garrison, until General MacArthur was at last in a position to crush 60,000 enemy troops still clinging to the hogbacked coast from Madang to the Moluccas.  Almost unopposed, the U.S. 4lst Division secured footholds at Hollandia, Tanahmerah Bay and Aitape on 22 April 1943.

    Having departed Milne Bay l8 April in company with MULLANY and four Aussie ships, AMMEN was on hand to assist in the seizure of Tanahmerah Bay the 22nd.  Her guns set a fuel dump and a stores shed afire, sank three large barges, left another listing and burning, and damaged a medium-sized barge. AMMEN then joined Task Group 78.2, a small carrier group operating in an area 50 to 100 miles to seaward. This screening duty continued until 4 May.
Command of the AMMEN changed hands on 11 May 1944, Lt. Commander James H. Brown relieving Commander Williams.

    At Arara, some 70 miles west of Hollandia, the l63rd Regimental Combat Team was beached 17 May.  Quickly extending their beachhead, the troops leap-frogged to nearby Wakde Island 17-18 May. This entire operation, carried off by AMMEN's giant Task Force 74, signaled the strategic end of the arduous New Guinea campaign.  As her contribution AMMEN softened up Wakde with 5-inch shells and succeeded in exploding a large fuel depots-she stayed in the area until “74” was relieved by Task Force 75 on 21 May.

    Biak, largest of the Dutch Schouten Islands, was next on AMMEN's invasion docket.  DD-527 raked the Bosnik sector of Biak with other combatants of Task Force 74 on 27 May, hitting a fuel dump, barracks, stores sheds and several huts.  Twelve thousand troops lanced ashore later that day to secure a site for U.S. heavy bombers, met only light resistance.

    Entrenched in caves overlooking the coastal road to Biak's airstrips, the enemy retaliated sharply following the initial landings.  Moreover, it became apparent that the Japanese were planning to ship reinforcements to the defenders of Biak.  To obviate this threat Task Force 74 patrolled off Biak amid spasmodic air attacks until 31 May, when Task Force 75 took over.

    Task Forces 74 and 75 were steaming in company on 4 June when a half-dozen enemy planes attacked the formation.  AMMEN did not open fire.  On the 5th of June one or two planes attacked and AMMEN scored hits with 40- and 20mm.  Radar contact was made with five Nip destroyers near Biak the night of 8-9 June; AMMEN gave chase but lost them.

    BACHE, ABNER READ and AMMEN carried out a night bombardment of enemy gun and searchlight installations near Wewak the night of 18-19 June - results unobserved.  On the night of 19-20 June AMMEN smoke screened HMAS ARIADNE as that ship planted two anti-submarine minefields in Wewak Harbor.  AMMEN was in Seeadler Harbor the last week of June for limited upkeep.

    In Task Group 77-2 AMMEN left 30 June for the assault and occupation of Noemfoor Island, near Biak.  She acted as a screening ship for the bombardment force on invasion day at Noemfoor, 2 July 1944, but did no shooting herself.  After the Noemfoor operation AMMEN was at anchor in Humboldt Bay for two days, moving then to Seeadler Harbor for more repairs and exercises.

    On 12 July 1944 AMMEN vent with Task Force 74 to Aitape.  HMAS SHROPSHIRE and AMMEN left Aitape the 14th to bombard the nearby Sowan area, did so with the aid of an RAAF spotting plane - results unknown.  Both ships returned to Aitape the same day.

    BACHE, AMMEN, HMAS WARRAMUNGA, HMAS ARUNTA and PT-129 sortied from Aitape the 15th of July.  BACHE bombarded Boiken and AMMEN covered an inshore barge sweep by terrier-like PTs that night, also made rendezvous off Walif Island to receive on board wounded survivors of PT-133.  At 0700 on the 16th AMMEN executed a scheduled shelling of Cape Karawop with the help of an RAAF Beaufort target spotter.  The wounded torpedo boat sailors she carried were transferred to Tumlee Island Hospital at Aitape upon arrival that morning.

    On the night of 20-21 July AMMEN assisted four PTs in an anti-barge sweep between Jakamul Village and Cape Karawop - results negative.  At 0700 AMMEN cannonaded Cape Djeruan for a short time, returning to Aitape in the forenoon.

    This succession of bombardment missions which AMMEN fired in July came as a result of the Japanese Eighteenth Army attempts to break out of their isolated pocket around Wewak.  Between each assignment AMMEN performed anti-submarine patrol off Aitape.

    After covering landings at Sansapor in the last days of July, AMMEN set out from Woendi Island with sister HUTCHINS on the 3rd of August.  Enroute Sydney, Australia the two DDs stopped off for fuel at Milne Bay, reaching their destination 8 August 1943.

    Returning to Milne Bay 30 August with other combatants, AMMEN fueled and left in formation, that afternoon; the force reached Seeadier Harbor the 1st of September.  During the first ten days of September AMMEN worked out her guns, conducted a full power trial and a towing drill.  Limited upkeep was also effected while at anchor.

    An invasion armada mounting l6,482 troops and supported by two heavy cruisers, three light cruisers, ten destroyers and a carrier group of six CVEs bore down on Morotai in the Halmaheras on 15 September.  AMMEN pounded her designated target region, at the tip of Cape Gila, for ten minutes on the 15th - results undetermined.  On the l6th AMMEN went to Woendi with Task Group 77.2. On 27 September she left for Seeadler Harbor, arriving the 29th.

    Morotai's easy capture, coincident with the assault by Central Pacific Forces on Peleliu, marked the long sought convergence of Central and Southwest Pacific Forces.  The U.S. plan to "gain and maintain the eastern, approaches to the Philippines - Formosa - China Coast Area had been fulfillled.  "Sho No. I,” the Japanese operational plan for defense of the Philippines, was about to be put to the test.

    Subsequent to four days’ availability alongside a ship repair dock at Seeadler Harbor, where she made two torpedo-firing practices, destroyer AMMEN got underway for Humboldt Bay, New Guinea 11 October. She arrived next day.
Humboldt Bay was the scene of intense activity.  There the Seventh Fleet whetted the amphibious spearhead about to be launched at Leyte Island.  To AMMEN and MULLANY went the job of escorting the top secret command ship WASATOH to Leyte.  WASATCH's star passenger: Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkai, overall boss of the Seventh Fleet.

    On 15 October 1944 the Leyte-bound fleet upped anchor.  AMMEN individual task unit entered Leyte Gulf at 0300 20 October.  Tidal waves of landing craft, tanks, trucks and Sixth Army troops rolled in and smashed at the shores of Leyte Island on the morning of 20 October.

    Until 25 October AMMEN screened the WASATCH in her nightly retirements and anchored near her in San Pedro Bay in the daytime to give smoke cover and anti-aircraft protection.  Because of her sentry duty the destroyer all but missed out on the gigantic naval actions fought in the Philippines 24-26 October, i.e. the Battle for Leyte Gulf.  On the afternoon of 25 October AMMEN joined PHOENIX and others (Task Group 77.3) at the eastern entrance of the Gulf to help guard against possible enemy penetration.
Switching to Task Group 77.4 on 27 October, AMMEN operated with six “keep” flat-tops, two cruisers and several cans until the 29th. Furious air attacks followed in the wake of the Jap surface fleet's defeat; AMMEN left her task group on the 29th for a short stint as a radar picket ship at position 10-30N, 125-35E, rejoining on the afternoon of the 31st.

    Steaming on patrol in Leyte Gulf kept AMMEN occupied for the first ten days of November.  At noon on the 10th she again took up station at Leyte Gulf's eastern entrance, this time on the look-out for enemy pig boats.  Ordered back to her task group the morning of, 14 November, AMMEN left in formation on the l6th for Seeadler Harbor.

    AMMEN was formally introduced to the Imperial Air Force enroute Seeadler Harbor.  Enemy aircraft attacked on several occasions, five of which were hit by AMMEN gunfire and seen to crash.  One plane, a twin engine dive bomber, crash-dived USS AMMEN between the stacks, killing five men and wounding twenty-one. Badly damaged, the AMMEN kept her position in the formation, quickly brought her fires under control and made temporary repairs.  She dropped her hook at Seeadler Harbor 21 November 1944.

    Extensive battle damage necessitated AMMEN’s return, to a west coast yard.  On 30 November 1944 the maimed veteran, got underway for San Francisco; via Majuro and Pearl Harbor, she made port on 21 December.  AMMEN was restored to the peak of fighting trim at the Mare Island Navy Yard.

    Escort carrier CHENANGO was AMMEN's running mate when she left for Pearl Harbor on 9 February 1945.  At the Hawaiian bastion from 15 February to 4 March the AMMEN rehearsed in gunnery, torpedoing and  anti-submarine work, also served for five days as escort to the ill-fated carrier FRANKLIN.
AMMEN, BEALE and cruiser ST. LOUIS left for Ulithi in the western Carolines the 4th of March, fueled at Eniwetok on the 10th, and reached the remote atoll-anchorage 13 March.  The two destroyers further proceeded to captured Leyte, arrived 17 March and reported to Commander Destroyer Squadron 24.

    In Leyte Gulf the AMMEN put an edge on her anti-aircraft shooting, saw a day of anti-submarine patrol outside Leyte Gulf 24-25 March, then packed aboard stores and provisions for the next assault.  On tap was the invasion of Okinawa Gunto, most difficult operation undertaken by U.S. forces in the Pacific, and the most ambitious amphibious push of the Pacific war (1,213 ships; 564 carrier-based support aircrat; 451,866 Army-Marine ground forces).
On 27 March AMMEN steamed out of San Pedro Bay, a snug anchorage between Leyte and Samar, and headed north to the Ryukyus with a convoy of transports labeled Task Group 55.2.  She fired anti-aircraft practice passing out of Leyte Gulf that afternoon.  Before dark on 13 March she sped ahead of the transport formation to pick up mail from the command ship TETON; delivery of the precious mailbags to various troop carriers in "55.2" was completed after nightfall, whereupon AMMEN resumed her screening station.

    Easter Sunday, 1 April 1945 dawned amid the thunder of naval rifles and the coughing swoosh of rockets.  Armed might exploded in conflict on the doorstep of Japan proper as taut-faced troops, supported by the "fleet that came to stay," battered their way into Okinawa’s broken, ugly terrain.

    USS AMMEN arrived off Okinawa early on the morning of 1 April and took up an outer screening station, patrolling all day in defense of the gaunt, gray transports.  In the evening she made rendezvous with a transport squadron and screened them along a night retirement route, then joined Task Group 51-2 to retire to a waiting area southeast of the embattled island.  She sighted and destroyed a mine early in the evening.

    For three long months AMMEN continued on duty at Okinawa, right in the thick of the titanic land-air-sea battle.  Especially hectic were the hours spent on radar picket station, alone and open to attack from enemy submarines, torpedo boats and aircraft.  The destroyers who rotationally manned these hazardous stations off Okinawa to detect enemy movements with their radar were too often replaced rather than relieved.  Only the skill, initiative and intense devotion to duty of USS AMMEN’s crew kept the thin skinned greyhound afloat.

    Each day meant a new test of her power, a new phase in her fighting career: on 3 April AMMEN fueled in kamikaze-hot Kerama Retto anchorage, some 15 miles west of Okinawa, and rejoined Task Group 51.2 in the waiting area.
On 9 April AMMEN and destroyer BROWN, a transport and a hospital ship proceeded toward Okinawa.  BROWN had a good sonar contact and attacked, rejoining later in the evening.

    On 10 April the group arrived off the Hagushi (about one-third the way up Okinawa Japanward side) beachhead.  AMMEN returned to Kerama Retto for fuel, then put to sea with attack transport PITT,
On 11 April she and PITT rendezvoused with Task Group 51.2, which was heading for Saipan, Marianas Islands.
 

On 14 April Saipan was reached; AMMEN departed the morning of the 17th with destroyers GAINARD and VAN VALKENBURGH.

    On 20 April the DDs arrived at Okinawa and that morning reported for duty to Commander Task Group 51.5.  That evening AMMEN relieved TWIGGS as support ship for LUCE on a radar picket station 56 miles from Zampa Misaki Point.  At 1910 AMMEN’s crew manned their battle stations and set Condition Able (material condition of readiness) for a dusk alert.  No "bogies" (unidentified aircraft; those definitely established as enemy are "bandits") were reported so AMMEN secured from general quarters at 2315.

    On 21 April, at two minutes past midnight, a bogey was picked up 30 miles away.  AMMEN went to general quarters at 0008 and control was on target by 11,000 yards.  Fire was held as the range was fouled by LUCE.  Not intending to attack, the bogey passed to the northwest and astern of AMMEN, at an altitude of 5000 feet, at a distance of about 5000 yards.  Radar kept up a constant search to starboard without success.  Three or four minutes later the plane returned without warning and dropped a 100-pound bomb on AMMEN's starboard quarter, passing over the ship at an estimated altitude of 100 feet.  AMMEN had no time to fire and the plane escaped.  Of the eight men wounded by flying splinters from the bomb, four were wounded only superficially.  Early in the evening of the 21st RUSSELL relieved AMMEN on station and she went in to Hagushi  Beach, there transferred her four seriously wounded to attack transport CRESCENT CITY for X-ray and further treatment.

    On 23 April, during the afternoon, AMMEN vent to Kerma Retto for repairs, ammunition, fuel and provisions.  She steamed in the objective area screen the 26th and 27th.

    On 28 April AMMEN relieved MUSTIN as support ship for BENNION on a radar picket station 52 miles from Zampa Misaki Point.  In the late afternoon enemy planes pressed down from the north.  BENNION and AMMEN took one suicide-bent plane under fire but could not halt its approach; the plane crashed BENNION's fantail, causing minor damage .  Enemy planes were in the immediate area all night but none approached AMMEN nearer three miles.
On 29 April an aerial strike, obviously launched from Japan with the sole intention of crushing the picket station which AMMEN occupied, loomed shortly before midnight.  Another raid to the east headed straight for the adjacent easterly station, and a third raid to the west went to the adjacent westerly station.  All planes in each raid jumped their respective pickets, none going farther south toward Okinawa.

    On 30 April, at 0155, a force of seven, bandits was detected at 30 miles, coming straight in.  At 0200 AMMEN opened fire.  One bandit passed ahead from port to starboard at 400 yards, going into a chandelle and whipping back in steep and close across the bow.  It was followed in thirty seconds by a second plane also making a suicide dive.  AMMEN executed right full rudder, pulled under each kamikaze at flank speed - both overshot and splashed on AMMEN's port quarter and beam, no more than a ship's length outboard.
Simultaneously, BENNION took a third kamikaze partially on her fantail, port side.  A bomb missed BENNION at 0219.  Another plane made a run from port to starboard on AMMEN, crashing close enough aboard for the explosion, to knock down gun crews amidships.  Plane No. 5.  peppered by both AMMEN and BENNION, was seen to crash.  The sixth plane tracked from starboard to port ahead of AMMEN and BENNION who were steaming abeam 2000 yards on a northerly course, down the port side of BENNION, then back across the stern of each ship.  Full of slugs, it finally crashed the surface and exploded three to four miles on AMMEN's starboard quarter, about 0240.  Plane No. 7 was snagged at 0324 by a single night fighter called for and controlled by BENNION.

    On 1 May, shortly before noon, INGRAHAM took AMMEN's place and the latter stood into Hagushi Anchorage.  There she received aboard a fighter director team and equipment.  AMMEN then vent to Kerama Retto to complete installation, of her new equipment, also to fuel and replenish ammunition and stores.

    On 3 May, with preparations completed, AMMEN left Kerama Retto and early that evening relieved MACOMB as fighter director ship on a radar picket station 52 miles from Zampa Misaki Point.  It was a dark Slight, the moon had not risen, the sky was cloudy.

    On 4 May, at 0128, a bogey was detected 22 miles away which soon developed into a raid of two planes.  AMMEN commenced fire at 0134.  The raid turned to her port; AMMEN came hard right at flank speed.  Three minutes later, at 0137, firing was ceased since the raid was retiring.  Other bogies remained in the area throughout the night but none threatened.  Not until 1849 did the enemy show up.  A raid of eight fighters and two twin engine reconnaissance planes were tally-hoed by combat air patrol (not controlled by AMMEN) at 1854; all were downed by 1913.

    On 5 May the first contact came at 0305, when four planes were detected 51 miles from Zampa Misaki.  The night combat air patrol was vectored out; no enemy planes were bagged.  Enemy and friendly aircraft milled around on all bearings from AMMEN at ranges from five to ten miles.  By 0350 the bogies had retired to the west.  The day was quiet.
 
    On 6 May, during the afternoon, PUTNAM checked in as support ship for AMMEN.  PUTNAM detected a bogey 28 miles away at 1850 and AMMEN's fighter director officer vectored out the radar picket patrol of two planes; at 1859 a torpedo bomber was shot down.  The rest of the night was quiet.

    On 9 May WILLIAM D. PORTER relieved AMMEN.  She replenished at Kerama Retto and steamed to Hagushi the 10th.  In the early evening of the 12th two Nip fighters swooped on AMMEN from astern, made sharp banks to port and dove at the battleship NEW MEXICO.  AMMEN guns fired briefly.  One plane overshot its target but the other piled up amidships on the NEW MEXICO, strafing as it dove.  AMMEN relieved LOWRY as fighter director ship on station 50 miles from Zampa Misaki the 13th, with BOYD as support ship.

    On 14 May three raids came in from the southwest early in the morning, all at very high altitude.  AMMEN was not immediately endangered.
On 15 May all was tranquil until early evening.  A bandit was detected closing from l8 miles at 1912.  AMMEN combat air patrol was vectored out and, at 1925, splashed a float plane.

    On l6 May a high altitude raid was detected at 0240; all bandits were retiring by 0405.  SPROSTON relieved BOYD as support ship around noon.  Lockouts sighted a large horned mine at 1630 and one of the small craft in company was detailed to destroy it.

    On I7 May it was quiet until late afternoon.  At 1838 a bandit was detected 25 miles from AMMEN; combat air patrol was vectored out and, at 1849 a Jap dive bomber was destroyed.  At 2030 a bogey was picked up to the southeast retiring slowly from the Hagushi area. Apparently contacting AMMEN it turned and headed straight in.  Fire was opened at a range of five miles and the bogey immediately twisted to its port and retired.  The remainder of the night was passed uneventfully.

    On l8 May, just before sunrise, LOWRY took over from AMMEN, allowing her to move to Hagushi Beach and drop anchor.  AMMEN proceeded to Kerama Retto the 19th and nested with destroyer tender HAMUL for engineering repairs.  She returned to Hagushi the 22nd.

    On 24 May AMMEN joined STORMES and DREXLER in the afternoon to relieve BRADFORD, FOOTE and WATTS on radar picket station.  The three destroyers formed a column, changing courses by turn movements. No enemy planes were in the area and the radar scope was clear of bogies at 1945 when combat air patrol was given a vector to return, to base.  Six minutes later the first of many subsequent raids was detected.

    At 2103 and 2108 STORMES and DREXLER respectively fired at a plane approaching within five miles of the formation.  Since the raid was then at 17,000 feet AMMEN withheld fire.  From 2200 to 2202 AMMEN banged away at a bandit coming up from the anchorage area, apparently returning to its base.  It got as close as four miles when AMMEN cut loose, then reversed course and scooted home.  A bandit closed from the west at 2227, met the DD trio combined fire and quit.  Swarms of enemy aircraft continued to pass AMMEN’S station, at distances from four to twenty miles on all sides, going to and returning from the general area around Zampa Misaki.  At 2332 STORMES and DREXLER drove off a low flying bandit; STORMES stopped another at 2345.

    On 25 May, at 0200, a bandit zipped through the formation, over nearby landing craft, and then fled north.  Six to eight planes closed at 0300; all destroyers took normal targets and fired.  As the planes crossed ahead of the formation, and opened to the east, one enterprising Nip cut through the disposition strafing between AMMEN and DREXLER.  About 0830 AMMEN sent out her combat air patrol to intercept enemy planes closing from the north.  Only one fighter slipped through the reception committee and it crossed close astern of AMMEN at 1500 feet, turned sharply to its right and started to dive.  Meeting AMMEN's fire head-on, it switched attention to STORMES and crash-dive her after deck house.  SPROSTON arrived at noon to escort the damaged STORMES to Kerama Retto and BOYD came in as her substitute.
On 27 May business picked up after a two-day lull.  Enemy activity came late in the afternoon when planes were first detected coming from the north about 1730.  After dark the marauders closed in coordinated attacks - two, three and four at a time - at low altitudes flying at speeds from l60 to 200 mph.

    On 28 May the evaluator was able to say at 0330, for the first time in seven and one-half hours, that there were no enemy planes within eight miles and none outside that range were threatening.  A total of eight attacks had been beaten off, all of which were unsuccessful in causing damage.  DREXLER and LOWRY came on duty at 0410, letting AMMEN and BOYD go to Kerama Retto for fuel and ammunition.

    On 29 May departure was taken from Kerama Retto.  Before noon on the 31st AMMEN came out of Hagushi Anchorage with GWIN and FULLAM  to relieve WILLIAM D. PORTER on picket station.  GUEST took GWIN's place the morning of the 1st of June.

    On 3 June enemy aircraft were reported pressing down from the north to the area near Okinawa northern tip.  Combat air patrol was vectored out.  Five bombers and two fighters were blasted apart before reaching the ships of AMMEN's station.  (None of the enemy planes fired at the U.S. interceptors, leading to the belief that they had no guns.)  A half hour later a single dive bomber was dropped by combat air patrol 31 miles to the north.

    On 4 June weather became heavier, with a typhoon, reported approaching.  FULLAM and AMMEN, relieved by LOWRY and ROWE, set out for Kerama Retto for logistic purposes.  Enroute orders were received from Commander Task Group 31-19 to stand by in the vicinity of Nakagusuku Wan for possible escort duty.

    On 5 June the task group commander released AMMEN and PULLAM in the morning and the ships continued as previously directed.  Late that afternoon AMMEN moored alongside STORMES for two days’ availability.  She shifted to Hagushi the 7th to return to Kerama Retto on the 8th for special ordnance repairs.

    On 10 June AMMEN arrived at Hagushi for her next assignment, promptly got it and went out to relieve WILLIAM D. PORTER, a kamikaze victim.  AMMEN came on the scene just in time to see the PORTER sink, her survivors being rescued from the water by COGSWELL and several LCSs (Landing Craft, Support) and whisked into Hagushi.  AULICK joined AMMEN as support ship.

    On 11 June action, flared in early evening when, at 1847, a raid was detected 32 miles away.  AMMEN at that time had control of only one division, of planes, yet the one-section combat air patrol bagged two bandits.  Two others came on in.  Flamed by shells from the LCS’s, the first crashed short in the water just north of them.  AULICK and AMMEN took the last one under fire as it sped in on a southerly course to the east of the LCS’s, hitting the dive bomber just as it was turning to starboard for a lunge at an LCS.  However, the plane managed to connect on LCS-122.  Later that evening all ships left all picket stations and assembled at Hagushi, available as escorts in connection with the typhoon, which was blowing up.

    On 12 June, in the face of improved weather conditions, the typhoon plan was cancelled and all ships were sent back to man their picket stations.  Accompanied by CONVERSE and AULICK, AMMEN returned to her designated location.  CAPERTON relieved AULICK the 13th and WATTS came in to sub for AMMEN the morning of the 14th.  After fueling at Kerama Retoo the AMMEN anchored at Hagushi.

    On 14 June Lt. Commander George V. Rogers, USN, reported aboard as relief for Commander Brown; command of destroyer AMMEN officially changed hands on the 17th.

    On 20 June INGERSOLL, CONVERSE and AMMEN went on station at dawn, freeing COGSWELL, BROWN and WICKES.  During the 20th and 21st the absence of the Imperial Air Force was noticeable.  But shortly after 2230 on the 21st a raid was reported coming down from the north.

    On 22 June all enemy planes were retiring by 0230; at 0310 AMMEN's screen was finally clear.  Then at 0741 a raid was detected 75 miles away, estimated to be composed of five or six planes.  At 0758 the combat air patrol made a tallyho on six Japs, and in short order a dozen more  in all, ten torpedo-toting bombers with eight Zeroes flying cover . In the furious aerial fray which followed the AMMEN vectored aircraft cut the enemy squadron apart, downing sixteen planes with a loss of three of their own.  No Nip planes closed the destroyers.

    During the fight one Marine pilot, his Corsair fighter out of ammunition, tried to chew off a Zero's tail with his propeller by making a run from below and behind.  His crash tactics successful, the Zero exploded in mid-air, blowing off the Corsair's right wing in doing so.  AMMEN picked up the daring Naviator when he parachuted to safety, found him suffering only a few minor burns .  Machine gun fire overhead alerted AMMEN at 0911 gave her time to dart hard right to avoid a falling Corsair, the plane crashed in the water fifty feet on AMMEN's port quarter, sinking immediately with the pilot.  Other Japanese raiders went on to Zampa Misaki and all was clear by 1115.  Three Separate attacks were made on AMMEN's station after dark.

    On 23 June MOALE and CHARLES AUSBURNE relieved CONVERSE and AMMEN, whereupon the two veterans went in to Hagushi.  AMMEN fueled at Kerama Retto the morning of the 24th, that afternoon proceeded with other DDs to report for duty to Commander Task Force 33 at Leyte.  Organized resistance on Okinava Gunto had been officially declared at an end.

    Leyte Gulf looked good to the 300-odd, battle-weary men of USS AMMEN.  Recreation and upkeep kept the ship in that area from 27 June through 13 July; on the latter date she sortied from Leyte Gulf at 0745 in Destroyer Squadron 24.

    During the afternoon of 13 July, enroute to join Vice Admiral Jesse B. Oldendor's powerful Task Force 95 at Okinawa, AMMEN conducted anti-aircraft exercises with towed target sleeves and drones.  Her squadron reached Buckner Bay, Okinawa at 0735 on l6 July.

    Underway in company the afternoon of 16 July, AMMEN made her way around the thicketed southern shoulder of Okinawa, past Kane Shima with the intention of beginning nine sweeping operations l8 July.  Information that a typhoon was heading in the task force's direction    necessitated a change in plans, and the ships retired south and east of Okinawa until 20 July.

    All three subsequent sweeps of the East China Sea in which AMMEN took part were comparatively uneventful.  Only on the first, made 22-24 July around Tungyung Island, was there action; the destroyers opened fire on several fishing boats and small sailing craft.  A second sweep was made 26-29 July, the third from 1 August to 7 August.

    Halsey's Third Fleet planes conducted the spectacular "Month of Fire11 raids on the Japanese mainland during July, beginning their skyward siege of Honshu on the 10th and then thundering north to plaster Hokkaido.  Delivery of the Potsdam Ultimatum on l6 July, Soviet Russia's eleventh hour decision to march on Japan in Manchuria, the awesome atom bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and Japan was ready to give up the divine ghost.  August 15th brought the long awaited "cease all offensive operations" message to USS AMMEN at Okinawa.

    On 7 September AMMEN moved to the Japanese home islands, whore she worked with U. S. carriers screening minesweeps and prisoner-of-war evacuation units.  She entered shattered Nagasaki Harbor 15 September, remaining there until 21 September when she proceeded up to Sasebor with the Marine landing group.

    AMMEN was afforded at-anchor availability at Wakayama, Honshu from 26 September to 22 October.  Returning to Sasebo 26 October the destroyer took up diversified duties coincident with the occupation, e.g., courier trips to Wakayama, escorting of damaged ships, inspections of enemy vessels.
With Destroyer Squadron 24 USS AMMEN left Sasebo 17 November. The long voyage home took her to Pearl Harbor, to San Diego, the Panama Canal Zone and finally to Charleston, South Carolina and inactivation.

    Guns and machinery weather-proofed, rust-proofed, the destroyer was placed out of commission in reserve at Charleston on 15 April 1946.  AMMEN was assigned a permanent berth there, a unit of the Charleston Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

    Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal awarded the Navy Unit Commendation to the destroyer USS AMMEN for radar picket operations during the Okinawa campaign, from April 1 to June 24, 1945.

The text of the citation reads:

    "For outstanding heroism in action as a Fighter direction ship on a Radar Picket Station during the Okinawa Campaign, April 1 to June 24, 1945.  A natural and frequent target for heavy Japanese aerial attack while occupying advanced and isolated stations, the  USS AMMEN defeated all efforts of enemy Kamikaze and dive-bombing planes to destroy her.   Constantly vigilant and ready for battle, she sent out early air warnings, provided fighter direction and, with her own gun-fire, assisted in downing two hostile planes, routed many others and rendered valiant service in preventing the Japanese from striking in force the Naval Forces off the Okinawa beachhead.  A gallant, fighting ship, the AMMEN, her officers and her men withstood the stress and perils of vital radar picket duty, achieving a distinctive combat record which attests the teamwork, courage and skill of her entire company and enhances the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
    All personnel serving aboard the AMMEN from April 1 to June 24, 1945 are authroized to wear the Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.   Commander James H. Brown, U.S.N,, of Chamberlain, South Dakota, was commanding officer of the destroyer during the action.
USS AMMEN (DD 527) earned eight (8) battle stars on the Asiatic-Pacific Area Service Ribbon for participating in the following operations during World War II:

1 star Aleutians Operation
     Attu Occupation    11 May - 2 June 1943.

1 star Bismark Archipelago Operation
     Cape Gloucester, New Brittian  26 Dec. 1943 - 1 Mar 1944
     Admiralty Island Landings

1 Star Eastern New Guinea Operation
     Saider Occupation    2 Jan. - 1 Mar. 1944
     Wewak-Aitape Operations   14-24 July 1944

1 Star Western New Guinea Operations
     Toen-Wakde-Sarmi Area Operation 17 May-21 June 1944
     Biak Island Operation   27 May-21 June 1944
     Noemfoor Island Operation   2 July-31 Aug. 1944
     Cape Sansaper Operation   30 July-31 Aug. 1944
     Moretai Landings    11 Sept. 1944- 9 Jan. 1945

1 Star Leyte Operation
     Leyte Landings    10 Oct. - 29 Nov. 1944

1 Star Okinawa Gunto Operation
     Assault and Occupation of  Okinawa Gunto    24 Mar - 30 June 1945

1 Star THIRD Fleet Operations against Japan  10 July-15 Aug. 1945

1 Star Hollandia Operation
    (Aitape-Humbolt Bay-Tanahmerah Bay - Tamaha Bay) 21 Apr-1 June 1945