Naval History and Heritage Command

1. Copy of Original

"We had no incidents whatsoever [on July 29th]. We passed an LST headed toward Leyte as we were also, on Sunday, and talked to them. They were north of us and they were preparing to go further north in order to get out of our area to do some anti-aircraft shooting."

From McVay's Oral History. 

DECK LOG – TITLE PAGE
NAVPERS 137 (REV. 1-44)

LOG BOOK
OF THE
U. S. S. LST #779

_________________
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

COMMANDED BY

Lieutenant Joseph A. Hopkins, U. S. N. R.

Attached To: 36th Division,
18th Group Squadron,
6th Flotilla,
U. S. Pacific Fleet,

Commencing 1 July, 1945,
at sea enroute from Iwo Jima to Guam,
and ending 31 July, 1945,
at sea enroute from Guam to Samar, P. I.

TO BE FORWARDED DIRECT TO THE BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL AT THE END OF EACH MONTH

[end 1]

DECK LOG – REMARKS SHEET

UNITED STATES SHIP LST #779
Friday 27 July, 1945

0000-0400 Moored as before port side to dolphins off Pontoon assembly yard, Port Apra, Guam, using three doubled manila lines and a doubled stern wire.  Maintaining regular in port watch with roving security.  0005 Lt. McLellan ashore.

[signed] Ens. Peter Piece, USNR.

0400-0800 Moored as before.  No comment.

[signed] Ens. H. L. Luckey, USNR.

0800-1200 Moored as before.  0805 Stationed special sea detail.  0817 Underway all lines clear.  We are changing berths to Minecraft Landing in Port Apra, Guam.  0839 Let go stern anchor.  0917 Secured from special sea detail.  We are now bow to on the beach with two wires out to the beach and 100 feet of wire out on stern anchor.  1040 Ens. Scarpa, CEC, 70th N.C.B., 36th Reg. and 21 men aboard as per list, to man the four pontoon barges.  1107 LCVP #1 shoved off with Captain, Mr. Schout and Mr. Wood for departure conference.

[signed] Lt. (jg) James Glover, USNR.

1200-1600  Moored as before.  1215 LCVP #1 returned.  1245 LCVP #1 shoved off.  Started main engines.  1305 LCVP #1 returned.  1322 Set special sea detail.  1300 Secured stern anchor.  1333 All Lines clear.  Attempting to retract.  1339 Unable to retract.  Using various engine speeds and rudder angles trying to work off beach.  1350 Ballast pumping completed.  Still having trouble.  LCVP’s pushing stern about.  1430 Cleared beach.  Maneuvering at various courses and speeds to make channel and clear harbor.  1432 Closed bow doors.  1456 Pumping ballast to trim ship.  1500 Cleared harbor nets on course 285 degrees true, speed flank.  1518 Secured special sea detail, set Condition III.  1530 Proceeding to sea on course 282°true, speed full, enroute to Samar, P. I.

[signed] Lt. (jg) Alan S. Wood, USNR.

1600-1800 Underway as before.  Speed full, course 282°T.

[signed] Lt. (jg) James Glover, USNR.

1800-2000 Underway as before on course 282°T., speed full.  1915 Changed course to 250°T.

[signed] Lt. (jg) N. R. Ellis, USNR.

2000-2400 Underway as before, course 250°T., speed full.

[signed] Ens. H. L. Luckey, USNR.

[end 2]

DECK LOG – REMARKS SHEET

UNITED STATES SHIP LST #779
Saturday 28 July, 1945

0000-0400 Underway in passage from Guam to Samar, P. I. Speed full, course 250°T. 0115 Course to 261°T.

[signed] Ens. E. S. Hineline, Jr. USNR.

0400-0800 Underway as before on course 261°T., speed 280 R.P.M.s.

[signed] Lt. (jg) E. E. Higgins, USN.

0800-1200 Underway as before on course 261°T, speed 280 R.P.M.s.

[signed] Ens. N. V. Wahl, USNR.

1200-1600 Underway as before on course 261°T., speed full.

[signed] Ens. Peter Pierce, USNR.

1600-1800 Underway as before on course 261°T., speed full.

[signed] Lt. (jg) W. A. Griffith, USNR.

1800-2000 Underway as before on course 261°true, speed full.

[signed] Lt. (jg) Alan S. Wood, USNR.

2000-2400 Underway as before on course 261°T., speed full.

[signed] Lt. (jg) James Glover, USNR.

[end 3]

DECK LOG – REMARKS SHEET

UNITED STATES SHIP LST #779
Sunday 29 July, 1945

0000-0400 Underway as before in passage from Guam to Samar, P. I., course 261°T., speed full.

[signed] Lt. (jg) N. R. Ellis, USNR.

0800-1200 Underway as before on course 261°T., speed full.

[signed] Ens. E. S. Hineline, Jr., USNR

1200-1600 Underway as before on course 261°T., speed 280 R.P.M.  1312 Held General Quarters to conduct firing excersises.  1317 c/c to 280°T.  1319 c/c to 300°T.,  1320 c/c to 330°T.  1321 c/s to 2/3 ahead.  1322 c/c 350°T.  1353 Secured from firing exercises.  1357 c/s to standard.  1358 c/s to full, c/c to 261°T.  1400 c/s to flank.  1410 secured from General Quarters, stations regular sea watch.

[signed] Lt. (jg) A. E. Higgins, USN.

1600-1800 Underway as before on course 261°T., speed flank (300 R.P.M.s).

[signed] Ens. N. V. Wahl, USNR.

1800-2000 Underway as before on course 261°T., speed flank (300 R.P.M.s).

[signed] Lt. (jg) W. A. Griffith, USNR.

2000-2400 Underway as before on course 261°T., speed flank.  2200 Changed speed to full (290 R.P.M.).

[signed] Ens. Peter Pierce, USNR.

[end 4]

DECK LOG – REMARKS SHEET

UNITED STATES SHIP LST #779
Monday 30 July, 1945

0000-0400 Underway as before on course 261°T., speed full (290 R.P.M.) in passage from Guam to Samar, P. I.

[signed] Lt. (jg) Alan S. Wood, USNR.

0400-0800 Underway as before on course 261°T., speed 290 R.P.M.

[signed] Lt. (jg) James Glover, USNR.

0800-1200 Underway as before on course 261°T., speed full, 290 R.P.M.s.  0800 Changed course to 255°T.

[signed] Lt. (jg) N. R. Ellis, USNR.

1200-1600 Underway as before on course 255°T., speed full, 290 R.P.M.s. 1425 Changed course to 260°T.  1430 Southern, H.G., S2c, 865 18 95 released from brig by order of Commanding Officer.

[signed] Ens. H. L. Luckey, USNR.

1600-1800 Underway as before on course 260°T., speed 290 R.P.M.s.  1630 Set clocks back one hour.

[signed] Ens. E. S. Hineline, Jr., USNR.

1800-2000 Underway as before on course 260°T., speed 290 R.P.M.s.  1915 Contacted ship by radar bearing 009°R., distance 10 ½ miles.  1945 Ship passed to port distance 1 ½ miles.

 [signed] Lt. (jg) A. E. Higgins, USN.

2000-2400 Underway as before on course 260°T., speed 290 R.P.M.s.  Contacted ship by radar bearing 040°R. at 16 miles.  2028 Ship passed to starboard 5 miles.  2203 Radar contacted ship 290°R. range 14 ½ miles.  2230 Airplane bearing 270°R., distance 7 miles.  Challenged by radar.  Friendly.

[signed] Ens. N. V. Wahl, USNR.

[end 5]

DECK LOG – REMARKS SHEET

UNITED STATES SHIP LST #779
Tuesday 31 July, 1945

000-0400 Underway as before on course 260°T., speed 290 R.P.M. in passage from Guam, M. I. to Samar, P. I.

[signed] Lt. (jg) W. A. Griffith, USNR.

0400-0800 Underway as before on course 260°T., speed full (290 R.P.M.s).

[signed] Ens. Peter Pierce, USNR.

0800-1200 Underway as before on course 260°T., speed full (290 R.P.M.s).

[signed] Lt. (jg) Alan S. Wood, USNR.

1200-1600 Underway as before on course 260°T., speed 290 R.P.M.s.  1513 Changed course to 255°T.

[signed] Lt. (jg) James Glover, USNR.

1600-1800 Underway as before on course 255°T., speed full (290 R.P.M.s).

[signed] Lt. (jg) N. R. Ellis, USNR.

1800-2000 Underway as before on course 255°T., speed full, 290 R.P.M.

[signed] Ens. H. L. Luckey, USNR.

2000-2400 Underway as before on course 255°T., speed full.

[signed] Ens. E. S. Hineline, Jr., USNR.

[end 6]

DECK LOG – TITLE PAGE
NAVPERS 137 (REV. 1-44)

LOG BOOK
OF THE
U. S. S. LST #779

_________________
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

COMMANDED BY

Lieutenant Joseph A. Hopkins, U. S. N. R.

Attached To: 36th Division,
18th Group Squadron,
6th Flotilla,
U. S. Pacific Fleet,

Commencing 1 August, 1945,
at sea in passage from Guam to Samar, P. I.,
and ending 31 August, 1945,
at San Pedro Bay, P. I.

TO BE FORWARDED DIRECT TO THE BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL AT THE END OF EACH MONTH

[end 7]

DECK LOG – REMARKS SHEET

UNITED STATES SHIP LST #779
Wednesday 1 August, 1945

0000-0400 Underway as before in passage from Guam, M. I. to Samar, P. I. on course 250°T., speed full, 290 R.P.M.  0200 Sighted flashing white light bearing 020°R.  0320 Identified flashing light on Suluan Island.

[signed] Lt. (jg) A. E. Higgins, USN.

0400-0800 Underway as before on course 255°T., speed full (290 R.P.M.).  0415 Slowed to standard speed.  0600 Changed course to 283°T.  0610 Began maneuvering at various speeds and courses to enter Leyte Gulf at Surigao Strait as directed by signal station on shore.  0722 Small boat alongside with charts of Leyte Gulf and harbor therein.  0725 Proceeding on course 295°T., speed standard.

[signed] Ens. N. V. Wahl, USNR.

0800-1200 Underway as before on course 295°T., speed full.  Starboard engine stopped for repairs to fuel pump.  Maneuvering on various courses to the entrance of Guiuan Harbor, Samar.  0840 Starboard engine repaired.  0848 Starboard engine stopped for repairs.  0905 Starboard engine repaired.  0949 Special sea detail.  1001 Cleared harbor entrance.  Maneuvering at various courses and speeds following liberty ship carrying pilot.  1019 Lowered LCVP #1.  1055 Pilot, Lt. W. T. Shea aboard.  Maneuvering to anchorage.  1152 Anchored in 7 fathoms with 35 fathoms of chain to bow anchor.  1158 Secured from special sea detail.  Set in port watch.

[signed] Lt. (jg) W. A. Griffith, USNR.

1200-1600 Anchored as before.  1245 Pilot, Lt. W. T. Shea ashore.  1300 Captain and Executive Officer ashore.

[signed] Ens. Peter Pierce, USNR.

1600-2000 Anchored as before.  1615 Representative of U. S. Naval Receiving Ship aboard.  1630 Receiving ship representative  ashore.  1640 Lt. (jg) Crossman, Port Director’s representative, aboard.  1655 Lt. (jg) Crossman ashore.

[signed] Lt. (jg) W. A. Griffith, USNR.

2000-2400 Anchored as before.  2050 Captain and Executive Officer aboard.

[signed] Ens. Peter Pierce, USNR.

[End Remarks pages, begin Columnar Sheet for 29 July] 

PAGE 47
NAVPERS 134 (REV, 1-44)

DECK LOG-COLUMNAR SHEET

LOG OF THE UNITED STATES SHIP LST #779
PASSAGE FROM Guam TO Samar, P. I.
Sunday 29 July, 1945
ZONE DESCRIPTION Minus 10
Joseph A. Hopkins, Lieutenant U.S.N.R. COMMANDING

“ALL SHAFT” AVERAGE REVOLUTIONS
HOUR
A.M.
1. 273
2. 274
3. 273
4. 271
5. 271
6. 272
7. 271
8. 273
9. 272
10. 273
11. 270
12. 270

P.M.
13. 273
14. 227
15. 300
16. 301
17. 301
18. 303
19. 301
20. 298
21. 299
22. 301
23. 294
24. 292

BY REVS.
HOUR/ NAUTICAL MILES/ TENTHS
A.M.
1. 10/ 4
2. 10/ 5
3. 10/ 4
4. 10/ 4
5. 10/ 4
6. 10/ 4
7. 10/ 4
8. 10/ 4
9. 10/ 4
10. 10/ 4
11. 10/ 4
12. 10/ 4

P.M.
13. 10/ 4
14. 9/ 1
15. 11/ 4
16. 11/ 4
17. 11/ 4
18. 11/ 5
19. 11/ 4
20. 11/ 3
21. 11/ 3
22. 11/ 4
23. 11/ 2
24. 11/ 1

BY LOG
HOUR/ NAUTICAL MILES/ TENTHS
A.M.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

P.M.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.

COURSE (P. C.)
HOUR/ GYRO _X_ MAG___ (Indicate which)
A.M.
1. 261
2. 261
3. 261
4. 261
5. 261
6. 261
7. 261
8. 261
9. 261
10. 261
11. 261
12. 261

P.M.
13. 261
14. 261
15. 261
16. 261
17. 261
18. 261
19. 261
20. 261
21. 261
22. 261
23. 261
24. 261

WIND (TRUE)
HOUR/ DIRECTION MOVING FROM (In degrees)/ FORCE (Knots)
A.M.
1. W/ 2
2. W/ 2
3. W/ 2
4. W/ 3
5. W/ 3
6. W/ 3
7. W/ 3
8. SW/ 3
9. SW/ 3
10. SW/ 3
11. SW/ 3
12. SW/ 3

P.M.
13. SW/ 3
14. SW/ 3
15. SW/ 3
16. SW/ 3
17. SW/ 3
18. SW/ 3
19. SW/ 3
20. SW/ 3
21. SW/ 3
22. SW/ 3
23. SW/ 3
24. SW/ 3

BAROMETER (CORRECTED)
HOUR/HEIGHT IN INCHES/ READING AT THER.
A.M.
1. 29.93/
2. 29.92/
3. 29.91/
4. 29.91/
5. 29.91/
6. 29.92/
7. 29.93/
8. 29.94/
9. 29.94/
10. 29.94/
11. 29.94/
12. 29.92/

P.M.
13. 29.91/
14. 29.89/
15. 29.88/
16. 29.86/
17. 29.86/
18. 29.87/
19. 29.88/
20. 29.89/
21. 29.90/
22. 29.90/
23. 29.91/
24. 29.91/

TEMPERATURE
HOUR/ AIR, DRY BULB/ AIR, WET BULB/ WATER MAIN INJECTION
HOUR
A.M.
1. 83/ 79/
2. 83/ 79/
3. 83/ 79/
4. 83/ 79/
5. 83/ 79/
6. 83/ 79/
7. 83/ 79/
8. 83/ 79/
9. 84/ 80/
10. 84/ 80/
11. 84/ 80/
12. 85/ 80/

P.M.
13. 85/ 81/
14. 85/ 80/
15. 85/ 81/
16. 85/ 81/
17. 84/ 80/
18. 84/ 80/
19. 83/ 79/
20. 83/ 79/
21. 83/ 79/
22. 83/ 80/
23. 83/ 80/
24. 84/ 80/

WEATHER BY SYMBOLS
HOUR
A.M.
1. 7
2. 7
3. 7
4. 1
5. 1
6. 1
7. 2
8. 2
9. 2
10. 2
11. 2
12. 1

P.M.
13. 1
14. 1
15. 1
16. 1
17. 1
18. 1
19. 1
20. 1
21. 1
22. 1
23. 1
24. 1

CLOUDS
HOUR/ FORM LOW/ MIDDLE/ HIGH/ CEILING/ MOVING FROM (In degrees true)/ TOTAL AMOUNT OF SKY COVERED IN TENTHS
A.M.
1. Cu/      / Cc/ 25/ W/ 4
2. Cu/      / Cc/ 25/ W/ 3
3. Cu/      / Cc/ 25/ W/ 3
4. Cu/ Ac/     / 30/ W/ 5
5. Cu/ Ac/     / 30/ W/ 5
6. Cu/ Ac/     / 30/ W/ 5
7. Cu/ Ac/     / 25/ W/ 7
8. Cu/      / Ci/ 25/ SW/ 6
9. Cu/      / Ci/ 25/ SW/ 6
10. Cu/      / Ci/ 25/ SW/ 6
11. Cu/ As/ Ci/ 25/ SW/ 5
12. Cu/     / Cc/ 25/ SW/ 3

P.M.
13. Cu/      / Cc/ 25/ SW/ 3
14. Cu/      / Cc/ 30/ SW/ 3
15. Cu/      / Cc/ 30/ SW/ 4
16. Cu/      / Cc/ 30/ SW/ 4
17. Cu/      / Cc/ 30/ SW/ 3
18. Cu/ Ac/     / 30/ SW/ 5
19. Cu/ Ac/ Ci/ 25/ SW/ 5
20. Cu/     / Ci/ 25/ SW/ 4
21. Cu/    /     / 25/ SW/ 3
22. Cu/    /     / 25/ SW/ 3
23. Cu/    /     / 25/ SW/ 4
24. Cu/    /     / 25/ SW/ 4

VISIBILITY
HOUR
A.M.
1. 6
2. 6
3. 6
4. 6
5. 6
6. 7
7. 7
8. 7
9. 7
10. 7
11. 7
12. 8

PM
13. 8
14. 8
15. 8
16. 8
17. 8
18. 8
19. 7
20. 6
21. 6
22. 6
23. 6
24. 6

POSITION
HOUR/ LATITUDE/ LONGITUDE
0800/ 12° 28.0’ N/ 138° 02.0’E
1200/ 12° 22.0’ N/ 137° 23.0’E
2000/ 12° 18.3’ N/ 136° 02.2’E

CURRENT
(HOUR)/ (DATE)
TIME FROM 1935/ 28 July 1945
TO 1955/ 29 July 1945
SET 317° T
DRIFT 18KT

GYRO COMPASS IN USE
ERROR 0%

STANDARD MAGNETIC COMPASS
COMPASS NO. 11395
S. H.      254°
ERROR 7° E
VARIATION 2° E
DEVIATION 5° E

FUEL 15722 L.O. 1952
RECEIVED
EXPENDED  2686
ON HAND  154826   1952

WATER  24755
DISTILLED  5455
RECEIVED
EXPENDED 3725
ON HAND 26485

DRAFT BEFORE LEAVING PORT
FORWARD  7’ 3”
AFT  13’ 6”

DRAFT AFTER LEAVING PORT
FORWARD
AFT

MAGAZINE TEMPERATURES
MAXIMUM 95° F. (103M)
MINIMUM  80° F. Sky 3

GENERAL DRILLS AND EXERCISES
MORNING
N/A
AFTERNOON
1312  General Quarters
1316  All guns manned and ready
1324  Gunnery Practice. Shot down five out of eight balloons released.
1353  Secured from gunnery practice
1410  Secured from General Quarters.

SEA TEMP. SURF./ SEA FROM (In Points)/ SEA AMOUNT 0-9/ SWELL FROM (In Points)/ SWELL AMOUNT 0-9
A.M.
1. 86/ W/ 2/ W/ 1
2. 86/ W/ 2/ W/ 1
3. 86/ W/ 2/ W/ 1
4. 86/ W/ 2/ W/ 1
5. 86/ W/ 2/ W/ 1
6. 86/ W/ 2/ W/ 1
7. 86/ W/ 2/ W/ 1
8. 86/ SW/ 3/ SW/ 1
9. 86/ SW/ 3/ SW/ 1
10. 86/ SW/ 3/ SW/ 1
11. 86/ SW/ 3/ SW/ 1
12. 86/ SW/ 3/ W/ 1

P.M.
13. 86/ SW/ 3/ W/ 1
14. 85/ SW/ 3/ W/ 1
15. 85/ SW/ 3/ W/ 1
16. 85/ SW/ 3/ W/ 1
17. 85/ SW/ 3/ W/ 1
18. 85/ SW/ 3/ W/ 1
19. 85/ SW/ 3/ W/ 1
20. 86/ SW/ 3/ SW/ 1
21. 86/ SW/ 3/ SW/ 1
22. 86/ SW/ 3/ SW/ 1
23. 86/ SW/ 3/ SW/ 1
24. 86/ SW/ 3/ SW/ 1

JAMES W. SCHOUT
Lieut. (D) USNR NAVIGATOR

TO BE FORWARDED DIRECT TO THE BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL AT THE END OF EACH MONTH.

[end Columnar Sheet]