USS Venango AKA82

Ship's History, August - November 1944

The following document, author unknown, was given to the men of the Venango at the end of the war in the Pacific. The original paper is badly dried out and falling apart. Interesting character sketches are drawn on the cover and at several place within the document. My father, Rodman "Buffy" Decker, was a signal man aboard the Venago, and asked that I share this bit of history with anyone interested. Any correspondence or questions about some details or stories not included in this document, will be welcomed by my father, through me at  Rodman Decker   from this site. We hope you enjoy the story, and for those of you who served aboard this ship, my father would especially like to hear from you.

To the Navy it has been an "Attach Cargo Ship" with the hull number 82. To the men who laid the keel and built the hull in the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company in Wilmington, North Carolina, it was just "Maritime Commission Contract MCc 8266." To the workers in the shipyards of the Bethlehem Steel Company, in Hoboken, NJ, it was just another "rush, rush, rush, hurry, hurry, hurry" job. But to the men who sailed the USS Venango it has been the Mighty V --- home, workshop, and battle post.

The USS Venango, like other ships of its class is named after counties in the United States. The AKA 82 is named after Venango County (population 63958) situated in the northwest section of Pennsylvania. The USS Venango, like the county it is named for, is a good typical AKA, an attach cargo ship that paved the way for the big invasions that spelled "d-o-w-n-f-a-l-l" of the hopes of the would-be world conquerors.

The keel of the USS Venango was laid by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company of Wilmington, North Carolina, as a C-2 liberty ship in the spring of 1944. On August 26, 1944 work on the hull was completed, and in the partial state of completion the Navy took over the ship on that date. The Navy tagged the ship as the AKA 82, put it in tow and tugged it up the Atlantic coast to a berth in the Bethlehem Shipyards in Hoboken where it was to be fitted out and commission the USS Venango.

Meanwhile the crew began gathering in two places, the crew that would sail the Venango when she was commissioned and ready for sea. At Hoboken Lt. Commander T.A.Whitaker, who was to be the first skipper of the ship when it was commissioned, was gathering an engineering, construction, and general working staff together to see that all of the details necessary in the fitting out of the (ship) were completed.

In Newport, RI, at the Naval Training Station, lt. John L. Tastor the ship’s first executive officer was gathering the rest of the crew and rounding it into divisions for training in gunnery, seamanship, communications, baking, cooking, and all of the other assignments which would later have to be carried out aboard ship.

Original Commissioning date of the ship was set for December 30, 1944 but at that time work was still being speeded on the new attack cargo ship so the date of commissioning was set back to January 2^nd, 1945.

The wheels were turning rapidly now. The portion of the crew that had assembled at Newport, RI, was shifted to the Flushing Avenue Receiving Station in Brooklyn. Records had to be moved from the Ship’s office on Washington Street into the Ship.

At 1400 on January 2^nd, the entire crew "fell in" on the hugh no.4 cargo hatch. On the superstructure stood wives, friends, and relatives to watch the ship go into commission. A band from the shipbuilding company was present to add music. Finally, Lt. Commander Whitaker read his orders giving him command of the vessel, accepted the ship from yard officials and ordered Lt. John L. Tastor to place the ship into commission.

Early the next morning the ship slipped away from its dock in the Hoboken Shipbuilding Company yards and with tugs shoving and pulling moved to Pier 33 in Brooklyn to take on stores. On January 6^th provisions were aboard and the ship moved to the Deperming Station, Navy yard Annex at Bayonne, NJ. After deperming the ship moved to Gravesend Bay, NY, to load ammunition, and then shoved off early on the morning of January 8^th for trial runs in Oyster Bay.

After turning, running measured miles, and calibrating the range finders and compasses, the ship returned to Pier 33 on January 10^th load dry stores.

On January 13^th the ship moved back to Gravesend Bay to complete loading ammunition, and then at 7:49 p.m. lifted anchor and shoved off for Norfolk, Virginia where it would prepare for its shakedown cruise. Late on Sunday afternoon the ship arrived at Hamton Roads, Virginia and immediately began preparing for the shakedown cruise. On Monday morning Boat Group Commander Ensign A. Currie took the boat crews that had trained under him at Ft. Pierce, Florida, and drew 16 LCVP’S and 8 LCM’s from the boat pool. These were to (be) the "Attack" part of Attack Cargo Ship 82 of the U.S. Navy.

By Wednesday morning, January 16 all plans for the shakedown cruise were completed and the ship shoved out into Chesapeake bay for it’s shakedown run. That day magnetic compasses were recompensated and the ship ran the degaussing range before anchoring off Cove Pt., Maryland.

Early the next morning, condition 1A, the condition from which attack ships run invasions, was set and for the first time, wench crews and line-handling parties went to work lowering the attack boats into the cold January waters of Chesapeake Bay. Once into the water the boats formed into assault waves and practiced drilling for invasion. The same drills were repeated the next day.

On Saturday the ship lifted anchor from Cove Pt. and streamed paravanes and completed a four hour full power speed run, enroute to Cape Charles City, for a night’s anchorage.

The next day, the ship’s guns spit fire for the first time. Structural firing of all guns was conducted and gun crews had their first chance to whip into shape by firing at sleeves towel by airplanes.

Monday morning fueling-at-sea exercise with a destroyer completed the shakedown cruise, and the ship proceeded to the docks at Portsmouth, VA, for a period of yard availability for repairs.

This was the last crack at leave for the crew, and as many as possible wangled three and four day leaves and visited home for the last time before leaving for the Pacific.

On Saturday the NOB, Norfolk, Virginia, and began loading cargo for the Pacific. The following Thursday all cargo was packed into the holds and the ship prepared for her maiden ocean voyage.

At 1200 on Friday, February 2^nd, the ship pulled away from its dock at Norfolk and set its course for Cristobal, Canal Zone. During the trip the ship’s newspaper, "The Ven-AKA" made its first appearance, and began publishing radio press news for all hand daily.

Late at night on Wednesday, February 7^th, the lights of the Panama Canal were sighted, and shortly after midnight the vessel slipped alongside the docks at Cristobal and moored.

The stay at Cristobal was short, and at noon the following day the "Mighty V" pulled out and began the journey through the locks of the Canal. For safety’s sake, the outboard davit boats had to be lowered into the water follow the ship on their diesel engines.

Late that night the ship passed through the Pacific end of the canal and headed toward Oahu and Pearl Harbor.

On the trip to Pearl Harbor the gun crews began drilling in earnest. Scarcely a day passed without the ship pausing to circle around targets while the crews fired and fired, accustoming themselves to the ship’s guns, and forming themselves into teams which could successfully defend the ship. All repair parties were busy also, acquainting themselves with the placing and the types of equipment with which they might at any time be called upon to battle damage.

One night after the First Lieutenant and Damage Control Officer Lt. (jg) R.A.Tice had been cooking up fake fire and simulated damage to train the repair parties when a minor fire broke out in the one of the holds, shortly after 2200. At First Lt. (jg) Tice was a little peeved because he had to rouse out of a sound sleep. The announcement of the fire’s scene was wrong and sent him to the wrong hold. Finding no fire, he decided that it was a pretty good drill (and) decided to get into the spirit of things by having other simulated damage. So out of the damage control phone circuits went word of several other fires. By that time word of all the fires was reaching the Captain on the bridge. Captain Whitaker had visions of his entire ship burning at sea and frantically kept phoning Main Damage Control for reports on the fire. Executive Officer Lt. J.L.Tastor was racing from hold to hold, continually cracking his head on beams and bulkheads as he raced over the black out decks. Finally, he dropped into Main Damage Control, slumped in a chair, and said: "Is there a fire or isn’t there!" By that time the actual fire had been located, and was well under control.

On February 22, the ship arrived off the Hawaiian Islands and anchored at the X-ray berths while awaiting orders to go alongside a dock. The liberty boats were soon running, and were jammed with sailors anxious to (get) their first look at the famed Hawaiian Hula gals.

On the 27^th of February the ship moved to the docks and unloaded cargo. Shortly after completion of unloading cargo, the ship moved to Honolulu on March 4^th, and began taking on a combat load of cargo, which was destined for Okinawa. Then on 10 March, 1945, the ship went back to Pearl Harbor to await orders to shove off for the forward areas.

While in Pearl Harbor, Welfare and Recreation Officer, Ensign T.B. Hastings really hit his stride and began showing movies every night. From then on, movies were held nightly, although in the tropics when the ship was at sea and due to blackout regulations the movies had to be moved to the Messhall which eventually became known as the Hastins Hothouse.

On March 15, the ship pulled out for its first trip to the forward areas heading for Eniwetok Atoll, in the Marshall Islands. The trip was marked by the ship’s first trip across the International Dateline, on March 19^th. The "lose a day" crossing was the first for most of the crew members.

Early in the morning of March 23^rd, the ship slipped into its anchorage spot in Enitetok Harbor and dropped anchor. After a day’s layover, the ship departed for the fleet anchorage at the Ulithi Islands. 20 miles off Ulithi on March 29^th, and (the) ship ran into its first bad storm.

A TBS warning from Ulithi told the ship to set typhoon condition 11 and to stand out to sea to ride out the storm. All that day and night the ship pitched and tossed through the storm, until at 0300 the next morning it was possible to head back to Ulithi and to anchor there the next morning.

The ship was now a unit of Transport Division 56 of the Fifth Fleet, and settled down at Ulithi to await word to proceed to Okinawa and the push against the doorstep of the Japanese Empire. The ship fueled and settled down to wait. By day mail was arriving daily from the States. In the evenings movies on the main decks took up the time. Between times, Gunnery Officer Lt. J.S. Barron, Jr., was drilling the gun crews, while the boat crews were busily checking their landing craft, and establishing guns and smoke generators in boats designated as picket craft.

After a period of days when the ship was ready to get underway upon several hours notice, and had received orders to leave for Okinawa only to have them canceled five or six times as the success of the Initial echelons at Okinawa grew then waned, the ship finally departed in convoy for Okinawa on Friday April 13^th.

During the trip to the Ryukyus, the convoy was alerted several times by submarine contacts, but did not contact the enemy. On the morning of April 17^th, the ship anchored in Southwest Okinawa Shima, Ryukyus Islands, Japan. Shortly after supper, the ship began unloading landing craft to land its cargo, which contained units of the 82^nd Signal Battalion. Work was cut short by an air raid at 2000, and work was delayed on the unloading of cargo until the following morning.

Cargo discharge continued during the ensuing three days. Each night work was interrupted by enemy air raids, and along with all the other ships in the harbor, the "V" sent up volumes of smoke to blackout the harbor. However, the Japanese were at the time directing most of their raids against American-held airfields on the beaches nearby, and the ships did not bother ships anchored in the bay to any great extent.

Discharge of cargo was completed early on Saturday morning April 21^st, and on Sunday afternoon the ship left Okinawa for Saipan. On April 27^th, the ship arrived in Saipan and anchored in the harbor.

On May 2^nd the ship moved into Tanapag Harbor and moored at the docks to receive cargo for Okinawa, completing loading on May 10^th, when it moved back into the harbor. By that time most painting had been completed and the crew began to relax while awaiting orders to proceed back (to) Okinawa.

Daily recreation parties went ashore for beer and athletics at the recreation center. Movies were shown every night. Mail arrived in four and five days from the States. A softball team was organized and it won all four of the games it played against other ships.

Finally, however, the rest was over and on May 23^rd, the ship started back to Okinawa, this time heading for the eastern side of the island to Buchner Bay, then Nagasuku Wan.

Early Sunday morning, May 27^th, everyone was enjoying a leisurely breakfast as the ship approached Okinawa, when Ensign R.P. Harris, JOOD on the port wind of the bridge saw an unidentified plane approaching out of the clouds on the port side. The ship immediately went to General Quarters. Before most of the crew had reached battle stations, the plane made a dive, a suicide dive, at the APD escorting the convoy off the Venango’s port beam. Alert gun crews on the ship got the plane before it got the ship. The harbor was infested with Japanese Suicide Planes, mostly Vals, as the ship poured into the harbor. A convoy was leaving the harbor as our convoy entered, and a great deal of action between the ships and the Japanese planes ensued.

All day Sunday the ship lay at anchor in the harbor awaiting orders to begin discharging cargo. Air raids were frequent with the Japanese making concentrated suicide attacks on the shipping in the harbor. Monday came, Tuesday came, and it was Wednesday before the ship began discharging cargo into barges.

Unloading proceeded very slowly. On the beach, the army was bogged down by torrential rains and mud knee-deep. Trucks could not move to unload the barges. Discharge of cargo was at a standstill.

As the ships lay at anchor, the Japanese turned on the head in earnest with their suicide attacks. From the Venango, crew members watched suicide plane after suicide plane shot down, and watched as ships were hit by these bomb laden planes. Everyone watched as the APA 194, the Sandoval, which had been just ahead of us in convoy column from Saipan to Okinawa was struck. Some saw a Destroyer beat off three planes, and then was hit by the fourth of the group of suicide attackers. Still unloading was at a standstill and where were not prospects of an early completion of unloading and the ship departing from the area.

On Monday, June 4^th, the ship along with other ships was warned of an approaching typhoon. Immediately the ships began standing out to sea to ride out the storm. The Venango became flag ship for a convoy of five merchant ships and three Destroyers and led its convoy out to sea, with Lt. Comd’r T.A.Whitaker serving as Convoy Commodore and OTC.

The next day the typhoon had passed and the ship moved back into the bay to complete discharge of cargo.

Air attack by the Japanese continued. On 11 June with cargo 99% completed the Venango departed from Bucknor Bay, but was recalled by the Port Director due to lack of escorts. Finally, with the holds bare, the ship left in convoy on June 14^th, and proceeded towards Saipan.

Enroute to Saipan, orders were received directing the ship to go to Pearl Harbor. After a brief stop to get rations and supplies at Saipan, the Vessel sailed for Pearl Harbor, arriving in that port of the Hawaiian Islands on June 29^th.

On July 7^th the ship moved to Honolulu to load cargo, and on the 13^th of July departed for the Ulithi Islands. However, shortly before midnight the ship suffered a casualty to the high pressure turbine casing, and after an exchange of messages with AdComPhibsPac was ordered to return to Pearl Harbor for repairs.

Until the 23^rd of July the ship remained at Pearl Harbor repairing the engine room casualty, then left again for the Ulithi Islands. This time the trip was uneventful, and the ship arrived at Ulithi anchorage on August 4^th.

After remaining overnight, the ship proceeded to Pelelieu, in the Palau Islands to discharge cargo, and to pick up additional cargo for the Philippines. August 6^th, the ship anchored off Pelelieu, and completed its task there on August 7^th, when it set sail for Leyte Gulf.

Early in the afternoon of August 9^th, the ship anchored off Tacleban in Leyte Gulf. Cargo for that port was discharged on August 10^th and the ship prepared to sail across to Guiuan, Samar Island, the next morning.

Everyone was sitting around at various places on the superstructure watching the movies, when Signalman l/C C.N.Adkins, in an impromptu chat with another signalman via flashing light, received word that the Japanese had offered to surrender. He immediately dashed down to the Radio shack where RM2/C J.A. Loftus was in charge of the watch, just as he arrived the word came over the radio.

Spontaneously, a huge celebration was unloosed throughout the harbor. Lights were turned on full on all ships. Searchlights raced crazily across the sky. Ships whistles and sirens screamed without pause. Very pistols and pyrotechnic rockets lit up the sky with multi-colored fireworks. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind—THE WAR WAS OVER.

The next day the ship moved to Samar, but no one’s mind was on the moving. Everyone was thinking about what would happen now. Would the Japanese offer be accepted? Anxious days began piling up. The ship was divided clearly. The pessimists were sure the war was not over; the optimists were just as sure it was.

The radiomen kept tuning broadcast bands 24 hours a day. Finally, just after breakfast on August 15^th, the flash came. President Truman has announcement was just an anti-climax to the celebration of a few days before. Finally discharge of cargo was begun. Work proceeded very slowly, until the ship got orders to proceed to join the forces moving occupation troops to Japan. Then cargo literally flew from the holds. On August 30^th, the ship moved to Leyte Island, off Tolosa, to load General Eichelberger’s Headquarters Company.

On Sunday the 2^nd of September loading was completed and the ship left for Manila to join Transport Squadron 24. On September 5^th, after the crew had enjoyed one day of sightseeing at Manila, the ship as a part of Transport Squadron 24 departed for Japan.

On September 13^th, the ship steamed into Tokyo Bay, past Mount Fujiyama, past the proud carriers and battleships of Task Force 38 and dropped anchor. Soon, however, orders to proceed to the dock were received, and with a Japanese pilot on the flying bridge proceeded alongside a pier in the Yokehama area.

Liberty parties were formed on Sunday September 15^th, after the ship moved back into the bay after discharging cargo, and the crew eagerly poured ashore to see Japan.

On Monday and Tuesday, the ship rode out a hurricane in Tokyo Bay, and on Wednesday departed with Transport Squadron 24 for Guam. Arriving at Guam on September 23^rd, the ship anchored in Apra Harbor overnight. It’s full wing day Marines of the 6^th Division were brought aboard from the dock.

On the following day the ship departed with Transport Division 71 for Saipan where it dropped anchor on October 1^st. On October 2^nd, the Division left Saipan and joined the remainder of Transport Squadron 24 at sea. The Squadron then departed for Tsingtao, China.

The Ships arrived at Tsingtao on October 11^th, with the first of the occupations forces for that area. On the second day in port, liberty for the Navy was started, and the sailors found a royal welcome awaiting them.

Lt. (jg) R.A.Tice was then executive officer, the former executive officer, along with the Communications Officer, the Chief Engineer, and the Navigator were detached from the ship for demobilization. Other officers from the ship filled the positions that had been vacated.

On Wednesday, October 17^th, the squadron left Tsingtao and proceeded to Manila to stock up with supplies, arriving in Manila on October 23.

In Manila, Lt. Commander Joseph Reilinger reported aboard ship as relief for T.A. Whitaker, now a Commander, as captain of the Venango. On Navy Day, November 27^th, he assumed command of the ship in "turning over of command" ceremonies in the messhall.

Three days later the ship left Manila for Haipheng, French Indo-China, to embark elements of the 52^nd Chinese Army. On November 2^nd the ship arrived at Haipheng and made preparations for embarkation of the Chinese 52^nd Army.

The next morning embarkation of the troops began. Captain Reidinger and Beachmaster Ens. Massarand were in charge of shooing the troops into the ship’s landing craft, after Lt. (jg) Rodrigueq, the ship’s doctor had thoroughly examined all of the passengers.

Aboard ship, the executive officer, Lt. (jg) (Now Lt.) R.A. Tice had the men waiting for them, and 1000 troops plus their equipment were speedily embarked in one day.

The next morning with other ships of Transport Squadron the ship left Chinwangtao, China, where the troops were to be ____ (piece of original document missing)____trip many items of construction had been built to accom__(piece of original document missing)___safely. Private lavatories and kitchens were constructed for the Chinese on the main decks. The sections of the ship occupied by Chinese troops were fenced off, to prevent the Americans and Chinese from mingling, and perhaps allowing the cholera and dysentery which were believed to be present among the Chinese troops from spreading to the Yankees.

On November 12^th, the ship arrived at Chinwangtao, and the day troops of the Chinese Army were landed. On the 13^th the ship proceeded 90 miles down the coast and anchored off Taku, to await further orders. Tuesday, November 18^th the orders arrived directing the ship to proceed to Seattle, Washington. These orders came after the ship had reported for duty with Naval Transport Service as directed by the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet.

Two days later at 1100 with a full load of troops and sailors embarked as passengers, the ship departed for Seattle, its first homeward journey since leaving Norfolk on February 2^nd.