USS Heywood L. Edwards (DD-663)

USS "Heywood L. Edwards" (DD-663) was a (later sunk by aircraft) and one destroyer to escape. As morning broke over Surigao Strait, "Heywood L. Edwards" took station on the port bow of the cruisers in search of enemy cripples, patrolled the eastern entrance to the strait for a day, then returned to take up station in Leyte Gulf.

With the American victory complete at sea, "Heywood L. Edwards" remained in the invasion area until 25 November, patrolling and protecting the shipping building up in the gulf. She arrived Manus for a much-needed rest and repair period 29 November. Soon underway again, however, she sailed 15 December, and after training exercises in the Palau Islands departed 1 January with Oldendorf's group for the second important phase of the Philippine invasion, at Lingayen Gulf. Fighting off kamikaze suicide planes as they steamed, the ships arrived Lingayen Gulf 6 January, and "Edwards" downed two of these aircraft during a strong attack that day. She then took up her fire support duties for UDT teams, and with the landings 9 January covered troops on the beachhead and fired at strong points ashore. She continued these assignments in addition to protecting arriving and departing convoys until 22 January, when she departed for Ulithi.

Iwo Jima and Okinawa

Next on the relentless timetable of Pacific victory was Iwo Jima, seen as a key base for B-29 operations against the mainland of Japan. "Heywood L. Edwards" participated in landing rehearsals 12–14 February 1945 and screened heavy units during the pre-invasion bombardment. As the Marines stormed ashore on Iwo Jima 19 February she began firing support missions, aiding the hard fighting ashore until 27 February, when she sailed for Saipan. The destroyer then sailed on to Ulithi and formed with the supporting forces for the coming invasion of Okinawa.

The task force for this landing departed Ulithi 21 March, and after her arrival 4 days later "Heywood L. Edwards" covered the UDT teams' reconnaissance of Kerama Retto. As those islands were captured 27 March in preparation for the larger landings, the destroyer found herself in the midst of heavy suicide attacks and shot down many of the kamikazes. She covered the UDT landings on Okinawa 30 March, bombarded an airfield ashore that afternoon, and 1 April joined in the bombardment of the assault areas. During the next weeks of bitter fighting ashore, naval forces effectively sealed off the island from any possible reinforcement and effectively supported the troops with gunfire. "Edwards" and the other vessels had to fight off continuing suicide attacks and other menaces. When destroyer USS|Longshaw|DD-559 ran aground on a reef 18 May, "Heywood L. Edwards" knocked out shore batteries which had opened on the stricken ship. She then continued performing fire support and radar picket duties off Okinawa until 28 July, when she sailed for Leyte Gulf. She had helped to carry out one of the most prolonged and successful fire support operations in the history of amphibious warfare.

The destroyer departed Leyte 2 August, and after a time at Saipan and Eniwetok she got underway again 29 August. Sailing toward Japan, "Heywood L. Edwards" covered the initial occupation of the Ominato area 6 September 1945 and departed that port 22 October for the United States, via Pearl Harbor. She arrived Seattle 10 November, decommissioned 1 July 1946, and entered the Long Beach Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet.

JDS "Ariake" (DD-183)

"Heywood L. Edwards" was brought out of reserve in 1959, and along with her sister ship "Richard P. Leary" was loaned to Japan (ironically, given the ship's extensive Pacific theatre history) under the Military Assistance Program. She served in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force as JDS "Ariake" (DD-183) until 1974.

"Ariake" was broken up for scrap in 1976.

Awards

"Heywood L. Edwards" received seven battle stars for her service in World War II and a Navy Unit Commendation for her outstanding part in the great amphibious operations of 1944–45.

References

External links

* [http://www.destroyerhistory.org/fletcherclass/ussheywoodledwards/index.html USS "Heywood L. Edwards" home page] at [http://www.destroyerhistory.org/index.html Destroyer History Foundation]
* [http://history.navy.mil/danfs/h6/heywood_l_edwards.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Heywood L. Edwards"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/663.htm navsource.org: USS "Heywood L. Edwards"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd663txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Heywood L. Edwards"]