USS BUSH (DD 529)

"Rescue Ships"

During World War II, large numbers of ships were constructed and put into service. Naval vessels came in many sizes and shapes, with each type performing important roles as evidenced during the Okinawa invasion. This page references but a few of the many small vessels in use by 1945. These smaller ships were often called the "Little ships". Some of these ships were known just by their hull number. Like many others in the US Navy, these "Little Ships" had big hearts and brave crews.

Below, those ships coming to the aid of the mortally wounded USS BUSH are recalled. After the USS BUSH sank at radar picket station #1, six different "Little Ships" plucked BUSH sailors from the sea. The sky was overcast, enemy planes were still in the area, and many of the BUSH survivors would be in the water for more than 9 hours. It was a dangerous task for both rescuer and those hoping to be rescued.

In addition to those ships actually picking up BUSH personnel, three destroyers from other radar picket stations came to the aid of the USS BUSH. One of them, the USS COLHOUN (DD 801) was also lost as she provided protection to the badly damaged BUSH.

Finally, four ships transporting BUSH survivors back to the States are also noted. Of the 13 ships referenced here, Japanese suicide planes and suicide boats sank one and damaged five others. Such statistics are indicative of the danger facing the fleet during the battle for Okinawa, and in particular the risks to those ships on radar picket duty.

The LCS(L)'s - Landing Craft Support (Large)
These ships were designed for a crew of 65 enlisted men and 6 officers. Built on the same hull as an LCI (Landing Craft Infantry), these ships were armed with two twin 40MM guns, four 20MM guns, 10 MK7 rocket launchers, and typically either a 3-inch gun or single 40MM gun on the bow. Their primary mission was to provide fire support as LCI's or other landing craft put troops ashore. At Okinawa, LCS(L)'s were often assigned to work with a destroyer along the radar picket line. There were 130 LCS(L)'s built during World War II, with many seeing their first action at Iwo Jima or Okinawa. These commissioned ships had no names, just unique numbers. These ships, less than 160 feet in length, were sometimes referred to as the "Mighty Midgets" or the "Mighty Mites".

The four LCS(L)'s participating in the rescue of BUSH sailors were the 24, 37, 40 and 64. The LCS(L)'s looked pretty similar. As one veteran commented, "If you've seen one, you have seen them all!"

LCS(L) 64
The LCS(L) 64 was on station with the USS BUSH when the destroyer BUSH was first struck. The 64 tied up to the BUSH to provide assistance and take off wounded. However, attacking Japanese planes required the 64 to break away before any assistance could be rendered. A bearing taken by the LCS 64 just before clearing BUSH would prove invaluable in finding BUSH sailors later that evening. Returning after dark, the 64 became the first ship to actually recover survivors. The first survivors were picked up at about 2025 (8:25 PM) on April 6, 1945, while the bulk of the men rescued by the 64 weren't found for another 2 hours. The LCS(L) 64 retrieved 89 enlisted men and 6 officers. That's a bunch of sailors considering an LCS(L)'s ship's compliment consisted of 71 sailors.
	Photo thanks to: The National Association of USS LCS(L)'s 1-130 and Leonard D Nelson and NavSource Naval History
The LCS(L)'s 64 is pictured with the LCS(L)'s 86 and 87. While the LCS 64 was recovering USS BUSH sailors in the in final hours of April 6, 1945, The LCS 87 was removing the last of the USS COLHOUN officers and crew just before the COLHOUN was abandoned.

LCS(L) 40
	Photo thanks to: The National Association of USS LCS(L)'s 1-130 and NavSource Naval History
The LCS(L) 40, pictured above, arrived in the search area from radar picket station #3. Her April 6 deck logs note she left station #3 at 1810 hours. By 2245 she was in station #1 and commencing to pick up survivors, a task she continued until 0145 hours on April 7. The LCS(L) 40 rescued 55 men, plus two dead, all from the USS BUSH.

LCS(L) 24
	Photo thanks to: The National Association of USS LCS(L)'s 1-130 and NavSource Naval History
The LCS(L) 24 (above) arrived in the search area from radar picket station #4, following the destroyer BENNETT. Earlier in the day, she had recovered a Japanese aviator still alive after his plane had crashed in the water. The LCS(24) arrived in station #1 at 2237 hours and began her search for survivors. By 0056 on April 7, she had recovered 42 sailors from the USS BUSH. Ordered to retire with the survivors she had at that time, the 24's skipper (Lt. William Russell) was reluctant to leave as he felt there might be more men still alive in the water. He elected to make another search of the area and at 0153 discovered two officers adrift in the water. One of the two did not have a life jacket, and was being held up by the other. The 24 continued their search until 0330. She retired with 44 survivors of the USS BUSH and one Japanese pilot (who had been hidden in an empty 20 MM locker for his own protection).

LCS(L) 37
	The LCS(L) 37 being decommissioned in late 1945 or early 1946
The LCS(L) 37 had arrived in the search area from radar picket station #3 at 2125 hours. The 37 would remain in the search area all night, until 0920 the next morning. The LCS(L) 37 rescued two BUSH sailors during the night, and recovered 7 bodies, the last body being recovered at 0825. Twenty days later, the 37 was damaged by a Japanese suicide boat and forced to the Philippines for repair. Fortunately, none of the 37's crew were seriously hurt by the suicide boat.

ATF-108 PAKANA
The PAKANA was an ocean going tug. Such Fleet Tugs were especially useful during an amphibious operation. The PAKANA's job was to get the Landing craft off the beach as soon as their troops or supplies landed, thus making space for more landing craft. Landing craft didn't always have the best of current conditions for leaving the beach, so tugs like the PAKANA were ordered to provide the extra pulling power. It has been said the PAKANA was designed to generate enough power to tow a battleship at 3 knots in calm seas. She was 205 feet long, with a crew of about 100. Armament is thought to have included one 3-inch open mount gun, two single barrel 40MM guns, two single barrel 20MM guns, and two depth charge racks.
	PAKANA (ATF-108) 1945
At Okinawa, the PAKANA found herself helping with salvage and rescue of ships damaged along the radar picket line. On April 6, 1945, she had anchored near Sunabe Beach, Okinawa after some early morning salvage work involving miscellaneous small landing craft. At 1828 that evening, she was dispatched to assist the USS BUSH and USS COLHOUN. By 2310, the PAKANA's deck log notes she was "maneuvering and picking up survivors in accordance with verbal orders of USS CASSIN YOUNG (DD 793)". At 0040 on April 7, 1945, her motor whaleboats were placed in the water to facilitate rescues. By 0215 the PAKANA had recovered 34 USS BUSH sailors, though three of these men were pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

PCER 855
"PCER" means Patrol Craft Escort Rescue, a title to which the PCER 855 lived up. Commissioned November 1, 1944, the battle for Okinawa was her first action. Just under 185 feet in length, this ship carried 110 sailors. She had one 3-inch gun, two 40MM anti-aircraft guns, six 20MM guns, two depth charge racks, and 3 K-guns (300 lb. depth charges that could be fired away from the ship with this device).
	PCER 855 1944
On April 6, 1945, the PCER 855 was dispatched at 1823 to assist the USS BUSH. The site of the BUSH sinking was 51 miles away when the orders to assist were received. After arriving in the search area, the 855 would remain there all night. At 0146 her deck log notes she stopped to pick up a group of survivors. By 0205 hours she had recovered 17 BUSH sailors clinging to two rafts. Three of these men were wounded, one being a stretcher case with burns to his hands and face. The PCER 855 would spend 82 days on the Okinawa picket line. Several years after World War II, this ship would be christened the USS REXBURG.

The Destroyers - All of the Fletcher Class, like the USS BUSH
USS COLHOUN (DD-801)
	USS COLHOUN (DD-801) July 21, 1944
The COLHOUN was assigned to radar picket station #2 on April 6, 1945. When the USS BUSH call for help was received, the USS COLHOUN sped to picket station #1. Bringing her guns to bear on the enemy, she placed herself between the attacking planes and the damaged BUSH. BUSH was dead in the water, and could only fire her two forward twin 40MM's and some of her 20MM's anti-aircraft guns). COLHOUN downed three of the attacking planes. It was not long before COLHOUN was struck. Though power was retained, emergency steering was necessary. COLHOUN splashed two more attackers, and was struck by a second bomb carrying suicide plane. The second strike broke COLHOUN's keel and opened up a 20' by 4' hole below the waterline. Still COLHOUN battled back, splashing another attacker before a third suicide plane struck. The fourth, and last kamikaze to strike COLHOUN crashed into the bridge. Most of her crew was taken off by a nearby LCS(L), but the damage was great. Later that evening, just before midnight, she was completely abandoned and sunk by gunfire from the USS CASSIN YOUNG. Thirty-two of COLHOUN's crew perished in the attack, and two more died later from injuries. An additional 21 men were wounded.

USS CASSIN YOUNG (DD-793)
	USS CASSIN YOUNG (DD-793) 1944
The CASSIN YOUNG had been on radar picket station #3 when the heavy raids began. CASSIN YOUNG helped direct and protect some of the Little Ships assisting BUSH and COLHOUN. She performed well along the picket line. Six days after the BUSH and COLHOUN sinking, DD-793 was under heavy attack when a kamikaze exploded 50 feet from the ship, crashing high into her foremast. The blast killed one man, and injured one other. On July 29, 1945, she was struck amidships on the starboard side by a suicide plane that killing 22 of her sailors and injuring 45 others. She recovered, and survived. CASSIN YOUNG received the Navy Unit Commendation for her fine efforts on the radar picket line at Okinawa. Today, the USS CASSIN YOUNG is a living museum. She can be seen and toured at the Boston National Historical Park, Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts.

USS BENNETT (DD-473)
	USS BENNETT (DD-473) 1943
The BENNETT was on station at radar picket station #4. She survived attacks on April 6th without casualty. After the BUSH was struck, she too operated in radar picket station #1 providing assistance with the COLHOUN and BUSH rescue efforts. The next morning, at 0750 she was struck by a suicide plane killing three of her crew and wounding 18 others. Here engine room was badly damaged and all electrical power was knocked out. She retired to Kerama Retto under her own power. After emergency repairs in Saipan, she returned to the States for further repair work lasting into August 1945.