Monday, Feb. 5

Arrived in Eniwetok around noon. We had a big turkey dinner, the best I've seen on the ship, and even had ice cream. The occasion was crossing the International Date Line with a ship on her maiden voyage. Also got paid this morning. Had $237 on the books, but drew only $20, as I owed $10. This island is an atoll, a body of water surrounded by land. There are a bunch of little coral reefs scattered out in a circle, about 20 miles in circumference. There must be 200 ships in here. We are to fuel and provision our Transport Division before proceeding on.

Tuesday, Feb. 6

Left Eniwetok, destination Saipan. Left around noon, formed our Transport Squadron. We have another group of ships ahead us about 20 miles. Also have the battleship New York with us, and numerous Destroyers. We should be in Saipan on Saturday or Sunday.

Wednesday, Feb. 7 through Friday, Feb. 9th

At sea.

Saturday, Feb. 10

At sea. Arrive Saipan tomorrow morning.

Sunday, Feb. 11

Arrived Saipan around 10:00 A.M. Is an island about 20 miles long, with a very low range of hills running along middle. The island of Tinian is right beside it, a little smaller. This is the B-29 base, and we saw about 15 of them return from a bombing mission tonight. Seems to be around 50-75 of them here, but hard to tell as we are out about 3 miles. Must be over 100 ships anchored here. We go out tomorrow on 4 days maneuvers, on the island of Tinian. D Day still seems to be Feb. 19, although we haven’t heard anything definite. Got an air raid scare tonight, the shore base here radioed enemy planes possibly in area. But no further word, so all clear was given. Got mail today. Found out Jap subs followed us all the way from Pearl. We sunk one on the way over. (Note: I doubt we were followed, for a submarine could see by the way we sat in the water that we would have troops aboard and why “follow” us?). There is a shallow shelf off this island, so they can't get at us. Have been bombing this island pretty regular, so we expect enemy planes over at any time.

Monday, Feb. 12

Had a couple of Flash Blues last night, meaning unidentified aircraft in vicinity. But they turned out to be friendly. There must be half the fleet in here, I've seen about 8 battlewagons at anchor. The Missouri, Tennessee, Nevada and a bunch more. We are leaving tonight for a days maneuvers on the other side of the island, then we'll be on our way. Wish we'd get into this thing, but it is only 7 days off, that's long enough I guess.

Tuesday, Feb. 13

Pulled off our dress rehearsal of a landing on Tinian Island, right next to Saipan. Had our 8 battleships with us, and we got done around 4:00, came back to Saipan and anchored near to the beach. Guess we'll wait around here for a couple of days, then shove off, as the invasion is supposed to be on next Monday. The battlewagons pulled out at night along with cruisers and destroyers presumably to bombard the island ahead of us.

Wednesday, Feb. 14

Still laying here off Saipan. We shove off tomorrow or the next day for Iwo Jima and the invasion. We get mail here, but very little. Have had a few letters from home. Quite a bit of rain here too, little squalls that don't last more than 2 or 3 minutes. We had a Flash Red around 10:00 at night, which means enemy aircraft in vicinity, and all the ships threw up a smoke screen. However the lights on Saipan all remained on, so perhaps it was just a drill. Also went to church, as this is Ash Wednesday. A lot of the Marines on here won't come back, and some of us may get hurt, so perhaps it will help a little to go to church. Still have a bump on my rib where I bruised it (playing touch football on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu). Doctor took a look and said it was probably a callous caused when it is healing. Have to go back Saturday and have a check put on it. Don't hurt.

Thursday, Feb. 15

Still in port. We leave tomorrow at 3:00 P.M. for the big day. This is D-4 day. The battlewagons are already at Iwo Jima to lay up a bombardment. No enemy aircraft over today. We see a lot of B-29's pull out every morning and most of them come back at night, once in awhile we see two or three missing. There were a series of explosions up on Saipan today, there are supposed to be a few Japs left up in the hills, but from what I can see, I don't understand why the Marines or Army hasn't broken them out. Practically all of this side of the island is inhabited with some kind of camp.