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During the bombardment of Nauru Island (8 December) Boyd was damaged by a Japanese shore battery while on a rescue mission. As a result she had to return to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, for repairs.
Before sunrise 8 December in position 40 miles north of Nauru the carriers and their screen separated from the shore bombardment force of six battleships and six destroyers. Beginning at 0700 battleships and destroyers bombarded island for approximately 45 minutes. BOYD fired on cantilever crane, pier and adjacent buildings. Several hits were observed; shortly after the entire island was covered with smoke, and several large fires started. Light AA fire was noted during attacks of our planes but no return fire on surface forces.
At 1033 while returning to form up with carrier group BOYD left formation as ordered by Commander Task Group 50.8 to pick up survivors of plane crash first reported 12 miles southwest of island. At 1038 raft was reported in position 2 miles west of island. During approach, a plane reported to CTG (Commander Task Group) 50.8 who directed BOYD to proceed on assigned rescue and 3 planes were ordered to assist in search. At 1130 plane dropped smoke float near raft, and BOYD made approach. At 1135 lookout reported object in water which looked like a man waving his hand in air. At 1140 BOYD stopped between life raft which was carrier plane type and upside down and the island; object was identified as smoke float or float light. At 1142 two shells hit the ship one exploding in forward engine room shearing or puncturing all steam lines and main power distribution board, the second exploding inside #1 stack. BOYD immediately commenced maneuvering radically (chasing salvos) and began counter battery fire using manual control. In retiring, ship was straddled at least five times, the second four gun salvo exploding close aboard to port damaging guns 24 and 26 and piercing an air flask of an after torpedo. In this attack all personnel of the forward engine room, with the exciption of one MM2c who was seriously burned, were killed. Damage control measures were taken to plug the hole in the side and pump water from the forward engine room space. Total casualties were one officer and 11 men killed 8 wounded. Burial of 10 of these was held 9 December. Two died later after transfer to ALABAMA and were interred at Espiritu Santo.
Our next mission was one that most of us won't forget very easily. We were assigned to accompany a heavy bombardment group consisting of 6 brand new battleships, a couple of carriers and some destroyers, to blast Nauru, a small but important Jap-held island in the Ocean group. This spot was a pretty big phosphate center among other things and we were given some specific targets which we managed to take pretty good care of. After about an hour of heavy shellacking by the bigger ships and destroyers, we left the place, smoking and stacked with debris.
While heading back to join the carriers who had sat out the bombardment a short distance away, we were ordered to return and search for possible survivors of a plane crash off the island. One of the planes sent out to help us locate the downed airmen, told us they saw a raft about 2 miles off shore but there were no signs of life nearby. This was about 1130 and just about that time we saw the raft and began to close it. At about 1135, one of our lookouts thought he saw a man in the water, but on getting closer, identified it as a float light. We stopped just about a mile and a half from the beach to take in the area and just seconds later we were hit by two shells-one exploding in the forward engine room and the other bursting right inside our #1 stack. We tried to get out of there in a hurry for by that time the island, it seemed, began shooting at us, but our starboard engine was knocked out and number two was plenty slow in responding. We sat there like sitting ducks while the Japs took pot shots at us and then they must have figured we were dead in the water for they began "laddering" their bursts right in to the bull's-eye. Then, almost miraculously, we got power and began zig-zagging around the salvos that were, by that time, straddling the ship. At that point our guns got their vital "juice" and we poured shell after shell in the direction of the flashes from shore. There was nothing the matter with Jap markmanship that day, we had about a half dozen near misses and one baby exploded close-by, killing and wounding some of our men manning the waist machine guns. By expert shiphandling on the part of our skipper, some terrific shooting by our gunners who silenced several of the shore guns, and by the grace of God, we got out of that one, but only after paying a toll of 12 of our shipmates killed and 8 wounded. All the men in the forward engine room with the exception of one, were killed as a result of that first shell-hit. We held burial service next day at sea; the wounded were taken aboard the battleship WASHINGTON, and we limped to Espiritu Santos, in the New Hebrides for repairs.
From the log of the USS ALABAMA (BB-60): "On 8 December 1943, Alabama, along with five other fast battleships, carried out the first Pacific gunfire strike conducted by that type of warship. Alabama's guns hurled 535 rounds into enemy strong points, as she and her sister ships bombarded Nauru Island, an enemy phosphate-producing center, causing severe damage to shore installations there. She also took the destroyer Boyd (DD-544), alongside after that ship had received a direct hit from a Japanese shore battery on Nauru, and brought three injured men on board for treatment."
12/08 Wed. Task group including carriers, battleships, and destroyers (Rear Adm. W. A. Lee) bombs Nauru Island. United States naval vessel damaged: Destroyer BOYD (DD-544), by coastal defense batteries, Nauru Island.
On 9 December at 0800 date changed to 10 December. In the afternoon Commander Gorsky, Chaplain Corps, USN, came aboard and administered last rites to the deseased, while BOYD was receiving fuel and reserve feed water from USS WASHINGTON.
Arrived in Espiritu Santo 12 December and tied up alongside USS DIXIE for temporary repairs. A week later BOYD entered drydock, had starboard propellor removed.
We learned at Espiritu that we were to go back to the United States for overhaul and battle-damage repairs, and although the thought of returning home was an exciting one, it was sobered by the memory of our recent experience. We made but two stops from New Hebrides to San Francisco, a brief lay-over at Pago Pago, Samoa, a day at Pearl, and then 'Frisco. I guess you know that Golden Gate looked mighty sweet to all of us.
More about the USS DIXIE (AD-14): Displacement 9,450 / Length 630'6" / Beam 73'3" / Draw 24'6" / Speed 18 k / Complement 1,262 / Armament four 5" / Class Dixie. Dixie alternated between Noumea and Espiritu Santo in support of the operations in the Solomons from November 1942 to March 1944.
On 20 December got underway with DENVER for journey back to Mare Island for repairs of damage. On the return journey stops were made at Pago Pago and Pearl Harbor for fuel.
From the ship's log of the USS DENVER (CL-58): "DENVER covered the support landings on Cape Torokina on 10 and 11 November 1943, and 2 days later, during a heavy air attack, was hit by an aerial torpedo which knocked out all power and communications and killed 20 of her men. She was towed by SIOUX (AT-75) to Port Purvis and by PAWNEE (AT-74) to Espiritu Santo for temporary repairs, then sailed to Mare Island for permanent repairs, arriving 2 January 1944."
In 1944, when Japan was nearing defeat, Tokyo's military planners seized on a remarkable way to hit back at the American heartland: they launched huge balloons that rode the prevailing winds to the continental United States. Although the American Government censored reports at the time, some 200 balloons landed in Western states, and bombs carried by the balloons killed a woman in Montana and six people in Oregon.
Half a century later, there is evidence that it could have been far worse; some Japanese generals proposed loading the balloons with weapons of biological warfare, to create epidemics of plague or anthrax In the United States. Other army units wanted to send cattle plague virus to wipe out the American livestock industry or grain smut to wipe out the crops.
On 2 January the ship entered San Francisco, anchored for Department of Agriculture inspection and proceeded to pier #33 Naval Ammunition Depot, Mare Island where all ammunition was transferred. The next day BOYD entered the Navy Yard and commenced repairs.
During yard availability the crew was given leave of 21 days, half the personnel being away at a time.
Japanese Army was apparently willing to use biological weapons against the Allies in some circumstances. When the United States prepared to attack the Pacific island of Saipan in the late spring of 1944, a submarine was sent from Japan to carry biological weapons it is unclear what kind - to the defenders. The submarine was sunk, Professor Tsuneishi says, and the Japanese troops had to rely on conventional weapons alone.
On 10 March dock trials were held.14 March post repair trials then back to Yard for final check.
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