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1-2-45 Enewetok.
1-3-45 Left Enewetok.
1-7-45 Guam - Saipan.
1-13-45 Guam.
1-15-45 Left Guam for sub report of Rota. No luck. Went in close for 48 hours. Planes dropped charges and straffed. To close for comfort.
1-18-45 Guam.
1-20-45 Left Guam.
1-21-45 Saipan.
1-22-45 Left Saipan. 3 cruisers, 1 BB, 8 DD's.
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On 22 January BOYD formed with Iwo Jima bombardment group.
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1-24-45 Bombarded Iwo At 1544 they answered back and stradled us and another can with eight inch. 14 rounds to dam close. Went from 10 knots to 35 knots and retired. (us and GWEN)
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She then took part in the 24 January 1945 bombardment of Iwo Jima.Iwo Jima bombarded 24 January. Fired with GWYNN at enemy plane which was shot down by GWYNN.
During bombardment many straddles from enemy shore batteries landed around BOYD. Evasive action was taken and bombardment group retired.
By January 24, 1945, we were back at Iwo leveling the countryside as part of a heavy bombardment group. While taking pot shots at some very choice targets, a "Jill" made a pass at us but we turned it away with a crippling hit and another tin can a few hundred yards away sent it spinning into the drink. The Jap shore batteries welcomed us a couple minutes later and it looked as though they had singled us out as a primary target. Their shells were dropping about us like hailstones. We made top speed getting out of range.
01/24 Wed. Battleship, cruiser, and destroyer task group (Rear Adm. O. C. Badger) bombards enemy positions on Iwo Jima,Volcano Islands.
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1-26-45 Ulithie.
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Returned to Ulithie 26 January rescueing crew of plane which crashed near lagoon entrance when ship was preparing to enter.
From the ship's log of the USS Indiana (BB58): "26 January 1945, En route Ulithi. BOYD (DD-544) picked up survivors from TBF which crashed ahead of formation."
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2-4-45 Left Ulithie.
2-6-45 Guam.
11 Harry Lee 19 others
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Remained at Ulithi until 6 February when BOYD joined Task Group 51.1 and headed for Guam.
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2-16-45 Left Guam with invasion group.
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16 February left Guam. On that day the ship proceeded with Task Unit 51.1.3 consisting of transports set out for invasion of Iwo Jima. On arrival BOYD left transports and alternated at screening and fire support.
02/16 Fri. Aircraft from fast carrier task force (Vice Adm. M. A. Mitscher) bomb airfields, aircraft factories, and shipping in the Tokyo area,Japan; attack is repeated on 17 February. Fire support vessels and carrier-based aircraft commence 3-day prelanding bombardment and bombing of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. Cruiser and destroyer task force (Rear Adm. J. L. McCrea) bombards enemy shore installations at Kurabu Zaki, Paramushiro, Kurile Islands. Army forces, preceded by naval bombardment and attack by Army aircraft, land on Corregidor, Luzon, P. I.
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2-19-45 Invasion of Iwo. Bombarded. (News reel showing us shooting?)
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She then took part in the occupation of the island (19 February-1 March).
On the afternoon of 19 February BOYD gave fire support for first assault waves continuing bombardment for 24 hours. During this action many shots landed close aboard BOYD. Various duties consisting of screening, fire support, radar picket and night retirement screening were performed during this operation which lasted through the end of February for this ship.
"D" Day on Iwo Jima was February 19th and we were there. We had brought some Transports out from Guam and after they unloaded their green-clad Marines into Higgins Boats, Alligators, and other amphibious craft at "H" Hour, we watched the first assault waves clamber on to the beach and had a BOYD's-eye view of our first Marine landing. There was some mighty tough fighting going on after the beach heads were established, especially on the incline that rose sharply from the volcanic ash shore. Mt. Surabachi, an extinct volcano, was erupting with the fire of hundreds of hidden Jap guns of all caliber and they rained death on those crawling leathernecks.
02/19 Mon. Marines land on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, supported by intensive naval gunfire and air attack. The operation is under the overall command of Adm. R. A. Spruance, Commander Fifth Fleet. Vice Adm. R. K. Turner is the Joint Expeditionary Force Commander and Lt. Gen. H. M. Smith, USMC, commands the Expeditionary Troops. Naval gunfire and air bombing continue to support the troops ashore during this difficult campaign. United States naval vessels damaged, Iwo Jima area: Destroyer BRADFORD (DD-545), by collision, 24 d. 46'N., 141 d. 20'E.
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2-23-45 Still bombarding. Air Attacks Nightly.
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We moved in close to the beach and opened up on the pillboxes and caves along the side of the mountain and the exposed side of the crater. We spent most of the afternoon working on the gun nests and emplacements that were doing so much damage to our advancing troops, moving to either side of the island as we were needed.
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2-27-45 Still bombarding.
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Lending fire support to the Marines who continued to make slow, painful progress on that tiny, gun infested island, was our main job at Iwo, and it was a 24 hour one with us, too. By day we blasted the path ahead of our next advance. At night we kept up a constant harassing fire, keeping the Japs out of their sacks, and every so often threw in an illumination shell that kept them from counter-attacking.
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3-1-45 0700 TERRY (D513) hit by fire from beech. 10 dead, 15 missing, 25 injured. Sent our Doctor to assist. 0900 COLHOUN (D801) hit. 2 can hit one on each side of us in 2 hours. We are still bombarding.
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On 1 March while furnishing harassing fire for Marine assault troops the USS TERRY just ahead of BOYD was hit. This ship opened in counter-battery fire and then sent ship's doctor to assist on TERRY. Later in the day BOYD joined a task unit and departed for Saipan escorting transports.
It was a great thrill for all of us to finally see "Old Glory" flying from the top of Mt. Surbachi. We figured we had played a small role in that victory but the great honors went to those fighting "Devil Dogs". It was their show and what a terrific performance.
From the ship's log of the USS TERRY (DD513): "At 0245 on the morning of 1 March, Terry was assisting Capps (DD-550) in a search for a Japanese submarine, when a low enemy torpedo plane approached her starboard bow. He dropped his torpedo about 1,000 yards from Terry. The recognition officer spotted the intruder at precisely that moment and sang out "Torpedo Away." Terry leaped ahead at flank speed and came hard right. The torpedo passed harmlessly, 50 yards astern. By 0720, Terry was heading for a screening station north of the island. As she passed Kitano Point on the northern coast of Iwo Jima, an enemy battery opened fire and got the destroyer's range immediately. Terry responded with her main battery. Her high speed and radical maneuvers did not spoil the enemy's aim and, although eventually silenced, the battery scored a direct hit on the destroyer's starboard main deck. The starboard engine stopped, and Terry lost steering control and telephone communications. Terry opened range with her port engine while Pensacola (CA-24), Nevada (BB-36), and some destroyers put the shore battery out of action. Ships and boats swarmed to Terry's aid. Medical personnel and repair crews came aboard in surprisingly short order. Her wounded received emergency treatment on board, then were transferred to hospital ships. Terry headed for the southern coast of Iwo Jima where she laid to for two days while undergoing emergency repairs. On 3 March, she cleared the Volcano Islands on the first leg of a long voyage back to the United States."
03/01 Thu. Aircraft from fast carrier task force (Vice Adm. M. A. Mitscher) attack enemy ground installations, aircraft, and shipping in theOkinawa area, Ryukyu Islands. Army troops supported by naval gunfire and Army aircraft land on Lubang Island, P. I. United States naval vessels damaged, Iwo Jima area: Destroyers TERRY (DD-513) and COLHOUN (DD-801), by coastal defense gun, 24 d. 47'N., 141 d. 21'E. Attack transport BERRIEN (APA-62), by collision, 24 d. 46'N., 141 d. 19'E.
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3-2-45 Left Iwo.
3-4-45 Saipan.
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Arrived at Saipan 4 March and left for Leyte on 5 March.
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3-5-45 Left Saipan.
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Arrived Leyte 8 March and reporting to Commander Amphibious Group 7 for duty at Taraguna.On 9 March reported to Commander Task Unit 51.1.2 for duty and anchored in San Pedro Harbor. Remained in that vicinity until 21 March.
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