The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-10-25


 aft of number two stack. Because of tactical changes, the Halford re- turned to Mare Island, California, in the fall of 1943 for alterations which replaced the catapult with a dual-purpose, five-inch, 38-calibre gun mount and a quad-40 NM anti aircraft gun.
 By December 9th. with increased fighting power and new profile, the Halford again left for South Pacific waters.
 Pearl Harbor, Funafuti, and Es- piritu Santo, New Hebrides, as well as Tutuila, Samoa, were her hosts during subsequent convoy duties which included the Christmas assign ment of protecting the enormous trcopship Lurline loaded with Ma rine endorsements destined for Guadalcanal.
 At BcugainUiHe Beachhead
 While based at Purvis Bay, Florida Island, she supported the beach, head at Bougainville, screening sup ply echelons and participating in coastal bombardments.
 Anti-shipping sweeps on New Ire lands east coast. punctuated by oounter-battery fire off East Buka Passage, made exciting days for the Halford, Waller, and Wadsworth during the month of January month which saw also, the destruc- tion by this three-ship task force, Of strategic Jap facilities on Choiseul Island.
 On IA February, 1944, as command ship, she supported the landing and occupation of Green Island. Ten days later, the Halford, in com- pany with DesRon 45, made an anti shipping sweep through St. George Channel, Bismarck Archipelago, at which point another division joined the squadron to continue up the west coast of New Ireland.
 Daybreak on the 24th found the Halford at the entrance of Steffin Strait assisting in the sinking of a small enemy merchant vessel and tEe destruction of two beached pa- trol vessels.
 Following three days of anti-Ship- ping sweeps south of the strong Nip naval base of Truk, she returned to Purvis Bay for logistics.
 Spring in 1914 found the Halford busily escorting supply units to the Solomon Islands, with op- erations interrupted only for re- fueling, taking on provisions and her coveted deliveries of mail.
 75 DdyS At Sea
 April's trip to Sydney, Australia, brought welcome relief. After eight days of Australian hospitality, the Halford started the longest cruise of her career-commenci early in June with the campaign for the Marianas.
 The initial phase of the operation which kept the Halford at sea for 75 days, was the bombardment of Tin ian's west coast defenses, followed by night harassing fire and the screen ing of heavy shore bombardment units. One June 18th, she joined the famed Task Force 58 to participate in the first battle of the Philippine Sea-the Mariana Turkey Shoot" It was here that the Halford saw the destruction of 360' Nip planes and the routing of enemy units at to destroy our beachheads on Saipan.
 CoUered Shore Units
 While Guam footholds were being secured, the Halford covered beach demolition units giving close bom- oardment support to ground forces and rescuing a number of friend- ly Chamaros who had escaped the Jap lines. Operations for the Halford in the Marianas and Western Carolines were completed with her support of the occupation of Anguar and Peleliu.
 The most exciting phase of the Halford's career began with the cam paign for the recapture of the October 18th found her with the Seventh Fleet, invading Leyte- Gulf with the pre-bombard- ment group.
 Surigao Straits Battle
 On the night of October "A, after six days of shore bombardment and night harassing, the Halford, as a unit of a special attack group, met a Japanese force of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers striking up Surigao Straits with the intent of knocking out our newly won Leyte beachhead. Closing to within 7800 yards of this Jap armada, the des- troyers launched their torpedoes just before our larger supporting units opened fire on the invaders-none of whom escaped!
 Daily enemy air attacks harass- ed the Halford and her. parent task force throughout her Leyte Gulf assignments during October.
 After a few days of operations with the Third Fleet out of Ulithi. the Halford returned to Leyte Gulf on December 2nd to patrol the land- ing on Leyte. Four days later, she was, assigned to protect a dam aged merchant ship east of Dinagat Island. The crippled vessel was sunk