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The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in commending the
UNITED STATES SHIP MANLEY
for participation in the following operations
The Capture and Defense of Guadalcanal — August 17 to 18, 1942; August 21 to 24, 1942; September 3 to 10, 1942; November 2 to 8, 1942; November 25 to 28, 1942; January 1 to 5, 1943;
The Consolidation of the Southern Solomons — February 4 to 9, 1943; February 17 to March 23, 1943;
The Occupation of Kwajalein — January 31 to February 8, 1944;
The Marianas Occupation — June 16, 1944; July 5 to 22, 1944;
The Leyte Landings — October 18 to 21, 1944;
The Luzon Landings — January 11 to February 18, 1945;
as set forth in the following
CITATION:
“For exceptionally meritorious service and heroism in action against enemy Japanese aircraft, shore batteries, surface forces, submarines and mines in the Pacific campaign. Operating in actual contact with the enemy and under attack, the U.S.S. MANLEY performed her duties as a highspeed transport in an outstanding manner. Operating throughout the Southern Solomons campaign at a time when the United States Fleet was at a low ebb in comparison with the forces of the enemy, the U.S.S. MANLEY remained in areas under enemy control for long periods of time in support of the landing forces, making repeated landings behind the enemy lines, thus contributing greatly to the decisive victory achieved. Her courageous determination and effort were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
All personnel attached to and serving on board the U.S.S. MANLEY during one or more of the designated periods are hereby authorized to wear the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION Ribbon.
John L. Sullivan
Secretary of the Navy
Other Comments:
In loving memory,
Your daughter Vicki
and son
Jim, CE2 , USN, Vietnam 1967-69
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (1944)
From Month/Year
June / 1944
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Description The Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, also known as Operation Forager, was an offensive launched by United States forces against Imperial Japanese forces in the Mariana Islands and Palau in the Pacific Ocean between June and November, 1944 during the Pacific War. The United States offensive, under the overall command of Chester Nimitz, followed the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign and was intended to neutralize Japanese bases in the central Pacific, support the Allied drive to retake the Philippines, and provide bases for a strategic bombing campaign against Japan.
Beginning the offensive, United States Marine Corps and United States Army forces, with support from the United States Navy, executed landings on Saipan in June, 1944. In response, the Imperial Japanese Navy's combined fleet sortied to attack the U.S. Navy fleet supporting the landings. In the resulting aircraft carrier Battle of the Philippine Sea (the so-called “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”) on 19–20 June, the Japanese naval forces were decisively defeated with heavy and irreplaceable losses to their carrier-borne and land-based aircraft.
Thereafter, U.S. forces executed landings on Guam and Tinian in July, 1944. After heavy fighting, Saipan was secured in July and Guam and Tinian in August, 1944. The U.S. then constructed airfields on Saipan and Tinian where B-29s were based to conduct strategic bombing missions against the Japanese mainland until the end of World War II, including the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In the meantime, in order to secure the flank for U.S. forces preparing to attack Japanese forces in the Philippines, in September, 1944, U.S. Marine and Army forces landed on the islands of Peleliu and Angaur in Palau. After heavy and intense combat on Peleliu, the island was finally secured by U.S. forces in November, 1944.
Following their landings in the Mariana and Palau Islands, Allied forces continued their ultimately successful campaign against Japan by landing in the Philippines in October, 1944 and the Volcano and Ryukyu Islands beginning in January, 1945.