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Ralph Densmore, MAC
to remember
Densmore, Clifford, PO2.
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Discovered when he lost his left hand in 1956 that he had an enlarged heart and could not be put to sleep. The VA doctors removed what remained of his left hand without putting him to sleep.
Other Comments:
Enlisted in the Naval Reserves at the Naval Reserve Station, Chattanooga, TN on Dec. 23, 1943 at the age of seventeen, and was assigned the rate of Apprentice Seaman. At the time of his enlistment he was described with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, six feet one-one half inches tall and weighed 134 pounds. He was assigned service # 6418252.
His active duty began Jan. 1, 1944 as he boarded a train in Chattanooga, TN for a trip to San Deigo, CA., where he completed boot camp on 27 Jan 1944. Upon completion of boot camp he boarded his first ship, (and only ship) the USS LCI (G) 465. It departed in convoy for Pearl Harbor, HI., enroute to the war zone in the South Pacific. On the morning of 12 July 1944 the USS LCI (G) 465 was just off the beachhead for the invasion of Guam where it remained until 15 Aug. 1944. His ship then visited the island of Kwajalein, Marshall Island, and Pearl Harbor, HI for some fun, relaxation and resupplying of the ship. In Sept. 1944 his ship set sail to the islands of Wendy and Admiralty, New Guinea where the ship again took on supplies.
On the 20th of Oct. 1944, his ship was just off the coast of Leyte. His ship was there in defense of the islands. He participated in three invasions during his tour in the South Pacific: Leyte, Guam, and Lingayen Gulf. Shortly after the Leyte invasion he developed medical problems and on 18 March 1945 reported onboard the USS Markab (AD-21) (USS Markab was in Leyte Gulf when he was transferred) for transporation out of the war zone for treatment. He was later honorably discharged for medical reasons from the (Old) Naval Hospital, Charleston, SC on July 27, 1945. He served a total of one year and seven months on active duty.
Summary of Military Service:
ENLISTED AND PROCESSED NRS CHATTANOOGA 24 DEC 1943 TO 28 DEC 1943
IN TRANSIT 28 DEC 1943 TO 01 JAN 1944
USNTS, SAN DIEGO, CA - 01 JAN 1944 TO 27 JAN 1944
IT APPEARS THAT HE REMAINED AT USNTS, SAN DIEGO, CA AWAITING HIS SHIP UNTIL 07 MAR 1944
USS LCI (G) 465 - 07 MAR 1944 TO 09 MAR 1944 (ONBOARD 02 DAYS)
USNH, SAN DIEGO, CA - 09 MAR 1944 TO 12 APR 1944
RECEIVING STATION SAN DIEGO, CA - 12 APR 1944 TO 02 MAY 1944
USS LCI (G) 465 - 02 MAY 1944 TO 21 MAY 1944 (ONBOARD 19 DAYS)
RECEIVING STATION, NOUMEA, NEW CALEDONIA - 21 MAY 1944 TO 25 MAY 1944
USS PINKNEY (APH-2) CASUALTY-EVACUATION TRANSPORT - 25 MAY 1944 TO 30 MAY 1944
USS LCI (G) 465 - 30 MAY 1944 TO 18 MAR 1945 (ONBOARD 09 MONTHS, 18 DAYS)
USS MARKAB (AD-21) 18 MAR 1945 TO 22 MAR 1945
CNOB 3201 FFT TO AMER HOSP - 22 MAR 1945 TO 30 MAR 1945
US ARMY 73RD FIELD HOSPITAL - 30 Mar 1945
USS REFUGE (AH-11) - 30 MAR 1945 TO 16 APR 1945
USNBH NO. 15, NAVY 3205 - 16 APR 1945 TO 14 May 1945
USS CASABLANCA (CVE-55) - 14 MAY 1945 TO 02 JUN 1945
USNH, SAN DIEGO, 34, CA - 02 JUN 1945 TO 11 JUL 1945
MEDICALLY DISCHARGED FROM CHARLESTON NAVAL HOSPITAL 27 JUL 1945
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.
Personal Details
