13 October 1945
On the seventh of november 1943 Rear Admiral Felix Gygax, USN, Commandant of Norfolk Navy Yard, placed USS
LOVELACE (DE- 198) into commission and turned her over to Lieutenant Commander R.D. de Kay, USNR, her commanding officer, who in turn ordered the watch set and LOVELACE started her
career. Since that day in November in the Norfolk Navy Yard she has, except for a brief shakedown cruise to Bermuda, operated entirely in the South Pacific, New Guinea and
Philippine areas, taking part in four invasions; shooting down one Jap plane and sinking a floating Jap mine; escorting tankers, troop ships, cargo ships and merchant ships to
practically every port in these areas; conducted anti-submarine patrols; and acted as harbor entrance vessel in several ports.
She was named in honor of Lieutenant Commander Donald Alexander Lovelace, USN, holder of the Distinguished Flying
Cross, "For heroic conduct in aerial as division leader and pilot, when on February 20, 1942, in enemy waters, he led his division in a vigorous and determined attack, in the face
of combined machine gun and cannon fire, against a formation of enemy bombers, and he, with the assistance of his team mates, caused the destruction of one enemy bomber". Lieutenant
Commander Lovelace was later killed in a plane crash in the Pacific area while attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN. The ship has tried hard to live up to the name of the hero after whom
she was named and her officers and crew may well be proud to have served adoard her.
The months of November and December 1943 were spent in making the ship ready for battle. In the days immediately
following commissioning, all hands worked hard and long in bringing ammunition aboard for all the guns, getting enough provisions to last over the shakedown cruise, getting hammers
for the deck force, wrenches for the engineering gang, pots and pans for the galley cooks, flags for the signalmen, and all manner of items of general stores. At last, on November
22, the anchor was aweigh and the shakedown cruise had started. The next four weeks were spent in an intensive training program to aquaint the officers and crew with the ship and
their duties. There were battle problems, fire drills, firing drills, anti-submarine maneuvers, speed runs and torpedo problems. On December 20, when the ship was once anchored in
Norfolk, all hands felt better equipped to take her to battle.
On January 1, 1944 the orders came and LOVELACE proceeded to the Canal Zone, through the Canal and into the Pacific.
She went through the Panama Canal on January 8, 1944. On January 14 she was underway again as an escort for a troop ship to Bora Bora, Society Islands. From Boba Bora she went to
Pago Pago, Tutuila, Samoa and then to Eumea, New Caledonia, escorting ships all the way. From Noumea she went to Espritu Santo, New Hebrides, and then to Guadalcanal.
On March 1 1944, upon arrival at Guadalcanal, LOVELACE was assigned to the anti-submarine screen protecting the ships
at anchor off Laguna Point. On March 6 she was sent again to Espiritu Santos, New Hebrides where Captain de Kay was appointed commander of task groop 34.6.1, consisting of LOVELACE
and U.S.S. CHIKASKIA (AO-54). The task group's mission was to proceed North to the area around Bougainville, Soloman Islands and refuel major fleet units of the Third Fleet,
successfully engaged in raiding the Bismark Archipelago and nearby islands. Upon completion of this assignment the unit returned to Espiritu Santo where the task unit was dissolved.
On March 31 she proceeded toward Blanch Harbor in the Treasury Islands but April 7, 1944 found her at Milne Bay, New Guinea under the operational control of Commander Seventh Fleet.
That afternoon the anchor was weighed and she proceeded to Buna, Cape Sudest, New Guinea where for two days she aided several other destroyer-escorts in conducting a fothometer
exploration of uncharted portions of Dyke Ackland Bay.
On April 19, 1944 orders came for the first taste of battle. LOVELACE, one other destroyer-escort and four destroyers
were to form the anti-submarine screen for part of the second reinforcement group making the attack on Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea. The task group consisted of two APA's and twelve
LST's loaded with troops . On D-plus two day, which was April 24, 1944 the task force was ordered to land its troops. The ships of the screen remained at the entrance to the harbor
to protect from possible submarines. At 2025 the loud clang of the GQ gong aroused everyone and they at once knew why the gun drill and general quarters drills had been ordered
during the shakedown cruise and the trip out. This time it was for keeps. Twelve Jap torpedo planes came close to the entrance to the harbor and dropped flares which lighted up the
whole area. Everyone was on his toes waiting for the attack which never came. The planes remained for more than an hour and finally retired to the west. LOVELACE continued the
Anti-sub patrol the next day and on the following day returned to Cape Cretin with six LST's. From April 26 to May 17 several runs were made from Hollandia to Cape Cretin escorting
various ships and observations were made enroute which helped locate several incorrectly charted islands.
On May 17 at Humbolt Bay, Hollandia she got orders to escort four LST's to Wake Island to arrive at dawn of D-plus-one
day which was May 18. The LST's and other escorts formed the anti-submarine screen as the Marines and Army Air Corps blasted Wake Island and advanced on the mainland toward the
Sarmi stronghold with LOVELACE alert for enemy activity ashore. On May 28 she escorted three LST's to Biak Island, Schouten Islands and arrived at dawn on D-plus-one . During the
day several screening ships were fired upon by the Jap shore batteries and the army took a Jap observation plane under fire but LOVELACE sector was quiet. That afternoon she
returned to Hollandia with LST's and one damaged ship under tow.
In the space of a little over a month LOVELACE had been in three operations and though enemy planes had been in the
area, as yet she had not been fired apon. Her officers and crew had received reports of "hot" times just before or just after she had been there, but while LOVELACE was in the
harbor the Japs seemed to stay out of gun range. The crew began to call her the LUCKY LOVELACE.
The months of June and July were spent escorting various ships all along the New Guinea coast from Manus to Biak,
never stopping more than a few hours in order to get fuel and provisions and then underway again. On July at the request of the army LOVELACE, with an army liaison party aboard,
bombarded the beach at Toem, Dutch New Guinea. It was reported by a plane that she had destroyed a Jap communication headquarters and that some personel were dispersed. Four months
of steady sailing and many GQ's were begining to show on the officers and crew so the end of July brought orders for a short rest at Purvis Bay, Florida Island, Solomon Islands,
where the LUCKY LOVELACE arrived and anchored on the first of August.
The months of August and September were spent in routine escort duties throught the Solomon Islands, New Hebrides, New
Caledonia. The only deviation from the routine was an urgent order to make best possible speed to stand by the U.S.S. SAMARITAN, a hospital ship that had hit a reef. All hands were
prepared to take on survivors if she sunk, but she was finally able to make her way to Russell island under her own power and there discharge her patients.
After escorting a ship to Bougainville on October 13, 1944, LOVELACE received orders to proceed to Manus, Admiralty
Islands. Upon arriving at Manus on October 15, her Captain, Commander R.D. de Kay, USNR, of Port Washington, New York, was detached to report as Commander Escort Division THIRTY SIX
and the executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Eugene L. de Kieffer, (geney), USNR, of Evanston, Illinois, assumed command. One hour after assuming command Captain de Kieffer
received orders that the ship was to leave that day to take part in the invasion of Leyte Island in the Philippines. She, as screen commander, escorted the ammunition detachment of
task unit 77.7.1 to Kossol roads, Palau Islands. The task unit was regrouped and left for Leyte on October 21 leaving LOVELACE to wait upon the arrival of the U.S.S. KISHWAUKEE, an
aviation gasoline tanker. On October KISHWAUKEE arrived at Kossol Roads and with the "LUCKY L" as escort proceeded immediately to Leyte.
During the night of October 24 the convoy was safely diverted by an emergency turn at maxiumum speed for a contact
believed to have been an enemy sub. At 0620 on the morning of October 25 the morning that the battle of Surigao Strait and the second battle of the Philippines were taking place
less than sixty miles away, the "LUCKY LOVELACE" steamed into Leyte Gulf between them and there joined the rest of the task unit of six tankers, two ammunition ships and six
destroyer-escorts. It was the task of this unit to refuel and rearm the Seventh Fleet combatant ships which were protecting the invasion Navy. Enemy planes made repeated attacks on
the shipping in the Gulf and many times the General Quarters gong sounded and set all hands running to their battle stations. Just after dusk on the night of October 26 at 1924 a
twin-motored bomber,a Sally, made a run on the fueling unit just as the unit was emerging from a smoke screen. It came in off the port quarter and all LOVELACE guns able to bear
opened fire. At a distance of about 1,000 yards it banked and exposed its underside to the fire of the guns. Many tracers were seen to hit the plane and it crashed on the other side
of the convey a minute later. LOVELACE continued to screen the task unit for eight busy dayes until November first when the unit retired to Kossol Roads. Every morning amd every
evening Jap planes were seen to attack the ground installations and shipping in the gulf, but once again the LUCKY LOVELACE came out unscathed and now had one enemy plane to her
credit.
After arriving at Kossol roads the task unit was dissolved and the escorts proceeded to Hollandia where LOVELACE underwent some routine repairs. On the 12th of November she was
ordered to return to Leyte with a convoy of twenty six LST's and twelve merchant ships. On November 14 eighteen additional ships joined the group for a total of fifty six ships and
six escorts. This trip to Leyte was uneventful and slow. Upon arriving at Leyte LOVELACE was ordered to return that night with more LST's and merchant ships. On November 21 about
200 miles out of Leyte Gulf, the formation was bombed by a Jap Lilly. On its second run the Lilly was shot down by the withering fire from LOVELACE, the other escorts and the LST's.
A vigorous training period in anti-submarine tactics and gunfire was ordered after the return to Hollandia, in
preperation for the next operation. LOVELACE came out on top in the competitive scoring of the practices. Several days were spent working with friendly submarines and firing on
sleeve targets towed by planes and surface targets. On December 21, 1944, LOVELACE received orders to report to Sansapor, Dutch New Guinea with a tanker and refuel the attack forces
for the invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon Philippine Islands.
A run was made to Morotai Dutch New Guinea on Christmas week and then she proceeded to Sansapor. During the few short
days that LOVELACE was anchored off Sansapor, the men of the LUCKY LOVELACE witnessed the destruction of a Jap reconnaissance plane that was unfortunate enough to get caught in the
piercing beams of Army searchlight batteries which held it spotlighted long enough for the Army anti-aircraft batteries to shoot it down. LOVELACE batteries remained silent because
the plane was out of their range.
On December 30,1944, the convoy of seventy seven ships and sixteen escorts proceeded to Leyte Gulf. Approximatly two
days out of Leyte Gulf the U.S.S. TALLULAH, the tanker LOVELACE was responsible for, began to refuel the ships at sea. Upon arriving at Leyte, LOVELACE and her tanker were detached
and ordered to return along the track several miles and join the second attack force and refuel them. In the late afternoon of January 2nd the ship made several contacts believed to
have been a Jap submarine, but the hunt was broken off in order to join the convoy by nightfall. Several Jap planes in the area were brought down by the efficient combat air patrol
on the 7th. Upon making the rendezvous, the fueling operation was continued through Leyte Gulf. Then, LOVELACE remained with the convoy as far as Mangarin Bay, San Jose,
Mindoro Island, when she was detached with her tanker and joined task unit 77.10.3, a fueling group of ten tankers and escort division THIRTY-SEVEN.
No enemy planes were encountered at Mindoro by the crew of LOVELACE but a tanker was burning on the beach where, the
night before the LUCKY LOVELACE arrived, she had been bombed in a large raid. After hearing the reports of the air raids that occurred just before the ship arrived, one of the crew
was heard to say, "Boy, if that guy who is doing all the praying ever gets transfered, we're all lost".
From the time LOVELACE left Sansapor, until March 16, 1945, she spent almost the entire time underway (69 of 76 days).
Much of the time was spent on anti-submarine patrol off the anchorage at Mindoro, Phillipine Islands. Two runs were made with tankers to rendezvous Seventh Fleet battle units in the
South China Sea to refuel them at sea. On March 16 she reported to Leyte Gulf and was ordered by the Commander of the Philippine Sea Frontier to Manus, Admiralty Islands for some
much needed installations and recreation.
On April 21, 1945, she left Manus for Leyte escorting the U.S.S. LAVACA (APA-180) and upon arrival at Leyte was
ordered to proceed to Manila, Luzon. Upon arrival at Manila there was much hustle among the members of the crew in order to get their white uniforms washed and cleaned, ready to
make liberty in the first city they had seen since leaving the United States a year and a half ago. The main part of the city was ruined and the wreckage of many beautiful buildings
was strewn all over, but the Filipinos were friendly and all hands enjoyed themselves.
The month of May was spent in routine escorting work from Manila to Leyte, Batagas, Lingayen, and Cebu City with
always a stopover of a couple of days in Manila. The commanding officer was assigned for some time as special assistant to the port director of Manila in charge of the ships
operating as escorts from and on local defense of Manila Bay. The end of the month found LOVELACE in drydock in Leyte Gulf undergoing repairs.
The months of June and half of July were spent in routine escorting from Manila and Leyte to various ports in the
area. Several trips were made from Leyte to Ulithi, Caroline Islands, with troop ships returning to the United States and at Ulithi troop ships were escorted to Manila where they
were added to the ever increasing force preparing to smash Japan. On July 27 a trip was made to Biak to meet and escort four
LST's loaded with troops.
All hands were again put on their toes on August 6 when LOVELACE received orders to go to Okinawa. Three ships had
been sunk the previous week by enemy submarines along the route to Okinawa and there were still large air raids being made by the Japs on shipping and other military installations
in the Okinawa area. The trip was uneventful on the way to Okinawa and upon arrival LOVELACE anchored in Buckner Bay, named for famous General Sinom Boliver Buckner, who was killied
during the battle there. While fueling, the crew got reports that a fifty plane raid had been made there the night before so an alert watch was set. Dawn came and brought no Jap
planes, but did bring orders for LOVELACE to return to Leyte with a group of LST's.
On the 10th of August the LOVELACE crew was plunged into a state of wild jubilation. At about 2045 a radioman had been
searching on the short wave radio and heard the report from Chungking that the Japs had offered peace terms. In less than two minutes the entire ship was awake. Men slapped one
another on the back, cheered, yelled and talked all at the same time. The "little guys" had quit and now everyone would go home. However, the Japs had not quit. That same night a
Jap torpedo plane put a "fish" in the U.S.S. PENNSYLVANIA in Buckner Bay where the LUCKY LOVELACE had been less than twenty four hours before. The guy who was doing the praying was
still aboard, thank God !
The next night, August 11, 1945, at 2230 LOVELACE got a sound contact on a Jap submarine which was attacking the
convoy. A pattern of depth charges was dropped immediately and the ship prepared for another attack but lost contact . The convoy was ordered to proceed on the course and
LOVELACE was to hunt for and destroy the sub. Several times contact was regained only to be lost again before an attack could be made. After searching all that night and half
the next day she returned to the convoy. It is not known whether or not the first depth charge attack crippled the sub. While rejoining the convoy, a floating mine was sighted and
blown up by the ships gunfire.
The rest of August and first half of September were spent in routine escort work between Leyte, Ulithi and Manila. On
September 9, 1945, LOVELACE was ordered once again to escort a convoy to Okinawa, but this time the worry was not the Japanese but the weather. A typhoon was reported in our path
with winds up to thirty knots and very rough seas. It was decided not to try to weather it but maneuver a day until it passed. The rest of the trip to Okinawa was uneventful, but
upon arriving word was received of another typhoon that was to hit the Okinawa area. All the ships in the harbor were ordered to get underway and stand out to the East China Sea and
there ride out the storm. The wind increased to about fifty knots with twenty five foot swells and LOVELACE was pitching and rolling, at times making rolls of fifty two degrees.
On the night of the 16th the U.S.S. COULTER (APA-145), loaded with liberated U.S. prisoners of war from camps in China
ready to return home, hit a Jap mine that had been loosened by the force of the storm. LOVELACE was ordered to stand by COULTER in case she started to sink, in which case LOVELACE
was to go alongside, regardless of cost, to remove personnel . The mine had hit at COULTER's engine room and thus she had no power and was towed back to Okinawa. LOVELACE and two
other escorts remained standing by until she was safely in Buckner Bay the following afternoon.
On the 19th of September orders were received to report to Subic Bay, Luzon. It was in Subic Bay on September 23,
1945, that the message was received ordering the LUCKY LOVELACE and her sister ships in escort division THIRTY-SEVEN to return to the United States for duty with the reserve fleet.
She had been in the Pacific twenty one months, traveled 110,000 miles, taken part in four invasions, shot down one plane, engaged in a successful shore bombardment, destroyed an
enemy mine and performed countless escort missions. She had done her job well in the war against the Japanese.
