Three Japanese shells land abeam of USS KITKUN BAY (CVE 71)

U.S. Navy Photograph

from the personal collection of Gilbert J. Raynor and
the U.S.S. KITKUN BAY Association

"At 0900 the (Japanese) cruisers opened up on the ship again and dropped a salvo 200 yards astern, and one minute later nicely straddled us with shells falling on both sides.  The enemy cruisers were now on our port beam, 12,000 yards away, our five inch had used up practically all available ammunition having ceased firing on orders of the Captain to have some ammunition to repel the expected destroyer attack.   At 0901 they dropped a salvo which the 5" gun crew claims was only twenty yards astern, and there was every reason to expect the next salvo would do serious damage.   The Captain swung the ship between 200T, and 270T, in an effort to forestall the apparently inevitable, which for some reason never happened.  No further shots were fired by the cruisers which continued to close the range to 10,500 yards and then turned away at 0921."

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Honor the Missing in Action and Killed in Action of Taffy III

We do remember.  We won't forget.