In October 1944, the SS ADONIRAM JUDSON, first United States merchant ship to dock at Tacloban, Island of Leyte, during the initial invasion of the Philippines, provided the principal air cover for the landing area for two days until joined by other ships of the expedition. Her guns, manned by a skillful and courageous crew, defeated vigorous and continuous attacks by enemy planes in a series of heroic actions. During this period she unloaded steel airfield landing mats and other military material vital to the success of the operation.
The stark courage of her stalwart crew against overpowering odds caused her name to be perpetuated as a Gallant Ship.
Per MARAD:
The Liberty ship SS Adoniram Judson was built by Permanente Metals Corp. at Richmond, California. Delivered on March 3, 1943, the vessel was immediately placed in operation under a general agent agreement with W. R. Chamberlain Company.
Operating in the Pacific, Adoniram Judson took part in the Philippines campaign in the Fall of 1944. Adoniram Judson arrived at San Pedro Bay, offshore of the city of Tacloban on the island of Leyte, on October 23; just two days after the Allies invaded the Philippines. The vessel was carrying, among other cargo, metal landing mats to construct a temporary air strip on the island.
Early in the afternoon of October 24, Adoniram Judson was ordered to dock in Tacloban, becoming the first merchant vessel to arrive there after American forces liberated the port. In fact, for that first day, Adoniram Judson was the only U.S. vessel at Tacloban’s docks. Alongside two 40-milimeter gun emplacements and guns from several small landing craft Adoniram Judson‘s gun batteries provided the primary anti-aircraft defense for the area.
Japanese fighters and bombers continued to attack Adoniram Judson as it unloaded its cargo while the Naval Armed Guard and the ship’s merchant crew heroically defended the ship from enemy air strikes. As night fell, to conceal its position, the ship went dark whenever the crew heard more enemy bombers approaching while they continued to unload their cargo.
Air raids continued day and night for several more days as the ship continued to unload. By October 25, Adoniram Judson was one of three Liberty ships in port. On October 28, it had unloaded all of its cargo, including the vital landing mats.
According to the vessel’s master [Charles A. Jarvis], Adoniram Judson repelled the 56 bombing and strafing runs made on the ship over the course of its three days in port. The ship’s Naval Armed Guard, with assistance from its merchant crew, shot down at least two, and possibly up to six enemy aircraft, and used over 8,000 rounds of ammunition.
Gallant Ship award ceremony. Captain Charles A. Jervis at right.
W. R. CHAMBERLIN & CO. SAN FRANCISCO November 6, 1944
To: War Shipping Administration From: Master, S/S Adoniram Judson
Dear Sirs;
This ship the S/S Adoniram Judson was saved from suffering severe damage due to the close co-operation given the Armed Guard crew by the Merchant Seamen and Officers of the Vessel in San Pedro bay and at the dock in the city of Tacloban, Leyte Island on the Philippines.
During the numerous air raid by the Japanese Air Force on october 24th, 25th and 26th, which except for the first raid on the morning of october 24th before the ship proceeded to the dock in Tacloban, the ship was the sole tar- get. On the 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th, while the ship was at the dock in Tacloban, fifty-six (56) individual Jap planes made bombing and staffing runs over this ship.
The Merchant Seamen carried ammunition, loaded magazines and were loaders on the forward and aft three inch fifty guns. They also maned and assisted with the 20 M.M. guns.
Merchant Seamen also aided with the spotting of and the identification of the enemy planes. This enabled the Armed Guard to throw up such an effective barrage of flak that the enemy was forced to swerve and had all misses ex- kept one near miss which resulted in some damage by shrapnel to the hull and rigging of this ship.
For the able action I recommend that the Armed Guard and Merchant crews be given commendation as a whole and also individually if possible.
Sincerely Yours
MASTER S/S ADONIRAM JUDSON
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The Liberty Ship S/S Adoniram Judson arrived in San Pedro bay, Leyte Island in the Philippine on the morning of A plus 2 and anchored in area A.
On the evening of October 23th, one enemy plane made a sneak raid over the harbor, passed over this shop and dropping two bombs which result- ed in near misses to a Navy APA or AP vessel anchored in the harbor.
On the morning of October 24th at 0800 two enemy Zeros and one Betty bomber came over the bay and the bomber was brought down after dropping his bombs which did no harm to any of the ships. The plane crashed into the bay not far from this vessel.
At 0800 a group of enemy bombers, twelve in number, came over the top of a low range of hills over looking the bay. The planes headed our over the bay in an attempt to attack the vessels at anchor. Anti air craft shore batteries and ships Ack Ack opened up and nine (9) of the Jap Betties were seen to fall, four (4) along the shore and five (5) into the bay. One bomber passed over this vessel with a drummond Hellcat on its tail and was brought down b the Hellcat further out in the bay. One plane, flaming from ships ack ack, crashed into the bay at our stern. Two more planes passed over us, one of which looking like it would crash into the ship, but pulled out at the last second to just clear our funnel and hit an L C I anchored about 500 yards off our port quarter. Both planes were burning from ships ack ack as they passed over us. This ship fired and scored possible hits and near misses on all the above planes.
At 12:15 P.M. One Zero attack ed our port quarter coming in at 2000 yards. This vessel put up an effective ack ack barrage which caused the diversion of the plane. One Nav gunner was injured by concussion by our aft three inch fifty caliber gun.
At 1400 we shifted from the anchorage in San Pedro bay to the dock in Tacloban. We were the first ship to dock in the Philippines since the return of the American Flag to these Islands. With the exception of two 40 M.M. shore batteries several hundred yards away and the 30 and 50 caliber guns of the small landing craft mediums, the ships batteries were the main anti air craftdefence of the dock area of Tacloban.
At 1710 We had our first alert at the dock. Afew minutes latter one enemy planes came in for a bombing run on the ship. The barrage thrown up by the Armed Guard and Merchant crew members of this vessel was so intense that the plane was forced to swerve and dropped his bombs on the other side of the bay away from the ship.
On this same evening one other Jap plane made a bombing run on the ship, but he was also turned back by our effected fire.
The next alert of the day came after night had fallen, so we help our fire. We did not want to give our position away unless directly attacked. We had numerous alerts through our the night during which we blacked out the entire vessel. When the alerts were over we turned the lights on again and resumed discharging the cargo.
October 25th.
At daylight the enemy was back again with his bombers and Zeros bombing and staffing when and where he could. We had numerous bombing runs during the morning. These ???ics were all diverted by the effective ack ack barrage made by the armed guard crew at the guns and assisted on the three inch fifty guns by merchant crew members. Merchant crew members also assist- ed as loaders, ammunition possessor, reloading of empty magazines for the twenty M.M. guns through out all these raids.
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At 1250, three Zeros were making runs on the ship. One Zero came in and dive-bombed from a medium altitude, but again the fire was to heavy and accurate. He swerved and obtained only a near miss. The bomb landed on the dock about twenty-five feet from the bow of the vessel, doing dating to the hull and rigging of this vessel by shrapnel. It was evident that a hit was scored on this plane as he passed over the ship. Immediately after this Zeros run a piece of the planes aluminum was picked off the bridge of this vessel. Two Army stevadors were injured by shrapnel on board the ship. One was treated on the ship and the other was given emergency treatment and both men were sent to the hospital. Five men were injured and Two were killed by shrapnel on the dock.
1320, Two Jap Betty bombers came over and one dropped bombs on our starboard quarter, which were near misses. The other Bettt dropped a string of bombs on a dock warehouse about 300 feet from the ship. All misses were due to the heavy ack ack fire of the ships guns.
At 2:30 p.m. two Jap Zeros came in for runs and were diverted by ships ack ack fire.
4:45 p.m. All hell broke lose as seven Jap planes appeared on the star- board quarter, peeling off, circling and making runs on the stern, star- board quarter and the bow in rapid succession. Bombs were dropping about the dock area and all hit harmlessly in the water. After three inch fifty gun crew reported that one Jap plane was smoking as it disappeared behind the hills on the starboard quarter. It was miraculous that the bombs did not hit the dock or ship and that the heavy barrage again diverted the attack.
6:00 p.m. Three Zeros made runs and were diverted by ships fire.
Numerous raids during the night, visibility poor, ship held fire so as not to reveal exact position. During all alerts ship was completely blacked out. Upon termination of all alerts light were turned on and ship continued dis- charging of cargo.
October 26th.
6:00 a.m. One Zero diverted by barrage. 9:00 a.a. another Zero came out of the sun and was also turned away by ship ack ack. 10:00 a.m. Two Gap bettys bombers dropped bombs on the port quarter which resulted in no damage. 11:00 a.m. Second Liberty to come into Tacloban tied up at the dock astern of this ship. 11:40 a.m. The third ship came in and tied up to the dock ahead of the vessel.
Numerous raids during the after noon and early evening were turned back or diverted by effective fire. Several nuisance raids through out the night. Ship followed same procedure as previous two nights.
Ship was running low of ammunition and our Chief Engineer, Rene J Bonnie, went from ship to ship in San Pedro trying to replenish our supply. He succeeded in bringing back a sufficient amount of ammunition which he obtained from a Navy vessel in the bay.
October 27th.
6:20 a.m. two runs were made by a single Jap Zero. Other ineffective nuisance raids were made through out the morning.
11:40 Friendly planes, identified as P-38s. arrived over the area. Their arrival was made possible by the fast discharging of the urgently needed landing mats for the air strip which were carried by this Liberty ship.
16:45 two Jap planes came over. One making runs on the starboard beam, the other making a run on the bow; The barrage of this ship and the other two ships at dock, as well as small craft, deterred their bombing runs. One plane was staffing and dropped numerous small bombs as he passed out over the bay on the starboard side of the ship.
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18:40 Jap plane came in on starboard quarter, all ships opened fire. Plane appeared to be hit by our fire as he was smoking when he crossed our ship on the port side. Plane gradually lost altitude as he disappeared be- hind the hills. It was later verified by the Army that the ack ack of this ship shot down the plane which had crashed behind the hills.
18:42 Zero came across port beam circling toward stern. The barrage of all ships keep him at a safe distance.
Usual night attacks and vessels’ same proceedure followed. Radiarcontroled anti air craft guns and search lights made their first appearance in this area.
October 28th.
9:30 a.m. Vessel completed discharging of cargo, left dock and return- ed to anchorage in San Pedro Bay at anchorage area A.
With the arrival of the P-38s there was a sharp drop in the number of enemy plane which were able to slip through and attack the shipping or air strip at Tacloban.
October 29th.
8:45 a.m. Gap over again, flak was thrown up by all ships. Our aft three inch fifty and twenty M.M. fired as plane came accross the stern.
Recap:
A minimum of fifty-six (56) individual bombing and straffing runs were made upon the vessel. This Vessel has official credit for one Zero and one Betty bomber and a possible four other enemy planes. Approximately 300 rounds of three inch fifty Cal. A.A. ammunition used. Approximately 8,000 rounds of twenty M.M. ammunition were used. Seven Navy gun crew members and three Merchant seamen were injured while manning the guns. Two Army stevadors, working cargo on board were injured by shrapnel.
The Master of this vessel expresses his appreciation of all hands aboard, Officers and men, Merchant seamen and Navy personnel who stood by their ship to a man in getting the urgently needed cargo ashore, which in- cluded airfield landing mats that enabled land based planes, P-38s, to arrive and give the much needed air coverage over the scene of operation in this area.
Charles A. Jarvis MASTER S/S ADONIRAM JUDSON
——————————————— [damage report] WEDNESDAY OCT. 25, 1944 Damage to Vessel and Gear by shrapnel from a Bomb dropped by a Jap Zerpn which resulted in a near miss.
BULWARKS
Damage to Bulwark plating between the following Bulward stays (Plating also punctured)
UPPER FORE PEAK (Bosn’stores) The hull plate were pierced by shrapnel between the following frames:
Frames No. 1 & 2 pierced in 3 places.
——————————————— [damage report] Page 2. Number two Jumbo boom topping lift has one strand out completely and two strands out half way through by shrapnel. One coil of 3 1/2” manilla line badly damaged by shrapnel. Number two life boat had a piece of shrapnel pierce the hull and damage one air tank, but the ship’s crew were able to repair same. One 8” Mooring hawser damaged by shrapnel
