Medal Of Honor Earned

SAT 6 JAN 1944
Pacific
Japanese suicide plane attacks intensify against Lingayen Gulf invasion force; kamikazes damage battleships New Mexico (BB-40) (killing members of an observing British military mission) and California (BB-44), light cruiser Columbia (CL-56) and destroyers Newcomb (DD-586) (she is also hit by friendly fire) and Richard P. Leary (DD-664), 16°20'N, 120°10'E, heavy cruiser Louisville (CA-28), 16°37'N, 120°17'E,2 destroyers Allen M. Sumner (DD-692) 16°40'N, 120°10'E, and O'Brien (DD-725), 16°23'N, 120°14'E.

Destroyer Lowry (DD-770) is damaged by friendly fire, 16°40'N, 120°10'E.

Kamikazes attack minesweeping group, sinking high speed minesweeper Long (DMS-12), 16°12'N, 120°11'E, and damaging high speed minesweeper Southard (DMS-10), 16°11'N, 126°16'E, and high speed transport Brooks (APD-10), 16°20'N, 120°10'E.

Destroyer Walke (DD-723), on detached duty covering the minesweeping operations, 16°40'N, 120°10'E, is attacked by four enemy aircraft; one crashes the ship's bridge, drenching it with burning gasoline and mortally wounding Walke's commanding officer, Commander George F. Davis. Davis nevertheless remains at his post, conning his ship amidst the wreckage and rallying his crew. Carried below only when assured that his ship would survive, he dies of his wounds within hours. He is subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.

As a consequence of the kamikaze attacks, TF 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) shifts its focus from Formosa to begin operations against Japanese airfields and shipping in Luzon area. In South China Sea off northern Luzon, Navy carrier-based planes sink army cargo ship Kyodo Maru and merchant tankers No.1 Nanko Maru and 8 Iyasaka Maru and 6 Kyoei Maru and 10 Nanshin Maru and 10 Kyoei Maru and No.3 Kyoei Maru.

Submarine Besugo (SS-321) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Nichei Maru in Gulf of Thailand 06°45'N, 102°55'E. Coast Defense Ship No.17 carries out ineffective countermeasures.

Submarine Sea Robin (SS-407) attacks Japanese convoy, and sinks fleet tanker Tarakan Maru east of Hainan Island 19°45'N, 111°25'E.

USAAF aircraft sink auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 64 off Poulo Condore Island 08°55'N, 106°30'E, and merchant tanker No.3 Iyasaka Maru off Cape St. Jacques, French Indochina.

Mediterranean
U.S. freighter Isaac Shelby is damaged by mine when she straggles from Naples-bound convoy NV 90; fortunately, there are no casualties to either the merchant complement or the 12-man Armed Guard. The ship, however, is later declared a total loss.