World War II South Pacific Operations
The minesweeper returned to duty on 12 February 1944, sailing to Pearl Harbor on the 22nd. After two convoy voyages to the Marshalls, she got underway on 30 May to join the fleet at Eniwetok for one of the most important amphibious operations of the war, the invasion of the Marianas. Herald arrived off Saipan on D-day, 15 June, and performed minesweeping and escort duties. While the U.S. fleet won a great victory at the Battle of the Philippine Sea 19 to 21 June, the minesweeper protected the transport and fueling areas off Saipan. She sailed to Tarawa on 17 July to escort a group of LST's back to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived 26 July.
In the months that followed, Herald performed vital convoy work in the Marshalls and Marianas, including patrol and some minesweeping work. In early 1945 she served as an escort ship for submarines returning to Ulithi from war patrols. Herald sailed from Pearl Harbor for the United States on 11 May 1945, arriving San Francisco, California, seven days later.
Read more about this topic: USS Herald (AM-101)
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