USS Tisdale (DE-33) - World War II Pacific Theatre Operations

World War II Pacific Theatre Operations

Following shakedown, Tisdale cleared Treasure Island, California, on 5 December 1943. Six days later, she moored at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands. The destroyer escort conducted training in the vicinity of Oahu until the 23nd, when she got underway for the Central Pacific. After stops at Canton Island and Abemama, she reached Tarawa Atoll, in the Gilbert Islands, on 9 January 1944. Between 16 and 20 January, she made two voyages between Tarawa and Funafuti in the Ellice Islands, ending up at Funafuti on the 20th. On the 23d, Tisdale stood out of Funafuti to participate in "Operation Flintlock", the seizure and occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls in the Marshall Islands. However, the destroyer escort saw no action in the operation and only put into Majuro after it had been secured.

The destroyer escort moored at the dock in Pearl Harbor at mid-morning on 13 February. She underwent repairs until the first week in March. On 3 March, she cleared the harbor to return to the Marshalls. After a stop at Johnston Island, she moored at Majuro just after noon on the 12th. Three days later, Tisdale exited the lagoon in the screen of a convoy bound for the Gilberts. She arrived at Tarawa on St. Patrick's Day and remained there for almost two months screening ships into and out of the atoll. On 12 May, she exited the lagoon in company with Fleming (DE-32) and Eisele (DE-34) and set course for Pearl Harbor, where she arrived on the 19th.