Task Force 77.4.3 Memorial, San Diego, CA, USA - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

This monument is dedicated to the memory of Vice Admiral Clifton A. F. Sprague, USN, (1896-1955), and the 13 ships and 7,300 men of Task Unit 77.4.3, also known as "Taffy 3," which were under his command during the naval battle off Samar island, October 25,1944 during the Battle for Leyte Gulf. October 1944.

The Presidential Unit awarded to these 13 ships and crews reads as follows:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to

TASK UNIT SEVENTY-SEVEN POINT FOUR POINT THREE, consisting of the U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY and VC-88; U.S.S. GAMBIER BAY and VC-10; U.S.S. KALININ BAY and VC-3; U.S.S. KITKUN BAY and VC-5; U.S.S. SAINT LO and VC-65; U.S.S. WHITE PLAINS and VC-4; U.S.S. HOEL, U.S.S. JOHNSTON, U.S.S. HEERMANN, U.S.S. SAMUEL B. ROBERTS, U.S.S. RAYMOND, U.S.S. DENNIS and U.S.S. JOHN C. BUTLER

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

"For extraordinary heroism in action against powerful units of the Japanese Fleet during the Battle off Samar, Philippines, October 25, 1944. Silhouetted against the dawn as the Central Japanese Force steamed through San Bernardino Strait towards Leyte Gulf, Task Unit 77.4.3 was suddenly taken under attack by hostile cruisers on its port hand, destroyers on the starboard and battleships from the rear. Quickly laying down a heavy smoke screen, the gallant ships of the Task Unit waged battle fiercely against the superior speed and fire power of the advancing enemy, swiftly launching and rearming aircraft and violently zigzagging in protection of vessels stricken by hostile armor-piercing shells, anti-personnel projectiles and suicide bombers. With one carrier of the group sunk, others badly damaged and squadron aircraft courageously coordinating in the attacks by making dry runs over the enemy Fleet as the Japanese relentlessly closed in for the kill, two of the Unit's valiant destroyers and one destroyer escort charged the battleships point-blank and, expending their last torpedoes in desperate defense of the entire group, went down under the enemy's heavy shells as a climax to two and one half hours of sustained and furious combat. The courageous determination and the superb teamwork of the officers and men who fought the embarked planes and who manned the ships of Task Unit 77.4.3 were instrumental in effecting the retirement of a hostile force threatening our Leyte invasion operations and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

For the President,

JAMES FORRESTAL
Secretary of the Navy

The gentleman in one of the photo's of this memorial is Mr Joseph Calim of Pinole, California. Joe was a US Navy Sailor assigned to the USS Hopewell, DD-681, which served in the Pacific theater of war from 1943 - 1945. The USS Hopewell also participated in operations supporting the Leyte invasions. While going to the aid of a sister ship in Mariveles Harbor during the landings of troops to recapture the Phillipines the USS Hopewell was struck four times by Japanese coastal gunfire sustaining 17 casualties.

This memorial is located on the San Diego harbor mole, adjacent to the USS Midway memorial and museum. There are a number of beautiful memorials within the area of the mole as well as between the mole and the USS Midway. There are memorials to the USS San Diego, the "Kissing Sailor " monument, The Bob Hope memorial, A Sailor home from the sea memorial, and the WWII memorial dedicated to US Navy Carriers, of which the Midway was one of.

Property Permission: Public Access instructions: Public Park, with 24x7 access, ADA compliant Access times: From: 12:00 AM To: 11:59 PM Location of waymark: 920 North Harbor Drive San Diego, CA USA Commemoration: Vice Admiral Clifton A. F. Sprague, USN, (1896-1955), and the 13 ships and 7,300 men of Task Unit 77.4.3 Date of Dedication: Not listed Website for Waymark: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/12/2021 bluesnote visited it 12/06/2017 Casper&Aero visited it 12/22/2015 KidWrangler visited it 04/04/2014 Free2bme29 visited it 04/19/2012 geenef visited it 04/02/2012 Woobie491 visited it 08/06/2011 Zaphody3k visited it 12/08/2010 bluelamb03 visited it 04/04/2010 tnt4utvols visited it 10/12/2009 Metro2 visited it 11/08/2008 Gryffindor3 visited it 06/15/2008 DopeyDuck visited it

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