DURING THIS TIME THE WELFARE OF THE MEN AND FEEDING THEM FELL TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHIEF PAY CLERK, HARRY BARNHORST, USN., OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RI., A VETERAN OF SOME THIRTY (30) YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE NAVY. THE SHIP WAS WELL EQUIPPED AS THERE WERE ENOUGH STORES ON BOARD TO FEED 1200 MEN FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS.

DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER THE CURRITUCK WAS THE ONLY MAJOR SHIP IN THE SAN PEDRO BAY AREA OF THIS LARGE LEYTE GULF. ON NOVEMBER THE 14TH AT 0738 IN THE MORNING ZEKES ATTACKED FROM THE STARBOARD QUARTER AND THE GUNNERS ENGAGED THEM IN A RUNNING BATTLE RESULTING IN ONE ZEKE BEING SHOT DOWN, THERE BEING NO DAMAGE TO THE SHIP OR PERSONNEL. DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WHILE LYING AT ANCHOR OFF THE LEYTE BEACHHEAD THE CREW WAS GIVEN A RESPITE BY THE ENEMY, AND EXCEPT FOR AN OCCASIONAL SOUND OF THE ALERT SIREN THERE WAS NO ENEMY CONTACT OR ACTIVITY, AND THE CREW HAD A CHANCE TO RELAX COMPLETELY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A MONTH.

THE MORNING OF 6 JANUARY 1945 FOUND THE SHIP RIGGED FOR SEA AND EVERY MAN ALERT AT HIS BATTLE STATION AS THEY TOOK THEIR ASSIGNED POSITION IN TASK FORCE 79, ON THE MORNING OF THE INVASION OF LINGAYEN GULF IN THE PHILIPPINES THE 9TH OF JANUARY 1945 THE CURRITUCK, ACCOMPANIED BY THE USS BARATARIA, A SMALL SEAPLANE TENDER, FORMED A SMALL BUT ACTIVE PART OF THE HUGE ARMADA CONTAINING MANY TYPES OF SHIPS. IT WAS A WELL PLANNED AND COORDINATED AMPHIBIOUS OPERATION. EVERY UNIT WENT ABOUT ITS BUSINESS AND CARRIED OUT ITS ASSIGNED DUTIES. THE TWO TENDERS IMMEDIATELY WERE DETACHED UPON ARRIVING IN THE CENTRAL BAY AREA AND PROCEEDED TO CARRY OUT THEIR ASSIGNED MISSIONS OF LAYING SEAPLANE MOORINGS. SHORTLY BEFORE DROPPING THE HOOK THE CURRITUCK HAD COME TO A HALT NEAR SOME LARGE COMBATANT SHIPS WHICH WERE POUNDING THE SHORES WITH THEIR GUNS AND UNKNOWN TO THE CREW ABOARD THE CURRITUCK, THEY WERE CREDITED WITH BEING A PART OF THE BOMBARDMENT GROUP WHICH EARNED THE NAME OF THE "FIGHTING TENDER", ACTUALLY HOWEVER THE SHIP PLAYED NO PART IN THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE BEACHHEAD.

DURING THE PERIOD OF 6 NOVEMBER 1944 TO 6 JANUARY 1945 THE SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE CURRITUCK WAS RECOMMENDED FOR THE AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL AND CITATION BY COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET. THE SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER BEING AT THAT TIM. COMMANDER FRANKLIN G. BALCH, (MC), USNR. THE CEREMONIES TOOK PLACED ABOARD SHIP, WITH THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE SHIP MAKING THE PRESENTATiON, ON 11 AUGUST 1945.

COMMANDER BALCH WHOSE HOME IS IN NEWTON CENTER, MA., RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING CITATION FROM COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET IN THE NAME OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. "FOR DISTINGUISHING HIMSELF BY MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH OPERATIONS AGAINST THE ENEMY. DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN 6 NOVEMBER 1944 AND 6 JANUARY 1945, AS SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE CURRITUCK DURING ITS STAY IN LEYTE GULF, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, COMMANDER FRANKLIN G. BALCH, JR., (MC), USNR, DISPLAYED OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, INTELLIGENCE AND PROFESSIONAL SKILL. As A RESULT OF HIS EFFORTS THE HEALTH AND MORALE OF PERSONNEL OF UNITS IN COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET, BASED ABOARD THE CURRITUCK, DURING THIS HAZARDOUS AND CRITICAL PERIOD WAS MAINTAINED AT A HIGH STANDARD. HE FURNISHED EMERGENCY SURGICAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES TO SEVERAL NEARBY UNITS DURING THE EARLY WEEKS OF THE INVASION OF LEYTE. HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND CONDUCT THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD WERE IN KEEPING WITH "THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES."

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