USS Macdonough (DD-351) - Marshall Islands

Marshall Islands

In January 1944, she joined the Northern Attack Force staging for the assault on the Marshall Islands. As the primary fighter director ship for the initial transport group, Macdonough at first operated off Kwajalein Atoll. On 29 January, she proceeded to Wotje Atoll and participated in the shore bombardment there until returning to Kwajalein on the 31st for the occupation of Root and Namur Islands. The destroyer then took up radar picket duties until proceeding on to Eniwetok Atoll.

On 21 and 22 February, Macdonough shelled Japanese positions on Parry Island at the deep entrance to Eniwetok lagoon. A month later, she was a reference and rendezvous ship for carrier TF 58, then striking the Palau Islands. Continuing her varied pace, she was at Hollandia, New Guinea, by 21 April, providing fire support for the landings there. Then, at the end of the mouth she steamed eastward to take up radar picket duty south of Truk. During this assignment, Macdonough, with Monterey and Stephen Potter, sank Japanese submarine RO-45, 30 April 1944.