1945: Philippines and Borneo
From 9 December 1944, until 7 June 1945, the Stevens operated primarily in the Philippines; her only break being a voyage from Lingayen Gulf to Manus; she then proceeded back via Hollandia to Leyte, where she remained from 13 February to 4 March. From 20 to 23 December 1944, she escorted the Ruticulus (AK-113) to Guiuan on Samar and back to Leyte. Between 27 December 1944 and 1 January 1945, while screening a resupply echelon (TU 78.3.15) to Mindoro and back, the Stevens shot down three enemy planes during frequent air attacks that occurred in the area. On 9 January 1945, she got underway to escort a supply echelon to Lingayen Gulf. On the day before the convoy's arrival, it was attacked by six Japanese planes; four were downed by the screen's anti-aircraft fire, and the other two departed.
The Stevens' convoy reached Lingayen Gulf on 13 January, and she patrolled on a radar picket station until 18 January, and also stood by to deliver fire support if necessary. On 23 January she returned to Leyte Island. On 2 February she rendezvoused with Task Unit 78.12.9 (TU 78.12.9), and then escorted it into San Pedro Bay on 5 February; then she departed again to rendezvous with TU 78.7.2 off Dulag, Philippines. The Stevens guarded that convoy to Lingayen Gulf, arriving on 9 February and remaining there until 13 February 1945.
After returning from a voyage to Manus and Hollandia, back to the Philippines, she put into Manila Bay, Luzon, on 6 March, and on the 9th, she headed for Lingayen Gulf. En route, she stopped over at Mindoro on the night of 10/11 March; then she arrived at Lingayen on 12 March. From 13 to 15 March, she joined the Frazier (DD-607) in a search for downed American flyers. The Frazier picked up six men of a B-24 crew, and the Stevens was released to overtake and join TG 72.4 on 16 March. She refueled at Mangarin Bay, Mindoro, that day, and then got underway with the Cleveland (CL-55), Conway (DD-507), and Eaton (DD-510) to support the landings at Iloilo on Panay Island from 18 to 20 March. She cleared Panay on the 20th, arrived at Mindoro on 21 March, and then joined the screen of TG 74.2.
For the next month, the Stevens operated out of Subic Bay, Luzon. Next, on 14 April, she got underway with TG 74.2 to participate in the landings in the Parang-Malabang-Cotabato area of Mindanao Island. The Stevens arrived off Polloc Harbor on 17 April and patrolled the landing area, screening the Denver (CL-58) and delivering fire support for the troops, until 19 April. She returned to Subic Bay, Luzon, on 21 April, and then remained for a week and a day. On 29 April 1945, the Stevens steamed back to Mindanao, and, after a stop at Police Harbor, she reached Davao Gulf, Mindanao on 1 May. On 3 May, she supported the minesweeping units in the Santa Cruz area and again screened the USS Denver, while the cruiser delivered fire support with her 6-inch (150 mm) guns. The Stevens headed back to Subic Bay, Luzon, that same day, and she arrived on 6 May. She spent the following month in the Manila Bay-Subic Bay area, engaged in exercises, upkeep, repairs, and shore leave.
On 7 June the Stevens departed the Philippines with TG 74.2 to support the invasion of Borneo in the East Indies. From 9 to 11 June, she patrolled off Brunei Bay, Borneo, in the support force for the attack group. On the 11th, she steamed for Tawi Tawi with most of the task force. After stopping at Tawi Tawi over the night of 12/13 June, she arrived at Balikpapan, Borneo, on 15 June, and supported the Balikpapan invasion until 2 July. From 15 to 17 June, she supported the minesweepers. On the 17th, she bombarded the beaches at Klandasan and also fought off an air attack that evening during night retirement. She conducted another shore bombardment on 19 June, and then engaged shore batteries on 21 and 23 June, silencing two of them on the 23rd. The troops landed on 1 July, and the Stevens helped cover them with counter-battery and harassing fire throughout the day and into the night. The following day, she departed Balikpapan en route to Leyte Gulf, the Philippines.
The Stevens entered San Pedro Bay on 5 July and then remained there for one week. On 12 July, she steamed out of the bay, and then reached Subic Bay three days later. The USS Stevens conducted tactical and anti-submarine warfare exercises in the Manila Bay-Subic Bay area of Luzon for the duration of the War in the Pacific.
On 28 August 1945, almost two weeks after the cessation of hostilities, the USS Stevens departed from Subic Bay with TG 71.1 and headed for the Yellow Sea and western Korea. On 30 August, the Stevens, the Bell (DD-587), and the Burns (DD-588) were dispatched to Buckner Bay, Okinawa, where they reported to Carrier Division 5 for duty.
The Stevens exited that bay two days later in the screen of the carriers of TF 72 and steamed for Inchon, Korea. On 10 September, she put into Inchon for repairs and, from 19 September to 20 September, she screened the New Orleans (CA-32) to Tsingtao, China. There, she assisted in the internment of Japanese ships until 29 September; then she shifted to Taku Bar where she supported troop landings until 6 October. On 7 October, the Stevens arrived at Chefoo Harbor, joined TU 71.1.5, and then steamed for Inchon. Following a five-day stay there, she departed on 13 October with troops, sailors, and Marines, bound for the United States. The Stevens stopped at Guam on 19 October, and after steaming to Hawaii, she spent two days at Pearl Harbor, Oahu. From there, she steamed to the West Coast, reaching San Diego, California, on 7 November 1945.
On 8 November, after discharging her passengers, the Stevens steamed to San Pedro, California, and there reported for duty to the 19th (Reserve) Fleet for a deactivation overhaul. The Stevens was decommissioned on 2 July 1946, and she remained with the Pacific Reserve Fleet until 1 December 1972 when her name was stricken from the Navy list. On 27 November 1973, her hulk was sold to Zidell Explorations, Inc., of Portland, Oregon, for scrapping.
The USS Stevens was awarded nine battle stars for her service during World War II.
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