In 1975, the PCE(R) 853
Patrol Craft-Escort and Rescue became Philippine Navy ship
Datu Marikudo PS 23
by Guy B. Merritt, CPhM USN I_____________________

PCE(R) - meaning Patrol Craft, Escort and Rescue - is a little known ship insofar as the public is concerned, but in the Navy this class made a name for itself in the final phase of the Pacific War.

They provided medical aid and rescue facilities to every type ship afloat - sub-chaser to the battleship - and in addition, served as escort vessels in every invasion from the initial Philippine landing to the occupation of Japan. A PCE(R) was the first allied ship to berth at Tokyo.

The light units of the fleet, which numbered many hundreds in every invasion, did not have medical officers. To these ships, faced with the problem of caring for their wounded and the necessity of their disposal in order to return unhampered to action, the PCE(R)’s gave great assistance. As the kamakaze menace increased, the burden on all medical ships increased, and to the 853 and other ships of her class, fell the duties of removal and treatment of the wounded and survivors from crippled ships, as our naval forces pressed onward to Japan.

The PCE(R) 853, was built in inland waters, and brought down the Mississippi, to be placed in full commission at New Orleans. The transcript of the log of the 853 and other ships of her class reads much the same. After trial runs in Gulf waters, assignments to active fleets were handed out rapidly.

The story of the PCE(R) 853 is the same as the story of many similar small craft:

different characters in divers geographical locations, but sagas of courage, ingenuity and devotion to duty, wherever. The 853, commissioned on 16 June 1944, first saw action on 25 October as a screening vessel for the Leyte invasion force.

In her first 2 days of action she laid alongside the SC 1004 to extinguish a fire in the sub chaser’s magazine. Later, while attempting to transfer casualties to the decks of the LST 464, she was forced to cast off because of intensive air attacks. While lying astern of the LST, a Jap bomber scored a “near miss” with little damage, but a direct hit from the 853 ‘s 3-inch anti-aircraft guns erased the Jap.

On 27 October, 32 Army casualties and a Chicago Daily News correspondent, who later died, were brought aboard. The next day 28 casualties and survivors of a CVE and a DE, sunk off Samar, were picked up. The foliowing day all patients were transferred to the Comfort.

A surprise Japanese air attack, on the San Pedro Bay area on 12 November, caused considerable damage to the Liberty Ship, Jeremiah M Dailey. The 853 ‘s wardroom was converted to a medical-aid station for the treatment and care of 36 wounded, most of them suffering from severe steam burns.

Acting as an ambulance ship until 28 November, the 853 handled 136 Army casualties and 35 merchant mariners. The task force commander sent this message that night:

HAZARDOUS MISSIONS, RESCUE OF MEN FROM SHIPS WHICH WERE

VICTIMS OF SUICIDE AI’4D BOMBING ATTACKS, HAVE BEEN PERFORMED

BY THE PCE(R)’s 853 AND 852 N A VERY COMMENDABLE MANNER

Throughout December 1944 and January 1945 the ship was used for escort duty, screening, and as an ambulance ship. Then in February, she put into the naval base at Ulithi for much -needed repairs and recreation.

Late in March preparations were made for the invasion of Okinawa. The ship’s usual work of receiving, treating and tansfering wounded was greatly increased by the more frequent kamakaze attacks in the Okinawa area. The suicide attacks most often occurred at dusk, requiring maneuvers through heavy smoke screens in crowded anchorages, going alongside several ships in the course of the night - activities usually increased at dawn with morning attacks.

When more than one ship was hit simultaneously it was extremely difficult to determine which burning vessel was the one for which assistance was ordered.

During all actions great efficiency and coordination was displayed by the deck force and the pharmacist’s mates in the difficult tasks of effecting rescue under conditions of darkness and smoke screens, in the face of air attacks and fires. During the invasion of Okinawa, the 853 went to the aid of 24 ships - victims of air attacks - rescuing their 676 casualties, in most instances during the height of battle.

Between 4 April and 30 June coming alongside other ships 69 times for the rescue and transfer of survivors and patients, a total of 1.996 men were handled.

At Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese surrendered, the 853 was turned over to the Department of Commerce as a Coast and Geodetic Survey ship as a peacetime use.

Commander, Task Group, of which the 853 was a part’ expressed his opinion to the 853 ‘s service in his last message to her:

THE PROMPT AND SEAMANLIKE PERFORMANCES OF PCE(R) 853 ON

NUMEROUS DIFFICULT MISSIONS HAVE BEEN SPLENDID AND A SOURCE OF GREAT SATISFACTION TO SOPA.