WWII veteran recalls service aboard USS Columbia

LAMAR — Although James Malloch was a young Yankee from Massachusetts, he served on a brand new light cruiser during World War II named after the capital of South Carolina.

Malloch, 85, is proud of his service aboard the USS Columbia from 1942 to 1945. Malloch was a trainer on the No. 6 turret and survived several Japanese suicide dive bombers that hit the ship.

Malloch and his wife moved from Vermont to Lamar to be near family members. They live in a mobile home on two acres in the boondocks and couldn’t be happier.

The USS Columbia was named for the city of Columbia and was the second cruiser of her class to be built. Her keel was laid on Aug. 19, 1940, in Camden, N.J., and she was launched Dec. 17, 1941.

Jean Adams Paschal received the honor of smashing the traditional bottle of champagne against the Columbia bow. She was the daughter of the Columbia Mayor.

“With the blowing of yard whistles and the cheers of workmen, the youthful ship slipped quickly down the ways into the waters of the Delaware River unaware of the essential role she was to play in the victory over Japan,” Malloch said, reading from the battle record and history of the USS Columbia.

The order to “board ship” was given on July 29, 1942. It marked the beginning of a trip that would send the crew half way around the world to face fierce fighting in the Pacific.

The command of the light cruiser was entrusted to Capt. W.A. Heard. He directed his executive officer, Cmdr. H.E. Gearing, to “set the watch.”

“With this procedure completed,” Malloch recalled, “the Columbia became the USS Columbia. She was then a full-fledged commissioned ship in the United States Navy.”

Malloch said the Columbia initially was a part of Task Group 67.2. She later joined Task Force 18, which consisted of six cruisers and eight destroyers.

Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal recognized the Columbia “for outstanding heroism in action as a unit of Task Group 77.2 operating in support of the initial landings at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippines from Jan. 5-9, 1945.”

“We were bombing shore defenses and doing mindsweeping operations,” Malloch said. “That was when a Japanese suicide dive bomber came at us.”

The Columbia opened fire, blasting the dive bomber upward. It was forced between the foremast and mainmast and crashed 80 feet from the of the bridge.

“The entire forward part of the ship was sprayed with gasoline,” Malloch said. “Repair crews came to the rescue to prevent fires.”

But the worst was to come.

Another suicide dive bomber crashed the main deck later that day putting two turrets out of action and causing electrical failures and extensive flooding.

Then came a third dive bomber into the forward battery.

“The Columbia stoutly continued her heavy bombardment schedule after each fanatical attack,” Forrestal wrote, “sending her salvos into enemy gun positions and facilities with punishing effect in gallant support of our assault until her vital mission was fulfilled.

“A resolute and sturdy veteran, complemented by skilled and aggressive officers and men, the Columbia has rendered distinctive service, sustaining and enhancing the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

From July 29, 1942, until Sept. 2, 1945, the Columbia was credited with destroying 27 planes, assisting in the sinking of one cruiser and one destroyer at the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay and two battleships, one cruiser and one destroyer at the Battle of Surigao Straits and participation in nine shore bombardments.