Here is an excerpt from my dad's diary, he was stationed on USS McCord DD534.

January 5, 1945

Fueled from tanker

January 6, 1945

Our planes hit Luzon - sea is rough.

January 9, 1945

Very rough weather - our planes are having a field day on aircraft and shipping - we are in the South China Sea - operating mostly between Formosa and Luzon.

January 12, 1945

Big day - our planes sunk 30 ships including DD, HK -CL - sea is pretty rough.

January 15, 1945

Still patrolling between Luzon, Formosa, and Hong Kong - Hit Hong Kong today - had a bad time.

January 18, 1945

Another storm, but not like the other one.

January 20, 1945

Ticonderoga took a bomb hit Our planes shot down 15 Japs and 3 of our own.

January 22, 1945

25 degrees L. 450 miles from Tokyo.
January 23, 1945

Started back to Ulithi.