July, 1944

After Guam, Task Force 58 returned to Eniwetok Atoll, at the west end of the Marshalls, for supplies and ammunition. Two days later, the Mobile was sent northwestward to the Bonin Islands. They celebrated Independence Day by covering air strikes against Chichi Jima in the morning, then provided afternoon bombardments of Iwo Jima's airfields and ammunition dumps, which must have produced monstrous fireworks for the occasion.

From there, Mobile was sent back to the Marianas, where they spent most of July supporting air operations in preparation for the July 21 landings on Guam. Afterward, they went straight to the Caroline Islands to provide the same service for air strikes on Yap and Ulithi.

On July 29, a new skipper took the helm from Captain Wheeler: Captain Christopher C. Miller, USN, Class of 1918 (photo). The retiring commander, Captain Wheeler, was presented a Legion of Merit medal for performance of duty since Mobile's commissioning.
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From the Data Section of Joe's Journal:

15 - Bonin Is.*
Chichi Jima __ } _ Air strike
Iwo Jima ____ } _ & shore bombardment

We had air strike on Chichi Jima & shore bombardment on Iwo Jima. 50 planes destroyed on Chichi Jima.
50 to 70 planes destroyed on Iwo Jima. We also destroyed air fields & Ammunition dumps.

16 - Marianas Is. __________ July 21, 1944
Guam ___ landed troops.

Caroline Is. ______________ July 26, 27, 28, 1944
Yap _____ } ___ air strikes
Ulithi __ } ___ Moderate Damaged


* Joe didn't list the date, but it was July 4, 1944.