When the Pirate and the Pledge passed between Ko To Island on the south of the channel, and Rei To on the north of the channel, 14 horned or contact mines popped to the surface, like someone had released them all at once. I was standing on the 01 deck of the Endicott on the port side aft of the mast and superstructure, with a clear view.

Just as the two minesweepers cut the 14 mines, the Pirate shuddered, a puff of black smoke came from her starboard side and I could hear a muffled explosion, and she began settling by the stern. The Pledge was slightly astern of the Pirate at this time, and the shore batteries from the inner harbor began firing at the Pirate and crew began to abandon ship.

The Pledge pulled around the starboard side of the Pirate and began firing what guns she had. The Endicott fired all that she was capable of with only three single gun 5" 38 caliber mounts. The shore batteries were silenced, and both the Pirate and Pledge were on the bottom in a very short time. The combined crews of the two sunken ships totaled about 130 officers and men. The Endicott picked up as many of the survivors as was possible with their whaleboats, and the rest were picked up by some of the smaller sweepers, and brought to the Endicott.

There were quite a few broken arms, legs, and cut throats. The throat injuries came because 7th Fleet had just put out an order for all hands to be on deck except those absolutely necessary for the operation of the ship. They did not give any instructions how the helmets were to be worn, and with the chinstrap loosely fastened, the concussion blew the helmets up and cut the wearers throat. The survivors were supposed to be transferred to a cruiser, but the weather began to turn sour, so the Endicott ended up taking the survivors to Pusan to the hospital ship Constellation I believe.       ⇦ Back to Page 1