The Pacific War

    In May of 1945, DE-197 was ordered to the Pacific Fleet and on 9 June she was underway for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for refresher training. She transited the Panama Canal on 1 July 1945; and, after taking on supplies and passengers at San Diego, proceeded to Pearl Harbor where she conducted further training exercises. On 8 August she steamed for Eniwetok, Atoll in the South Pacific receiving en route, word of the Japanese surrender. Arriving Eniwetok on 16 August, she departed 18 August for Ulithi. She then steamed back to Eniwetok and escorted LCI-520 and LCI-761, carrying occupation troops, to Wake Island. Returning to Eniwetok, she operated on antisubmarine patrol as a precaution against any Japanese submarines which had not heard of the surrender. On 22 September Roche got underway for Tokyo Bay as escort for the Hospital ship Florence Nightingale. Just a few minutes after morning quarters on 29 September, a loud explosion shook the ship from stem to stern and was immediately followed by another. Battle stations were manned before it was learned that the ship had struck a floating mine. The fantail was a mass of twisted steel; but, due to the quick action of repair parties, all watertight hatches in the vicinity were dogged down to keep the ship afloat and a port list was created artificially to aid in maintaining watertight integrity. There were three deaths in the explosion and many injuries. Ten men were transferred to Florence Nightingale. Roche was taken in tow by the Navy ship ATR-35 .Roche was towed to Tokyo Bay Japan and arrived 15 days after the surrender papers had been signed on board the USS Missouri. USS Roche entered Tokyo Bay and was moored to the USS Telamon (ARB-8). A subsequent inspection revealed that the ship was no longer operable due to heavy damage in the rudder area and the 197 became a "Station Ship". This was a very uncomfortable situation as the ship was used as ytemporary quarters for men and officers in transit who were awaiting transfer to ships which had not yet arrived in Japan. This meant we were soon overwhelmed by "strangers" and life became very boring for the sailors. On 18 October a board of inspection and survey decided that Roche was beyond economical repair and recommended that she be cannibalized. Subsequently she was decommissioned and Roche's hulk was sunk off Yokosuka Japan on 11 March 1946. She was struck from the Navy list on 5 June 1946

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Leo remained in Japan for a few months after the end of the war, he then transferred back to the states and was mustered out of the service in April of 1946. Leo passed away on November 28, 1996 he has one son and is survived by his sister Yvonne Dionne Despres.

1. Navy Good Conduct Medal
2. American Campaign service medal
3. European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
4. Pacific Campaign Service Medal
5. World War II Victory Medal

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