and the were the only modern destroyers in the group. The others were "four-pipers" with "outmoded equipment and low fuel capacity" including the ships of two other squadron commanders. Canadian escorts protected the convoy for the first 350 miles, then the Americans until point "Momp" when the British escorted ships to Britain. Deyo then proceeded with the American destroyers to Iceland with three American merchantmen and one Icelandic. There was no submarine attack, but the Navy destroyers were inexperienced in their seamanship. They progressed from patrolling only on calm moonlit nights within 1,000 yards of the convoy and staying on station if there was fog, to patrolling 5,000 yards out whatever the sea condition or visibility. U-boat searches were extended to over an hour at a time. Still there was extra work to escorting this convoy. Stragglers, breakdowns and laggards created a ragged formation which was difficult to cordon. The convoy could not sit in the water, so it made numerous course changes to buy time for at-sea overhaul of those falling behind. Nevertheless, when the Nigaristan sank in high winds and rolling seas, the Eberle rescued the entire 63-man crew. On return to the U.S., "Captain Deyo made a number of adversely critical comments in his report" relative to the demands of anti-submarine warfare, "leadership, seamanship and marksmanship." On 6 June 1944, now Rear Admiral Deyo commanded the western Operation Neptune Force "U", supporting the landing of the American First Army at Utah and Omaha beaches during the Normandy landings. Deyo served as Commander, Task Force 129 (CTF 129) during the Bombardment of Cherbourg, and supported General Collins' Army VII Corps in taking Cherbourg, France. The American and British ships dueled port-city shore batteries and surrounding German defenses. The battleship and destroyers , , and were all damaged by enemy fire. Deyo commanded the naval bombardment for the invasion of Southern France in August 1944 and received Legion of Honour, Officer by the Government of France. World War II in the Pacific Admiral Deyo's crowning achievement in the Pacific was command of gunfire and covering force for the assault and occupation of Okinawa. It was for service off Okinawa that he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Rear Admiral Deyo took over Cruiser Division 13 (CruDiv 13) from Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose. The Division consisted of four light cruisers: , , , and . From 24 March