3 rd ▁Fle et ▁at ▁sea , ▁units ▁then ▁engaged ▁in ▁air ▁strik es ▁against ▁Form osa ▁and ▁the ▁Chinese ▁main land . ▁She ▁then ▁proceeded ▁off ▁I wo ▁J ima ▁ 1 0 ▁February ▁to ▁screen ▁esc ort ▁carri ers ▁during ▁the ▁pre - in vas ion ▁bomb ard ment . ▁During ▁the ▁assault ▁ 1 9 ▁February ▁Gr ady ▁pat rolled ▁in ▁an ▁ant is ub marine ▁screen , ▁and ▁depart ed ▁the ▁area ▁ 2 ▁March ▁en ▁route ▁to ▁Sa ip an . ▁ ▁Ar riv ing ▁at ▁Sa ip an ▁ 5 ▁March , ▁Gr ady ▁ref ue led ▁and ▁depart ed ▁the ▁next ▁day ▁for ▁Esp ir itu ▁Santo . ▁Upon ▁her ▁arrival ▁ 1 9 ▁March , ▁the ▁ship ▁joined ▁in ▁prepar ations ▁for ▁the ▁up coming ▁Ok ina wa ▁invasion , ▁last ▁giant ▁step ▁on ▁the ▁long ▁sea ▁road ▁to ▁Japan . ▁She ▁got ▁under way ▁in ▁con voy ▁ 2 5 ▁March , ▁and ▁after ▁stopping ▁at ▁Ul ith i ▁arrived ▁off ▁the ▁invasion ▁be aches ▁ 9 ▁April . ▁As ▁the ▁blo ody ▁fighting ▁ra ged ▁ash ore , ▁Gr ady ▁and ▁the ▁other ▁ships ▁engaged ▁in ▁equally ▁fier ce ▁rad ar ▁and ▁ant is ub marine ▁pick et ▁duty ▁were ▁sav ag ely ▁attacked ▁by ▁Japanese ▁suic ide ▁plan es . ▁Gr ady ▁and ▁Met cal f ▁down ed ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁kam ik az es ▁ 1 6 ▁April ▁while ▁at ▁station ▁D - 3 7 ▁off ▁Ok ina wa . ▁The