By August of 1944 the Germans knew the end was coming. Normandy had been invaded and their forces were retreating on all fronts. The allies viewed an invasion of Southern France to be a worth while means of relieving General Eisenhower's southern flank and eliminating the Luftwaffe/U-boat menace to the Western Mediterranean. Thus, "Operation Anvil" was conceived; the invasion of Southern France.

On the 9th of August, the USS Ordronaux found herself in Palermo, Sicily, one of the many staging ports for the invasion, with a truly international flavor. Major combatant vessels from France, England, and the United States would provide the seaborne fire power with seven Greek and other multi-national merchant vessels providing support for the amphibious effort. By 15 August the main body of the Camel Fire Support Group (TG-87.7) was steaming for the coast of Southern France. This included the USS Tuscaloosa (flag), USS Arkansas, USS Brooklyn, USS Marblehead, HMS Argonaut, FS Emil Bertin, and FS Duguay Trouin. DD617 was operating with DesRon 16 which was screening the task group.

At 0635 hours on the morning of August 15th, 1944, The Mighty O was in the Gulf of Frejus, approximately twenty miles south west of Cannes, France, close to shore and ready to commence her fire support for the invasion. Visibility was poor when shooting was commenced to prep Green Beach for the landing. Since there was no prearranged targets and fire was indirect without observation, CDR Woodville had to decide between early ammunition expenditures on non-descript targets and necessary fire support for the beach landing. Regardless, a heavy concentration of fire was put down for ten minutes on areas that might cause trouble for the troops, just prior to their touching down on the beach. No enemy return fire was observed due to poor visibility.

It wasn't until 0854, when the visibility improved, that enemy activity was observed around a pillbox. As the ship's 40mm guns commenced fring on this "hard" target, shell splashes were seen to fall around the ship. Immediately the main battery started to fire at the pillbox as well. Shortly thereafter, other enemy batteries found Ordronaux's range and straddled the ship. Commander Woodville ordered the ship to lay a smoke screen at high speed. Apparently several coastal guns were engaging the "O" as well as two 88mm guns. No enemy fire was observed from the pillbox which was well covered by 40m and 5" bursts.

Nearing 0900, shells were still falling on both sides of the ship, though accuracy was deteriorating presumably because of the smoke screen. Lookouts observed that bursts were now falling around Emil Bertin. The "O" changed course to lay smoke between the French cruiser and the probable location of hostile batteries. For the next hour the two ships with French names took part in a lively exchange of fire and counterfire with the German batteries. Commander Woodville continued to protect the cruiser while closing into machine gun range, at one point, to find active targets. At 0953 the original pillbox was destroyed by 5" hits.

With 1000 approaching, the ship's spotters were becoming increasingly frustrated in locating the enemy batteries, primarily because of lack of aerial observation. Shell splashes continued to fall near the ship as her speed varied between 10 to 25 knots. Finally at 1045, a shore fire control party was contacted on the SCR 609 radio, but they had no targets at that moments.

At 1129, with shells still falling around the ship, an 88mm battery that had been firing on the ship was located and neutralized. No further firing was seen from this gun. Half past noon, contact was made with a Naval Gunfire Liason Officer ashore. He requested the ship fire at an enemy strong point at some specified coordinates. After several corrections he said to fire for effect. At 1242 he said some enemy troops were taking cover in a casino near the shore. With the proper coordinates verified, he said to "Blow it down!". After expending 62 rounds of 5" ammunition, the building was completely gutted, with fire bursting through the roof about twenty minutes later.

Nearing 1300, the Liason Officer released the ship so it could proceed to a specified position and go ahead with pre-arranged fire in support of the landings on Red Beach. Commander Woodville then ordered these fires to commence at 1331. During this time a side show unfolded when a explosive-ladened robot "Apex" assault craft went out of control. At the request of the landing force, the Ordronaux was asked to sink it. Twenty and forty millimeter fire was brought to bear on the boat with hits being observed though it failed to sink. It wasn't until the two forward 5" guns came into play and eight rounds later when the errant craft finally succumbed. By 1410 the pre-arranged barrage was lifted. The ship received aboard a casualty from a beach demolition unit. He spoke of a 88mm gun that had wounded him, and he was able to provide its exact location. Knowing this, the gun position was in plain view for direct fire from the ship. Permission was sought to engage this target as fire had been lifted and the first wave had not yet landed. The OK was soon given and the "O's" guns were fired in salvoes until the pillbox was observed to have been uprooted and overturned by direct hits. Strangely enough, the assault on Red Beach was canceled, and by 1600 the Mighty O was leaving the support area.

Later that evening, enemy aircraft identified as two Do217's were seen and fired at though no hits were observed and no attacks attampted by the Germans. August 15th had been quite a day for DD617 as well as the Allied war effort. The next day was less eventful as the ship operated in the transport area. Again around 2100 hours, two German Do217's flew by the ship, but did not attack. By August 17th, the "O" found herself along side a Greek LST, taking on prisoners for transfer to the USS Arkansas. With this completed, DD617 became the old battleship's escort and proceeded back to Palermo. Operation "Anvil", was perhaps, the Ordronaux's finest hour. With the exception of a brief duel with Japanese guns on Wake Island, she would never have the opportunity to close with and engage the enemy in such a singular fashion as she did on the fifteenth day of August, 1944. It showed that when a situation demanded aggressive and gallant action, the men of the Ordronaux were more than equal to the task.