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Several years ago I became acquainted with an elderly man I met during daily mountain bike rides through Tennessee Valley. As time passed, we began swapping sea stories. I learned that he was aboard the Laffey during the Okinawa kamikaze attack. He said that the ship was towed to Ulithi where one boiler and the steering gear was repaired. They steamed back to Seattle at 10kts where all repairs were made. The ship then steamed to Pearl Harbor in early August of 1945 where they took on a full load of ammunition and spent a few days taking calibration shots offshore, in preparation for joining the invasion fleet. The two atomic bombs changed everything. Because of the length of his service, he was released from duty and sent home on the first outbound ship, a 10knot LST. Two days out at sea, he was passed by Laffey, also homeward bound, much to his chagrin.

I did some research on his ship and surprised him one morning with a catalog of Naval Ships preserved as museum vessels. I turned to the page ilustrating the USS Laffey and showed it to him. Tears welled up in his eyes. All he could say was "They saved her." over and over again. Here was a man who fought to save his ship in 1945 grateful to know that she will never see the cutter's torch.

Gabriel Klein, thank you for your valiant service to our country.

The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Fighting the Kamikazes

kilowhskey, I wanted you to know I finally saw your post from way back in May. Unless you put an * (asterik)before the word ALL we don't see it unless we pass by it. Your post was the day after and we missed it. Sorry. I was going back because of a ping on 8/28 and noticed it. Thank you and thank you to this Veteran.