[ladtx]

My dad served aboard the USS Maryland and was in one of the main gun turrets when it took a direct kamikaze hit in 1945. He was the only survivor in the turret. He never spoke about it to me until I returned from Vietnam. Guess he figured I might have a better understanding then.

The USS Maryland torpedoed 22 June 1944 with moderate damage; repaired at Pearl Harbor. Engaged Japanese battleships at Surigao Strait, 25 October 1944. Received moderate Kamikaze damage 9 November 1944; repaired at Pearl Harbor. Received heavy Kamikaze damage 7 April 1945.

[ladtx]

Picture of a kamikaze hit on the Maryland in 1944. My dad was aboard when this happened.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks ladtx.

My FIL was on the SAMUEL CHASE and wounded off Okinawa, spent the rest of the was in a hispital in California.

My dad never talked much about his war experiences either until I came back from Vietnam, probably for the same reasons as your did.