Pickens nears San Francisco

Sixty-seven years ago, in late July,  the USS Pickens was on the way to San Francisco after nearly 12 months in the South Pacific.  We were to pick up the Blackhawk Division and take part in the first part of the invasion of Japan.  While still on the way to San Francisco we were told that the navy expected 50 per cent casualties.  We were not  surprised, having seen the effectiveness of suicide plans at Okinawa.

All of us looked forward to liberty in San Francisco and hopefully to  get leaves.  Some crew members did get leaves; I was not one of them.