What were the thoughts of men of the USS Pickens, APA 190, as we traveled from Saipan to San Francisco that July of 1945? We had been in the South Pacific for almost a year and had taken part in the battles for Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Personally, I cannot recall. Of course we were happy to be headed home for liberty and possibly get leave.
We were not kept in the dark about our future; we were to pick up the Blackhawk Division, give them training, and invade Japan. The one thing I remember about the briefing was that the navy expected 50 per cent casualties. We could understand that; we had seen the effectiveness of suicide plane attacks at Okinawa.
If you are a veteran of that time, or family of a vet who has told his experiences, please let me hear from you. We have at best a few more years with an average age of 93.
Personally, I cannot recall. Of course we were happy to be headed home for liberty and possibly get leave.
We were not kept in the dark about our future; we were to pick up the Blackhawk Division, give them training, and invade Japan. The one thing I remember about the briefing was that the navy expected 50 per cent casualties. We could understand that; we had seen the effectiveness of suicide plane attacks at Okinawa.
If you are a veteran of that time, or family of a vet who has told his experiences, please let me hear from you. We have at best a few more years with an average age of 93.
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