Saturday, July 18, 2015

Pickens nears San Francisco

The USS Pickens left Saipan in late June headed for San Francisco where we were to load on troops,  then as part of a fleet, attack the mainland of Japan.  We knew what we faced, having taken part in the battle for Okinawa where Navy casualties were greater than for the Marines and Army combined.

Japanese suicide attacks were so effective the  military brass estimated Navy casualties would exceed one of every two men.  At this time, though, our thoughts were of home; we had been away from the country for a year.

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