On this day in history, April 6, 1945, my father's ship, the SS Pierre Victory, arrived at Kerama Retto, an anchorage of small islets some 15 miles (25 kilometers) west of Okinawa. The ship carried some 7000 tons of ammunition for the US forces that had just invaded Okinawa. Almost immediately, Japanese kamikaze planes attacked, sinking two other Victory ships and a smaller LST.

The Pierre Victory survived weeks of attacks as she was gradually unloaded - running out of ammo for her own guns before emptying her holds of ammuntion for the guns ashore.

Dad returned to the States, marrying his high school sweetheart - my mom - in June 1945.

Below: LST-447 explodes after being hit by a kamikaze, April 6, 1945.

http://www.armed-guard.com/item06.html