The deck near Laffey's fantail was punctured by explosions and flying shrapnel during the Okinawa action. Even with temporary repairs, it was so weakened that a catwwalk had to be installed at Seatte for use by crowds of visitors to the ship.
Laffey at Seattle showed ugly black battle scars that were in sharp contrast to the blue paint on her hull and the gray of her superstructure. Blotch at masthead is from censor's pencil covering what remained of air-search radar. Building in the background is the Smith Tower. In 1945, it was the tallest building on the West Coast.
Survivors of the Okinawa assault (left to right), Boatswain's Mate Art Baumhart, Gunner's Mate Warren Walker, Sonarman Louis Nordstrom, and Ship's Cooks Jerry Pinkoff and Dan Essig stand on the port side next to battered Mount 53, aft.