E. A. "Al" Henke:

During the attack at Okinawa, I was in the forward engine room. At this location, we only knew what was happening by what we learned from the other battle phone stations, by what we felt and heard from topside, and by the number of engine order changes we got from the bridge.

As another kamikaze approached, we would hear the bang, bang, bang of the five-inch guns, then as they got closer, the pow, pow, pow of the 40mm guns, followed shortly by the rapid ta, ta, ta of the 20mm's, ending with either all quiet or a sudden shudder of the ship as it took another hit.

When we took the bomb that cut communications between the bridge and the engine room, we decided that when the guns were not firing we would slow down to permit fighting fires, etc. As the five-inch units starting firing again, we would accelerate as rapidly as possible, knowing that with the sea calm and the rudder jammed at 26 degrees port, this would be the most appropriate action we could promote.

During the entire 79 minutes of the attack, everyone was fearful of what might happen. We had all seen the kind of damage and even complete destruction that the kamikazes could inflict.

I, too, was afraid, but my Christian faith provided me with a means of finding peace of mind in the midst of all the stress. While doing what needed to be done, I recalled the words of the 23rd Psalm, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want... Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me... And I shall dwell in thehouse of the Lord forever."

As these words repeated in my mind, I knew that regardless of what happened, I would be okay because my Lord was with me. This provide a feeling of comfort and peace that I have never forgotten, and I continue to thank God for His peace each day.