Robert I. Karr: GM 2/c

As we heard that we were to go on picket duty and we pulled along side the ammunition ship to unload our empty shells and take on more ammo, we all felt that our time of testing was near at hand. Then our trip into Kerama Retto shed even morelight on the dangers of our next assignment.

Saturday was rather quiet as we moved north to relieve picket station number 1. We heard of a few bogeys around but none came close to disturb us.

Sunday was much the same. G.Q. was before sunrise and we kept a constant lookout from sunrise to sunset for any bogeysthat might appear. It was really a pleasant day.

Monday, G.Q. again was called at sunrise. We would not have long to wait, for our day of destiny was at hand.

First, at approximately 8 a.m. I heard over the headphones that a large number of bogeys were on the radar screen. They were approaching us from the north. The skipper already had alerted the engine room and we were on the move.

On Mount 43, we all began to scan the horizon. It wasn't long before we spotted a faint outline over Mount 3 of one or two bogeys scouting out the ships awaiting them. Then I heard on the headphones, "Bogeys approximately nine miles." They closed to about seven miles, then retreated.

Now the word came over the headphones that as many as 50 bogeys were in the vicinity. We now were up to full speed and moving away from the previous sightings. On the horizon aft of Mount 3, the bogeys appeared. Mount 3 commenced firing and soon we saw smoke as one of the bogeys went spiraling into the sea. But now came an onslaught of planes from many directions.

Mount 43 spotted a plane about 100 feet off the water, coming in on the starboard beam. It was too close for the five-inch guns, and they already had targets, so it was up to mounts 41 and 43 and mounts 21 and 23 to stop this plane. As it bore down ever closer, we could see the pilot trying desperately to make his target.

Mount 43 was down level with the sea and the bullets from the 20s and 40s began to shred the plane as the Laffey began turning to port. When the plane was only 100 yards away, it slowly rose up and then plunged into the sea. The gun crew on Mount 43 let out a yell of victory. That was short lived.

Almost immediately, another bogey bored in from the starboard bow quarter. We fired a few bursts. The plane passed over the ship and our gun cut out as we swung past the Number 2 stack. The plane continued on a swooping turn toward the stern and struck Mount 44, cartwheeling over mounts 23 and 43. Spewing gasoline started fires.

As the plane crashed, my crew climbed over the gun tub and jumped to the main deck. I stayed on the gun with my headphones on until the crash. My pointer, K.D. Jones, and I dove under the gun. The generator out of the crashing plane ended up in there with us.

The fires set off the 40mm ammunition stored around Mount 44. The gun covers on Mount 43 were burning. It was time to get out of there. As I crawled on my stomach around the gun tub and toward Number 2 stack, exploding ammo kept whistling by. I went to the gunner shack under Mount 41 to collect my thoughts and to thank God that I was still alive. I then moved down to the main deck amidships, where a great number of people had taken cover. They rushed back and forth as each plane approached.

As I stood there on the port side, I saw Jake Snyder and Larry Delewski filling and carrying clips of 20mm ammo to mounts 20 and 21. I made one trip to Mount 21 and was just going in to pick up one for Mount 20 when Lt. Runk told me to go to the bridge and tell Commander Becton that the aft steering room was flooded and the rudder jammed. I carried the message
to the bridge then returned to pick up a clip of 20mm ammo for Mount 20.

I was on my way back down the ladder after taking the clip forward when a bomb hit close aboard. The bomb killed StanleyWismer in Mount 20 and fatally wounded Joe Mele who was in the handling room of Mount 2. Both were Gunner's Mates 2/c.

As I touched the main deck, I heard this voice behind me saying, "Please help me." There stood Fred Burgess on one leg, the other having been completely severed above the knee. I caught him as he collapsed, laid him on the deck, and placed a tourniquet on his leg. We carried him into the wardroom to be cared for.

After I came back out, I found Wismer lying on the main deck. I gave him artificial respiration, but soon one of the officers came by and said he was gone.

I went back to see if Jake and Larry were still loading ammo. Someone stopped me and asked if I could help Zupon. A piece of shrapnel had ripped away part of his shoulder, and someone had to keep pressure on the artery to slow the bleeding. I stayed with him until help came and he was transferred to a waiting vessel.

Shortly after this, word was passed to jettison all loose gear to lighten the ship. We were down under water at the stern. I went back to mounts 43, 44 and 23 and disposed of all loose material, including the Japanese generator that had landed in the tub with K.D. Jones and me.

That night, I lay down in the Mount 43 gun tub, using my life preserver as a pillow, and did not wake up until morning. My usual sleeping quarters were under six feet of water

I have been reading about a number of ships that came under kamikaze attack in the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Very few, if any, were able to defend themselves as well as we did. Perhaps we were better prepared and not caught by surprise, as many ships were. I believe God's protective hand was upon us that day.