U.S.S. Aaron Ward (DM-34)

USS Aaron Ward (DD-773/DM-34)
USS Aaron Ward was designed as a Sumner-class destroyer (DD-773) and was launched on 5 May 1944 She was reclassified as a Smith-class "destroyer-minelayer" (DM-34) on 19 July 1944 and was commissioned on 28 October 1944. The Aaron Ward was approximately 376 feet long, 40 feet wide, had a crew of 363 officers and men, and had a top speed of over 34 knots. She was armed with six 5-inch guns, eight 40mm antiaircraft guns, 12 20mm antiaircraft guns, and 80 mines. The Aaron Ward was assigned to the US Navy's Pacific Fleet. The Aaron was added to the giant naval task force that was being created for the invasion of Okinawa. By 25 March the Aaron Ward began the dangerous assignment of *picket duty off the coast of Okinawa. While on picket duty, the Aaron Ward successfully fought off numerous air attacks, but her luck ran out on 3 May 1945. That day the ship was attacked by a large number of Japanese suicide planes. Although the gunners on board the Aaron Ward managed to shoot down two of them, a third one smashed into the ship's port side and the bomb the plane was carrying went through the ship and exploded in the forward fireroom. As a result of the explosions, the Aaron Ward eventually came to a stop. Damage control parties worked heroically to fight the fires and stop the flooding, but soon the ship was under attack by even more Japanese warplanes. The gunners on board the Aaron Ward shot down two attacking Kamikaze aircraft, but another two suicide planes managed to get through the antiaircraft fire and both smashed into the ship. The Aaron Ward was also hit by a bomb from one of the planes which exploded and blew a large hole in the port side of the ship. The attacks killed 42 men. Remarkably, after sustaining all of this punishment, the Aaron Ward was still afloat. The Aaron Ward was taken in tow by the USS Shannon (DM-25) and brought to Kerama Retto for initial repairs. The ships arrived there on 4 May. After making sure that the ship was seaworthy, what was left of the Aaron Ward then went on a remarkable journey home. The Aaron Ward was decommissioned in late September 1945 and was sold for scrapping in July 1946.

*In military terminology, a picket refers to soldiers or troops placed on a line forward of a position to warn against an enemy advance. In this case keeping the "Kamikaze" off the main Battle of Okinawa Invasion Force.

This file is a work of a sailor or employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.

This memorial is in Court 5, Right Outside Left Court Wall Panel 2 across and 3 down, 7th name on that panel.

GPS General Location:
Latitude: +21.313590º N
Longitude: -157.847630º W
Altitude: 429 ft

Google Map/Earth
21.313590, -157.847630

Find-A-Grave
Latitude: 21.313590
Longitude: -157.847630
(Note: You must type in the minus in the -157.847630 or the link will be in the middle of the ocean)

Memorial note:

F1 Jack B Anderson is one of the many who made the ultimate sacrifice and are remember at the Honolulu Memorial, a cenotaph, an "empty tomb". Individuals memorialized here on the tablets at the "Honolulu Memorial" are the Missing in Action, lost, or buried at sea in the Pacific during WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Their remains were never recovered but their sacrifice has not been forgotten by their country and this brother serviceman.

SSgt Bruce Almeida Ret USAF 1970's-1990's

This memorial is in Court 5, Right Outside Left Court Wall Panel 2 across and 3 down, 7th name on that panel.

GPS General Location:
Latitude: +21.313590º N
Longitude: -157.847630º W
Altitude: 429 ft

Google Map/Earth
21.313590, -157.847630

Find-A-Grave
Latitude: 21.313590
Longitude: -157.847630
(Note: You must type in the minus in the -157.847630 or the link will be in the middle of the ocean)

Memorial note:

F1 Jack B Anderson is one of the many who made the ultimate sacrifice and are remember at the Honolulu Memorial, a cenotaph, an "empty tomb". Individuals memorialized here on the tablets at the "Honolulu Memorial" are the Missing in Action, lost, or buried at sea in the Pacific during WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Their remains were never recovered but their sacrifice has not been forgotten by their country and this brother serviceman.

SSgt Bruce Almeida Ret USAF 1970's-1990's