Thanks, Kat. UDT sounds like very brave work. Good on your dad for taking that on.

My dad had a similar story to yours in a way. As I said, he was on Saipan for two weeks after the St.Lo was kamikaze'd. Then, because the planes couldn't be maintained there, he was sent home for a while till he was called up again for the invasion of Tokyo. He and a buddy drove an old battered car that kept breaking down and getting flat tires all the way up from Hill County, Texas to the northeast where they did a little training and his friend was killed when his plane overshot the ship. Then it was back to Saipan to prepare for the invasion, but then Truman had the a-bombs dropped and the war was over. It really gives me mixed feelings about the bombs, but I'm just so glad my dad survived and didn't have to fight any more.

Another great story is the time when he and a squadron of planes were sent on a mission from the St. Lo. My dad was a first lieutenant, btw. Anyway, somehow they lost their leader and it was dark night. My dad had to take over and lead the group back. He radio'd in to say he was coming in with twelve baby chicks and wanted instructions on how to land in the dark. There were several ships and he wanted to know how to identify the right one. They told him to find the ship with the green light on the end. Well, it turns out they all had a green light on the end, so everybody just had to land wherever they could, and of course some of them ended up on the wrong ship, including my dad... but they all made it back safely. Dad said that his commanding officer shook his hand and told him what a good job he'd done, and that that was the first time he'd ever heard a word of praise from him.

After the war, Dad was still in the Naval Reserve. After Korea came along, he was called up again to active duty, but that time he was married with two or three kids. He wrote back asking them to consider his family status, saying that he needed to stay and support us.. but they said no, he still had to report. This was a major concern to him, so I think he must have spoken of it to others, but I'm not sure how it all worked out. Anyhow, right before he was supposed to report, they changed their minds and said he didn't have to.

He never liked talking about the war, and he absolutely would not let himself be considered a hero. To him, all the guys were heroes, especially the ones who died. He never got over losing his friends and never forgave the Japanese.

But to my mind, he was a hero, as was your dad and so many others... and I will never change my mind on that!

Sue