On board the USS Laffey...

Amazing...Built by Bath Iron Works in Maine as an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, the USS Laffey is 376 feet 6 inches in length and was commissioned on February 8, 1944...While operating off Okinawa on April 16, 1945, the Laffey was hit by a massive air strike of 22 Japanese bombers and suicide kamikazes...Five kamikazes and three bombs struck her, while two bombs scored near misses to kill 32 and wound 71 of her 336 man crew, who in their heroism shot down 11 attackers, while managing to keep her afloat...All within about a 90 minute time span...Also known as "The ship that would not die." Amazing...