The USS Aaron Ward DM-34: A Brave Ship’s Fight for Survival After a Devastating Attack off Okinawa, May 1945

The story of the USS Aaron Ward (DM-34) during the Battle of Okinawa stands as a testament to the courage, resilience, and tenacity of the U.S. Navy during World War II. On May 3, 1945, the Aaron Ward, a destroyer minelayer, found itself at the center of one of the most harrowing chapters in the Pacific campaign, as it came under attack by six Japanese aircraft. The attack, which left the ship battered and broken, demonstrated both the intensity of the aerial assaults on Allied ships during the final stages of the war and the relentless spirit of the sailors aboard the Aaron Ward as they fought to keep their ship afloat and operational.

Okinawa, located in the southern part of Japan’s archipelago, was a strategically important island for the United States during the final push toward Japan. The battle for Okinawa, fought from April to June 1945, was one of the bloodiest in the Pacific Theater. It involved intense combat on land, sea, and air. As part of the invasion force, the Aaron Ward was stationed near the island to provide support in the form of mine clearance and naval gunfire. The destroyer minelayer’s mission was crucial: clearing paths for Allied ships and preventing the Japanese from laying their own mines, which could impede naval operations.

However, on that fateful day in May, the Aaron Ward found itself in the line of fire, not from mines but from a deadly wave of Japanese aircraft intent on stopping the Allies’ progress.

The Attack: A Deadly Onslaught

The attack on the USS Aaron Ward began when six Japanese dive bombers, part of the kamikaze assault launched by the Japanese Navy and Air Force, swooped in on the ship. These aircraft, often modified for suicide missions, were hell-bent on inflicting maximum damage to the Allied fleet. The Aaron Ward, though equipped with anti-aircraft guns and trained sailors, was caught by surprise, and the overwhelming force of the attack left little room for escape or counteraction.

The planes came from multiple directions, and the Aaron Ward had little time to react. As the aircraft closed in on the ship, they unleashed a devastating barrage of bombs and strafing fire. Several direct hits resulted in massive explosions on the ship’s deck, causing immediate chaos. The impact of the bombs wreaked havoc on the Aaron Ward’s superstructure and internal compartments. Fires broke out, and the ship was left listing to one side, its crew struggling to control the damage.

Despite the severity of the attack, the Aaron Ward’s crew, composed of sailors who had been through numerous battles in the Pacific, immediately went into action. Firefighting teams scrambled to extinguish the raging fires, while damage control parties worked frantically to seal off flooded compartments and prevent further structural damage. Their efforts, combined with the courage and determination that had come to define the sailors aboard the ship, were the key factors in keeping the ship afloat.

The Aftermath: Struggling to Survive

In the aftermath of the attack, the Aaron Ward was in dire straits. The damage was extensive, and many thought the ship would have to be abandoned. However, the crew’s resolve proved unshakable. With the ship listing heavily, the crew fought to save it, knowing that their survival depended on their ability to keep the ship operational. Damage control efforts continued under difficult and hazardous conditions, with men working in sweltering heat, flooded compartments, and amid smoke and fire.

One of the major challenges was the damage sustained by the ship’s propulsion systems. The Aaron Ward had been struck in several critical areas, and the loss of power meant the ship could no longer navigate under its own steam. Despite this, the crew worked tirelessly to restore propulsion, with the engineering crew racing against the clock to make repairs and get the ship moving again.

Meanwhile, the Aaron Ward‘s ability to defend itself had been severely compromised. The ship’s anti-aircraft guns had been damaged, and its radar and communications systems were disrupted. The remaining crew members knew that any further attack could prove fatal, but they remained determined to hold on, using whatever resources they had left to defend the vessel.

Resilient Crew and the Return to Safety

Despite the overwhelming odds, the crew of the USS Aaron Ward showed incredible resourcefulness. Working together, they managed to bring the ship back to a semblance of operational status. Slowly, the Aaron Ward was able to regain enough power to limp away from the front lines, though it was clear the ship would need to be repaired before it could return to combat.

Amazingly, the Aaron Ward was not only able to survive the attack but was also able to be repaired and returned to service after undergoing extensive work in dry dock. The damage from the Japanese planes had been severe, but the ship’s sturdy construction and the unwavering commitment of its crew ensured that it did not meet its end that day.

In the weeks following the attack, the Aaron Ward was temporarily removed from active duty to undergo repairs. It would return to action later in the war, continuing its vital work of clearing mines and providing support to the Allies as they made their way closer to Japan. The ship would go on to serve in the final stages of World War II, taking part in numerous missions before being decommissioned after the war ended.

The Legacy of the USS Aaron Ward

The attack on the Aaron Ward is one of many stories of perseverance and courage from the Pacific War, but it stands out for the extreme measures taken by the ship’s crew to keep their vessel afloat. The bravery of the sailors who fought to save their ship that day is a reflection of the broader spirit of the U.S. Navy during the war—a spirit of never giving up, no matter how dire the circumstances.

While the Aaron Ward’s involvement in the Battle of Okinawa is often overshadowed by the larger scale of the battle and the more famous ships involved, its story is no less remarkable. The fact that the Aaron Ward survived an attack that many believed would have been fatal for other ships is a testament to the resilience of the American Navy. The ship’s actions that day embody the sacrifice and determination of countless sailors who served in the Pacific, fighting on the front lines of a brutal and unforgiving war.

Today, the story of the USS Aaron Ward serves as an important reminder of the cost of war and the human spirit’s ability to endure. The men who fought to save the ship knew that they were part of something much larger than themselves—part of a monumental effort to bring the war to an end and secure victory for the Allied forces. Their bravery in the face of such adversity remains a source of inspiration, and the USS Aaron Ward’s legacy endures as a symbol of the resilience and dedication of the men and women who served during World War II.

Though the ship itself is no longer in service, the memories of its crew and their remarkable survival continue to be honored, serving as a testament to the courage, sacrifice, and endurance that defined the generation that fought in World War II.