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UNIDENTIFIED : 1944 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY AND LOGBOOK OF A KEENLY OBSERVANT US NAVY SEAMAN WHO RECORDS THE KAMIKAZE ATTACKS DURING THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA

32mo - over 4" - 5" tall. On offer is a super, original 1944 - 1945 manuscript diary of a United States seaman aboard the USS Cuyama. The unidentified author was involved in the Invasion of Okinawa and documented kamikaze attacks on a Hospital Ship and other supporting navy ships making for rare first person account of kamikaze attacks on US Navy ships during the Okinawa Campaign. Using a 'Serviceman's Address Book' the writer uses some of the pages for addresses, some noting the history and milestones of the ship, reckoning his pay and savings but most importantly to researchers and historians of the era he dutifully records 'My Navy Career' noting the highlights of service against the enemy. The sailor writes in terse language: "Suicide dive bombers attacked our hospital ship, set it afire, killed many men who were patients, made three runs over our ship, had hell scared out of us." "Have to see it to really believe it, our men are very quiet, thankful we were not chosen as the target". "God has spared our lives once more, miraculously missed a mine by a mere 50 to 100 feet, we all must still have a purpose in life to fulfill." History of Cuyama: USS Cuyama (AO-3) was a tanker of the United States Navy launched 17 June 1916 by Mare Island Navy Yard. Cuyama began her war service by carrying cargo between Pearl Harbor and San Pedro, Calif., from 27 December 1941 to 1 March 1942. Between 15 March and 29 June, she delivered fuel in two voyages to Efate, Noumea, the Tonga and Samoan Islands. She cleared San Pedro once more 25 July loaded men, cargo, and equipment at Seattle, Wash., and arrived at Kodiak, Alaska, 11 August. She operated in Alaskan waters fueling ships and occasionally voyaging to Seattle for replenishment and repairs. Cuyama cleared Seattle 17 February 1945, delivered cargo to Eniwetok, Saipan, and Guam, and arrived at Kerama Retto, Okinawa, 21 April to fuel the ships engaged in the occupation of Okinawa. She splashed a suicide plane 13 May, and bombarded a Japanese-occupied cave on Tokashiki Shima 7 July. Returning to Ulithi 31 July, she sailed on to Leyte where between 5 and 30 August she fueled ships preparing for the occupation of Japan. Between 12 September to 6 November, Cuyama fueled ships at Jinsen, Korea, then cleared for San Francisco, arriving 27 November. Cuyama was decommissioned 12 April 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 1 July 1946. Cuyama received one battle star for World War II service. There are 46 pages of handwritten entries and the book proper is VG.. Book Condition: Good+

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