THE FLOOR SHOW

 

After completion of the unloading, we watched the floor show - air raids on the ships of our convoy. The second from the left, with smoke above it, is the U.S.S. West Point. Formerly the peacetime "S.S. America", it was our biggest liner. The smoke above it is from a kamikaze which almost hit it. I was familiar with the ship because it had been my transport from the U.S. I recalled the ship's crew cockily assuring us the ship was 'too valuable' to ever be in a combat zone.  

 

 A lot of us shared the feeling, but here we were.

 

� 2006  Bill Bailey, William T Calhoun & 503d PRCT Heritage Bn