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The Americans

USS CABOT
(CVL-28)

USS ESSEX
(CV-9)

USS HANCOCK
(CV-19)

USS INTREPID
(CV-11)

 

The Japanese

The Kamikazes

A6M Zero

D4Y SUISEI

IJN Kumano

IJN Yasoshima

 

Narrated By

Marvin Scott

 

Historical Advisor

Michael Marmé, PH.D.
Fordham University,
New YORK, NY

 

REcommended links

World War II
Multimedia Database

Nine Sisters

 

USS Essex (CV-9)

To be an African-American in the United States Navy in 1944 meant serving as a mess steward. Despite an African-American winning the Medal of Honor at Pearl Harbor, the Navy refused to allow African-Americans to serve outside the Stewards Department. By 1944, however, the urgent need for manpower had removed some racial barriers, and African-Americans were given combat positions as gunners, among the most dangerous jobs aboard warships in the Pacific. On November 25, 1944, a group of African-Americans aboard Essex were serving their first alert as gunners on 20 millimeter cannons. Eight of them would be dead within a few minutes.

Play QuickTime Video of USS Essex
IN day of the Kamikaze

John Giganti Remembers Joseph LoMastro's Death on USS Essex (CV-9)

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Kamikaze Attack on USS Essex (CV-9)

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USS Essex Links

USS Essex Photos

USS Essex History

Jack McKnight World War II Diary Aboard the USS Essex

Life and Death Aboard the USS Essex by Dr. Richard Streb

John Giganti, one of Essex's galley cooks, was buttoned up down below when general quarters sounded. The alarm interrupted lunch aboard Essex and all over the fleet. Giganti said goodbye to his friend Joseph LoMastro, who raced up on deck to his battle station. A few minutes later LoMastro was killed while trying to avoid the D4Y Suisei that smashed into Essex's port side.

Burial at Sea for the Dead of USS Essex

Pilot Officer Yoshinori Yamaguchi left Mabalacat Field on Luzon, followed his squadron to a point off the coast, and attacked Essex about twenty minutes after the attack on the Third Fleet began. Yoshinori slammed into Essex just seconds after she had gone to general quarters. His plane began to smoke as it smashed into the 20 millimeter gallery manned by the inexperienced African-American gunners. Eight were killed instantly, along with eight white gunners, including Joseph LoMastro.

Afterward, John Giganti went up on deck to find his friend, but only pieces of the dead sailors’ bodies remained. LoMastro’s widow waited a year after the attack for her husband to be declared dead, and to receive his GI life insurance payment.

Essex was never again hit by a kamikaze. She continued her long service to the Navy after the war.

MFA Productions and dayofthekamikaze.com are grateful to Jack McKnight, Peter Stoudt and Dr. Richard Streb, author of Life and Death Aboard the USS Essex, for their assistance with this documentary.

USS Essex Killed in Action

Willie Gray Agee*, b. 6/10/24, Shiloh, AL
Matt Archer Allen*, b. 5/5/24, Cardwell, VA
Samuel Bausch, b. 2/6/25, Bronx, NY
Frederick Henry Boneberg, b. 9/11/24, Cheektowaga, NY
Edward Emanuel Brown*, b. 10/23/24. Herminie, PA
Alpine Buckner*, b. 10/21/23, St. Charles, KY
Major Lee Byrd*, b. 4/3/25, Cottonton, AL
Elbert Bedford Doss, b. 8/5/12, Humboldt, TN
Phillip Samuel Gillin, b. 1/25/24, Wilmar, MN
Richard Douglas Heiber, b. 1/15/24, Mott, SD
Joseph Paul Lomastro, b. 9/2/17, Raritan, NJ
Samuel David Miller, Sr.*, b. 9/30/25, Brooks County, GA
Joseph Cornelius Ragland*, b. 5/5/23, Sherrill, AR
Maurice Eugene Silkwood b. 5/15/23, West Frankfort, IL
Delarce Washington*, b. 7/9/27 (lied about age to enlist: claimed he was born in 1925), Saline, LA
Trumon Lee West, b. 8/12/25, Smithfield, NC

*Steward serving first combat tour on 20-millimeter.