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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

 

Frank Maurizio, USS Hancock (CV-19)

Frank Maurizio was drafted into the Navy in 1943. All of his brothers except one (who was 2 years old) served in the armed forces during World War II. Expecting to serve aboard a transport, Maurizio was instead sent to USS Hancock after gunnery school.

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IN day of the Kamikaze

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“First time I seen action,
I was swimming home already.”

Frank Maurizio on Intrepid Sea•Air•Space Museum	Frank Maurizio in 1944

“First time I seen action, I was swimming home already. Somebody dropped a little bomb on us, I said, ‘This is not for me, I’m only 18 years old, I’m gonna go home.’ I was halfway off, and this is no lie, halfway off the deck, the chief of guns goes, ‘where you goin’ son?’ I said, ‘We’re on fire,’ ‘This is nuthin’!!’ I says, ‘What?!’ Half hour later, it was over, so I went back aboard.

” Our own bomber, a 500-pound bomb, blew up on the carrier. When it blew up it killed one of the guys on the gun crew on the top deck, so when I was there the Ensign came over, said, ‘Maurizio, you’re gonna replace that man.’ I says okay. And three months later, and this is the honest truth, the kamikaze hit them and killed all my friends. (Breaks down) Excuse me. Wiped them out.”