The USS AARON WARD (DM 34)  began her life as a destroyer, but was re-designated and refitted as a destroyer-minelayer.  She was commissioned in October 28,  1944 in San Pedro, California.

On May 3, 1945 she was on Picket Patrol duty, about 70 miles off the coast of Okinawa.  Her task was to prevent Japanese aircraft from reaching the American ships and troops fighting for control of the island.  At dusk, she was attacked by a swarm Japanese aircraft, most of them bombers.  The Kamikazes, the  "divine wind",  were suicide aircraft.  The pilots were trained only how to take off, navigate to the target, and which part of an American ship to aim for.  On that day, their target was Radar Picket Station 10 which was patrolled by the USS AARON WARD and the USS LITTLE;  along with several "small boys." The LITTLE took 3 direct hits, and sank.

 Meanwhile, the USS AARON WARD was fighting for her life. 

 Although she shot down many of the kamikazes, six of them penetrated her defenses to crash into her deck.  Two of them were still carrying bombs.  The action lasted less than an hour, she was settling into the sea, her steering was knocked out and she was without power.

It seemed she must break apart and sink, but her captain and crew had other plans.  Most of her lifeboats were smashed, and the rest were needed for the wounded "just in case".   The main deck, starboard side aft, was ankle-deep awash.  The guns were powered by by hand.  Fires raged on  her deck  from the gasoline of the kamikazes and exploding ammunition.  Forty-two men were dead or dying.  The log entry reads simply:  "Ship refused to sink."

Although she managed to steam, on one engine, from Kerama Retto to Brooklyn Navy Yard (from east of Tokyo, Japan to New York City) the war ended  just as her repairs had begun.  Her damage was so extensive that the Navy elected to scrap her rather than continue the repair.  She was decommissioned October 28, 1945,  and eventually scrapped.