Kamikaze Attack off Kerama Retto
Assigned radar picket duty off Okinawa on April 30, 1945, Luce was attacked by Japanese aircraft and successfully shot down the first attacker but not before he dropped a bomb which was a near miss that caused a power failure in the ship. ... Unable to bring her guns to bear on the second attacking aircraft, kamikaze struck the after section of the ship which knocked out the port engine, flooded the engineering spaces and caused a jammed rudder. ... Within one-half hour of attack, Luce took a heavy list to starboard and abandon ship was ordered. ... 126 of her 312 officers and men went down with the ship. The survivors were rescued by friendly forces
