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On the morning of 4 May 1945, USS Morrison was on station in support of the invasion of Okinawa. Following an hour long battle, four suicide enemy planes struck Morrison in quick succession. Bomb explosions ripped her apart and USS Morrison sank in 15 minutes. 179 of the crew were rescued by a landing craft about two hours after the sinking, but the remaining 152 shipmates, including most of those stationed below deck, were lost. One of those lost that day was Metalsmith 1C Vernon Davis Jernigan. His military awards included: the Navy Cross, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. |