At War With the Wind

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In the final days of World War II, a new and terrifying weapon emerged, striking fear into the hearts of the United States Navy in the Pacific. Known as "suiciders" by sailors and named after a divine wind by the Japanese, these kamikaze attacks were a desperate response to overwhelming material superiority. This account, told from the perspective of those who endured these harrowing tactics, vividly recounts the experience of facing Japanese kamikazes. Drawing on personal interviews and extensive research, the narrative reveals the devastating impact of suicide attacks by aircraft, submarines, small boats, and manned gliders. The gripping focus on specific vessels, such as the USS St. Lo, the first U.S. Navy ship sunk by a coordinated kamikaze assault, and the USS Henrico, which survived Normandy only to face suicide planes off Okinawa, highlights the intense and tragic reality of this chapter in history. The story captures a relentless struggle—a war within a war—where men were pitted against each other in a fight for survival. The echoes of these events resonate today, reminding us of the ongoing complexities and terrors of using suicide as a weapon in conflict.