#17: Escaping Death near Okinawa- WWII Veteran, Lorne Alexander

On March 28, 1945, just days ahead of the U.S. invasion of Okinawa, a young sailor from Larrabee, Iowa was onboard the USS Skylark.  At nineteen years old, Lorne Alexander was at the helm of his ship in the East China Sea when it was hit by two mines.  The first mine exploded and sent fire through the ship at 10:55 am.  A second mine burst at 11:15 am, killing four men in the engine room.  The USS Skylark sank 15 minutes later.  Lorne remembers signaling for help from the bow of the ship when the second mine exploded.  The next thing he knew, he was in the water trying to swim away from his sinking ship.  Lorne was eventually picked up by the USS Tolman and taken to a hospital ship.  He received multiple broken ribs, a damaged left elbow, and knee.  Lorne is the recipient of the Purple Heart which was presented to him by Adm. Chester William Nimitz.   Lorne Alexander enlisted in the United States Navy when he was 17.  The 1943 Larrabee High School graduate was one of five boys in his high school class; all served in World War II.  Lorne, who suffered a significant amount of hearing loss in the war, is the only surviving member of the class.    www.warriormindsetpodcast.com