My great uncle was a PHM3 aboard this ship and would've been present when this photo was taken. He was at Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa and saw more blood in one year than he saw the rest of his life working at a hospital. Flying a flag was always a big deal for him after he witnessed the flag raising at Iwo when he was out on break.
Have an Uncle or now should say, had, sadly, an Uncle that was on Iwo. went back every year to visit for a ceremony he set up each year. another Uncle was at Normandy and my Dad was the commander of a PT Boat in the Pacific.