One of the most interesting parts of this project is that every once and a while, some very special images or, as in this case, a whole collection of special images is shared with us.

Mr. Harold C. Cassar was a Photographer's Mate 1st Class aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3) in February 1945, one of only two official photographers aboard the ship at the time. His collection contains 37 World War 2 photographs of Sara, most of them related to the Kamikaze attack, on 21 February 1945. Many of these photographs are unpleasant to see. Some of them are truly gruesome. But they reflect the reality of warfare. May this be a tribute to all the brave men who fought aboard Saratoga that day, those who died, and those who survived...

Mr. Cassar has donated his collection to the USS Saratoga Association. I would like to thank him for sharing his images with us and for the honor of allowing us to display them here. Special thanks should also go to Mr. Ronald V. Regan, Sr., host of "Combat Veterans" TV program, without whose cooperation this Special Feature would not have been possible.